You know when you’re trying to zen out and you close your eyes and think of a beach? I can almost guarantee you that your mind imagines a beach like the ones here in Rarotonga; one of the 15 islands that make up the picturesque Cook Islands.
If you ever plan a visit, here are a few key things I suggest you know before you go:
If you’re traveling on a budget and aren’t staying in a hotel, an inexpensive solution for getting WiFi is buying a BlueSky internet code. AirBnbs didn’t seem to have their own modem for in-home internet, but instead had a BlueSky hotspot to connect to for access with your prepaid code.
There are also plenty of BlueSky hotspots to connect to throughout the island. You can conveniently purchase a code from shops, phone stores, and even some restaurants.
Their prices start at $5, but we bought 800MB for $15 (this was a few years ago, does anyone know if these prices still hold up?) and between my mom using it to play Words With Friends and me checking emails/social media, the code lasted us a few days.
Most places are closed around the island on Sundays, so stock up on groceries ahead of time to make that your “eating-in” day.
Buses are great transportation if you didn’t book a car or scooter. These buses are on island time though, so they aren’t the most punctual, but it’s a fast & inexpensive way to get around. The entire route along the main road takes about an hour to complete, and it’s $5 for a one way trip, $8 for a round trip, or $16 for a day pass.
This pricing might sound steep, but considering it’s either that, or walk in the humidity, or taxi, or pay for a car rental, it’s a pretty good deal!
(Extra Bus Tip: If you think you’ll be using the bus often for that day, get the family package. It’s 2 adults and 2 kids for $26, so we got that one even though it was just my mom and me because it’s cheaper than $16 per adult for a day pass.)