Rarotonga GolfSeaview

We were glad we’d booked only one night before heading to Aitutaki, because this place was terrible. It was midsummer, but once we got into the room the air conditioning remote had been removed. They wanted $20 for us to get it. There was only hand soap, no body wash, and the bed was dirty with musty-smelling blankets. The property is up a steep hill, and the stairs are dimly lit, so it’s easy to trip on the way to your room. We paid $100 for airport transfers even though the airport is only 2 km away. It was overpriced and a poor start to our holiday. I’d never recommend it.

Our room was spotless and very private, with a great view over the golf club and the beach, framed by palm trees. A beautiful place to stay, close to the beach, airport, and town.

The room was noisy because we had to leave the doors and windows open to get air and a breeze, which meant hearing the neighbours. This could have been avoided if they’d let us use the aircon included in our booking. The bathroom was mouldy, and the tap water wasn’t drinkable. The location wasn’t convenient, with lots of hills to walk up while carrying luggage. Airport transfers cost $25 per person, and there were no free shuttles. They then tried to charge us $20 per night for aircon that was included in our stay. When we messaged them and said we’d contact Booking.com, they stopped replying. Booking.com said the aircon was included and told us to contact them for a refund if we were charged. I attached a screenshot of their reply. Avoid!

The pool was small but clean, with no sun loungers, and handy for cooling off after golf. There’s a laundry, which came in useful, and the spacious balcony with a table and chairs was useful too. The room had a lovely golf-course view, and the upstairs villas also look out to the ocean. There’s no aircon unless you pay extra. The accommodation sits on the hills above Rarotonga Golf Club, so it’s not easy to reach if you have mobility issues. Even as young, fit people, we struggled a bit with the incline, especially with luggage. A tip: cut across the golf course from the bus stop to avoid walking a few kilometres up the hill. It’s directly across from Black Rock beach, a popular island spot, but it’s not as good as Muri if you’re after white sand. You’ll need footwear.