Comments on: The Outsider’s Guide to the Cook Islands http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/ Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work, and Travel Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:59:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Laura Matar http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9757 Laura Matar Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:27:30 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9757 Kia Orana all commenters! My name is Laura and I represent the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation in the US. If you are interested in our islands and want to find out more please contact me on usamanager@cook-islands.travel or you can go to our website www.cookislands.travel for more info! Meitaki (Thank You) Kia Orana all commenters!

My name is Laura and I represent the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation in the US. If you are interested in our islands and want to find out more please contact me on usamanager@cook-islands.travel or you can go to our website http://www.cookislands.travel for more info!

Meitaki (Thank You)

]]> By: Devin http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9675 Devin Sat, 30 May 2009 06:07:19 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9675 Hi Chris, Nice read. However, I did want to set the record straight as a professional travel writer for the last six years and a backpacker for many years prior. The freedom being exchanged for wine is not always the case. It is different for each writer and how they set up a trip. Yes, on press trips there is plenty of wine (I don't drink so this has always been moot for me) because it always makes sense for a tourism board to make sure they put their best foot forward and create the best generic trip possible. The tourism board will plan out an itinerary to hit the high points. However, if I ask for something particular like more time on your own because you want to immerse yourself in the culture, be a fly on the wall, or whatever to cover for you readers, request (as early as possible) and, in general, receive. As an example, when I was in the Cook Islands I asked the van to pull over to the side of the road because I needed some space and time to explore Avarua on my own. I needed to be a fly on the wall. I recommend next time one of these trips comes up to help the host make your trip more to your liking -- it can be done. As a side note, going to the Cook Islands and enjoying Rarotonga is highly recommended, but visiting Aitutaki and taking a lagoon cruise as an absolute must. It is about 45 minutes from Rarotonga and maybe the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Best, devin Hi Chris,

Nice read. However, I did want to set the record straight as a professional travel writer for the last six years and a backpacker for many years prior.

The freedom being exchanged for wine is not always the case. It is different for each writer and how they set up a trip. Yes, on press trips there is plenty of wine (I don’t drink so this has always been moot for me) because it always makes sense for a tourism board to make sure they put their best foot forward and create the best generic trip possible. The tourism board will plan out an itinerary to hit the high points. However, if I ask for something particular like more time on your own because you want to immerse yourself in the culture, be a fly on the wall, or whatever to cover for you readers, request (as early as possible) and, in general, receive.

As an example, when I was in the Cook Islands I asked the van to pull over to the side of the road because I needed some space and time to explore Avarua on my own. I needed to be a fly on the wall.

I recommend next time one of these trips comes up to help the host make your trip more to your liking — it can be done.

As a side note, going to the Cook Islands and enjoying Rarotonga is highly recommended, but visiting Aitutaki and taking a lagoon cruise as an absolute must. It is about 45 minutes from Rarotonga and maybe the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
Best,
devin

]]> By: Cara Lopez Lee http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9665 Cara Lopez Lee Fri, 29 May 2009 17:22:15 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9665 Ah, a kindred traveling spirit! I, too, prefer independent adventure & your trip sounded a bit too controlled. It's cool that you got to see so much in a short time, but I bet you'll agree that sometimes less is more. I like to go slightly off the beaten path, pick a few things to do at a leisurely pace, and dig deeper into the experience. But, hey, what's not to like about "Free trip to Polynesian Island?" And the Cook Islands are certainly off the "usual" path... hmmm, guess it's now on my travel list, too. Ah, a kindred traveling spirit! I, too, prefer independent adventure & your trip sounded a bit too controlled. It’s cool that you got to see so much in a short time, but I bet you’ll agree that sometimes less is more. I like to go slightly off the beaten path, pick a few things to do at a leisurely pace, and dig deeper into the experience. But, hey, what’s not to like about “Free trip to Polynesian Island?” And the Cook Islands are certainly off the “usual” path… hmmm, guess it’s now on my travel list, too.

]]> By: Joe_Mx http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9644 Joe_Mx Fri, 29 May 2009 01:19:22 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9644 Hi Chris! I was going over an article of the cook islands the other day, and I kind of found it interesting, and I thought.. "Has Chris gone to the Cook Islands?" and I visit your site and an article about them.. funny thing! Hope you enjoy your weeks at home! Hi Chris! I was going over an article of the cook islands the other day, and I kind of found it interesting, and I thought.. “Has Chris gone to the Cook Islands?” and I visit your site and an article about them.. funny thing! Hope you enjoy your weeks at home!

]]> By: charlino http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9618 charlino Thu, 28 May 2009 05:55:12 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9618 Hello - Your most recent post about The Cook Islands is wonderfully informative. Funny, but of all the places in the world, this was the place I wanted to be when I was fifteen. (That was many, many years ago and another world away.) Thank you for sharing your information. May your adventure continue to be safe and true. Hello – Your most recent post about The Cook Islands is wonderfully informative. Funny, but of all the places in the world, this was the place I wanted to be when I was fifteen. (That was many, many years ago and another world away.) Thank you for sharing your information. May your adventure continue to be safe and true.

]]> By: Dan Krikorian http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9567 Dan Krikorian Tue, 26 May 2009 17:50:36 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9567 Glad you had a good trip. Thanks for the updates and I'm looking forward to Thursday!! Dan Glad you had a good trip. Thanks for the updates and I’m looking forward to Thursday!!

Dan

]]> By: Paul Maurice Martin http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9557 Paul Maurice Martin Tue, 26 May 2009 14:31:15 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9557 Looks like a beautiful place, thanks for the trip... Looks like a beautiful place, thanks for the trip…

]]> By: Kayla http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9556 Kayla Tue, 26 May 2009 14:09:37 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9556 Great post - I have always wondered what the Cook Islands were like. As a resident of Utah, glad to hear you will be visiting in June - if you are around the SLC area I highly recommend <a href="http://thelegacylady.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/beautiful-gardens/" rel="nofollow">these gardens</a> - they are a family favorite for us. Hope you enjoy your time here! Love your blog. Great post – I have always wondered what the Cook Islands were like. As a resident of Utah, glad to hear you will be visiting in June – if you are around the SLC area I highly recommend these gardens – they are a family favorite for us. Hope you enjoy your time here! Love your blog.

]]> By: Alex Shalman http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9555 Alex Shalman Tue, 26 May 2009 13:57:22 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9555 Hey Chris, Nice detailed review. I'm psyched to see that you're going to be coming around my way. I'm not too far from New York and would love to join you for coffee. Shoot me an e-mail with the general time vicinity that you'll be around. Hey Chris,

Nice detailed review. I’m psyched to see that you’re going to be coming around my way. I’m not too far from New York and would love to join you for coffee. Shoot me an e-mail with the general time vicinity that you’ll be around.

]]> By: @SarahMerion http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/outsider-guide-to-the-cook-islands/comment-page-1/#comment-9550 @SarahMerion Tue, 26 May 2009 10:20:53 +0000 http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/?p=3184#comment-9550 It definitely has its drawbacks to going on a sponsored trip. I'm sure you have much more interesting encounters and experiences than what an expenses paid trip could manifest for you. At the same time, that's pretty awesome that you've gotten to a point in your career that people want to send you on vacation for free :-) It definitely has its drawbacks to going on a sponsored trip. I’m sure you have much more interesting encounters and experiences than what an expenses paid trip could manifest for you. At the same time, that’s pretty awesome that you’ve gotten to a point in your career that people want to send you on vacation for free :-)

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