Destination wedding in the Cook Islands

Looking for one of the most romantic place to start your new lives together?  The Cook Islands are the perfect place for a destination wedding or honeymoon.

Weddings in the Cook Islands are legally recognized internationally and the couple only needs to be in the country for three business days prior to their wedding to obtain their marriage license.  There are exceptions which can be made to the residency requirement if given advanced notice.  The only documents required are passports and birth certificates, plus divorce decree or death of spouse papers, if applicable.  There are wedding coordinators available at many of the properties as well.

Locations available for weddings range from an ancient limestone church to a barefoot ceremony on a beautiful white sand beach.

For honeymooners, there are plenty of secluded places to explore.  The couple can enjoy candlelit dinners on the beach, have a picnic on a private island called a motu, stay in a luxury resort on both Rarotonga and Aitutaki in a luxury villa or hut on the beach.  The possibilities are endless!

Contact Mary at 732-747-8187 or email Mary@thetravelbugonline.com for more information

Destination: Cook Islands

Many couples dream of an exotic honeymoon on a tropical island.  For some, this could be Tahiti, St Lucia, or Hawaii.  But today's destination I am suggesting is the Cook Islands.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual Vacation.com conference in Orlando and I participated in the Travel 2 seminar which featured the Cook Islands.  After returning from the conference I completed the Cook Islands Specialist program and am excited to share some information with you.

The Cook Islands are what Hawaii used to be about 50 years ago.  The Cook Islands, comprised of 15 islands, are located in the South Pacific and have a warm, welcoming climate.  They are in the same time zone as the Hawaiian Islands, which means they are east of the International Dateline.  The islanders speak English in addition to their native Maori, so when visiting make sure to greet the locals with "Kia Orana!" which means, "May you live on".

The Cook Islands do not have any chain hotels or high-rise buildings. In fact, no building can be higher than a coconut palm tree.  There are a variety of accommodations available, from simple backpackers' hostels, to luxury hotels.  An interesting option is to stay with a local family.  Called their Home-Stay program on the island of Mitiaro, local families have constructed traditional thatched huts next to their homes. Visitors stay in these huts and enjoy the delicious local food prepared by the host families.

Check back for the more on the Cook Islands...

Contact Mary at 732-747-8187 or email Mary@thetravelbugonline.com for more information