Rarotonga hotels & places to stay

Belinda, Andrew, Jone, Lisa and the entire Rumours family are the most exceptional hospitality organization we've ever experienced while vacationing internationally. They truly go out of their way to express their "island love" and it makes a huge impact on the level of enjoyment and relaxation experienced while on the island. They made arrangements for our every need from the moment we arrived at airport where Jone picked us up, to all our day trips until the final drive back to airport for departure. Daily breakfast delivery with a smile, cleaning of the villa (we stayed in Villa 4) and honoring our special requests made this the most relaxing vacation we've ever experienced in our lives. Spend the money & have an unforgettable vacation in paradise! Villa 4 has a pool, spa, 2 master bedrooms, full kitchen with espresso maker, living room, front and back lounge areas and dining table inside villa and outside on rear patio just steps from water! The kayaks are waiting 4u to jump on!

This hotel is all lies. There is no Ocean View, you'll get 1% of water view from your patio, and it's the swimming pool. If you happen to get the villas further back, you're screwed for good. Also, if you book the room for more than $100 a night, you should've just waited last minute. Here are the details: 1. All the rooms used to have ocean views until the nextdoor neighbors built buildings and completely blocked the view with fences. Don't believe me? Ask the locals. This is not a new problem. 2. Fern, the manager is a manipulative liar who is very articulate and knows how to put you down if you complain. She'll make it seem like it was your fault for believing the room actually comes with an ocean view. She was actually fired by the neighbors after they bought the other half of the property (that actually have the ocean view). She knows what she's doing and it's disgusting that she keeps manipulating people into booking this property. 3. My neighbors only paid $100 a day instead of $200 a day because they booked last minute. Don't ever pay full price. Even half price isn't worth it, according to our neighbors. Their bathroom doors were broken and our place was not clean at all. No manager to be found on site. They visit maybe 2 hours a day and you're on your own, sunshine or storm. Read the descriptions properly and look at the pictures. The title of the room is a complete lie. Ocean view is a mental concept, the only ocean you'll see is if you walk all the way down to the swimming pool.

I spent a week here on my first trip to the Cook Islands. The hotel is a very well-run and intimate place to enjoy the beauty of the island. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable. We were very fortunate to get a upgrade to the ocean view bungalow, where we could watch the waves crash from the patio during the day, and had direct access to the always enjoyable beach bar and restaurant at night. They offer a wide assortment of delicious cocktails, and every day has a different theme for dinner at the restaurant. They also offer a very good selection of izakaya-style Japanese food at the beach bar. The staff were very pleasant and engaging, while the owners went out of their way to make sure that we were satisfied with our stay. The location is right across from a mini market, which offers plenty of snack options and necessities. It is a short drive to the airport and they have free parking. I will definitely return on my next trip to Rarotonga. I will absolu

We asked for a great break for a young family (our little guy is 11 months old). We loved the place. They provided a lovely comfortable portable cot and our little guy loved it. The rooms were great and had a small bar fridge for milk and food for our son. The shower and toilet were good, without being amazing. The gardens and surrounds at the property were fabulous. We recommend the beers and burgers at the fishing club for dinner just down about 3 doors and 5 mins walk from Club Raro, although all the meals at the hotel were value for money at lunch and dinner. We also recommend the beers on offer at the hotel, the Tui and Stein Lager. The continental breakfast was our only complaint, way to expensive for what was on offer $21 per person daily or included in some rooms). The only other piece of feedback is perhaps having ceiling fans in the reception area, it was very hot. That said, the A/C and fan in our room were perfect for the warmer weather and kept us fantastically comfortable. All our tours were booked pre-leaving Australia through Viator online, but there is a tours desk in the hotel that will do it all for you if you decide to book in Cook Islands, and they all collect you from the hotel and drop you back. The most recommended trips we did was the Dinner and Cultural show at Te Vara Nui and the Progressive Dinner tour. We would definitely recommend the location and the hotel to anyone we knew with young children. The staff were so helpful and accommodating, not to mention genuinely friendly to our young son. Big thumbs up. Believe the hype.

Celebrated my birthday with my family by travelling to the Cook Islands and staying at the Muri Beach Club Hotel which was fantastic. Lovely accommodation that had everything needed for a restful stay which was helped by this hotel having an over 18 policy for all residents. Perfect location on Muri beach lagoon with snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding all available at your doorstep. Beautiful pool and surrounds. We will be back!

