The Rarotongan Beach Resort

Hi

Looking to head back to Rarotonga for a family holiday early next year, previously we have stayed at the Rarotongan Beach Resort in 2003 & 2004.

2003 was awesome but in 2004 some areas of the resort were a little tardy including our room and service from some departments was slow such as housekeeping arriving at 5pm in the evening to replenish towels make beds etc. I dont think this is acceptable for a 4 star resort and it wasnt school holidays, the resort was no more than half full. The beautiful beach and great activities for a family including the kids club made up for it and we still on the whole enjoyed our trip.

We now have a teenager and a 9 yr old to amuse and I believe the resort is offerening some sort of "teen activities programme" too which is very appealing however I am still hearing of problems along the same lines plus some other issues with regards to the food so wonder what is really happening down there? Anyone been recently or know first hand what its like? Have read reviews on Trip Advisor and for every good one theres a bad one!

We love Rarotonga but want somewhere clean with a good sized pool and a great beach with snorkelling that caters for families. Any ideas? or is the Rarotongan still our best bet?

thanks

Pommiegirl

This place is great. Arguably better snorkeling than the Rarotongan, a much more interesting coastline to explore, walking distance to some of Rarotonga's best resturants and your own maid/chef service. The catch is the rates.

Crossie, you have a bigger budget than Papa Mike, your lodging is spectacular but a bit stratopheric in pricing.

There was a similar post about a month ago "Cooks in March" I suggest you go back and find that post as there were several suggestions for a family.

Papa Mike

Who ever said the Rarotonga was a "four star" resort--other than the owner!!!

It's barely three stars, at best.

You should probably consider Pacific Resort at Muri Beach. Also check www.ck for other places.

Thanks guys for your input.......

Crossie - Island Bay Villas look very nice....... maybe a tad on the pricey side for our budget and maybe a little quiet for us with the kids and only 2 properties.

Papa Mike - Re earlier post, thanks for link have found a few places there that might offer an alternative to the Rarotongan

Raro - Re "4 star resort" chuckle chuckle believe it or not its actually got 4 & half stars in the latest travel brochures! LOL and price wise its definitely up there, I think you nailed it home for me Raro and we will be looking at staying somewhere else on the island this trip.

Cheers

Pommiegirl

It has Mr and Mrs Crossie's art on the walls, thats the closest we get to staying at Island Bay Villas.

Pommiegirl---After I built my Shangri-La Beach Cottages at Muri Beach, I asked the CI Tourist Office if there was a rating system, with stars, diamonds, etc. Thry said there was not.
So, I asked them if I could advertise Shangri-La as a five-star place, as we had air-con, jacuzzis in each unit, large swimming pool, etc. They said it was up to me, I could call it whatever I wanted.

As it was nice, but not five-star, even to me, I declined to list it as "five-star" in my ads or on any website. I didn't list it as any star, just a nice upscale place.

Then a few years later I noticed a few of the other places---which were not as nice as mine but any standard used---starting to call themselves "four-star" and "five-star"---even though they were really two-star and maybe three-star, and had been that way for years!!!

There is NO indepedent rating system used for places in the Cooks. Any place that lists itself with a star is just defining it that way themselves.

And what is even worse, there are some NZ travel shows on TV which are actually produced by large travel wholesalers, who use these "travel programs" to basically just push the dozen or so properties that they represent, and get high commissions from!

The best one can do is go by word of mouth, and websites like www.tripadvisor.com . For the latter, discount the top 10% of reviews as probably by friends, and discount the bottom 10% as being by guests who would not be satisfied anywhere. The middle 80%--assuming it has about ten or more reviews---will give you a good idea of what the place is like. [Also, as you have done, ask here!

Interesting & thanks for the insight Raro - you learn something everyday. We still can't agree on a property, Bit of time yet though not travelling till March.

Pommiegirl

You may want to check out the Pacific Resort! It's really clean, and it's got one of the best beach locations!