What We Are Not

WHAT WE ARE NOT

Our aim is always to please. And in our experience, the best way to achieve your satisfaction is to ensure that your expectations are in line with what we have to offer you. We have three beautiful sister resorts which each offer something special and unique. Unique from other resorts in the Cook Islands. And unique from other resorts anywhere in the world. To ensure that you book the sister resort, which is best for you, we believe you might find it helpful to be clear not just on who we are, but also who we are not:

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium

  • THE COOK ISLANDS IS NOT A PLACE FOR SNAP YOUR FINGERS SERVICE. We are not a resort in the Third World with hundreds of staff on hand. Our team are friendly and happy to be of service to ensure you enjoy your holiday with us.
  • NO BUILDING TALLER THAN A COCONUT TREE. We are not a resort that is more than two stories high. Many of our suites, as well as our bungalow and villas, are on beach level. 
  • NOT A MEGA RESORT. We are not a large, multi-level resort with hundreds of rooms. We have a little over a hundred rooms, suites, bungalow & private pool villa options, enabling us to offer you the range of facilities & services expected of a signature resort, such as our restaurant, bar, pool, Kids Club, Activities Hut, SpaPolynesia, conference & function facilities, room service, 24-hour front desk, gift shop and security. Our resort is just the right size. Not too big. Not too small. Just right.  
  • NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOTEL STRIP. We are not on the main hotel strips with multiple resorts cheek by jowl, all sharing the same beach. The Rarotongan is set right next door to our adults-only sister resort, Sanctuary Rarotonga, and together they are the only resorts set on Rarotonga’s best white sandy beach, Aroa Beach, overlooking the island’s best snorkeling spot, Aroa Lagoonarium. 
  • NOT TOO WINDY. We are not a resort set on the sunrise side of the island which also tends to get the Trade Winds. The Rarotongan instead enjoys all-day sun right through to views of the sizzling island sunsets which you can enjoydirectly from the new lagoon front deck of our Captain Andy’s Beach Bar & Grill, the best dining spot on the island.
  • NOT AN UNSWIMMABLE BEACH. We are not a resort set on a stretch of rough-coral beach with a lagoon too tidal, shallow, murky, or rocky to swim in. Not only is The Rarotongan blessed to be set right along the island’s best beach, but directly off the beach is the island’s best all-tide snorkeling in Aroa Lagoonarium. Like snorkeling in your own aquarium filled with brightly coloured tropical fish. Then there’s the free stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking you can do too, at any tide.
  • NO OVER-INFLATED PRICING. We are not a resort which marks rates up to give travel agents big commissions to win your booking. We offer reasonable, fair pricing.
  • NOT EXCLUSIVELY A FAMILY RESORT. We are not an Adults Only Resort or a Family Resort. We cater well to a broad range of guests of all ages with a wide range of room category and pricing options and are famous for being family-friendly but are not just a family resort.
  • NOT NICHE. We are not a resort focused on a narrow market segment. We welcome wedding couples, honeymoon couples, small and large families and a wide range of groups including conference, sports, school, and special event groups.
  • NO CLOCK WATCHING. We are not a resort for clock watchers. Come here when you need to chillax and leave your shoes, your cares, and your watch behind.
  • NOT INFLEXIBLE.  With the current Covid situation, we have relaxed our cancellation terms & conditions and the ability to change your travel dates, without fees or penalty charges, which offers our guests incredible peace of mind and encouragement to pursue their travel dreams. We advise guests to take out travel insurance as part of being a wise traveler.
  • NOT A MAIN URBAN AREA. We are not in the middle of a large country with easy access to a wide range of supplies.  We are on a remote island in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean where there can be limited availability of supplies, from time to time, due to shipping constraints. This is all part of life on an island in the heart of the South Pacific.