Preparing your trip to Rarotonga: advices & hints - things to do and to obey

1. The rainy season is from November to April; the lowest precipitation is from May to October. In other months, sudden tropical storms are also possible, but they are usually short-lived and, thus, won’t spoil the holiday program.

2. Two currencies run on the island; those are New Zealand dollar and Cook Islands dollar. Exchange rate is the same; the main difference between currencies is that the latest isn’t used outside of the islands. Travelers can exchange currency at a local bank, but it would be more profitable to do that in their home country before departing.

3. Banks and other government agencies are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm from Monday to Thursday; Friday is a longer working day. Some big banks may also be open on Saturday; however, Sunday is the common day off.

4. Vacationers have to consider that isn’t acceptable to leave a tip for waiters, taxi drivers and other service personnel. If you want to thank a taxi driver or waiter, you can round the resulting amount up to any sum.

5. Going shopping it’s also worth considering that bargaining is not accepted at local markets and shops. It is strongly advised to stock up a sufficient number of notes and coins of small denomination, as it will be easier to pay off the sellers. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

6. Tourists who plan to purchase items of mother-of-pearl, coral or skin are sure to fill out the supporting documentation. You are not recommended to buy these items at the open market, as bill of sale is provided by authorized shops only.

7. Mains voltage is 220 V; hotels and inns use sockets of New Zealand standard. Some large hotels may equip their ooms with other types of sockets, but it’s better to take adapters for electrical appliances in advance.

8. The best time to go shopping is Saturday morning. At this time, all markets and shops are working; they gradually begin to close in the afternoon. On Sunday, on the contrary, most of the shops don’t work.

9. You can move around the island by bus; it runs along the coast from early morning to late in the evening. The timetable isn’t accurate, but usually the range between buses is no more than an hour.