The best available hotels & places to stay near Cook Islands

August 12, 2022 Nicolette Lion

If you're sitting at your desk having Robinson Crusoe daydreams, the Cook Islands might be a great vacation place for you. It doesn't get much more remote or more beautiful—what with the perfect beaches, deep jungle and coral lagoons. Each of the 15 islands seems more breathtaking than the last.
Things to do in Cook Islands

1. The Edgewater Resort & Spa

1 Puaikura Drive, Arorangi 0000 Cook Islands
Excellent
27%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
8%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1998 reviews

The Edgewater Resort & Spa

The Edgewater Resort and Spa is located on six acres of lush tropical beachside, sheltered on the western coast of Rarotonga. The Edgewater Resort and Spa is a short 5-minute drive from Rarotonga International Airport, and a 10-minute drive from Avarua Town Centre. At The Edgewater Resort and Spa, we pride ourselves in offering a wide range of comfortable accommodation options to suit all holiday makers. We are sure that we will have the right space for you to unwind and relax. We offer an authentic Cook Islands experience that will be made memorable by the services we provide. Our team are here to take care of you and look forward to being able to share our Rarodise with you.

Island Night was OK

Reviewed By tully1971

Went to the Island night and did not stay at the resort. The resort itself was very nice. Paid $65 each for buffet and the entertainment. The food was very good and plentiful. The service was quite slow. Also they seemed to be trying to make money left, right and centre. Charged 3.5% for using credit card, as it was an "overseas credit card" so they had to, none of the other resorts we visited did that. A raspberry and coke for the kids was $8 each and we asked for some water, but apparently "the water is not filtered" so the only option was bottled water at $7 per bottle, so it felt like they were trying to gouge as much money as possible. The show itself was OK

2. Pacific Resort Rarotonga

Muri Beach, Muri Cook Islands
Excellent
63%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1438 reviews

Pacific Resort Rarotonga

Authentic Boutique … Pacific Resort Rarotonga, superbly situated on 5.5 acres of manicured beachfront, our 4.5-star full service authentic boutique resort, offering an intimate collection of just 64 rooms, suites and villas. Each room is tastefully decorated in a contemporary Polynesian style overlooking either the flourishing tropical gardens or the gorgeous white sands of Muri Beach and lagoon.

Wonderful experience

Reviewed By rachelAHopz

First, it was so nice to be greeted at the airport with fresh leis and cold flasks of water after a rough flight with our 20-month old! We don’t normally splurge to stay at such nice resorts but were worried about how this vacation with our son might go as he’d been displaying meltdowns of epic proportion recently. The conveniences of complimentary breakfast, a high quality restaurant (one of the best continental breakfast spreads I’ve ever seen and highly recommend their amazing ika mata), filtered water refill stations, private beach access to a protected lagoon, complimentary kayaks/SUPs, fresh sheets on an extremely comfortable bed along with fresh towels daily, babysitter services, and the friendliest, most excellent staff doting on our son every day has made this an unforgettable trip, worth every penny!

3. Aro'a Beachside Inn

Main Road, Arorangi Cook Islands
Excellent
78%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 218 reviews

Aro'a Beachside Inn

Kia Orana, welcome to the Aro'a Beachside Inn an adult only (18+) resort. Located on western sunset side of Rarotonga, on a stunning white sandy beach with great swimming and snorkelling. We have a casual beach bar, the Shipwreck Hut, on property which serves "home cooked" bar meals, cocktails, beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks. Live music 3 times a week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) including our popular BBQ evening on Saturdays (numbers permitting). We have 12 self-contained units, tastefully decorated island style. Breakfast complimentary, daily house keeping service.

Beachside Perfection

Reviewed By ZenShell

Gorgeous garden setting flowing right onto a beach where you are lucky to see another person passing by. Great snorkeling, great bar food at great prices, comfy nicely appointed thoughtful accom. Don't miss the fish curry for $20 - swordfish one night, marlin the next. Was given a surprise upgrade to deluxe so I could be near a friend. Adjoining decks perfect. This is a small adults venue with a personable feel vs. resort. No need for a pool. Hammocks, quiet & sheltered from occ. rain. Staff are so warm & friendly & a nightly drink at the Shipwreck Hut is a must. Steve & Geraldine are the owners. There is nothing they won't help you with. Anna is Office Manager and is the same. Just awesome people and an awesome place.

