The Cook Islands
Paddleboarding
Aitutaki Lagoon Resort
The Cook Islands
Kia Orana! Located just west of French Polynesia, the Cooks are just as pretty but without the language barrier and it’s a less expensive destination besides. The Cooks are also a place out of time. Imagine Hawaii when Waikiki was still a swamp. There are no large hotels here, nothing more than 2 stories tall, and almost no traffic on almost no roads. All the islanders attend church on Sunday and wear their finest, and if you get a chance to attend you are more than welcome so please do. The service is mostly singing and the Cook Islanders sure can sing.
Besides that, the Cooks have some of the South Pacific’s best beaches and great public transportation so getting around is easy and there’s no need for a rental car. Finally, Rarotonga, the main island where the international airport is located, also makes a great stopover destination especially on the way to or home from New Zealand.
Plan
Aitutaki Resort
Best time to visit: The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific, so their seasons are opposite ours (when it’s summer here it’s winter there). Hot and humid in the summer, usually gorgeous in the winter, which being our summer is when most honeymoons take place.
Stay
Muri Beach Club
Start Planning your trip!
Rick Garrett
I’m a Professional Travel Adviser with over 40 years of travel industry experience. The countries I specialize in include Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, French Polynesia (aka Tahiti), and the Cook Islands. I’ve made dozens of trips to the South Pacific so am able to provide you with first hand knowledge and experience while creating the custom itinerary that is perfect for YOU, and then take care of everything from A to Z, before, during and after your amazing Down Under adventure. Because the journeys I create for my clients are born out of my desire to share my authentic travel experiences, each one is unique, and designed to match your interests, tastes and budget.