The budget travel guide for your trip without any of the skimping.
It’s about time I got out of the house more but instead I actually just left the country for a little while. Rarotonga is the main island of the Cook Islands located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s local language is Cook Islands Maori and generally New Zealand dollars are accepted there but they do have their own currency, the Cook Islands dollar. Rarotonga has a relaxed and accomodating atmosphere and the local people are very friendly. However, there are a certain number of things that are useful to know before you travel to the Cooks. I have compiled a little list of handy tips and tricks on what to pack and what you should expect.
Packing Essentials
Suncream and Bug Spray
These two things are a must. In particular, if you are anything like me with British skin and very prone to burning and furiously peeling thereafter, suncream will be your best friend. Secondly, bug spray is an essential. Given that the islands have high humidity levels and a large amount of forest covering the land, bugs are inevitable, as are bites.
Swimming Gear
This one would be a shame to leave behind. You know when people say “oh my goodness it was like swimming in a bath!”, in this case they aren’t kidding. It was almost suspiciously warm by the end of the day. Therefore, you will want your bikini or your trunks to jump in the water at the peak of a hot day.
Water Bottles
The water supply in Rarotonga is often questionable. To be safe it is always smart to take a water bottle or two along with you to fill up at the water filter stations. Most hotels and Airbnbs will have filtered water but it is better to be safe than sorry. The last thing you want is to be sick and stuck in the bathroom the entire duration of your holiday!
Rock/Reef Shoes
I found this one to be really reassuring when snorkelling. Although the beaches are relatively free of harmful coral and potentially dangerous fish, the reefs nearby are full of them. Therefore, when snorkelling it is important to have these reef shoes on so that were you to come upon a large section of reef or accidentally put your feet down or scrape your feet on some you will be safe from any harm.
A Backpack or bag
Remembering to pack an extra day-bag was extremely useful. I used my backpack every day and filled it with suncream, maps, a towel and even a spare set of clothes if necessary. This will be handy if you are doing the Cross Island Track Hike or spending the day at the beach whilst saving your hands for taking pictures.
Cash
For those in New Zealand, taking some cash for the first day is very helpful. Although there are two banks on the island (ANZ and BSP) – for those who are not part of this bank – it pays to have some cash in hand for taxis or shuttles to your accomodation.
What to Expect
Island Time
It’s true what they say, time does slow down on the islands. I found I woke up with the sun almost every day but by 8am it was almost too warm to stay in bed. Therefore, for those late-morning people it will get you up earlier and you will find there is more time in the day. On the other hand, if you are an early bird who likes to be busy you will find yourself having to slow down to fit the island. Everything opens later in the morning and earlier in the evening bar a friend restaurants and clubs. Much of the time we found ourselves home at 9pm after dinner thinking what should we do next when almost everything was closing.
Sundays
Sunday is when the shops are closed and the streets are barren. This is because everyone goes to church on Sundays and spends the time husking coconuts and spending time at home. In other words, don’t try and make big plans on a Sunday.
Kia Orana
In Rarotonga, the everyday greeting that all of the locals will use on you is ‘Kia Orana’. This is their way of saying hello (may you live long). Other phrases commonly used in cafes, information centres and the like are as follows:
Meitaki – Thank you
Ka Kite – See you later
Aere Ra – Safe travels
Tips and Tricks
Remember your passport
My partner and I found this out the hard way. When going to get your scooter license, bring your passport!! In fact, to be safe bring your passport if you believe it will require a form of ID. We found ourselves walking miles as a result of our ignorance!
Plan ahead
If you are going budget like my partner and I did, it pays to plan in advance and book early. In peak times of year, things will sell out fast. This will also make it easier to plan your itinerary and make sure you don’t miss a thing. Do your online browsing before you leave for Rarotonga and find out the best deals and best spots (post coming up soon about that).
Keep an eye out for deals
Over 60% of Rarotonga’s gross domestic product (GDP) comes from tourism, so you may find that there are seemingly extreme prices for things that you otherwise would find affordable. For example, the Te Vara Nui Village Cultural Show in Muri is over $100, but for $50 less, my partner and I saw a cultural show with a buffet dinner thrown in at the Islander Hotel opposite the airport. Although the award-winning former show had excellent reviews, we managed to get what was essentially the same thing for half the price. The lesson learnt was that you shouldn’t trust everything people say on the internet because they will have a different budget from you. Do your research and save money where you can. If you have the money to spend, by all means do it, but for us that extra $50 was put towards another part of the holiday we may otherwise have hesitated on. At the airport they provide many brochures which I implore you to pick up. These will contain valuable coupons and a map which will save you both money and time, whilst providing some great options activity and meal-wise.
So there are my basic tips for travelling to Rarotonga and the must-haves to bring with you. Every experience is different for each individual, so there may be things I have missed out. Nevertheless, I found these things to be imperative when spending a week on the island. Most importantly, just have fun and relax! It will be so easy to relax you won’t even notice it happening.
Little City Window 