A summery to start this off. During our stay at Aro’a Beachside Inn we experienced genuine hospitality, idyllic surroundings, and memorable experiences, making it a destination worth revisiting. The intimate atmosphere, coupled with its casual beach vibes, creates an inviting environment for those seeking a more personal and relaxed holiday experience.
We started our journey to Aro’a Beachside Inn / Resort with booking our room through their website. The process was seamless, with an automated confirmation of our reservation. Adjustments, when needed, were handled by Lisa, with efficiency and without any fuss. We asked for a quiet room, and Lisa gave us one.
The staff welcomed us in warmth and hospitality. Led by Lisa, the manager, every member, from the kitchen and bar staff to property maintenance, extended a friendly hand and offered tips and assistance. The staff alone are a good enough reason to stay, and I truly mean this.
Aro’a Beachside Inn / Resort is in the Arorangi district. It’s an awesome location, on a snorkel beach away from the hustle and bustle of the island. It is about 10 minutes’ walk from a convenience store, and conveniently placed at an actual bus stop.
Aro’a Beachside is described as an Inn and a Resort, depending on where you see it advertised. It is has characteristics of both. It is not a stereotypical resort, large, sprawling and “commercial”, but it is self-contained, and you would never really need to leave the property during your stay. You can get food, entertainment, bookings etc right on site. They can loan you snorkel gear. Kayaks and paddle boards are also free for guests.
We loved that is was smaller, more personal, less busy. The pool was never too crowded, we always had access to a hammock or sun lounger. Aro’a Beachside has casual, beach-vibes and if people know to expect this, they will be really happy.
Our room was quite spacious. It had a fully equipped kitchen, air conditioning, fans. The bathroom was spacious. And in general, a good standard of cleanliness. There were plenty of hooks right around the room for hanging towels etc. The outdoor shower facilities came in very handy. The deck faced the sea and was awesome to hang out on. Perhaps the lighting design needs further thought, and some people might feel that the décor is dated but was a very comfortable experience.
A couple of things to watch out for. Like all the Cook Islands, the Wi-Fi is patchy. It’s fine in the bar/restaurant, but inconsistent in our room. There are pros and cons to this of course. This is beach-side, so you’ll track sand everywhere! Bring lots of insect repellent or get some mossy coil. One more thing worth mentioning, one night, the fire alarm went off due to damp in the room, so make sure that your room is well ventilated when you leave the air-con when you sleep.
The Shipwreck Hut, is the bar and restaurant attached to Aro’a Beachside Inn / Resort, and is awesome. The staff are awesome. The food is tasty and fresh, and I particularly recommend any local specialities on offer. The bar offers a good range of cocktails, but we had Cook Islands Lager from the Rarotonga Brewery every single day. Live music most nights. If you never ate anywhere else on you stay, you wouldn’t be missing out.
Breakfast was included with our room. It is a simple continental breakfast, though additional options were available at a cost for those seeking more substantial.
While you’re there, here are some recommendations for things to do:
• Snorkel on the beach right by the resort - a real highlight
• Highland Paradise Cultural Show and Feast – 5 stars from us
• Use the bus to get around! Forget about hiring a car.
• Cook Islands Snorkel with turtles
• Muri night market
• Discover Marine & Wildlife Eco Centre
• Maire Nui Gardens - totally under rated. I had one of the best meals there
• Falafel Shack – they say that they open on “island time”, so you need to keep an eye out for this outstanding food shack
One final point. The week before we arrived, the Cook Islands experienced an unexpected tropical storm that was very wet. This caused a bit of storm damage to the property. The week we were there, it was also very wet. The result of these events that a leak in our room. It was not in a place that caused us any great inconvenience apart from a little puddle by the front door. I reckon that this was one of those unforeseeable things. But the team worked hard to make this right, and to make sure we were not inconvenienced. Lisa felt so bad that she loaned us her car for a couple of days. This is a really outstanding personal touch that we will never forget.
