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Whether you're looking for a romantic escape or a family break you'll experience the perfect holiday in a setting that simply is breathtaking. Sea Change Villas is nestled discreetly on the southern side of Rarotonga, on its own secluded white sandy beach and turquoise clear blue lagoon which extends more than a hundred metres to the reef and then slopes steeply to deep water. The resort offers guests the choice of fifteen spacious one, two and three bedroom villas. The nine Beachfront villas all enjoy stunning lagoon and outer reef views whilst the Lagoon View and Executive Lagoon View villas are set amongst lush tropical gardens surrounded by breathtaking lagoon and reef views and majestic mountains. All villas offer a perfect blend of modern comfort and casually elegantly appointed Polynesian architectural accommodation. The villas feature super comfy beds with en-suited bathrooms. The bathrooms come well equipped with tiled showers large enough for two (double shower), basin and toilet. Our two bedroom villas have en suites to both bedrooms. The lounge area is spacious with lots of seating and includes a flat screen tv and satellite. There is a fully self contained kitchen with all the amenities one would expect in this calibre of accommodation including dishwasher, gas hobs and convection/ microwave oven. The artwork is local and has been hand painted and commissioned exclusively for our villas. Each villa has its own completely private swimming pool. The decks of the Beachfront Villas reach within a metre or so of the high tide mark, while the gardens and vegetation add to the wonderful tropical atmosphere of the Executive Lagoon View villas. Stand up paddle boards, kayaks, snorkelling gear, bicycles, private orientation for all our guests, BBQ and laundry facilities, a 2.5G wifi voucher and a starter breakfast pack are all provided on a complimentary basis. Fishing, paddling, sailing, diving, swimming, safari tours, cross island guided tours, off road quad biking and glass bottom boating are just some of the activities that abound in this tropical paradise. No matter how you choose to fill your days and nights one thing is certain, you'll leave feeling rested and above all, determined to return.
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Sea Change Villas earns rave reviews for its well-appointed villas, complete with comfortable amenities and direct beach access that includes water sports equipment, according to some travelers. The hotel's prime location is celebrated for its proximity to snorkeling and markets, though it wasn't up to one traveler's expectations.
The atmosphere is often praised for the spacious rooms and great showers, while the cleanliness of the beachfront villas is consistently applauded. Many guests appreciate the friendly and efficient service, and while the rooms with stunning views are a hit, opinions on value vary, especially concerning additional costs.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Helpful
Amenities
Well-appointed
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This was our second stay at the Sea Change Villas in an ocean front bungalow and I can’t imagine finding a more perfect place to stay in Rarotonga! A beautiful well equipped villa, amazing snorkelling in the beautiful lagoon on your doorstep and a great location on the island. Stephanie and Team are fantastic to deal with making bookings, enquiries, tips and hints for your stay so easy! The villas provide all you need for water based activities. The kitchen allows you to stay in when you don’t feel like heading out to try the great restaurants and cafes close by. We shall be back!
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Date of stay: June 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marilyn Scott, Owner at Sea Change Villas
Responded 10 July 2024
Kia Orana! Thank you for your lovely review of your most recent stay at Sea Change! We are so pleased that you had a wonderful holiday and stay with us! We look forward to welcoming you back home on your next visit! Kia Manuia!
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Just returned from a 15 night stay at the Sea Change Villas on Raro. We loved our Lagoon View Villa and it was just what we needed for an extended stay. We apparently caught the aftermath of a cyclone that just missed Fiji, so our weather for the first week was pretty wet and stormy but we made the best of it. When the heat and humidity returned we loved having our own private pool to cool off in mid-afternoon. The villa has absolutely everything you will need, right down to clothespins. Our package included airport transportation and a rental car for 3 days which was handy. We extended the rental car for our whole stay at the Sea Change rates which were about the lowest available. I would highly recommend a car or a scooter at this location although they do have about 4 restaurants that offer complimentary shuttle service to dinner which we took advantage of. All the staff at the Sea Change were friendly and helpful but Steph was the best. Don't know what we would have done without her. From dinner reservations, to tour bookings and cancellations, to snorkeling recommendations Steph did it all. Just one thing that could have been improved on. With all the stormy weather, our beach got really messy and was not cleaned up the whole time we were there even after I inquired about it. Overall we highly recommend the Sea Change Villas.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaChangeVillas, Owner at Sea Change Villas
Responded 25 Feb 2020
Kia Orana! Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review of your recent stay at Sea Change! We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay and were very pleased with the villas and staff! Steph really is "the best" so we do appreciate your acknowledgement. We're sorry that the beach was not as pristine as usual due to the ongoing storms we have had in the last couple of weeks. There have been some very high tides around the island which has caused seaweed and debris to accumulate on the beaches. Our ground keepers regularly maintain our beach to keep it looking lovely but it has been a challenge the last few weeks. We do apologize for this. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Sea Change Villas again in the near future. Kia Manuia!
