Top 5-Star Hotels in Rarotonga

A wonderful week for my adult daughter and I. We stayed in Villa 1 directly on the beach, and from our deck at times it felt like we were floating on the lagoon. Excellent attention to detail in the villas (which are modern, bright and clean) and the pool and grounds are beautifully maintained too. Sun on the decks until early afternoon, and the pool from late morning. If, like me, you love cooking, the kitchen is well equipped and there is a mains gas Webber on the deck. The breakfasts were enough for us, and you can choose whether to have them delivered the night (afternoon) before if you have an early start. The staff were really pleasant and smiley, and Robyn sorted out all of our requirements without a hitch. We had a small maintenance issue and it was fixed the next day while we were in Aitutaki. The only thing I would do differently next time is to hire a car to pick up from the airport instead of a transfer, even if I wouldn’t use a car everyday. Muri is very walkable, but we used taxis occasionally to go to other area restaurants. There was a dearth of veggies in the shops (or roadside) in Muri Beach so you probably need to car or bus to Avarua. And we hired a car anyway for our last couple of days ( which was a blessing on check-out when the rain put paid to our plans for the last day). Meitaki ma’ata, Robyn, Kia manuia

When you pay over $700 a night for a villa in a resort you have certain expectations on quality and service and I'm afraid the Crown Beach Resort fell well short of those expectations. You don't even get free wifi! You have to pay extra for that and there was no guarantee it would work if your villa was too far away from reception The whole resort is run down and nowhere near the 4 1/2 star resort it claims to be. It obviously was once, but not anymore. We had a beach front villa for 7 days. The villa was huge but run down. The whole resort needs a full makeover to charge the prices they charge. If it was $300 a night we would have been perfectly happy to overlook the quality issues, but when you pay over $5000 for a week you want luxury and we didnt get it! You walk around the resort and most of the feature ponds are near empty with green stagnant water, the gardens are bare and unattractive, We didn't have hot water in the villa for 2 days, the buffet breakfast is not good, in fact all their buffet meals are terrible. We booked in for the buffet Sunday roast which started at 6pm, we got there at 6:45 and most of the trays were empty, and what was there was cold! The staff don't seem to top up the trays as the night goes on so unless you are there as soon as it starts you are out of luck. Same goes for breakfast! Not good enough! The staff are all lovely though, very nice to deal with, but could be a bit slow in the restaurant and bar. But to be fair, we did have an issue with our booking and the general manager did try to make it right so credit for that. We talked to other guests during the week and they all felt the same as we did, infact we spoke to a couple who stayed there 6 years ago and couldn't believe how badly it deteriorated in that time. Overall we enjoyed our week, but from what we seen on the island there are plenty of other resorts that are way better value for money. Seems like most of the good reviews for this place are from a long time ago when the Crown was at its best. Those days are gone

With a stay at Te Vakaroa Villas in Rarotonga (Takitumu District), you'll be within a 10-minute walk of Muri Beach and Muri Night Markets. This beach aparthotel is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Muri Lagoon and 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Te Vara Nui Village.Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and bicycles to rent. Additional amenities at this aparthotel include tour/ticket assistance and barbecue grills. Guests can catch a ride to nearby destinations on the area shuttle (surcharge).Satisfy your appetite for lunch or dinner at the aparthotel's restaurant, Sails Restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 8 AM to 10:30 AM.Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, laundry facilities, and a library. Free self parking is available onsite.Make yourself at home in one of the 6 individually furnished guestrooms, featuring kitchens with full-sized refrigerators/freezers and stovetops. Your Select Comfort bed comes with down comforters and Egyptian cotton sheets. Rooms have private furnished balconies or patios. Plasma televisions with satellite programming are available for your entertainment, while iPod docking stations help you enjoy your music in the comfort of your room.

With a stay at Rumours Luxury Villas & Spa in Rarotonga (Takitumu District), you'll be within a 10-minute walk of Muri Beach and Muri Lagoon. This beach hotel is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Muri Night Markets and 0.6 mi (1 km) from Te Vara Nui Village.Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and bicycles to rent. This hotel also features wedding services, tour/ticket assistance, and barbecue grills.Take advantage of the hotel's room service.Featured amenities include luggage storage, laundry facilities, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. A roundtrip airport shuttle is complimentary (available 24 hours).Make yourself at home in one of the 7 air-conditioned rooms featuring private plunge pools and flat-screen televisions. Rooms have private furnished balconies or patios. Kitchens are outfitted with full-sized refrigerators/freezers, stovetops, and microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and DVD players are provided for your entertainment.

With a stay at Sea Change Villas in Rarotonga (Takitumu District), you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Muri Beach and Takitumu Conservation Area. This beach hotel is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Maire Nui Botanical Gardens and 1.9 mi (3.1 km) from Tikioki Beach.Pamper yourself with onsite massages or take in the view from a terrace and a garden. Additional features at this hotel include concierge services, wedding services, and a picnic area.Take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.Featured amenities include laundry facilities, a library, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite.Treat yourself to a stay in one of the 15 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring private pools and plasma televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Kitchens are outfitted with full-sized refrigerators/freezers, stovetops, and microwaves. Satellite programming and DVD players are provided for your entertainment, while wireless internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected.

With a stay at Reflections On Rarotonga in Rarotonga (Takitumu District), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Muri Beach and Matutu Brewing Company. This beach villa is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Tikioki Beach and 0.3 mi (0.6 km) from Tikioki Marine Sanctuary.Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials.Free self parking is available onsite.Make yourself at home in one of the 2 air-conditioned rooms featuring private plunge pools and flat-screen televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding. Kitchens are outfitted with full-sized refrigerators/freezers, stovetops, and microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment.

With a stay at The Black Pearl Beach Side Apartments in Rarotonga (Arorangi), you'll be a 4-minute walk from Puaikura Beach and 9 minutes by foot from Cocoputt. This beach hotel is 6.8 mi (10.9 km) from Muri Beach and 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Aroa Beach.Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as an outdoor pool or take in the view from a terrace and a garden. Additional features at this hotel include wireless internet access (surcharge), concierge services, and babysitting (surcharge).Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite.Make yourself at home in one of the 12 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring kitchenettes with full-sized refrigerators/freezers and stovetops. Rooms have private balconies. Wireless internet access (surcharge) is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and separate sitting areas.