There are 2 luxury resorts in Aitutaki. The most luxurious, and most expensive, is Pacific Resort. Although we didn't stay there, we visited it enough times to understand what it is like. The second most luxurious resort is Tamanu Beach Resort nearby about 20mins walk...away. Less formal than Pacific, it is true to its motto of "Casual Luxury" in that it has most of the offerings of Pacific but with less formality and grandeur. It has fewer beachfront bungalows than Pacific, less formal gardens and no gift shop but an equivalent level of comfort and luxury and facilities. It is slightly cheaper (but still expensive). It has no pretense of superiority like the Pacific does, and its clientele to our observation were more down to earth compared to some Pacific guests flashing their Gucci clothes and accessories. We experienced some of the service at Pacific and assess the service at Tamanu was just as good.
The cooked breakfast included with all room rates is of a very high standard, as was the dinner menu in the restaurant. People staying for longer than a week might feel limited in their choices however as the menu does not change.
Tamanu Beach is very inviting compared to all beaches on Rarotonga. There is a sandy beach with minimal coral and rock debris (you still need reef shoes though) and the water is clear and good for swimming at anything above half-tide. Snorkeling is rewarding with reasonable (but not pristine) coral, plenty of fish and the odd clam. The coral is better than all at Rarotonga but not as good as that in Aitutaki Lagoon, but still worth a look. The resort provides ample numbers of free double and single kayaks as well as standup paddle boards. Unlike Pacific Resort, it does not provide life jackets or snorkelling gear.
All Tamanu bungalows have a view of some kind of the water from their front porches, but it is only the beachfront bungalows which provide a substantial view. That view is worth the additional room rate as the view is pristine tropical, and can be enjoyed from your bed as well as the porch. You will have to book well ahead, at least in peak season, to obtain a beachfront bungalow at Tamanu as they have only about 5, whereas Pacific has more.
If you seek privacy as well as a great view, the options at Tamanu are restricted compared to Pacific, whose beachfront bungalows are all reasonably private. In our assessment, only 3 of Tamanu's beachfront bungalows are private: The two end ones and the villa with its own private swimming pool. The other 2 beachfronts are fronted by a wooden promenade which sees foot traffic by guests going to and coming from the beach. All non-beachfront bungalows at Tamanu lack privacy unless you block the view by drawing curtains.
The resort is divided into the Family section and the Adults Only section, each well separated from the other by an intervening non-resort block of land and each with its own pool. The AO pool is relatively small with a capacity of only about 6 people swimming. It is an infinity pool with a great view of the beach and water. The villa with its own private pool is right next to the AO pool separated by a high rock wall so noise is potentially a problem but given the AO area, not in practice while we were there. The Villa is very private but has the disadvantage of not being as open to the beach & water view as the bungalows. The Family section has bungalows facing both the central pool and towards the distant beach view. They all would suffer the consequential noise and privacy issues.
All bungalows are nicely styled with modern bathrooms and clean furnishings. Most appeared to have an outside shower as well as inside. Water pressure is very good but you cannot drink the tap water (unhealthy) so the resort provides ample drinking water in the bungalow's fridge, as well as milk. There is a coffee maker, kitchen sink and a small amount of crockery but no microwave.
In our assessment, the best bungalow unless you are keen on your own private pool (#111) is #112, which is beachfront, in the AO area and very private because it is absolute beachfront and at the edge of the resort with little passing traffic.
Once you have had enough of water activities, or the weather turns bad, there is not a lot to do either at the resort or elsewhere, There is a modest book library, no video library or rental, only 4 TV channels (2 local, CNN, 1 sports). To get away from the resort, walking is really not an option. The nearest grocer (limited variety of stock in all stores) is a 30min walk away. There is no public transport and taxis are all privately and independently operated. The resort provides free bicycles which are in good condition but do not have gears nor a parcel basket, so bringing groceries back can be hard-going. The resort rents motor scooters for about $30 a day with no license requirement, and no helmet. Car rentals are available via third parties for about $70 per day but supply is limited so you need to book at least 48hrs ahead. Having outlined the options, it has to be said that in a car or on a scooter, you can see all the land-based sites AItutaki has to offer in less than a day.
The resort holds an Island Culture Night (buffet + show) every Thursday night which is worth attending. Compared to similar shows on Rarotonga, it is less spectacular and less professional but more culturally genuine.
One negative point about the resort is its application of a 3% fee on all international card transactions, even debit cards. They say 3% is what banks charge them but the issue for us was that we were unprepared financially for anything other than a credit card transaction. The resort should really warn customers when they book of this surcharge so they can organise to avoid it if they wish to - and you will when you realise you could be paying $100 to $300 depending on the size of your bill.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Tamanu and recommend the resort to anyone who wishes to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of the tropical scenery and waters in a comfortable environment without paying the top dollar which Pacific Resort demands. If you seek a resort which offers lots of organised activities and adventure options and/or exciting nighlife, Tamanu, Pacific, or Aitutaki in general is not for you. Aitutaki is about enjoying the unspoilt tropics and the extreme unspoilt beauty of its Lagoon. Other forms of holiday enjoyment are better sought on Rarotonga.More
