Visiting Aitutaki, etc

My husband and I are planning a trip to the Cook Islands in late March/early April. I was actually online searching for accommodations in Aitutaki last week at about the same time the cyclone hit. Does anyone have an idea of whether it will do more harm than good to continue with our plan to visit? We would be happy to help out if there's anything we can do but we don't want to come be tourists if it's not yet appropriate. Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated.

I suggest you read this thread, where the people who know the country are encouraging potential tourists to go, as most of the accommodation is intact.

I would suggest going to the Tripadvisor Cook Islands forum for up to date information.

All indications are that things should be pretty well cleaned up by then. Residential reconstruction will be taking place, but 90% of the tourism lodgings received only roof and landscaping damage. As suggested above read my previous post or Trip Advisor Posts.

Papa Mike

I'd go, as most accommodations seem to be open. You might want to bring a little back-up food, however, as they may not be up to all choices and amounts by the time you go. Just some pasta, canned food, etc.,

I was on Aitutaki when the cyclone hit. I was staying at Rino's Beach Bungalows. The main house lost its roof, but the bungalows was ok.

It seemed that most tourist facilities were OK (a damaged roof here and there), it was the village on the lagoon side that got hit. Not a single house was undamaged, some were even totally demolished. There was of course no water nor electricity the day after.

Please go, the community need the tourist income to rebuild, but don't expect paradise settings (most palm had lost the majority of leafs and every single fruit tree was stripped naked).