pacificEyeWitness.org

Says who? Traveler’s Choice Awards 2009. Published by Trip Advisor, an online community of more than 10 million viewers worldwide.It is an influential and active travel website for travellers worldwide.

Exactly where in the Pacific?

Etu Moana...a boutique resort hidden away on the island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. They have a mere 8 villas for all of the world’s aspiring romantics.  Absolutely conducive to the brain going mushy, no doubt. It’s set on 1. 5 acres of sweeping tropical land with oceanfront views. Not surprisingly, the resort’s an expert on organising weddings for its guests. Etu Moana also won the top spot for best romance and top spot for the best hidden gem for the South Pacific. Forum comments from past guests suggest you need to book a villa at least 6 months in advance.

Sample of Travel Reviews

Travellers wrote 41 pages worth of reviews on Etu Moana, mostly positive. On the plus side, the winning formula for Etu Moana, based on a reading of the reviews, is professional and personal customer service that’s faultless, attention to detail, warmth and hospitality, along with providing clean, well-groomed surroundings in a romantic Pacific lagoon setting.

On the not-so-positive side, of which there were few reviews, the biggest complaint is about mosquitoes, followed by the resort not living up to expectations, and two or three booking faux pass, one in which a Canadian guest, who had booked 6 months in advance, had their booking changed on them two weeks out from their trip by the resort. They were not impressed.

Positive

“ETU MOANA ticks all the boxes, rings all the right bells! It starts with the professional and welcoming email correspondence, ends with a genuine and reluctant farewell at Aitutaki Airport. After 25 years of travel to about 73 countries Etu Moana effortlessly makes our Best list, joining such accommodation and/or locations as Hayman on the Great Barrier Reef Australia, Lake Louise [& Chateau] Canada, a tent in Nepal’s Annapurna Mountains, the Caribbean’s Little Dix Bay and The Baths at Virgin Gorda, and the Ross Sea area of Antarctica.”

Review by Birene, Adelaide, Australia, Oct 2009

Heaven on Earth. We are very lucky to have been quite well travelled and this place is certainly up in the top we have stayed at. I miss waking up to the chickens and the mozzies were not a problem if you applied protection.

Review by Lynette, Auckland, New Zealand.

Not-so-positive

“Nice, but neither perfection nor my paradise…After all the hype of previous reviews maybe I had expected too much….I really disliked the very dark interiors of the Villas and Villa 2 where we stayed was the least private of all the villas. The main path leads past Villa 2 and all guests used this path and you’re conscious of them being able to see in especially as you have to leave your lights on in the dark. Absolute beachfront are the only ones which really get a decent view of the lagoon and sunset. The lagoon was very shallow and it was difficult to kayak..”
Review by toddy04 Auckland NZ, July 2009

Down side was that you couldn’t get away from the mozzies no matter what was tried, (which meant that we couldn’t sit outside on our balcony), and then there were the roosters which woke us up early every morning.  Also the bicycles are pretty old (no gears) for such an upmarket resort. Don’t get me wrong, Aitutaki is lovely, the accommodation was lovely, and the staff were very friendly, but the costs of getting their means that you want everything to be perfect, which sadly it wasn’t.
Review by Trevelbug Christchurch, March 2009

Any other Pacific tourists spots mentioned?

No other Pacific resorts mentioned in the world’s most romantic places for travellers. There is a South Pacific section of awards.

In the romance stakes for the South Pacific region, after Etu Moana grabs the top prize, the next most romantic places chosen by travellers are in  Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia and French Polynesia.

Best for Romance in South Pacific Region

1. Etu Moana, Aitutaki, Cook Islands – also chosen Best for Romance for the World
2. Nanuya Island Resort, Nanuya, Fiji
3. Octopus Resort, Waya Island, Fiji
4. Eratap Beach Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu
5. Nukubati Island Resort, Labasa, Fiji
6. Thala Beach Lodge, Port Douglas, Australia
7. Maravu Plantation Resort, Taveuni Island, Fiji
8. Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, Tahaa, French Polynesia
9. Matamanoa Island Resort, Matamanoa Island, Fiji
10. InterContinental Thalasso-Spa Bora Bora, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Best for Families

On the world list, Fiji takes fourth and fifth place with Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort on Yanuca Island and Castaway Island Fiji on Qalito Island.

For the South Pacific region, travellers voted the following 10 as the best for families.

1. Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort, Yanuca Island, Fiji
2. Castaway Island Fiji , Qalito Island, Fiji
3. Radisson Resort Fiji, Denarau Island, Denarau Island, Fiji
4. Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, Ashmore, Australia
5. Malolo Island Resort, Malolo Island, Fiji
6. The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa, Cairns, Australia
7. Plantation Island Resort, Malolo Lailai Island, Fiji
8. Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, Sigatoka, Fiji
9. Naviti Resort, Sigatoka, Fiji
10. Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Nadi, Fiji

Fiji’s Shangri-La also came in at fourth place for the world’s best for families, with Castaway Resort in  fifth place.

Best Bargains in the South Pacific

1. Mai Tai Resort,Port Douglas, Australia
2. Nakia Resort & Dive, Taveuni Island, Fiji
3. Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Cessnock, Australia
4. Stonehaven Homestay, Blenheim, New Zealand
5. Pink Flamingo, Port Douglas, Australia
6. Mandalay & Shalimar Luxury Beachfront Apartments, Port Douglas, Australia
7. Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, Ashmore, Australia
8. Coconut Grove Beachfront Cottages, Taveuni Island, Fiji
9. Catelli’s of Taupo, Taupo, New Zealand
10. Nanuya Island Resort, Nanuya, Fiji

Best Hidden Gems in the South Pacific

1. Etu Moana., Aitutaki, Cook Islands
2. Paradise Bay Eco-Lodge, Long Island, Australia
3. Mai Tai Resort,Port Douglas, Australia
4. Raiatea Lodge Hotel, Raiatea, French Polynesia
5. Coconut Grove Beachfront Cottages, Taveuni Island, Fiji
6. Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, Ashmore, Australia
7.  Stonehaven Homestay, Blenheim New Zealand
8. Catelli’s of Taupo, Taupo, New Zealand
9. Nakia Resort & Dive, Taveuni Island, Fiji
10. Bluestone on George, Dunedin, New Zealand

Travelers Choice Awards 2009