How to Save If You're Going to Aitutaki

Air Rarotonga and local travel agencies such as Island Hopper Vacations (tel. 22-026; www.islandhoppervacations.com) will book hotels and most activities on the other islands free of charge. If you are going to Aitutaki, for example, you can save as much as NZ$100 (US$80/£40) by buying a package that includes airfare and accommodations.

Getting to Aitutaki

Air Rarotonga (tel. 22-888 on Rarotonga, or 31-888 on Aitutaki; www.airraro.com) flies to and from Aitutaki Monday to Saturday. It also offers day trips for about NZ$450 (US$360/£180), which includes round-trip airfare and a lagoon excursion with a barbecue lunch. Regular round-trip fare is about NZ$370 (US$296/£148), but it usually is less expensive to fly at midday or at night. The early morning and late afternoon flights are often filled with day-trippers, and thus are more expensive.

Air/hotel packages to Aitutaki also can result in savings. Check with Air Rarotonga, Island Hopper Vacations (tel. 22-026; www.islandhoppervacations.com), or Jetsave Travel (tel. 27-707; www.jetsave.co.ck), which have outer island packages. The latter is owned by Melynnda Morrissette, an American expatriate who has lived in the Cook Islands longer than I've been coming here.

The airport is about 7km (4 1/4 miles) from most hotels and guesthouses, most of which pick up their guests who have reservations. The airline provides airport transfers for NZ$10 (US$8/£4) each way.

Ask the hotel desk to reconfirm your return flight to Rarotonga. Air Rarotonga's office is in Ureia village, just north of Arutanga (tel. 31-888).

Getting Around Aitutaki

There is no public bus transportation system on Aitutaki, but you can call Pacifica Taxi (tel. 31-220).

All hotels and guest houses can arrange car, scooter, and bike rentals, or you can call Rino's Rentals (tel. 31-197), north of Arutanga, or Popoara Rentals (tel. 31-735), on the mainland near the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa. Both have cars starting at NZ$65 (US$52/£26) a day, scooters for NZ$25 (US$20/£10) per day, and bikes for NZ$10 (US$8/£4) per day. Josie's Beach Lodge (tel. 31-659), also near the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, rents scooters for that same price.

Fast Facts

Currency Exchange -- ANZ Bank has a small agency and an ATM at Mango Traders, near The Pacific Resort Aitutaki (Mon-Thurs 9am-noon and 1-3pm). Westpac Bank has an office and ATM at government administration building in Arutanga (Mon, Wed, and Fri 9:30am-3pm). Bank of the Cook Islands also is in the government administration building (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm), but no ATM.

Emergencies -- In case of emergency, contact your hotel staff. The police station is in Arutanga (tel. 31-015).

Healthcare -- Medical and dental treatment and prescription medications are available at the island's hospital (tel. 31-002), near Arutanga.

Internet Access -- You can get online (slowly and expensively) at SpiderCo Internet Lounge, south of the Pacific Resort Aitutaki (tel. 31-780). It's open Monday to Saturday 7am to 11:30pm and Sunday 6 to 9pm. Access costs NZ30¢ (US24¢/12p) a minute.

Mail -- The post office in the government administration building in Arutanga is open Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.

Telephone & Fax -- The Cook Island Telecentre, in the government administration building in Arutanga, is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm. It does not accept credit cards, but you can use Kia Orana prepaid calling cards.

Visitor Information -- Cook Islands Tourism Corporation's Aitutaki visitor information office is on Sir Albert Henry Drive near the wharf (tel. 31-767). It's open Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. Go to www.aitutaki.com for information.

Water -- Don't drink the tap water on Aitutaki. Bottled water is available at grocery stores.

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