honeymoon on Rarotonga and Aitutaki

hi

On a backpacking trip in 2005, I spent a week on the Cook Islands - on Rarotonga (Vara's guesthouse) with a day trip to Aitutaki - and fell in the love with the place.

I'm getting married in late June next year and want go back with my fiance on our honeymoon - hopefully a week on Aitutaki and a week on Rarotonga. I have some questions:

• I have memories of everywhere being expensive, but as I was backpacking I cooked my own meals. How much (in £s) should we expect to pay per day for meals etc?
  For flights and 4 hotels, is it possible to fly there from the UK and stay somewhere lovely for under £3,500? Our budget for the honeymoon including food is £5k I think.
• If anyone has any advice on where to stay within this price range that would be great. Is it possible to stay somewhere on Aitutaki on stilts on the water for this kind of budget?

Thanks so much
Hannah

We have been to The Cook Islands twice but always on a tighter budget than the one you have. I would suggest you have a look at www.tripadvisor.com for their forums. A lot of the posters there will be more familiar with the resorts that appeal to honeymooners and should be able to help you with cost estimates. You can also have a look at the hotel reviews there, some of them will have approximate costs as well. Best wishes for a great honeymoon!

Etu Moana is probably the best value for honeymoon accomodation on Aitutaki. It is the west side of the island with beautiful sunsets and a nice evening breeze. Great snorkeling 20 meters offshore. You can walk down the beach to Pacific Resort (very expensive) and have a drink at the beachside bar and enjoy the ambience without paying big $$$ to stay there. The buggier side of the island has Aitutaki Lagoon Resort with a few bungalows over the water on stilts, but it's very expensive.