NOVEMBER 2014
Kia Orana Amy,
We had a marvellous time. We spent a lot of the time just chilling out. Being the "off-season" meant that there weren't too many people around so for us it was just what we wanted.
Everyone at both the Sanctuary Resort and the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa were so friendly and obliging - nothing was a problem for them. Even to the point that while we were at Aitutaki they were quite willing to change our booking to spend an extra couple of days over there. Due to the fact that we had a tour booked and paid for back at Rarotonga we weren't able to take them up on the offer.
The views from the rooms at both locations were "to die for" - felt like we were in paradise being able to look directly out on the water with uninterrupted views.
In Rarotonga we were greeted at the airport on arrival with a cold bottle of water then when we arrived at the Sanctuary Resort we were handed another iced cold juice - which was especially refreshing due to the hot humid weather. Our room was very handy to everything - yet was extremely quiet.
The continental breakfast selection was very nice - which meant that at least one meal a day was nice and healthy. Apart from one meal that we had at the Rarotongan Resort and Spa the others were all very nice and the entertainment was good.
When we went to Aitutaki - the service there was definitely up a notch or two. Right from our greeting at Aitutaki Airport where we were greeted with a flower lei and a nice cold coconut drink to arriving at the resort with the "warrior" greeting us with a "conch shell welcome" as we arrived by the barge. At the reception we were advised of the facilities available to us and then promptly shown to our beach front villa where our luggage had already been deposited in our room for us. Upon arrival in our room there were flowers scattered on the bed as well as around the room - a very lovely touch (my husband was impressed - maybe one day he will do the same at home....)
The continental breakfasts at Aitutaki were once again a notch or two above the Sanctuary, so were the rest of the meals. We also had a Candlelit dinner on the Beach - which was probably the highlight of our trip (especially for me). The Resort Management had earlier in the afternoon left a card surrounded by flowers in our room wishing me a happy birthday - a very nice touch. We found the staff at Aitutaki were every so slightly more friendly than at the Sanctuary - but that was probably due to the fact that it is a smaller resort and had less people there whilst we were there. When we left the resort once again our luggage was picked up from our room and we didn't have to handle it until we were at the airport.
Once back in Rarotonga we were able to access our room straight away which was very much appreciated as it was very humid so nice to get into a lovely cool room. Probably the worst thing about our holiday - apart from having to come home - was the very early wake-up call the day we were to leave to come home - we had a 5am pick up even though our plane didn't leave until 8.30am.
Thank you for your assistance in making our holiday special.
One more comment I would make for other people to consider is to split the holiday in a configuration of say half the time in both locations with a maximum of one night back in Rarotonga before flying home or a single night in Rarotonga when arriving before going to Aitutaki. i.e. 4 nights in Rarotonga (two of these nights being over the weekend to enable them to go to the markets as well as a church service), then 4 nights in Aitutaki then if necessary a single night back in Rarotonga. Or a reversal of this type of combination.
Regards
Linda and Ashley Lucas