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
