- Introduction
- Guam Review and Guam Marriott Resort vs Guam Hilton Resort
- Saipan and the Hyatt Regency Saipan
- Asiana Airlines Business Class and Lounge
- Singapore Airlines Business Class and Lounge
- Queenstown Crowne Plaza, Kawarua Queenstown and the Auckland Crowne Plaza
- New Zealand Review
- Air New Zealand Business Premier
- Rarotonga Review
- Thai Airways Business Class and Lounge
- Conclusion
Rarotonga was the final destination of this crazy ticket and a gem of the South Pacific. When I asked a local who travels all around the Cook Islands and the Polynesia which was better, Rarotonga or Tahiti he said, “Rarotonga mate, no question”. Although a little less popular than the latter, they are often compared because of the sharp mountain peaks not too far from the beautiful lagoon. The island is beautiful and I highly recommend the cross-island walk (though it is very strenuous).
The reefs circle the island and create a calm lagoon great for snorkeling and swimming. Although the winter water (their winter) wasn’t cold enough to keep us out of the water for hours at a time, one could definitely see summer being more comfortable. That being said, the snorkeling was good. We saw a rather large moray eel and many different kinds of fish. I’m told less popular/populated islands aren’t as over-fished but I enjoyed the snorkeling more than Guam or Saipan.
The only downside about Rarotonga is that there are no hotels I can use points with! Not only do you have to pay money for a hotel there but you can’t earn points or elite night credits.
Would I go back? Well, it is beautiful but it is a very small island and we were there nearly two weeks. So I don’t think I’ll return (unless I can make it a stopover on the way to NZ with Air NZ) but I would recommend it.