Thoroughly enjoyed a return visit to Rarotonga after 15 years! Cooks Oasis was an excellent choice. Christine and Kiel were very pleasant and helpful and always working hard to keep the place clean and tidy. We enjoyed their company and advice. There was lots of equipment to use on the beach such as snorkels, shoes, kayaks, chairs and even buckets and spades! The villa was very well equipped too.

Very happy with my 4 night stay, an older place but redone and clean, has a comfortable bed and good cooking facillities when i purchased some fresh fish and veges from the markets. Just out of town but easy access to Muri and South beaches and to town for shopping, bars, cafes etc. Bus stops at gate but own transport better to get around. Use of nearby (walking distance) resort , club and shops available. Friendly and helpful staff. Good value. Would use again

Believe it or not this was one of the few places on Agoda that was available at the time of booking. It was our first time seeing this place. It had a high rating and the reviews were sure promising. As we were travelling with children we were looking for a place best suited for our group - the best decision ever! I booked for 2 adults as the rest of us were catching a flight out to Auk that evening. Shannon the host was waiting for us. We got in late and despite that she was super friendly and made us allllllll feel at home. We can't thank you enough Shannon. It was heartwarming to see my family relaxed and just overall fall inlove with the place. I can't brag enough how perfect this place was. We have found our home in Rarotonga! Thank you Kia Orana Villas you have been amazing - our top recommendation will spread the word!

Ikurangi is amazing. If you're considering staying here, do it! The staff are amazing and genuinely lovely people, the breakfast each morning is always fresh and delicious, and staying in a big beautiful tent was brilliant. We loved riding bikes all over the island instead of renting a car or scooter, and were even offered rides into town by the staff on occasion. Eco-toursim done right. It's not overdone or packed with all kinds of wasteful features, it's a simple and beautiful place to stay that will appeal to people who want to spend time outside and in the beautiful Raro climate. We will definitely be going back.

Manuia is a beautiful resort with an outstanding location. The gardens are lovely, the lagoon that it is on is beautiful and the location is extremely handy to other restaurants, resorts, the main town and the airport. That said, there were a few things that niggled me... We paid over $400 per night for a garden room, booked months ago and yet got put in the room at the very back of the resort that initially had an airconditioner that didn't work (sprayed me with water during the night) and wifi that didn't reach the room. I will say however that both were addressed very swiftly and satisfactorily by Sue who is the GM there. However, at that price, I would have expected both things to be checked and maintained regularly. I was also a bit put off by the mouldy outdoor shower, and the dirty, stained curtains in what was otherwise a lovely, spacious and clean space. The pool/beach area is stunning and very well kept with lots of loungers and bean bags to sit on to watch the beautiful sunset. I would say however that the restaurant/bar situation does let the resort down. The restaurant is run/owned (?) completely separately and while we loved the bar manager and the food at dinner was amazing, there were problems with the chargebacks to the room which were unable to be sorted by the resort staff and appeared to be the result of poor communication by the restaurant staff. Noone from the restaurant would come out to the pool area and offer to take drinks orders, you had to go into the bar and do it and the staff just seemed to be poorly trained which reflected badly on the resort. Last but not least - the breakfast. Not at all what I would expect from a 4-4.5 star hotel. Very basic with very little variety. From what we saw, there are some stunning sources of delicious pastries, fruit and other foods on the island but the breakfast here felt like I was in a small motel in Hamilton NZ, not an exotic resort in Rarotonga that I was paying $400 a night for. Unfortunately i

We loved having a kitchen outfitted with what we needed to make our own breakfasts with a full size refrigerator, a microwave and an electric kettle. The bungalow was comfortable, great water pressure in the shower, and a nice view. These bungalows are best suited to low-maintenance travelers. There are no on site staff, no check in desk, you just look for a unit with your name on it when you arrive. If you don't see one with your name on it, then your room isn't ready yet. This establishment is loosely connected to the Muri beach club resort down the hill. When our room wasn't ready, the staff there let us hang out in their lounge. You can use their pool or beach if you patronize the bar. The staff was really friendly and understanding. That went a long way for us since we had arrived on an overnight flight and were exhausted. We really enjoyed our stay and would happily stay again. Ps there are roosters onsite, as everywhere on Raro and yup, they will crow.

