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