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We spent a remarkable vacation at Sea Change villas. The Staff exceeded our expectations especially Stephanie and our villa was spotless. The only issue we had is not with Sea Change but it’s location . It is not close to any cafe or grocery store. We relied on their bikes but in the heat of Rarotonga it is not always a pleasant option. We stocked up on groceries at a store that was a 30 minute walk away and were exhausted. If you can drive a scooter or have a car rental then the location is not an issue,.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaChangeVillas, Owner at Sea Change Villas
Responded 5 Feb 2020
Kia Orana! We are delighted to know that you enjoyed your vacation at Sea Change Villas and thank you for taking the time to write a review! It is most appreciated! Thank you for mentioning our location as this is always good for visitors to know. We are located along a beautiful stretch of secluded beach which ensures privacy and peacefulness for our guests. We're sorry to hear that the walk to Wigmore's store was unpleasant in the Rarotonga summer heat. The cafe that was located about 100m down the road from us closed fairly recently. We are hopeful that another will soon take its place. There are some other options as you mentioned which would be more comfortable in the heat of the day. A car, scooter or the island bus that stops outside the office would be a 5 minute drive (15 min on one of our bicycles) to Wigmores grocery store and the cafes located in that area. In the opposite direction is Muri Beach (approximately a 7 minute drive) with a wide array of restaurants, cafes and activities. We find that many guests like to take advantage of the complimentary pick up and drop off service offered by many of the restaurants on the island as well. Thank you again for choosing to stay at Sea Change and we do hope that we will have the pleasure of seeing you again in the near future. Kia Manuia!
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Just got back from a week staying at Sea Change. What an amazing place to stay. Highly recommend. We had a 2 bedroom beach front Villa and it was Fantastic. Well appointed, great size for 2 couples. 2nd bedroom was a separate wing and self contained with bar fridge and tea and coffee making facilities so our son and his girlfriend had their own space. The private pool was brilliant to be able to dive into after coming back from snorkeling in the lagoon. Main bed was huge and super comfy. Staff were really helpful in every way. They organized 2 delicious food platters which were delivered to our Villas on New Years Eve. They recommended Brendan at Dawn Breaker fishing Charters and he was an absolute delight and even managed to let us all catch a Yellowfin Tuna each. This place is a must stay when visiting Rarotonga.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaChangeVillas, Owner at Sea Change Villas
Responded 6 Jan 2020
Kia Orana and Happy New Year! Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review of your very recent visit! We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in our 2 bedroom Beachfront Villa and all the amenities offered at Sea Change! We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the near future. Kia Manuia!
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Cannot recommend Sea Change Villas enough. Steph was great to deal with before our holiday had started - lots of helpful pre-arrival info sent though beforehand. She arranged transfers to and from the airport for us too which was fantastic. Great location and lovely, clean, comfortable and well appointed accommodation - we stayed in one of the 2/3 bedroom 2 bathroom garden view villas with it's own private pool and really appreciated the space, privacy and the daily housekeeping. Wonderful beach at the front of Sea Change for swimming and snorkelling and excellent couple of places to eat/drink and a supermarket within a 10 min bike ride (using the bikes provided) if you don't have a car.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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Response from Marilyn Scott, Owner at Sea Change Villas
Responded 21 Aug 2022
Kia Orana Paul Thank you so much for taking a moment to review your stay with us! We are thrilled you enjoyed the property and the level of service you received from our staff. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming back again in the near future. Kia Manuia!
