Where to go for a months hoilday

We are planning a months hoilday well in advance for Dec. 2015 . We are a family with two teenagers they will be 17 and 15 when we go !! Initially we had decided to go to the Cook Islands in Sep. 2015 as the weather and flowers are perfect on Aitutaki at that time of the year.... (I lived there for a year in 1989 !!) but school is a problem ... hence our decision to go in Dec but it is very hot and humid at that time of the year in the Cooks. Than I read that Palau has their dry season durning Dec. and I have been reading about where to go and stay .... and I came across a post by Buffybot_in_beirut where he said that Raro and Aitutaki are so much better that Palau !!! SO I'm in a dilemma where to go !! can anyone give me advice....we love snorkling, getting to know the locals and their culture , good food ..lots of fish... and relaxing on the beach . We really want to stay in a bungalow on the beach , if we where going to Aitutaki we would stay in the Aitutaki Beach Villas. We live in Italy and we have already been to Moorea , Seychelles, Thailand and Cuba . I would really appreciate any advice and idea of where to go ...Philippines..Bali....Palau..etc..!! Thank you Holly

Edited by: hollybell

Edited by: hollybell

We would recommend Matriki Beach Huts on Aitutaki .http://www.matriki.com/
We stayed next door but Matriki was the place to be.

Split your stay between Rarotonga and Aitutaki. As you have lived on Aitutaki, you'll know how friendly people are and something of the laid-back Polynesian lifestyle they lead.

Matriki or Aitutaki Beach Villas are good choices. But also look at Ootu Villa or Ootu Beach House because the SE breezes are welcome during December. May need to hire a couple of scooters or pushbikes to arrange shopping trips, but easily done in Ootu.

On Rarotonga, there are a number of s/c villas located in Vaimaanga and Titikaveka (SE areas) - for the breeze and swimming. Tikioki marine reserve is tops for swimming and snorkelling. There are some reasonably priced bungalows just across the road from the marine reserve around the café Fruits of Rarotonga. Use the local buses to get into town when needed.

Edited by: lagoon

Kia Orana , thanks for your good advice we were planning to stay two our three nights on Raro , I was also thinking of going to Mauke Tiare Cottages for 3 or 4 night and 2 nights on Atiu , then the rest of our time on Aitutaki ! Do you know if the flights are very expensive ? And where would be a good place to stay on Atiu , I remember in 89/90 we stayed on the top of the island , can't remember the name !! Thanks again :)

I find the domestic flights expensive - but Im a resident of Rarotonga. Suggest you contact Jetsave Travel and Island Hopper Vacations, on Rarotonga, to enquire about an outer island package including accommodation.

I stayed at Atiu Villas, and found this place met my needs very well. Licenced bar-dining, s/c villas, swim pool, tennis and lots of space. Other places include Kia Orana Bungalows, Kopeka Lodge, Taparere Lodge, Atiu Tours Homestay. All are inland on the central plateau.

You can fly between Atiu and Aitutaki, but may have to fly back to Rarotonga from Mauke.

We usually stay with Marshall Humphreys on Atiu, he's great!. If you stay with Roger at Atiu Villas be sure a book a cave tour with Marshall. You'll love Tiare Cottages with Ta and Teata. Ask them to take you to the banyan tree. Tell them Ray and Nancy said Hi. For snorkeling you'll need to take gear with you to both islands.

Thank you both for your advice. I have seen the Banyan tree but that was 24 years ago !! I was 20 then so I guest its even bigger now !! any names of Bungalows on Raro ??
Tena Korua

My only recent experience is for short stays between flights. We usually stay at the Palm Grove for that. If I were spending time on Raro I'd probably opt for the Muri Beach area.

I'd recommend a phone call vs email for any bookings on Raro. You'll get a better deal.

The inter-island flights on Air Raro are expensive. But I think it's worth it if you want to get away from the mainstream tourists and get to know the locals. Once you get to the less-traveled outer islands you'll spend a lot less money than you would on Aitutaki and Raro. This makes short trips expensive but for longer stays you'll spend less. We can go from the US, stay on an outer island for a month and spend less than $7500USD total.

On Mauke fresh Tuna, Wahoo and reef fish cost $6NZ/kg. from the fishermen. Meet them at the harbor when they come in or ask your host to help you. Most local fruits and produce cost less than Raro and you buy them from one of the four shops or from the growers themselves. The hardest thing is finding the shops and chasing down the growers..... Everything is fresh.

For value, the s/c bungalows at Mount View Lodges in Ooa (north east Raro) can't be beaten.

The beachfront studios at Nikao Beach Bungalows are on the beachfront, with good facilities surrounding them. The 2 br villa set back from the beach has lagoon views between the studios. Short walk to the airport, 24 hr store opposite.

On the south side, Maiana Beach Bungalows near Titikaveka occupy an excellent spot on edge of the lagoon.

I've never been to cook islands (though sounds amazing), but i assume that getting there from Italy would be very expensive.
What about the Caribbean? i think Costa Rica is also a great family vacation.

Edited by: AnnaBurg