We stayed at Etu Moana for 4 nights to celebrate my 50th birthday in March. I can't add anything new to the glowing reviews this place has already received, except to say that Etu Moana and Aitutaki are paradise on earth. Go there if you can. You won't be sorry.

We stayed in a Beachfront Villa #4, it was better than the web site. The accommodation, location and service was fantastic. Our expectations were exceeded.

The kayaking in the lagoon directly infront of the Villa's is just superb.

Jim & Jo-Anne are superb hosts and Etu is a true credit to their fastidious tastes. The staff were so helpful and nothing was too much trouble.

Aitutaki is such a beautiful island, quite unspoilt and very well maintained. We made good use of the bikes from Etu, they were so much fun, like Grandma’s bikes, no gears and the only way to brake was to peddle backwards. We cycled all around the island and more on this bikes, a great way to see the island and the back roads.

We ate at the Pacific Resort a couple of times, although it is expensive the setting is really lovely. The service was very good, one night we were there it started to rain, so we asked to borrow an umbrella for the walk back to Etu and they offered to drive us back, which we accepted.

The restaurant at Taumanu Beach is in easy walking distance and the food was very good.

Most of the restaurants will pick you up and take you back to your accommodation so you don’t have to hire cars or bikes, that is if you are willing to use the push bikes.

The island night at Samade Beach was great, the food was like a banquet, really very nice and well worth the effort.

We did a lagoon tour with Puna which was superb, the food that we had for lunch on One Foot Island was a taste sensation.

One of the highlights was a fishing trip with Kathy, it followed a similar path to the lagoon tour that we did with Puna, but we of course did more fishing. One tip though make sure there are only two of you that go fishing as Kathy does not have the equipment to take more. We were disappointed when we got on the boat (a tinny) with another couple to find that she only had two rods set up with lures and only three rods to fish with, so we could not all fish at the same time.

A definite recommendation from us.

Because of Trip Advisor, Etu Moana had some extremely high expectations to live up to, and believe it or not, they surpassed all of them! Jim, Jo-Anne, and all the staff (and I do mean ALL the staff – from the girls at reception and breakfast, to the housekeepers and David, the very talented groundskeeper) just could not have been more friendly and helpful. After our ten days with them we felt like we were saying goodbye to family! Really, I can’t add any more to the already wonderful reviews they have received so far. Everything is true!

From the moment that we arrived on Aitutaki I was in my glory. My wife and I were greeted by Jo-Ann & Lovey at the airport who donned us with beautiful flower leis. From there we traveled back to the resort and had a very nice continental breakfast (great coffee and croissants!).

After breakfast our room was ready for us and it did not disappoint. Every villa in the resort has at least some view of the lagoon. We were in villa 8, which some people might think is the ghetto villa because it's the furthers away from the water, but really they are all amazingly beautiful! Nice bathroom, a quaint kitchen... and great accent lighting above the headrest of the bed. And the resort was lush and filled with very nicely colored flowers throughout.

While the hotel was nice, the thing I found most appealing about the whole experience was the service. I can be known to be a stickler for details and the gang at Etu Moana surpassed my high standards. I felt like I could ask any of the staff questions about excursions or dinner locations and they always had a good answer and a smile. Not only that but I never felt like I was bothering them by asking them questions or having them book something for me.

Ok so the resort was great, the water in the lagoon was amazing! So when am I packing up my bags and moving there, right? Well not so fast. The mosquitos on Aitutaki are INSANE! We were only on the island for 4 nights but I swear I lost at least a pint of blood. We had hard core deet spray... We had mosquito coils burning almost nonstop but they were relentless. While I really enjoyed my stay, I really don't think I'll be back until they start spraying again on the island. On one leg, from the knee down I counted 25 bites after 3 days. It was pretty crazy.

Ok so if you still are interested in going. Etu Moana has to be the best resort (for the price) on the island. We also stayed at Tamanu Beach resort and while it was $100 a night cheaper over there it wasn't wasn't anywhere half as nice. My wife I'm sure would say it was fine... but it you want a classy place for reasonable value I would go with Etu Moana.

If anyone has any questions about restaurants or excursions if you are going there let me know, I'd be happy to answer them.

Yellow Boat Tour - Killer! Highly recommended
Cafe Tapuna - Kinda pricey ~$30 per main course but worth every dollar
The Boat Shed - I'd pass on the place... my swordfish was cold. My wife like it though... so go at your own risk.
JK's - Killer burgers... I don't know what they put in them but they were fantastic! Burger for $10
Tauono's - Great meal but kinda pricey. Lunch was $25 for a main which kinda surprised us. Staff are really friendly! Say hi to Jasper and Banff (owners cats) for us.
Scooter Rental - $25 bucks per day. A must do! Watch out for the crabs on the back side of the island... they are everywhere! They are really cool though.
Te Vaka Restaurant - Ate there for dinner. ~$25-30 bucks for a main. Cafe Tapuna was better but Te Vaka was still not too bad.

Oh yeah if you fly back to Raro thinking that you'll spend the day there after you check out and fly back to LA on the midnight flight... heres a few tips for you.

1.) To store you bags at the Raro airport is $20... Coins only please. ugh!
2.) Everything (and I mean everything, shops, car/scooter rentals, etc.) closes on Saturday at 12:30 pm... So your odds of renting a scooter for a day are basically zero.
3.) There are no public showers anywhere... So if your thinking about hanging in the Muri Lagoon and having a nice shower before you hop on the plane to come home you might want to think again. Psst... here's a secret... head to the pacific resort and run up to the sailing club... start speaking about the wind in the lagoon and then waltz in to the shower there like you own the place. ;)
4.) A cab ride from the Raro airport to Muri beach will run you about $30. Take the bus.
5.) A cool hang out while your waiting for your bus back to the airport is the hostel on Muri beach. I can't remember the name of it but they have cheap internet that you can chill on while your waiting for your ride.