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We enjoyed everything about our stay at Sea Change! Steph was super helpful with assisting us in planning how we'd spend our time on Rarotonga, as well as being a fantastic host. The Villa had everything we needed and could've asked for: movies loaded onto the TV, a big fridge, roomy bathroom, and three fans and an aircon to keep us comfortable during the hot nights. We regularly used the paddleboards, snorkels and kayaks which were available, and the laundry facilities were great. We really felt that this was the perfect place to stay on Rarotonga, after driving around the whole island. We'd come back at the drop of a hat!
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
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Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:For a nice dinner out, the Little Polynesian served the best food for a better price compared to...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marilyn Scott, Owner at Sea Change Villas
Responded 10 Mar 2023
Kia Orana and thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your villa, the property and our staff! We hope to see you again very soon!
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What a stunning place! we had booked the 2 bed/2bath beach front villa and were not disappointed. the bedrooms were totally separate - with one being in the main villa and the other next to the pool (yes your very own private plunge pool!!) The second bedroom was compact with bathroom, wir , tv, aircon, sink with mini fridge and tea coffee making facilities, bed was sooooo very comfortable with a wide variety of pillows to choose from. the main bedroom had similar layout except had the direct use of the kitchen facilities. the toiletries provided were luxurious and full bottles. a starter pack was provided on arrival - eggs, juice, bread, cereal, butter jam and milk - in fact used the whole time we were there it was so generous!!! You could either sit by the private pool or go out the front and enjoy the stunning views - simply walk down the rock stairs to the beach and crystal clear water. snorkelling gear, reef shoes (most definitely needed) and flippers are all provided as to paddle boards and floaters!! - be careful as there is always a bit if a current - tho the water is so clear and reasonably shallow in front of the villas. Everyone at reception was lovely and ready to help. We also took advantage of a platter (at extra costs) -OMG absolutely delicious and huge - lasted a few meals!! advice is to get a hire car, we used the local bus (stop right outside the villas) $5 a trip or $35 for 10 but found timing didn't always match to what we wanted. car hire was about $60 a day (including insurance) and meant we could have the freedom of cruising around. There is so much to see and do, especially water activities and seeing the underwater life. Sea change is a prime position and it's maximum 20mins (driving or 30 on bus) going either way round the island to the main town. there is a 24hr supermarket 2km a the road and multiple food places in that 2km radius!! only a couple of small gripes - found some empty bottles under the sink that has been there prior to our arrival and was attracting some ants - but promptly dealt with when i raised it (tho the area is prone to ants) and perhaps the fans could be tightened as they are very noisy when on higher settings!! That said i will definitely stay here again, as a preference over other places - it really has everything you need!!!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Parking available out the front
reception always happy to help with any enquiries and bookings
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sea Change Villas is a perfect name for the ever changing views from Villa #2, a lovely 2 bed/2 bath unit with that corner view of paradise! The unit is perfectly furnished: any appliance or accessory you need is included. Washer/Dryer is available and at no charge, they even supply detergent so you don't have to carry it. Ample space in the unit bathroom, large shower, great water pressure, lovely Rito Products to use and sample. The Pool is refreshing (I found it cold the 1st day), but then it was a daily adventure! The beach is beautiful, white sand, clear water, different hues of blue. The staff is accomodating and helpful. Stephanie is on top of everything and the crew is so friendly. They offered us some suggestions and we enjoyed the time with the locals. Totally recommend a stint at Villa #2.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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Arrived and was greeted and also had a very nice orientation of the property. The room was very comfortable, clean, and convenient. We were impressed with our own pool, the access to the beach (a bit scum at low tide) and the kitchenette that was partially stocked. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the air conditioner that was programmed to shut off every three hours. The property is trying to go green and I appreciate the efforts. The issue was at night when the temperature was 80F and 80% humidity. I was awakened every three hours for 4 straight nights to turn on the air conditioner which had shut off. I contacted the front office and also talked to a maintenance man about the disruption and they said they were unable to change the programming. Are you kidding me?????I’m trying to relax and enjoy my vacation. The day we left, I spoke to another visitor at the hotel and they said they didn’t have the issue. Why were we the chosen ones? Would only stay at this place again if they would guarantee air conditioning at night!!!!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaChangeVillas, Manager at Sea Change Villas
Responded 19 May 2020
Kia Orana, Thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us. Our apologies for not having replied sooner but as you can probably imagine, we have been a little preoccupied, even though as a nation we are one of the few in the world who are still Covid free. We are glad you found your orientation, level of comfort, cleanliness and villas overall location, amenity and convenience to your liking and we thank you for your kind words. You are right, we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint (go green) and at the same time ensure our guests health and wellbeing is given the priority it deserves. The vast majority of energy here in the Cook Islands is diesel generated and so anything we can do to reduce the amount of power consumed, then the better it is for everyone. Our air-conditioners are programmed to shut off after four hours of operation and why yours was programmed to shut-off after only three must surely have been a programming error for which I apologise. We do this (pre-programme the air-cons) for several reasons. Firstly it is to ensure that the units do not run 24/7, even if guests are out for the day enjoying our little piece of paradise. The second is so that guests do not wake up in the morning frozen and sick because they forgot to turn the units off before going to bed and also, so that they do not have to wake up in the middle of the night to do it. If (like you) guests find this to be a problem then we will (as I believe was the case here) over-ride the programming from auto to manual to allow complete guest control. As you said, other guests said they didn’t have an issue and I can assure you, you were not “the chosen ones”. Had we been made aware of the issue sooner then we would have dealt with it. Hopefully our borders will open again soon and we can once again roll out the welcome mat. Kia Manuia and Stay Well
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We stayed at Villa # 1, and while the overall experience was nice, there are a few things to consider.
