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Capt1962
Brisbane, Australia

5 star for the price.

Review of Central Motel
5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 21 Oct 2014
Our family stayed here for an overnight stay and found it to be a great place for the price as well as a great service to/from airport from a very friendly gentleman who made our first & last impression of the Cook Island fantastic.
Date of stay: October 2014
Trip type: Travelled with family
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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Reviews (41)
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20 - 25 of 41 reviews
Reviewed 20 June 2014

If you're on passing through Rarotonga, and prefer to be in the main town of Avarua, Central Motel is well located, and a short walk to the main road and faciities.

I had to alter my arrangements more than once before I arrived, but Malcolm accommodated these changes pretty well. The only failing was not getting the lift back to the airport at the end of my trip, despite checking the day before the time and pickup point (the harbour, not the motel). Fortunately I was able to organise an alternative when his colleague did not show up.

The rooms are simple and functional, appropriate as advertised, and the staff are generally helpful. There are a few mozzies about - not normally an issue, but there was a Zika virus outbreak at the time, so make sure you carry insect repellant (I didn't catch it, but plenty of locals and some travellers had). It may well be over - the Cook Is usually don't have such issues - but check when travelling.

Room tip: Ask for an air-conditioned room if you prefer this - some rooms are, some have fans only.
Date of stay: April 2014
  • Trip type: Travelled solo
    • Value
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4  Thank GMDNZ
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 May 2014

We picked the Central Motel as the best-looking spot to have a rest overnight. It was pretty much as we expected. Relatively clean and comfortable. Service was no issue and the staff who we dealt with were friendly. A big plus was having air conditioning in the room we stayed in. All of this at a very reasonable price. We would probably stay here again if we had to do a night in Rarotonga but might look at other options too.

Date of stay: April 2014
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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1  Thank b_and_d_nz
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 November 2013

This place is comfortable and very central to everything. There is nothing else as clean and pleasant at this price point in Rarotonga. The rooms are very large and well equipped, and the owner is a great guy. Makes a point of remembering all the guests' names and goes out of his way to help you out. If you are staying here and want to hire a car, ask him - he has one for hire.

Room tip: Air conditioning is not usually necessary with the Rarotongan climate, so the fan-only rooms are also a good choice.
Date of stay: October 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled on business
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2  Thank Rachel H
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 7 September 2013

I chose this property because I wanted to be in Avarua - the main town of Rarotonga, during my mandatory stopover in Rarotonga before heading to another island, and Central Motel is the only property located in town.

The room is basic with a queen size bed, 2 bedside tables, 2 bedside lamps, a standing fan, a coffee table, a small TV, 2 armchairs, wardrobe with hangers/basket/iron/ironing board, a bar fridge, a kettle, a toaster, tea/coffee making facilities, glasses, plates, and cutlery, as well as an air conditioner. The bathroom has a shower box and electric shaving outlets.

The rooms surround a small courtyard with a picnic table and a spa pool, there is also a small parking area outside the motel. Malcolm the owner lives onsite, making it very easy to get ahold of him.

The motel is located just off the courthouse and government offices, it is about 8 minutes walk to the Police Station (where one can get a driver's licence for NZD20, bring passport) and the CITC mall. There is a lively Saturday morning market at the other end of the town, about 20 minutes walk away, which has a good variety of local produce as well as local crafts.

All the shops within walking distance are closed on Sunday with the exception of Raro Fried Chicken (opens 24 hours).

Airport pick up/drop off is NZD5 per journey, Wifi internet credits can be purchased on Zenbu's website, at less than NZD100 per night the room rates are definitely the best on Rarotonga for a short stay.

I would recommend this property to anyone who wish to have a no frill and no hassle stay in Rarotonga.

Tusen tack Malcolm!

Date of stay: August 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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8  Thank little_ostow
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 26 August 2013

We stayed at Central on our first night as we had booked private accommodation in Muri Beach and this was not available til the following day. We arrived after midnight and Malcolm picked us up which was great. Rooms are basic but clean, excellent value for Raro and very central and the next morning Malcolm offered to take us to our private accomodation for little cost and along the way since basically around the other side of the island shown us places to go etc. Can't recommend Malcolm highly enough for doing this and since he has lived on the island for many years has a wealth of knowledge.

Date of stay: August 2013
  • Trip type: Travelled with friends
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6  Thank Brendon L
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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