4. Tamanu Beach

Main Road Cook Islands
Excellent
55%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 572 reviews

Tamanu Beach

A warm island welcome to Tamanu Beach Hotel- your casual luxury Pacific Island getaway destination, on the pristine atoll of Aitutaki. Tamanu Beach resort is located on the western coast of Aitutaki, with stunning sunset views from our beachfront Restaurant and Bar. Tamanu Beach resort offers four bungalow accommodation options, including garden bungalows and one bedroom lagoon view bungalows. All of our Cook Islands bungalows are nestled amongst lush tropical gardens. Our beachfront bungalows are on the water's edge- a stone's throw from our gorgeous blue lagoon. Our stunning Aitutaki beachfront resort features 23 bungalows, conference facilities, two fresh water swimming pools, a beachfront bar and restaurant and a gift shop. Casual Luxury at Tamanu Beach Our private, white sand beach borders Aitutaki Island's crystal clear lagoon providing endless opportunities for island activities such as swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and SUPS in the azure waters. Tamanu Beach is family operated and we offer guests a truly unique Polynesian experience. Every Thursday enjoy our "Takurua" Island Feast and show - a performance of Cook Islands song, dance, fire dancing and more from our talented and dynamic cultural group. Tamanu Beach is a popular haven for magical Cook Islands weddings and honeymoons, and is within easy reach of local cafes, bars and restaurants giving you the opportunity to dine out at your leisure. Your stay with us includes the following complimentary services: •Return airport transfers •Daily tropical breakfast •All SUPS, Kayaks and Masks and Snorkels

Spectacular

Reviewed By Stephen G

Another addition to our honeymoon and we were lucky enough to get a complimentary upgrade to the 'suite' which was an amazing addition to the trip and completely unexpected. All the staff were very friendly, tentative and enthusiastic. The food/buffet dinner was lovely, as well as all the facilities and everything that comes with the room/s etc. Not to mention the amazing views and services that were provided by the resort

5. Club Raro Resort

483 Avarua Rarotonga Tupapa Ara Tapu Road, Avarua 0000 Cook Islands
Excellent
22%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
22%
Poor
11%
Terrible
8%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 366 reviews

Club Raro Resort

Located on the Northern Coast of Rarotonga, Club Raro Resort sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean with spectacular views out to the reef break and beyond. Club Raro Resort is located a short 10-minute drive from Rarotonga International Airport, and just a 5-minute drive from downtown Avarua. We have a selection of room types that will match your needs. From Garden and Poolside family rooms to Adults Only Ocean View rooms and self catering options, we have something for very traveller. Club Raro has one of only two swim-up bars on the island.

Good basic facilities and nice staff.

Reviewed By kererucorner

A good basic clean resort with no frills hence the affordability. Lovely staff doing their best. Great cocktails and bar service and loved the swim up bar. Pool great and also has a tiny pool for littlies. Beautiful ocean view but unfortunately the rocky beach access hazardous and too windy for relaxed snorkeling so not suitable for kids. Only thing we were highly unimpressed with was their beach towel policy. When we asked for some it was $20 cash only per towel bond. We had no cash so asked to charge it to our room like everything else but were not aloud. This didn’t make sense to us and as we were running late for our activity had to go without towels. All in all a nice place to stay but probably better suited for adults or older kids.

6. Castaway Resort

Ara Tapu, Arorangi Cook Islands
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 359 reviews

Castaway Resort

Set in the enchanting western village of Arorangi, Castaway is the favourite farewell point of so many of our islands’ most stunning sunsets. Enjoy peace and relaxation at this lush adults-only oasis, where guests can enjoy the freedom of their self-catering rooms or dine at the on-property beach restaurant & bar. Castaway offers comfortable accommodation with rooms perfect for solo travelers, couples, families and small groups (Minimum age is 16 years and above) And if you’re looking for a little more, Castaway offers accommodation at their Beach House that’s right next door. All rooms are tastefully furnished and guests can enjoy kitchen facilities, air-conditioning, and TV in case of those tropical rainy days. Wilson’s Beach bar & restaurant is Castaway Resorts’ on-property restaurant and is considered one of Rarotonga’s Top 5 Restaurant & Bars (As per Tripadvisor) For good reason! The restaurants gourmet menu is diverse with themed nights every night of the week. From Monday: Pasta, Tuesday: A la carte, Wednesday: Mexican, Thursday: Pizza, Friday: Seafood, and Saturday: Curry. Sunday BBQs are special at Castaway, when live music is played all evening by local musicians Freddy and Pascale, and guitar talent Anania Browne. Specialty dishes like Mr Paul’s Crayfish and Papa D’s Crayfish platter are both very popular amongst the local community. An absolute must try if you want to know what all the local enthusiasm is about! Many returnees rave about the fantastic location, quirky character, relaxed ambience and the friendly, welcoming staff. Guests will enjoy personable service, as staff take the utmost care to remember your name! The resort is also close to many of Rarotonga’s best snorkeling spots, only 20 minutes from the town center, has a bus stop and convenience store across the road. The resort is also home to many unique attributes. Whale watching can be enjoyed right from the restaurant deck. Expect a free bevvy from the bar if you’re first to ring the Whale Bell! Their crayfish dishes are large, fresh and delicious – there’s nothing like it anywhere else on the island. And if that wasn’t enough, Cuban Havana Cigars can also be purchased and pairs well with their signature cocktail “The Big Kahuna” – exclusively available at Castaway. Castaway Resort is the perfect accommodation choice for travelers wanting independence of a self-catered room, or to enjoy a cocktail and delicious dinner without leaving the property.

