| Is there any red-blooded male living who has | | | | through wholesalers and travel agents. By |
| not thought aat least once of packing it all | | | | only taking direct bookings they have kept |
| in and going off to the South Seas? Well, | | | | their rates 35% to 50% below comparable |
| this might be your chance, particularly if | | | | properties and also have a higher net return |
| you happen to have about two million US to | | | | per night. This has been one of the keys to |
| invest in a new business. The popular | | | | their success as an ongoing business. Their |
| private resort, Shangri-La Beach Cottages on | | | | goal has always been to provide deluxe |
| Muri Beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, South | | | | accommodation at a moderate price. They do |
| Pacific, is now for sale (Feb 2006), as the | | | | seem to be succeeding at this and as one |
| owner is considering retirement.The Cook | | | | former guest succinctly put it on the |
| Islands are located in the heart of Polynesia | | | | internet: "Shangri-La provides the best bang |
| in the South Pacific. They lie about 700 | | | | for the buck on the island!"Shangri-La is a |
| miles west of Tahiti and about 1000 miles | | | | small private resort that occupies a prime |
| east of Samoa and Tonga. Hawaii is about | | | | beachfront section directly on beautiful Muri |
| 2500 miles north, New Zealand about 1800 | | | | Beach, considered the nicest beach on |
| miles to the southwest. The climate is | | | | Rarotonga. There are twelve deluxe cottages, |
| tropical, similar to that of Hawaii and | | | | a large swimming pool, office and owner's |
| Tahiti. Tourism is a year 'round industry. | | | | deluxe beachfront two-story home. Five of |
| Rarotonga is the largest of the 15 islands in | | | | the cottages are partial lagoon-view and |
| the Cooks and the main administrative | | | | seven are garden cottages. This large |
| centre.The population of the Cooks is about | | | | property is 4544 sq. m., about 1.12 |
| 15,000, with about 9,000 living on Rarotonga. | | | | acres.Although there are resorts and |
| The main island has banks, ATM machines and | | | | accommodations all around Rarotonga, Muri |
| dozens of restaurants, shops and markets. | | | | Beach is considered the top vacation spot. |
| There is a modern telephone and international | | | | There are four little islets in the |
| communications system with internet and | | | | crystal-clear lagoon and the best snorkeling |
| e-mail access. Everyone speaks English, | | | | on the island starts adjacent to Shangri-La. |
| which is the official language, along with | | | | Several of the top island restaurants are in |
| Cook Islands Maori. It is a stable | | | | walking distance, as are shops, vehicle |
| self-governing democracy in free association | | | | rentals, the Internet Cafe, the Sailing Club |
| with New Zealand and a member of the British | | | | and lagoon tours. All island tours stop at |
| Commonwealth. The people are very friendly, | | | | the Shangri-La entrance on the main road.The |
| with a vibrant local culture of dance, music | | | | Shangri-La is next to the best snorkeling |
| and crafts. There is a low crime rate.There | | | | area on Rarotonga and they have complimentary |
| is a large international airport that handles | | | | snorkeling gear for all guests. The kayaks |
| wide-body jets. There are about 17 flights a | | | | are very popular with the guests, as there |
| week, which connect Rarotonga with New | | | | are four islets within a few minutes' paddle |
| Zealand, Los Angeles, Tahiti and Fiji. | | | | of us. There are sunloungers adjacent to the |
| Onward connections to Australia and Europe | | | | beach, under a large almond tree and a nearby |
| are well-timed. The main carrier is the | | | | beach shower. The entire property is |
| well-regarded Air New Zealand and Pacific | | | | fully-fenced, except for the beachfront of |
| Blue---the low-cost carrier associated with | | | | course. The large parking area can hold ten |
| Virgin Blue---now serves the Cooks from | | | | cars, or six cars and eight motorbikes and is |
| Australia and New Zealand.Visitor numbers to | | | | rarely filled to capacity. There is room for |
| the Cooks have grown from about 40,000 a | | | | a couple of rental cars and motorscoooters if |
| decade ago to about 80,000 a year more | | | | you desire to get into vehicle rentals for |
| recently. Projections show it reaching about | | | | guests. The local bus also stops at the |
| 100,000 in the next few years. From the | | | | driveway entrance. Tropical plants abound on |
| 1970s until about the late 1990s the only way | | | | the property, including trees such as banana, |
| to market Cook Islands' accommodations | | | | papaya, mango, coconut palms and breadfruit |
| overseas was through "wholesalers" and travel | | | | and flowers such as hibiscus, gardenia, |
| agents. These middlemen collectively take | | | | jasmine, bougainvillea and alamander. A |
| about 30-35% of what the guests pay to stay | | | | large lawn fronts all the cottages on the |
| at an accommodation. In the last several | | | | T-shaped property.There are several local law |
| years the internet and e-mail have opened up | | | | firms that handle commercial matters and it |
| new ways of marketing accommodations overseas | | | | is recommended that prospective purchasers |
| and Shangri-La has been in the forefront of | | | | consider engaging a local firm to help assist |
| this more lucrative "direct-booking only" | | | | them in the purchase of any local business.No |
| system.With its continuing popularity assured | | | | one connected to this article in any way has |
| by excellent reviews in Lonely Planet, | | | | any connection whatsoever with the owner of |
| Frommers, South Pacific Handbook and travel | | | | Shangri-La and/or its agents and the content |
| websites such as Trip Advisor and Lonely | | | | herein is provided solely for informational |
| Planet Thorn Tree, as well as word-of-mouth | | | | and educational purposes to the general |
| by their loyal guests, Shangri-La has been | | | | public. |
| able to avoid the high cost of working | | | | |