#65968 - 08/13/07 09:35 PM
Raimiti for 11 days?
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Finnano
Member
Registered: 12/25/05
Posts: 188
Loc: Novato, CA
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I think I already know the answer to this, but does anyone think that 11 days at Raimiti would be too long?
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* Life is a beach *
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#65975 - 08/14/07 06:00 AM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: Finnano]
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Silvanocat
Advisor
Registered: 04/03/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Los Angeles
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Yes. I would choose to spend that length of time someplace where there are more options as far as meals and things that you can do(even options for exploring on your own).
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#65977 - 08/14/07 06:27 AM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: Silvanocat]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1878
Loc: Denver, Co.
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I think 6 would be about the max, unless you really have a stressful life and want to disconnect for a long time. We are doing 6 nights in Nov. I'll let you know how that goes.
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Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#65985 - 08/14/07 12:21 PM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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mlpad
Junior Member
Registered: 02/27/07
Posts: 14
Loc: Chuluota, Florida
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We stayed for 7 nights. It was just right for us. There are so many factors involved that it's really hard to say. We really got to know the hosts and enjoyed the time we spent with them. That experience may not have been the same had we not been the only ones there. We were content to veg out and did not have to be doing something all the time. I could eat Elvina's cooking for the rest of my life; variety was not a problem for us. What ever you decide to do, it will be a memorable experience for you, I promise.
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#65995 - 08/14/07 08:45 PM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: mlpad]
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Finnano
Member
Registered: 12/25/05
Posts: 188
Loc: Novato, CA
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Thanks, that's helpful! Actually I thought the overwhelming opinion would be "stay as long as possible"! Good to know.
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#65997 - 08/15/07 03:07 AM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: Finnano]
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MarkusRR
Member
Registered: 08/31/06
Posts: 53
Loc: Finland
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We were there for 4 nights, and it is a truly wonderful experience and one of the most memorable places if have been to. We just got a couple of our best shots from there blown up to poster size so that we can hang them on the wall and have Fakarava/Raimiti on our minds daily ;) But even so, if I had (for instance) 11 days, I'd split it somehow, maybe three or four down at one of the places near the southern pass as the snorkelling there was just something else. (For instance compared to Bora, or the pass at Tikehau).
A final note about 'disconnecting'.. you have to do that yourself manually i.e. leave your cell,PDA etc. turned off as there is full cell network coverage there :)
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#66000 - 08/15/07 07:46 AM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: MarkusRR]
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rodjune
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 1726
Loc: Kalama Valley, HI
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If you like to lounge around and not do too much, 11 days would be perfect. You could do all the excursions two or three times at least. We could have spent 7 nights there very easily (spent 4 nights). We are low key, love to explore on our own, and can create our own adventures. Taking boat rides to different parts of the atoll were exciting and provided good photo opportunities. Beyond 7 nights, I think we may have gotten bored after doing things more than two or three times. I agree with MarkusRR, and split the time with another south pass pension.
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#66018 - 08/15/07 03:08 PM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: rodjune]
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Finnano
Member
Registered: 12/25/05
Posts: 188
Loc: Novato, CA
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Any suggestions on another place on the southside? I remember reading good things about Motu Aito Paradise on this forum? My book (Jan Prince's) only lists Tetamanu, Motu Aito and Raimiti for the south, are there any others?
Markus, we don't even ATTEMPT to turn our cell phones on, and my husband also hates to have a TV in a bungalow - in fact he bumped his head pretty hard one time trying to hide one of those on-the-wall TVs!
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#66056 - 08/17/07 10:50 AM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: Finnano]
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rodjune
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 1726
Loc: Kalama Valley, HI
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Those are the only three pensions on the south side. Tetamanu had reports of being unreliable but I've read that they finally got their act together. I would prefer the sauvage bungalows just to the east of the pass where there is more privacy than those bungalows on the pass itself. Motu Aito looks like a great property, good privacy and seclusion, and is only a few minutes boat ride (or walk across the hoas) to the pass. Raimiti is the newest of them all but about a 20 minute boat ride from the pass but close to Hirifa Beach, which is absolutely gorgeous. Raimiti is also very secluded and quiet, with great food.
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#66059 - 08/17/07 11:35 AM
Re: Raimiti for 11 days?
[Re: rodjune]
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maimiti
Member
Registered: 04/29/07
Posts: 63
Loc: CA
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I second the recommendation to stay at another pension on the south side. They are all great and each offers it's own unique experience. Tetamanu (if you want to chance it), is superbly located on the pass. You can snorkel here to your heart's content and drift dive in the pass (this is the location everyone comes to for this (ie: all the other pensions, hotel and dive groups). That being said it was crowded with people (including us) on the day we were there. Could have been summer vacationers. Could be quieter at other times of the year. People don't stay long, and after they leave it is peace and quiet as far as the eye can see. Also, their overwater restaurant is fabulously situated. I've heard great things about Annabelle, her cooking, and her hostessing.
We stayed at Motu Aito. Their bungalows are very well appointed and even somewhat spacious compared to the bungalows at Raimiti. They have an enclosed garden off the back porch of the bungalow with a deck and detached WC. This was also very nice. Their bungalows are beautiful all handcrafted polynesian style out of local materials. You can tell Tila and Manihi have put a lot of pride and effort into this beautiful oasis. We often enjoyed lounging on one of the 3 beds in our room while the ocean breeze blew through the room looking out at the turquoise water. They also have a large main house with magazines and many mattresses where you can lie down and enjoy the views after lunch etc. Tila is a fabulous cook, Manihi provides fresh seafood daily. You can go fishing for tuna with him at sunrise and go swimming in his fish park at lunch time. You can cross the hoas and explore several motus. They took us to the most exceptional pink sand motu I have ever been to just on the other side of the pass from Tetamanu Village.
Raimiti is charming in large part because of the hosts. Cooking is excellent, but had more of a french influence to it (lot's of imported clams, squid, prawns, mussels, etc.), when we were there. Depends on the shipments they get from PPT and elsewhere. I enjoyed the food very much, but also enjoy eating local style dishes (sashimi, poisson cru, lagoon fish, etc.). Exploring the coral reef behind the bungalows was the highlight of staying there for us. We stayed in the family size bungalow on the reef side which was also very comfortable, spacious with lot's of privacy including a deck for sunbathing.
I've often wanted to stay 4-5 days at one pension and 4-5 days at another just because the overall setting is idyllic with lot's to enjoy at each. Almost did it on this last trip but decided to just go with 5 days at Raimiti and spend the rest of the time in the Australs.
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