Friendly, helpful service. Caryn really went above and beyond both leading up to and during our stay. She made our welcome to rarotonga wonderful. The bungalows have everything you need for a holiday with great views and only 10m from the water's edge. You can catch the bus right at the front of the property to anywhere you need to go. We were at the airport in 20 mins. We would definately stay again.

We stayed at the Sunset Resort on Raro, for 10 days for our honeymoon back in June 2016. Initially from the get go, we were unsure, yet excited as we had never visited Rarotonga before & knew next to nobody who had been, from all the way over in little old Perth, Australia. Right from when we landed (after 2 long red eye flights...), we were greeted by Kimi, who's warm personality set the tone for what was a magical stay. The hotel itself was cosy, yet private enough to enjoy your own space without interruptions. The surrounds & gardens were beautifully maintained & cleanliness was of a high standard. We stayed in a Poolside Studio room on the ground floor & couldn't fault it. Our days were made that little bit more magical, by the consistent visits from the resident dog, cats & the much loved favourites, the chickens & chicks! The food & drinks were of high standard - we recommend the island fries, the drum beat cocktail & also the buffet & show dinner combo (Sunday) was fantastic & really worth the money. We are vegans & had no trouble at all satisfying our bellies with quality food! Staff were great & always willing to help when needed & they never intruded in on your personal space, which made the stay more relaxing. Pools were a touch chilly to get used to, but it grows on you after a few days...! The lagoon situated on the beach of the resort, is a great alternative with crystal, clear waters & good marine life. Reef shoes are complimentary at the resort as well. The highlight & a must do for those staying, would be watching the amazing sunsets, that the resort gets to witness. Park yourself in a hammock with a bottle of wine or a bucket of beers & immerse yourself with such tranquillity & relaxation. We did this EVERY night from about 4 until 6 & it represents the feeling that the Sunset Resort portrays itself on! Thanks a million Sunset Resort! We can not wait to visit again, sometime in the not to distant future! David & Claire Milton. PS -

My wife and I had an amazing time at Muri Shores, matches perfectly with the laid back relaxed nature of Rarotonga. Fantastic location right on the shores of Muri Lagoon and in amongst some of the best dining locations in Raro (including having the nights markets right on the back doorstep - although far enough away from the noise). Nothing better than waking up here knowing you have nowhere to go for the day as you are mere steps to the water from your own private deck. Highly Recommend!

from the moment we were picked up from the airport we felt welcome. we staied at the sanctury which is adult only. our stay was everything and even more we had imagend. the room was beautiful and had fresh flowers. it was so quiet and pieceful. we loved the selection of cocktails ans had a great evening by the pool, (which also had a swim up bar :))with new made friends. the restaurant had the most amazing food, we couldn't get enough of it. we were also very impressed with the service and the friendlyness of the staff. rarotonga is a great place to have a holiday. and this hotel is definetly somewere you want to stay. we will be back.

We spent 8 nights at Crown Beach on our honeymoon and loved every moment of it. Pick up from the airport was simple. When we arrived we were told we had been upgraded to a courtyard pool suite which was amazing and had been beautifully presented with petals and candles. We loved having the complimentary breakfast by the beach every morning and watching the sunset from the hammock on the beach every evening. Not having any kids around the resort was also fantastic for us. It was very convenient being able to book tours and scooter hire from the resort. We also loved the amazing snorkelling straight off the beach, and even saw a whale! The weather was quite windy durin our stay however we found the west side of the island where Crown Beach is located was much more sheltered than other parts of the island. After having a bit of a look at other places on Rarotonga we personally think Crown Beach is the best place to stay on the island. Highly recommend it for a romantic escape!

I suspect the people leaving bad reviews are used to staying in luxury resorts. If you're travelling on a budget, Raina Beach Apartments is a great place to base yourself. The room was enormous, it's in a great location with a beach nearby and a delicious food truck to pick up fish sandwiches for lunch, and the staff were very welcoming. One of my favourite places I stayed in the Cook Islands.

