Advice on where to go July August

Hi there

Looking for advice on a good place to go for a 7-10 day relaxing holiday in July-August.

We are a middle-aged couple travelling on a budget. Last years holiday was to Kota Kinabalu costing about A$3000 all up including airfares so around the same.

This year is more complicated because one of us is flying ex Melbourne the other ex Auckland or Wellington so a destination needs to be roughly as easy to get to from both starting points.

Interested in - lying on a beach plus snorkelling, kayaking (?); eating different from home; markets; nature stuff - day bush walks/tramping; different culture.

Accommodation expectations - motel standard is fine or even something like fales in Samoa, but not dormitories

Been looking at Samoa or Cook Islands or Fiji (but Fiji seems a bit out of our price range) but open to suggestions (even outside the area covered by this forum)

Thanks for your advice

Lee

South of the equator is best at that time of year. Consider Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well, and look for accommodation specials. Fiji would probably be the best as far as distance from each country is concerned.

I think you will really enjoy the Cook Islands if this destination becomes your choice. Rarotonga has some very nice accommodation spread around the entire island. If your budget for 2012 is a similar price, converting your currency to NZ dollars will extend your wallet. I suggest a s/c villa somewhere on/near the bechfront so that you can prepare some of your own meals with an occassional splurge on an island night buffet and floorshow or to a cafe when you feel like a meal out. Have a look at Lagoon Breeze Villas, Sunhaven, Palm Grove, Beachcomber, Aroa Beachside Inn and Cooks Oasis to name but a few accommodation places and handy to licenced restaurants.

The beauty of Raro is that you have the freedom of the island to explore your interests including lagoon areas to kayak, swim, snorkle or take it easy on a picturesque sandy beach. There are a number of places to hike inland as well as to stroll around the plantations, and home gardens. If you are fit and able, the cross-Rarotonga trek makes for a great day out. Splendid views of the island from atop the Needle. There are deep sea fishing trips, whale watching tours, cultural villages, arts and crafts displays, two history museums, and nice shops to browse around. Do try our local wine and boutqiue beers. The Punanga Nui market-place on Saturday morning buzzes with fruit, veg, cooked platters, tropical plant sales, artworks, free entertainment and famous Cook islands drumming!

There is a direct flight from Sydney to Rarotonga weekly. There are near daily flights from Auckland to Rarotonga with good connections from Australia. Since you will both be travelling in a common direction it would make sense for your bookings to coincide so that you both meet up airside at Auckland airport for a joint departure. Lots of fun being able to greet each other to travel together on both flights. on Rarotonga there is a good public bus service, but hiring a car is easy and affordable. I recommend a day-trip to the gorgeous island of Aitutaki which will include a lagoon cruise on arguably one of the most scenic lagoons in the world.

If you require suggestions for places to stay on Rarotonga, by all means post again.

I would say Aitutaki deserves more than just a day trip. It's much quiter than Rarotonga, which get a lot of tourists, and frankly I liked it better.

I hear what you are saying in praise of Aitutaki. However, the cost of airfares, aside from the day trip, are expensive. Then there is the need to seek accommodation as well. When travellers are on a budget, I think it's better to secure a villa on Rarotonga for the entire stay then consider taking the day-trip to Aitutaki. The day-trip includes airport transfers, return flights, a short safari tour, a lagoon cruise, snorkelling opportunity (equipment supplied) and a delicious buffet lunch.

Aitutaki is beautiful, but there is no public bus service like Rarotonga. The cost of imported foods is more expensive than Rarotonga and there is a limited selection of meats and groceries. Whereas Rarotonga has quite a wide range of lovely accommodation and cafes, as well as more food stores and supermarkets. Besides it's easier to get around if visitors dont want to hire a car. Hiring a car is cheaper on Rarotonga compared to Aitutaki. Not all visitors are keen to ride scooters, although this activity is easier to undertake on Aitutaki.

Lagoon is right... Aitutaki is more expensive, if you don't take the day trip to Aitutaki. But.... if you can stretch your budget just a bit, here's a suggested itinerary with costs for two people:

Aitutaki 1 week
Air New Zealand to Aitutaki from Auckland & return for $1991. That's just $856 more than roundtrip AKL-RAR.
You can get 6 days in a beachfront bungalow at Paradise Cove for $660.
You can rent a scooter for 5 days for $20/day = $100
Entertainment for $100/day (generous) = $600
Food for $50/day (doable) = $300
Misc costs $25/day =$150
Total for Aitutaki = NZ$3801

Raro w/Aitutaki Day Trip
AKL-RARO-AKL on Air NZ = $1135
Lodging 6 days = $900
No scooter or car hire = $00
Entertainment = $600
Meals = $300
Misc = $150
Aitutaki Day Trip = $990
Total Raro = NZ$4075

Regardless of which one you do, the Cooks are a great place to visit.

Virgin Australia is showing cheaper fares for peak season - July & August. I've just taken a look at Vaikoi 1 br on Rarotonga and its showing $130 per night. This is a very nice property and so close to Aroa beach as well as several restaurants in the area - 3 are licenced within 1 km of the property. If you only want to go somewhere for a tropical stay and relaxation this would be affordable. Aroa Kainga is another property in the same general locality of Kavera - Aroa beachfront. Most private rental villas offer discounts for a 7 day uninterrupted stay.

Like H200h says, the entertainment figure he provides is generous. I doubt many visitors on holiday for some quiet R & R would spend this much, as he identifies. Maybe one island night and a lagoon cruise at Muri if you are that keen for an organised snorkelling tour. Otherwise, splurge on one island night (dinner and show), use the bus service ($7.00 each return trip to town - 10 trip concession ticket available), buy meat from Prime Foods, fresh fish, salad veg and fresh fruit, prepare meals at home and enjoy a cafe meal on occassion. Visit the Flying Boat at the fishing club when you feel like some company - wine per glass is $3.50 and beer similar price during happy hour (4 - 7pm). If Aitutaki is beyond the budget for 2012, another time may suit you better.

It may well be that the direct flight from Sydney to Rarotonga on Air NZ works out cheaper than a transit in Auckland. Possibly Wellington to RAR is the same with the extra cost involved for the domestic flight when booking an international through fare.

@ lagoon and @H2ooh - thanks a lots for your replies and the detailed advice - especially with the costings The Cook Islands is looking good.

@Ozziegiraffe - I spent some time looking at the Solomons and Vanuatu online after your suggestions. The Solomons seems hard to get to from NZ - maybe another time. We're keeping an eye on Vanuatu. My partner was 2 years in PNG a while back so she was particularly interested.

Thanks a heap to all for the advice and your time

Lee

From New Zealand , you would need to travel via Fiji or Brisbane to get to Solomon Islands.

There are a number of other accommodation properties in the same price range, leeau. If you have further queries regarding Rarotonga accommodation names and locality, let us know. By the way, return airport transfers within the Cook Islands can be arranged through your accommodator.

I wouldve thought that Fiji is considerably cheaper than Cook Is
Airfares - MEL-NAN are $678 return on Virgin and
AKL-NAN return on Air P{acific, Air NZ and Qantas are all available for less than that

The choice of accom in Fiji is very wide and a stay on a Yasawa Is would be a really lovely trip, well within budget (incl all meals usually)