Exotic Islands around the world confound even the biggest travel enthusiasts.With sublime beaches, exotic hotels, breath taking tourist destinations, and frequent celebrity sightings, they are undoubtedly the rage now. These bad boys are scattered everywhere with Tahiti, Fiji, Seychelles and Maui being the hottest and the most frequented destinations. But there are some pearls hidden within the Pacific Ocean waiting to be discovered. And one such group of islands is ‘THE COOK ISLANDS’.
The Cook Islands are a set of self governing isles in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by almost 200000 sq km of crystal clear water, this destination is a perfect blend of history and coeval culture. But the island’s historic elements don’t overweigh its contemporary nature. With a luxurious array of cafes, restaurants serving the most scrumptious food and a handful of bars to get set the mood for the night, it brings perfect balance for a modern day trip.
Along with its exquisite culture, The Cook Islands also boost of a number of serene and drool worthy locations. Rarotango, Aitutaki and Atiu are the biggest and the most prominent tourist spots. These locations are host to a number of adventure activities like scuba diving and other water sports. Along with these there are other translucent lagoons, volcanic terrains and palm laden, sun kissed beaches to explore and make the most of. With such an array of tourist spots to discover, it is evident that The Cook islands are a thriving market for the hospitality sector.
With a spread of ultra luxurious and ultra modern resorts, these islands have taken their hospitality game a step higher. The tourists have such a wide range of accommodations to choose from. Most of these resorts are 4 and 5 star and often placed by the sunny yellow beaches of the Cook Islands.
Once such resort, that managed to grab my attention was the ‘PACIFIC RESORT AITUTAKI’. Situated in Aitutaki, this resort is your one stop destination for all things luxurious. With a location so pristine, ambience that oozes sophistication and services that make you feel welcomed and satisfied, there is no substitute to its radiance. And as the official website of the Cook Islands states, it is “an enclave of romance, refinement and luxury that beacons to even the most disheartening traveller’’.
The resort is surrounded by the beautiful, mystique waters of the Aitutaki Lagoon and boosts of 27 luxuriously endowed bungalows and villas. Pacific Resorts are the ultimate gateway for giving your soul the much needed relaxation and cleansing. All the magic starts on your flight from Roratanga to Aitutaki as you see the tiny islands start to surface on the turquoise sea. After landing on the airport, the resort provides free pick up service to the guests. From there you embark on your journey to the most magical resort on the Cook Island. Located at a distance of 4 km from the airport, this resort is easily accessible and at an earshot distance from the main city of Arutanga.
The Resort is strategically placed so that most of the markets, bars and tourist destinations are within a small range. The resort itself also provides many activities to its guests like snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and a ukulele lessons. There is also a spa in the resort which provides almost all the beauty treatments and enchanting and rejuvenating massages.
The Pacific Resort has 27 opulent villas to choose from. Guest can choose anything from the premium beach front bungalows that are situated right on the white sand beach giving the guests a chance to wake up to the lush blue lagoons of Aitutaki to the ultimate beach front bungalow which offers a secluded and private affair for couples, overlooking the tranquil blue sea.
These rooms are spacious and possess of impeccable and flawless interiors. The washrooms are lined with exclusive marbles and most of these villas have open galleries which take you straight to the beaches. The rooms also boost of plush wooden decor along with a mini bar and 24 hrs. room service giving the guests an ultimate experience. The rooms are priced anything from 720 $ to 900 $ but every penny spent is worth the experience and the stay at the hotel.
The room decor of the resort might be flawless but it has a strong competition from the outdoor area of the complex. The resort flaunts an infinity pool that overlooks the blue sea, has a bar service which allows you to sip on those delicious cocktails while you pick a good tan. The resort also houses two of the finest restaurants of the Cook Islands namely the RAPAE BAY and BLACK ROCK CAFÉ.
These restaurants provide any array of local and international cuisines prepared by highly skilled chefs. They use only fresh and local produce to make some of the most unique food you can devour on. RAPAE BAY also has an assortment of the best wines from across the world to perfectly complement your food. The resort also makes arrangements by order for candle light dinner by the sea along with live jazz. Perfect for the most romantic getaway, isn’t it?
To sum it up, the Cook Islands are one of the most magical and scenic locations in the world. With beaches so good that you never want to go back, resorts so extravagant and luxuriously themed, that you will keep craving for more days, and an array of adventures activities to do. They are rightly called the gems of the pacific and their one such secret that you shouldn’t wait to discover.