Just OK
by TripAdvisor Member noostar
We stayed at The Edgewater for a week for a friends wedding. The rooms are old, but clean. The food is pretty average but reasonably cheap.
It was good to have the Budget Rentals place on site, and the bus comes right into the reception area.
The main problem is that it is REALLY noisy. Lots of big groups were staying and most nights people were partying outside until 2am most nights. We complained to reception one night when it got really bad, but they weren't interested at all.
If you are looking for somewhere budget, you'd be better going to Club Raro, which is a bit cheaper, the quality is about the same and the guests and staff are more friendly.
Our Second Home
by TripAdvisor Member RaroourSecondHome
Date Dec 2005/Jan 2006
Review: Kath & Ray
We first went to Rarotonga in August 2004 for just one week and stayed at Edgewater. We loved it so much we were back again in the December this time for two weeks. Our third visit in just 16 months was for our wedding in December 2005. We'd seen a couple of weddings taking place on the beach during our previous stays and decided that was what we wanted too. Christmas Eve 2005 at 3.pm we became Mr & Mrs.
Edgewater has all you need for a family holiday or if you're middle aged or elderly. Everything you need or want is on the resort. The staff are reticent at first but once they get to know you they're great, very friendly and obliging. The first two times we visited we booked a Beach Front room, the view of the Pacific was fabulous and the sunsets were stunning. Because we booked our wedding with Edgewater we were upgraded to a Deluxe Beach Front room, just as excellent as a Beach Front.
We love Rarotonga so much that if it was at all possible we would move there permanently. Any jobs going at Edgewater?
Here's to our next holiday there hopefully it won't be too far away.
For its price, it was ok
by TripAdvisor Member SilkStrawberry
The Edgewater Resort is quite ordinary. In my opinion, the best thing going for it was the airconditioned rooms. I wasn't expecting anything too fancy after reading the reviews here but I was quite disappointed with the wait staff and food in the restaurant.
We were upgraded from a Garden room to a beachfront room at no charge and not by request so this was a nice surprise. The room was spacious and clean, bathroom was very large (with a really great hairdryer); there were tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge (which had difficulty freezing anything), a safe and a balcony. Our room was kept beautifully clean and the surrounding garden was gorgeous. The pool is heavily chlorinated and the ocean in front is not that great for swimming because of the coral reefs. The hotel lends out reef shoes, snorkels, masks and towels at no cost which is great.
As mentioned before, the restaurant was well below par and while we ate breakfast there (part of the room cost) we ate our other meals at some great places around the island. If you didn't get to breakfast by 7.30am then you expected to have warm milk with your cereal! I might be being picky here but for breakfast I like a breakfast tea, like English breakfast or just plain Liptons, but they ran out of this by the Wednesday and were serving Earl Grey and Lapsong Souchang which, unless you are into heavily scented teas, is rather overpowering at brekky time. They ran out of butter several days and on some days you could only get white bread for toast. I know this is an island but the caterer needs to take this into account when ordering food stocks. In addition, the wait staff were quite lazy and not really interested in looking after you. They liked to stand around in groups to gossip. One morning, we looked after an elderly man who had very obvious tremors and difficulty walking by assisting him with getting a cup of coffee and juice and toast. He had shuffled past several of the wait staff and none offered him any assistance at all. Lunch-times were just as bad. We waited 20 minutes once to place an order - the place was not busy with about 6 people there. The menu offered Iced Coffee, but when it arrived it was tepid, and even upon sending it back, it took another 20 minutes to receive it back, again, at room temperature. Food was generally tasteless.
It was useful having a Budget rental office on the premises. There is also a laundry which was very clean, but expensive to use - $5.00 each for a wash and dryer and $1 for soap powder.
The staff at reception were always helpful.
I'd stay at Edgewarer again
by TripAdvisor Member lwross
I stayed at Edgewater for my Honeymoon in March 2007. I found the resort to be very good. I emailed Edgewater directly and informed them that it was my honeymoon and they said I could have a beach front deluxe suite for the price of a garden room. The price of the garden room is NZ$215 and the Beach front deluxe suite is NZ$335 so I was very happy for the special deal they offered me. If you want the same deal, ask for the honeymoon upgrade when booking!
The beach front deluxe rooms were excellent. they have a big bed and a little bed, small table and chairs and have a private balcony with outdoor furniture. Very modern bathroom with large shower and separate corner spa. Air con, TV and personal safe is also included. Views from the balcony were awesome!
Pool area was great with plenty of tables and chairs and lounges. There were never a shortage of furniture. Beach is good enough for a bit of a swim and snorkel but there are better beaches on the island.
Food at this resort was OK but not fantastic. you could have lunch for NZ$11-20 and dinner was from about NZ$20-30 per person. Drinks are $5 for beers, $6 for wines, $3 for juice, $4.5 for soft drink, $10 for sparkling wine and $5.5 for spirits & mixers. $15 for cocktails and $10 between 5pm and 6pm.
Resort is the largest on the island and was very well looked after. The gardens are beautiful and very well kept. Staff are very nice and happy to help.
Resort has budget car rental office on site and rents motor scooters for $21 per day and small cars for $65 per day. Everyone rides motor scooters and they are great fun.
Resort has a Spa on site too. My wife had 1 hour full body massage for $55 and said it was OK but the masseuse was a bit rough and resulted in a few bruises. They do a full range of treatments from waxing, hairdressing, facials & massage.
We had a side trip to Aitutaki during our stay and Edgewater stored our luggage for us as the small plane only allows 16kg per person. I would recommend a trip to Aitutaki as it is a beautiful place to visit.
Overall I would say Edgewater is great and would stay there again next time. Perhaps I am spoiled by the beach front deluxe rooms but I would not stay in any other type of room next time...they were fantastic.
It was hard to leave!!
by TripAdvisor Member cappee
My partner & I decided to get away from the busy life in Auckland for a bit of R & R. The only problem was that it was so relaxing we forgot to leave the resort to do sightseeing :)
When we arrived we weren't very happy with the studio apt as the only view was of the opposite units, so I went up to reception to see what could be done. Faster then you could say "Boy was it hot" we were being picked up and taken to a beach view unit. If you are looking for eye catching views then this would be the best option.
The service was great and it was the perfect place to wind down. You could do as much or as little as you wanted, such as from feeding the fish to pool volleyball or snorkelling in the crystal water. I would suggest that you hire a pair of reef shoes as it is rather rocky.
Overall we had a great holiday and plan to make The Edgewater our Easter pilgrimage.
Great Resort - Bad Spa!
by TripAdvisor Member ninja07
We stayed at the Edgewater as a family group of eight. Great snorkeling & swimming (beaches a wee bit rocky for swimming but ok). Restaurant & bar was good - staff are friendly & helpful. Rooms tired but clean & tidy. Certainly not posh but that suits us. Budget staff extremely helpful & conscientious - bikes were fun!
The SPA (!!??) was terrible - massage was less than average as an experience & therapist seemed bored & disinterested in his work. Pedicure was ok - waxing was a poor job & had to be re done. Certainly wouldn't recommend as a place to get great treatments. I FULLY recommend the South Pacific Spa in Tupapa - everything you expect from a day spa.
