Cook Islands Question

I'll be in the Cooks in May and am planning on renting a little beach cottage on Rarotonga for a week. Is it imperative that i get one with screens--this Dengue fever business seems rather unappealling. Thanks in advance for your advisement.

I think you will find that most bugalow/cottages will be screened and while not imperative, it is preferable. If you are staying on or near the beach the mossies are less prevelent. I am not aware of any large outbreak of Dengue fever at this time, but it is always a concern in the islands.

Papa Mike
[http://www.mikehollywood.com]

Most dengue fever stuff is every few yrs, and is usually pretty low by May (beginning of the cooler season) during the yrs it hits. But mozzie bites can still be a pain in the neck, or wherever.

Make sure you ask about insect screens. Many of the cheaper places for rent do NOT have insect screens.

As mike said, not many mozzies right on the beach, as there is usually a breeze due to the difference in temperature between the lagoon/ocean and the land. But if you are on the inland side of the main road, theat's where the taro patches (swamps) are, so you will get more mozzies. So, look for a place on the beach, or on the beach side of the main road, and ask about mozzie screens.

whether in May is nice, the humidity of Nov-April is gone, and it is a little cooler at night.