Etu Moana Boutique Beach Villas - Adults Only

This was our eighth visit to Aitutaki, and we have stayed at Etu Moana every time. With only eight villas it is very peaceful and private; you often feel like you are there on your own! The pool is a particularly great spot to relax and unwind. Our first two visits were when the original owners were running the property, and they set our expectations sky high. Since then, we have seen a number of changes of managers (and staff), and so our experience has (naturally) differed each time. The newest managers (Shaun and Molly) have only been there a few months. Molly was particularly welcoming and friendly. They are working on making a few changes, and we look forward to seeing progress on our next visit. After 17 years of visiting we were a bit disappointed that recent licensing rules have resulted in stopping the honesty bar - something we weren’t told until our arrival. We have in the past enjoyed (easily accessible) drinks by the pool where we spend a lot of our time. Alcohol is still made available. Or you can buy from local supermarkets. The current system didn’t seem to work regarding purchasing cocktails, but we understand this is being worked on. As it was, on the afternoon of our last day, Molly made cocktails which was a great way to mingle with other guests by the pool. Cost: $18 per cocktail. The breakfast needs a bit of an upgrade. Limited choices and so when staying seven nights you need to find other options. We had the magical dinner on the beach for our anniversary celebration which was a pretty cool experience but the meat for both our mains was overcooked and inedible. (Unfortunately, it was Terangi’s day off.) We expected better quality for the price. Couple of other issues need ironing out - like our room not being serviced every day - and quality of service seemed to depend on the staff member. Time will tell how the issues are resolved. Terangi is by far the best staff member for customer service. She’s friendly, natural, and so very welcoming. An absolute star who we hope never leaves! Molly went out of her way to drive us to dinner one night knowing we had had a bit too much sun (and hadn’t ordered a taxi). Gestures like that make Etu Moana stand out. It’s the personal touch we love and hope never stops. All the best Shaun and Molly. We look forward to seeing what visit #9 will bring.

We LOVED Etu Moana for our Honeymoon stay!! Small 8 villa location with amazing views. The grounds are really well-kept too. Easy access to the beautiful lagoon to snorkel or swim. Petra and Molly really go the extra mile to ensure any want or need is covered. They are happy to recommend restaurants and tours and will gladly book reservations too. I highly suggest hiring the golf cart for a half day, from the resort, to tour the island on your own. We really enjoyed the daily breakfast, barefoot dining experience, as well as breakfast on our veranda. The pool area has an honor bar with a nice selection of liquor, beer and juices (you just tally up what you take on a card and pay at the end of your stay). Exceptional service, exceptionally friendly staff, and an overall GREAT experience. We can't wait to go back and will absolutely book this resort again. 😍 Braxton and Mindi