The villa # 1 is located very close to the main road in Rarotonga, which wasn’t clear from the Sea Change Villas website photos. Although traffic is lighter at night, there were still occasional bikes and cars passing by, and the sound was noticeable even with the windows closed. This is likely due to the single-glazed windows, which don’t provide much noise insulation. If you’re a light sleeper, we recommend bringing earplugs for a better night’s rest. We’ve attached photos of Villa # 1 and the nearby road for reference.
Another aspect to note is the air conditioning system, which turns off automatically after 5 hours and cannot be overridden. This requires restarting it manually if you need it to run through the night.
We were provided with a breakfast pack in the fridge on arrival, which included 1 egg per person per day, along with bread, small sachets of muesli and cornflakes, butter, milk, tea and coffee pods. While it was nice, we felt the breakfast offering could have been more generous, considering the cost.
On the plus side, the facilities were nice, with access to a stand-up paddleboard, kayaks, and a beautiful seaside walking path nearby that we enjoyed.
Overall, it’s a nice place with good amenities, but the road noise, AC limitations, and modest breakfast pack are worth considering.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They do have items for your arrival for breakfast until you are able to get to the store. I’m sure if you let them know you’re vegan, they may be able to accommodate you. There are very customer focused.
You won’t have anything to worry about. They are aware of the Sunday morning flight and will ensure your arrival will be taken care of. We were greeted by Junior with his welcoming smile. He gave us leys in the airport and took our bags to the air conditioned car where we were offered cold beverages and towels. Along the journey to Sea Change he showed us some of the sights. Since most stores are closed Sunday he graciously offered to take us to Wigmores to pick up a few things. Please remember to get your liquor at duty free when you arrive. It’s a lot less expensive then getting it in town. When you arrive at Sea Change he’ll bring in your bags and show you around your villa. Your fridge will be stocked with breakfast items as well as beer and wine. Sea Change had someone come in about 11am to go over things and answer any questions. They also arranged our dinner that evening at Vaima. Vaima will pick you up and take you back. It’s a wonderful restaurant in a beautiful setting. We didn’t depart on a Sunday, but Bev, Marilyn and Stephanie will take care of it for you. Be sure to go to Aitutaki. It’s one of the most beautiful locations in the world. It blows away Bora Bora in my opinion. Congratulations on your retirement. You’ve picked the best place to celebrate it! Cheers!
Not sure if it sees less rain being on the west side. We stayed here end of February beginning of March and saw very little rain. If it did rain it was mainly overnight with tropical rain showers during the day. It’s such a magnificent spot it won’t matter. Best to ask Bev, Craig, Marilyn or Stephanie from Sea Change. We had lots of questions before our trip and they assisted us immensely. Enjoy your time at Sea Change. You’ll absolutely love it! We’ll definitely go back.
Kia Orana and thanks for your interest in Sea Change!
We have a minimum age restriction in our Lagoon View Executive villas (the larger villas which can accommodate up to 6 guests) of 12 years and a minimum age for the Beachfront and Lagoon View villas of 16 years.
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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