Beautiful place, friendly crew

Reviewed By kiwichicky40

Beautiful place, staff were awesome and friendly, we had crayfish platter absolutely beautiful, it was my birthday and my daughter asked them as a surprise to put candle in cheesecake which they did and added words on the plate with chocolate. The view with the sunset was so amazing and I couldn't think of a better place to spend my birthday

7. Aitutaki Village

Ootu Beach PO Box 75 Cook Islands
Excellent
55%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 233 reviews

Aitutaki Village

Aitutaki Village is a small boutique resort on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Situated on the white sandy beach of Ootu (meaning full moon) on the south western point of the island. The property provides a quiet and relaxing environment on the edge of the protected Aitutaki lagoon, ideal for swimming and water activities at all tides.The Polynesian inspired restaurant and bar has stunning views and is located on the lagoons edge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available everyday, we also offer special dinner evenings, lagoon cruises, private island excursions, rental vehicles, kayaks and island tours.

Cute place

Reviewed By chatakells

Right on the lagoon, lovely rooms/huts, unfortunately the restaurant was only available for breakfast as they weren’t fully up and running due to travel only just opening up but there was a restaurant walking distance so it wasn’t really a problem, the staff were lovely, swimming was great

8. The Black Pearl at Puaikura

Kavera, Arorangi Cook Islands
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 4 reviews

The Black Pearl at Puaikura

Located on the sheltered sunset side of the island, the Black Pearl at Puaikura enjoys an enviable location with a pristine beach across the road, safe for swimming and snorkeling; a magical spot to watch the sunset. A mere 15 minutes to downtown Avarua, 10 minutes to the airport and 20 minutes to the eclectic hustle and bustle of Muri. Intimately set in tropical gardens around a central salt water swimming pool The Black Pearl’s 12 apartment are spacious with high vaulted ceilings. Apartments are decorated in an ocean colour palette and are all on the ground level. Each apartment has a private patio with a view of either the lush garden or sparkling pool (or both). Our self catering apartments allow you to prepare breakfast, a light lunch or dinner in between dining at a great choice of cafes or restaurants, many of whom offer a free pick up and drop off service. Alternatively you can use the poolside BBQ. The Black Pearl at Puaikura is a haven for those not wanting a large hotel with multiple bars and restaurants but rather an intimate environment where the emphasis is on friendly personal service, a place where you can lose yourself in a tropical paradise, at an affordable price

If you want to relax….

Reviewed By SMP51

Cruisy relaxed resort. A quiet ,immaculately laid out and clean resort with excellent facilities. The saltwater pool was well used by us, as was the beach across the road for snorkeling. Mini food market and great burger shop right next door. Snorkeling gear and reef shoes provided. BBQ at the ready and a large gazebo to catch up with others in, in the evening. Paul us a wonderful host… nothing is too much trouble. Thanks Paul

9. The Islander Hotel

Main Road, Panama Beachfront, Avarua 0682 Cook Islands
Excellent
24%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
28%
Poor
9%
Terrible
11%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 287 reviews

The Islander Hotel

The Islander Hotel is a great value for money 3 star beachfront hotel directly across the road from Rarotonga International Airport on the waterfront featuring 11 Cabanas, Islander Restaurant, Tiki Bar, pool, outdoor dining, sandy beach, daily sunsets and unpretentious island style service from a team of dedicated Islanders. Our HULA bar on the beach offers all day happy hour from 11am until late Mon to Sun with beers, spirits, wines and soft drinks. Great for friends and family who wish to soak in Rarotonga's warm sunshine with cold cold drinks!

Good location near airport

Reviewed By dcwledzep

We stayed at The Islander on our last day in the Cook Islands - we were scheduled to fly to Atiu for a couple of days but Covid cancelled this. So we had been staying in much more expensive resorts prior to this in Muri. The Islander is in a great location for the airport (literally across the road to check-in!). It has good food, large restaurant and swimming pool. It is good in those respects, but not so much for accommodation and staying overnight. The rooms are comfortable and clean, but there is loud music from 7 pm - 11.30 pm each night. Sure, they provide ear plugs, but it is better to stay elsewhere and get a full nights sleep. Staff re friendly, but my recommendation is to use The Islander as a transit lounge when travelling, with swimming pool, drinks and food, but we wouldn't stay overnight again. It isn't much cheaper than other resorts that offer much better accommodation.

10. Rarotonga GolfSeaView

Ara Metua Road intersection of Sanitorium Road Cook Islands
Rarotonga GolfSeaView

Modern hillside apartments and villa with pool. Stunning views overlooking the Rarotonga golf course and ocean. Close to famous Nikao Blackrock beach, cafes, bars, 24 hour stores and across the road from the Mediterranean inspired Antipodes Restaurant. Located on the island's most popular walking and exercise spot, "the Hospital Hill". 5 minutes to airport and 8 minutes to downtown Avarua.

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