Guest reviews Crown Beach Resort & Spa, Rarotonga

by J885ERpaulac

Amazing trip

We had a fantastic time at the Crown Beach Resort. Yes, covid did throw a curveball. The morning after level 4 was announced in NZ, and we were asked to stay in our courtyard pool villa until we had a negative covid test back. The staff bought us drinks & food and checked in via phone calls over the 24 hours. The test result came back within 24 hours, and we were able to carry on our holiday around the island. The staff in the restaurant Oceans and the bar area were very friendly and helpful; the cultural night was brilliant. The reception staff were also excellent and they even organised an appointment at the local health clinic when I came down with an ear infection. Parts of the resort does look a little tired and I do understand that this is something they will be working on in the coming months. Yes, there was a lack of snorkelling gear etc... But I suggest you bring your own in these covid times. Yes, the wifi was shocking anywhere but at the restaurant, but you are on holiday on an amazing island, at a beautiful resort. Do you really need to be that connected all the time? We will definitely be back and are already planning our return trip.

by Lesley M Auckland Central, New Zealand

Plenty of promise, disappointing delivery

Our stay could easily be described as a game of two halves perhaps impacted by the level 2 Covid lock down in place at the time. On the positive the room and courtyard were very good and of the standard expected from a resort charging over $640 NZD per night. The room very comfortable with a private pool, big bathroom and a great shower, air conditioning, a one channel TV, safe, fridge, microwave, toaster and tea and coffee making facilities. On the negative we were never made to feel welcome, although we were both well, had stayed across the NZ government’s advice in regards to places of interest we were forced to have a covid test and isolate in our room until the results came back, even after the results came back it was hard not to think they just wanted the last of the remaining guests gone. The paid wifi was patchy outside of the resort centre so useless when isolating in our room or later at the resort beachfront. With only 6 units occupied (out of 36) there was no snorkelling gear available. The main pool was not clean and the restaurant and bar shut earlier than advertised and reception would not do room service. If the resort had been at any where near capacity there would be a huge shortage of beach leaners and sea kayaks. The roosters that were allowed to roam the grounds woke us and kept us awake at all hours of the night. The property has an on-site Spa and 2 Restaurants although one is shut. Food and service at Oceans (house restaurant) was very good. In short the resort looks & charges like a major resort but can’t deliver against promises made, we won’t be back and couldn’t advise anyone to stay, the prejudice we received was disappointing and not only reflects badly on the Crown but on Rarotonga.

by Patrick M Wellington, New Zealand

Very disapointing, do not believe the website

The resort itself is ok. Everything is rather tired but ok. However the beach is a bit hopeless. Huge waves break not far out and the remainder washes into the beach, creating rough water and constant churn, throwing rocks up all over the beach, presumably indicative of what you would find in the water were you to venture in. The website says “Our snorkeller’s lagoon is approximately 100m wide and stretches for kilometers along the west coast; the lagoon water is crystal clear and full of colourful reef fish and a variety of live coral. It is the perfect place to use your snorkelling equipment” – this is true of Rarotonga in general but not Crown Beach itself, if you tried snorkelling in those waves you would be drinking water through a straw until you drowned, having seen nothing in the churned up water. Discussing this with the staff, this has always been the case and we were clearly not the first people to raise this. Flambe restaurant was closed, fairly permanently it seems - presumably due to covid which is understandable but should have been advised. Oceans is more of a bar, serving bar type food which is fine for what it is but limited, especially if you have food allergies. The website statement “Crown Beach Resort & Spa fresh-water swimming pool has been refurbished featuring mid-blue paint with an iridescent sheen; new mosaic tiles in marine life designs; new LED lighting; smoothened edges” must date back 20 years given the current state of the pool. The staff are nice as is common to most pacific island resorts. They were very apologetic about the situation and we were sorry for them being put in such a position by management who have clearly not put anything into the resort in many years and lie blatantly on their website. As to all the positive reviews here, I guess compared to working through winter at home anywhere on a tropical island seems great. Its not a bad place if you just want a base to sit in the sun or drink at the bar between trips elsewhere but even then, there are nicer places for similar money. To me, the absolute minimum you expect from any accommodation is a a decent night’s sleep and here the beds are old and a bit lumpy while the roosters that roam the resort will wake you at dawn. I have to question many of the reviews here. While I can understand that some people will be happy enough at any reasonably comfortable resort in a sunny warm climate, there are some specifically saying patently untrue things about the great snorkelling so I have to wonder whether these were fake reviews planted by the resort itself.

by 5kiwis2014 Wellington, New Zealand

Blissful Relaxation

Our first visit to Rarotonga and after 10 days at Crown Beach Resort, we are now delighted to discover that we will have many more return visits. Our villa with pool was beautiful, spacious room with amazing bathroom, huge double shower etc all added to the lux relaxed ambience of the resort. The first thing that we were delighted with were the team. Checking in was very relaxed and welcoming, and Luke insisting on taking both our large suitcases, led us to our villa. What a lovely friendly man, obviously proud to be part of the Crown Beach team. The whole vibe was so relaxing, the service in every area just superb. Our cooked breakfast was looked forward to as a wonderful start to the day, ending each evening in Oceans bar, watching the amazing sunsets. If relaxation, amazing service and fab cocktails is your thing, don't delay, book at Crown Beach Resort, you won't be disappointed.

by thompsonsnz Te Kauwhata, New Zealand

Amazing resort with the most beautiful sunsets ever! A shame about the very limited menu options, which was a HUGE disappointmen

We changed to Crown Beach Resort from another resort. based on the fact the had a few different options for dinner. one being Flambe Restaurant. Steak and Ribs... had excellent reviews and also checked out the menu at the other resort restaurant. LOVE seafood and the seemed to have some of the best options for seafood. Upon our arrival, after checking in we found our way to the resort restaurant and instantly my bubble was BURST, after finding out Flambe Restaurant was CLOSED until further notice and NO seafood options were available during our stay 😥😥😥 That night we went out in search of other restaurant options, but returned to the resort as everywhere else was fully booked. In my state of disappointment I asked to meet wit the resort duty Manager and expressed my utter disappointment at what I felt was FALSE advertising to lure visitors to the resort only under deliver on expectations! Mindy the duty manager did after that go out of her way to organise prawns, which was amazing... The resort was beautiful, in a very quiet location, with AMAZING sunsets!!