We spent 4 days at Aitutaki staying at Etu Moana. It was true paradise. The layout of the property was very nice. All bungalows had lagoon view from their decks and allowed for privacy. We were in villa number 8 which was furtherst from the beach but it was still only a few steps to the beach. The garden was lovely and well kept. There were bicycles, kayaks and DVDs to be borrowed.

Etu Moana had an honesty bar where you could get drinks, you just wrote up what you took and then paid at check out. Very convenient.

The owners Jim and Jo-Ann and their staff were really friendly and helpful.

The beach was never crowded and we were often alone. The water was really warm and clear. We did some nice snorkelling.

We went on a lagoon trip with Teking which was really nice. We got to go to 5 different islands and snorkelled on three ocassions. Warmly recommended.

We also had some nice dinners at the Boat shed, Pacific resort and Cafe Tupuna. Go next door to Tuanos and buy some fresh fruit, it tastes wonderful.

Really, it is true - everyone has said all that can be said about this amazing place. The staff are INCREDIBLE - so genuinely interested in making sure you have a great time on their island. Jim and Jo-anne are great hosts and never in-your-face - if you need them, they are there in an instant helping out, but if you want your own space, they sense it and let you enjoy everything on your own.

We were in Villa 5, overlooking the pool with a bit of a lagoon view - it was perfect. The grounds are immaculate - thanks to Jim, Jo-anne, and David who take such great care.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and especially the late afternoon pool time with some of the other guests. We met some wonderful couples from the US, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Everyone was so friendly and relaxed - it was incredible.

If we could change anything, it would be the beds, which we found a bit uncomfortable. And the check-out options - you might consider an overnight in Rarotonga on your way home, or ask at the Edgewater for a day-use rate and relax until your flight.

You will not go wrong choosing the Etu Moana, but book early, as the wait to get a villa seems to be getting longer! You will LOVE it.

Bob and I were going to go to the the Galapagos and are we ever glad that we didn't! We had a fabulous time relaxing at Etu Moana with Jim and Joanne, David, Lovey and all the superb staff.
The villa was cozy and tropical with a/c and a fan for the warm nights. A covered porch where we spent afternoons reading and sipping cool drinks when we weren't out exploring the island and the lagoon was just the right spot. All the villas have good views and have identical layouts, so it doesn't matter much which one you book.
We explored the island on bikes from the resort, rented scooters from there too and went all over the island and ventured out to Island night at one of the neighbouring resorts and generally discovered as much as we could in a short stay. A broken collarbone on the last day while we were 'off-road' scootering (avoid slippery mud puddles) wasn't too much fun, but thanks to Lovey for coming to pick me up near the top of the island and good basic treatment at the local hospital and I was on my way home with great memories of a fine stay at a very memorable resort.
Joanne will tell you where to eat, so you won't be disappointed with your dinners/lunches out on the island. She even made reservations for dinner for us on our stopover on Rarotonga before our overnight flight to LA which made the long journey done on a full tummy. All terrific and we don't hesitate to recommend Etu Moana to everyone though it's an adult kind of place.

This was the perfect honeymoon destination. We loved everything about our stay. The resort is essentially set up for couples, so no kids = a nice, quiet stay with plenty of friendly couples to chat with.

The staff at the Etu Moana are friendly, warm, unobtrusive, and regularly go above and beyond to ensure your stay is memorable. Assistance with booking at the best restaurants, arranging cruises etc was never a problem, and their recommendations were well-guided.

The grounds were pristine. Literally. The pool was crystal-clear, well maintained and regularly cleaned. We spent many a pleasant hour enjoying swimming here!

The villas are very well appointed, and well maintained. The bed was not only huge, but incredibly comfortable. No holiday neck-crick for us!! :) Having air conditioning was a major bonus, as previous experience staying in places such as these meant hot, humid nights with poor sleep. Not here! The villas are also well equipped to ensure your comfort and privacy, with all windows and doors fitted with screens to stop the mozzies coming in.

The beaches in Aitutaki are incredible. The one at the front of the Etu Moana resort had crystal clear water, white sand, and lots of little coral reef/rock formations that made snorkelling an absolute breeze. We were able to simply walk out a few metres and see the actual etu moana (the blue starfish), and multitudes of fish even from the shoreline. A very short walk up the beach there is a beautiful deep swimming-hole, if you like the depths to relax in.

We enjoyed a cruise with Aitutaki Adventures (the yellow boat cruise) which was *incredible*. Snorkelling by honeymoon island, spending time on honeymoon island, survivor island, and one foot island. Gliding over, swimming and snorkelling in the brilliant turquoise waters this region is known for... and Puna, our host on the cruise, an absolute legend with a brilliant sense of humour. The lunch they served was out of this world - everything tasted good, from the fresh-caught tuna, to the paw-paw curry and breadfruit salad. Divine.

The other recommendation I would make for travellers to this region, is to enjoy dinner at Cafe Tupuna. What that woman can do to fish is incredible. It was so enjoyable, it was embarrassing!