OK, I am a bit scared now

traveling to the Cooks in February after a month in Australia part of a long trip escaping years of rain in the UK and booked 3 nights at Vara's before reading the LP (their site looked pretty good) and all the info i am finding since is truly awful.

This post below is making me want to change my trip and stay in NZ or Australia for 2 more weeks and give the Cooks a miss:

"OH my god I stayed in VAra's beachhouse and you are right that its a bloody kip, we were treated like troublemakers from literally the day we got there, actually hounded around the island by the security guard as after 11pm we were told not to make noise. This included even talking ON THE BEACH, not even in the hostel. Signs up everywhere 'Vara's beachhouse is NOT a party house'. Yeah but how about a few drinks and a chat type house? Apparently not allowed.

And it rained the whole time which didnt improve matters as we were stuck in the hostel far too much, couldnt swim in the sea as it was full of mud flowing down from the volcanoe and while we were there an NZ woman had stood on a stonefish in the water and when she went to the hospital, they told her they'd have to amputate!!!! Luckily for her, she was a midwife, said no way and the swelling went down a few days later, I kid you not. I never stayed anywhere else on the island, but to anyone going, avoid VARA'S like the plague, they aint friendly folk"

I am traveling on my own and i am in my early 30s so i def would not be happy with people not leaving me alone or treating my like a child. Also if it's going to be raining non-stop i might as well go elsewhere, not leaving the UK just to see more rain.

Is Vara's that bad? happy to lose the deposit and get a place elsewhere even if i have to pay double. Where would you recommend?

It sounds like you need to do alot more research on the Cooks...

Many folks stay at Vara's and have no complaints. I hope you are not judging an establishment on the grounds of one misfortunate stay.
I have not stayed at Varas but I have had a look around there. It certainly looked like a hopping place and was definately the most lively of all the youth hostels I saw on Rarotonga. It sounds like the individual was either a nit-picker or had the misfortune of having everything go wrong at once... Just because this happened like this to them, what makes you think your experience will be indentical? Also, what is wrong with a place enforcing some control? This ain't Thailand.

If you are frightened by this report, you may as well bite the bullet. There are heaps of other hostel type of accommodation available here.

Please keep in mind that many negative and such venomous "accommodation" reports sometimes come from owners of competing accommodations.

If you skip the Cooks, then you will miss out on experiencing one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Take the leap!

Ok, thanks! panicking a bit less now :)

i have read quite a few of negative reports about the place, i have to say. The one i posted was just the worst of them. There are many other negative ones on tripadvisor and other cook islands forums. And the info on the LP guide is almost as bad. Check it out.

of course i want to go to the cooks. It sounds like a great place. Not sure whether it will be that great in february though, since checking lots of blogs (rarotongaweatherfebruary) thre is one constant world - "rain".

as for control i am fine with it. i am a 34yo traveling on my own so i definitely dont want to be unable to sleep because of people being pissed and shouting. It is reports about 'holes in the mattresses with bed bugs inside" i am not really enjoying...

I didn't stay at Vara's. Actually I didn't book it because of several reports like this one you mentioned, and a note in "Lonely Planet" guide: 'party animals will be right at home, but those seeking a spot of South Seas tranquillity should definitely look elsewhere'. On Raro I met several people (aged about 20) saying Vara's is fantastic and several others (mostly a little older) saying it's awful - both from the same reason: it's a lively and noisy place full of young people wanting to have fun.
I stayed at Rarotonga Backpackers (beach side) in Arorangi and was quite satisfied, as well as other guests (aged 20 - 50). Nice and quiet place, nice people, management OK, bus stop in front of the house, single room 40 NZ$. And the sunsets! I can fully recommend it.
Have a great trip!

Don't let them scare you, Vara's is a good budget lodging. It can be loud, depending on who is staying there at the time. Keep in mind they also have units away from party central on the beach. I stayed at the units they have up on the hill, cooling breezes and am deck with a fantastic view. It was quiet, with three seperate bedrooms.

Rain is quick and hard, then it clears and is nice, I have spent January and February in the Cooks, a bit steamy, but a fan is all you need to sleep comfortably. I will be in Raro in February, look for Papa Mike, the big old guy in a Jimmy Buffett T-shirt with a Foster's in his hand around the island, surfacing about happy hour at Sails, Aroa's Beachside or Trader Jacks. I will be updating my guidebook and visiting my favorite vacation spot.

Enjoy Raro, I am sure you will have a good time.

Papa Mike
Papa Mike's Cook Islands Handbook

Don't worry about the rain, as Mike said, it comes in bursts then is sunny.
Try Aremango hostel at Muri, or Papa Rau's, otuh coast, if you don't like Vara's. But try Vara's for a night, it could be fine while you are there.
Have fun!

That should have read Papa Rau's is on the south coast.

Raro, it is now possible to edit your own postings. You should see a small paper and pencil icon on your posts, beside the exclamation mark icon. Only the person who made the post can see this icon beside their own handle. Click on that and you get your original message back. Correct typos, add information, then click on the 'edit message' button at the bottom and the post is updated. uncheck the 'edited by' box if you so desire.

Thanks oldpro, good advice. [But I'm starting to think this new LPTT isn't worth it, so I may not be on much anymore]

agree fully with 3 reply, have stayed at Raro Backpackers twice now - once at hillside and last year at beachside. Booked again for 10 days in March.
We are in our mid forties and found it quiet most nights - tempted to join in on the noisey nights - if you can't have fun on holiday when can ya!!
Recommend highly.

Vara's is well known by the locals as a party place. Most people who stay there are the younger folks, aka party animals. If you go on the bus often, you'll notice the "lousy" people are most likely to get off at Vara's. If you like some peace and quiet, it is better to stay somewhere else.