The Cook Islands offer an ideal setting for an exotic South Pacific experience — swaying coconut trees, turquoise lagoons, lush vegetation, colorful hibiscus and friendly, easygoing residents. The missionaries who arrived with the early explorers did such a good job that on Sundays most everything still grinds to a halt for the whole day as residents pour into the island churches. On other days of the week, older customs still prevail — drop by an evening resort show or festival and you can still see some of the best erotic, frenzied hip-swinging dancing of Polynesia.
This 15-island nation is an alluring stopover that North
Americans sometimes opt for when traveling Air New Zealand to the South Pacific. The problem for budget travelers is that budget accommodations are limited and if you don’t have a reservation you could find yourself forced to settle for expensive digs or leave. It’s wise to have an advance reservation even if you are planning to stay in hostel-style accommodation.
About a dozen accommodation services have banded together to form the Cook Islands Budget Accommodation Council, and they’ve produced a small 50-page booklet called “Budget Guide to the Cook Islands.” It contains very brief information on their properties. The Cook Islands are spread over an area larger than Western Europe. Nine of the listed properties are located on Rarotonga, the largest island and the island where international flights arrive.
The chairman of the Budget Accommodation Council is Bob Healey, proprietor of the Ariana Hostel in Rarotonga. This hostel is about two miles from the main town of Avarua and 500 feet from the ocean and the main bus route. Separate men’s and women’s dormitory rooms offer beds for a bit more than $9 U.S. per night. Two- and four-bedroom houses with double rooms are $10.20 per person per night, and single rooms are $15.30. The hostel features a garden, a swimming pool, pool table, TV/video lounge, self-service laundry, small grocery store and barbecue, plus bicycle, motorbike and car rentals, and a free passenger pickup service from the airport.
In addition to accommodation on Rarotonga, the guide lists facilities on Atiu, Aitutaki and Penrhyn islands. Anyone with an overseas address can obtain a free copy by contacting Tourism Cook Islands, P.O. Box 14, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (e-mail tourism@cookislands.gov.ck) or Bob Healey, Ariana Hostel, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (e-mail bob@gatepoly.co.ck). The booklet also indicates where visitors can find Internet access on Rarotonga.
For much more detailed information on the Cook Islands one of the best sources for independent travelers is the sixth edition of “The South Pacific Handbook” by David Stanley (Moon Handbooks $22.95).
LAS VEGAS HOSTEL
The one-year-old Las Vegas Backpackers Hostel & Adventure Center has announced new special mid-week rates. Dormitory accommodations that regularly cost $15 per night will now drop to $12 Monday through Thursday. Dormitory rooms are shared by up to six travelers. Some single and double rooms are also available.
The hostel is in the downtown area of Las Vegas, at 1322 E. Fremont St., a good location for the pedestrian-friendly Fremont Street Scene, which is notorious for its lights, inexpensive fine food and gambling. It’s also close to public transportation services, and it has a free shuttle service that frequents the Las Vegas Strip, grocery shopping, clothes and souvenir shopping, theme parks, the post office, theaters and so on.
On-site amenities include a heated pool, whirlpool, deck with barbecue, full-service restaurant, common room, full-service adventure center, game room, vending and laundry facilities, secured private parking area, satellite TVs and full bathrooms in every room and 24-hour reception and security. Guests get a free pancake breakfast plus free linens and free pickup from the Greyhound and Amtrak stations.
The hostel’s full-service adventure center focuses on the wide variety of adventure activities available in the Las Vegas area, including climbing and hiking in Red Rock Canyon, snow skiing and horseback riding on Mt. Charleston, skydiving, mini-car racing and sight seeing in Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon.
For more information, contact the Las Vegas Backpackers Hostel and Adventure Center, 1322 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89101; 702-385-1150 (www.hostels.com/lvbackpacker).
BACKPACKERS ON THE MOVE
The Backpackers Ultimate Guide to Europe, known on the Internet as BUG Europe, has just moved to a new location at www.bugeurope.com. BUG Europe is an information source for budget travelers heading to Europe. It provides budget accommodation and sightseeing suggestions, details on budget travel options from Eurail to Eurobus, a discussion board called the Backpackers Grapevine where cyber surfers can post questions or tips for other travelers, a currency converter and a page where travelers can post their reviews of European hostels.
AUSSIE ALTERNATIVE
Byron Bay, known for its surfing beaches and “alternative attitude,” is one of the most popular backpacker stops on Australia’s east coast. More than 10 hostels provide low-cost lodgings, so travelers can save their funds to splurge on activities from surfing and diving lessons to tandem hang-gliding and sea kayaking. Getting there can be just as active; companies such as Pioneering Spirit are catering to backpacking travelers with three-day tours from Sydney.
Pioneering Spirit departs Sydney every Friday morning, picking up passengers at six hostels around Sydney. The three-day, $117 (U.S.) tour includes wine tasting at the famous Hunter Valley, plus stops at Booti Booti National Park and Port Macquarie for (hopefully) some dolphin sightings, a visit to the Koala Hospital (for koalas — not people), and hiking and swimming in Hat Head National Park with its huge sand dunes. There’s also a two-hour bushwalk and opportunities to white-water raft or visit a gold mine.
The fare includes accommodations, all meals except lunch (vegetarians catered for), entry fees, transportation and wine at wine tastings. You can get a lift back to Sydney for $20 when the Pioneering Spirit returns. For more information, contact Pioneering Spirit, P.O. Box 1473, Byron Bay, 2481, New South Wales, Australia (e-mail pioneering@omcs.com.au; www.users.omcs.com.au/pioneering).