My family and I (5 adults, 1 child) stayed at this pool villa for 8 days. The wonderful hosts were warm and welcoming and will go out of their way to accommodate you. The home is fairly spacious with two large separate living areas and a fully functional kitchen. Easily accommodates 8 adults. The best features are the large pool and outdoor shower. Centrally located, only 5-10 minutes from the airport with a 24/7 general store at the end of the street. Usually I prefer the comforts of a hotel stay HOWEVER this is a much better option when staying in Rarotonga and you will not be disappointed.

Whilst I realize these are self serviced bungalows it was not clear that one is required to arrange for replacement towels after four days or that one should ask for a change of sheets after day seven. Also milk, tea, coffee was never replenished. Somewhat disappointed that no one was present to say goodbye after being resident for 12 days and our 10am departure had been confirmed the previous day.

If you love travelling with your family , then this is the place for you. Everything at your finger tips, kids pool, beach, restaurant,sightseeing . We had the breakfast included in our package which was Continental breakfast, We hire a motorbike to get around Rarotonga. You have to go into town to the Police station and sit a theory and a practical for $90.00 so try get in early, takes about 2 hours all up. you have to go to motorcycle shop to select a bike, we went to the Polynesian next to cop station, you can return your bike at the hotel as they are there as well. 5 to 7 days is enough to see everything in Rarotonga. go to the Koka boat cruises,awesome hospitality, entertainment and worth the money.

Hotel looked like deserted when we arrived. Leafs everywhere and not a soul around. It was low season but still... Also, the caretaker (sweating shirtless man) was not expecting us. We waited over an hour for someone to show up. There was a phone on the desk table but no contact info what so ever. We managed to find phone number and reached the manager. She explained something about her recenlty ended holiday, even though we had made the reservation over 6 months earlier. The caretaker wasnt really helpful or friendly. He announced that breakfast going to be served 8.30 am sharp. If you missed this cue, by 9.00 am the plate would be full of ants so we were pretty much compelled to wake up early. Also, late checkout was way too expensive compared to any reasonable price. We had to leave Raina 10 AM when our flight was leaving 01.00am the following night. It would have been nice to at least leave our luggage to Raina as the baggage lockers at the airport were out of order. But no. Kitchen lacks utensils but otherwise is very well equipped. If we had not had our gas lighter with Us, it would have been impossible to cook on the stove since the piezo did not work. But we had our peaceful three nights in great weather, so we didnt care about any cons. Raina lagoon villas seem to have seen its prime a couple of years ago, now it is going starting to need complete overhaul. Maybe some other accommodation can offer better experience for less money.

came for a work trip and was upgraded to the main islander property 1) opposite side of the island from avarua. ~25 mins by bus..still only 16km and not hard to bike (its all flat) back to avarua 2) simple basic kitchen well stocked with pots/pans/dishes, but very few basic things (outside of salt/pepper). luckily walking distance to a local grocery store...most basic things there so can put together a yummy meal. 3) 2 bedrooms--both overlook the lagoon...i was there in fall and it was temperature wise quite nice with the windows/fan 4)situated basically next to two other properties...and a little further up the beach a beach resort...which means there are very few people...i basically felt like i had a private beach with a private lagoon...snorkeled daily (equipment a bit subpar but functional...no flippers but not really necessary since you can kind of float around tons of reef/fishes without going very far and not dealing with much of a current. good kayak :-)...i rarely saw other people on the beach. can walk in both directions for a few km and still only see a few people. 5) nearby not many restaurants...again, goes with #4..but there was a nice restaurant up on the beach about an 8 minute walk from cottage and a restaurant at the resort that was about a 2 minute walk away. 6)pick up/drop off no problem 7) overall, beautiful location, nice property, and the kitchen definitely helped keep the budget reasonable since even just eating breakfast at home saved a ton (things are pricey in the cook islands).

very nice hotel in such a great location. only few steps away from the bus stop, walking distance to shops/restaurants/market in the main town. very clean and comfortable rooms; and for the price, you can't find a better deal on rarotonga. you can catch the bus and be at the best beach (muri) in 15 minutes, spend a day there and come back on a later bus (23:00). their lounge room is beautiful and equipped with everything you can possibly need, including a great selection of books about rarotonga. the owners are amazingly helpful and nice! they let me check out at 21:00 for my late flight, which is unheard of at any other hotel (even if the room is not booked). thank you so much for such a wonderful stay!!