This is extremely interesting; it's crazy how a such an expansive project could be dropped and completely abandoned, just like that. Thank you for sharing your experience! By the way, you have a lovely accent!

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+PianoAngelOfSnow Thank you for viewing my videos and for your comments... My accent is a result of European birth and American education...

@lys7655

6 жыл бұрын

It's because Italian Mafia's came and built this. Later cook islanders found out they were Mafia's and kicked them out of the country. They could've killed people to force them to worship them and they'd take over the whole island.

@ranginuisamuels3862

3 жыл бұрын

@@lys7655 wrong ! It was stolen land

Thank you for the video.......ive never seen the inside of the Resort till now. Ive only seen it from the main road when i was there on holiday. What a shame.😢

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos.. First time I went there a guard told me to leave, then, a couple of days later, I saw a few people playing football and I asked them if I could walk around.. They said 'go ahead' and this is how I was able to finally videotape the clips that you see here.. persistence pays, I guess...

By watching U tube I have seen abandoned places like that in a lot of places in the world . Sometimes management of places can make or break the property. Sometimes owners go out of business..but keep the property. Thanks for the video!

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed this one, it took a lot of effort and risk to get this video done...

Very interesting! Thank you, Vic. :)

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos!!

This would've been such a gorgeous place at one time. Thank you for sharing!!

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos!!

Thank you Vic for sharing your coverage of the abandoned resort.

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos!!

Excellent camera work & footage for such time constraints! Intresting info too! You're such a pro, thank you... I loved this!

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hi, thank you for viewing my videos and for your wonderful comments!!

I loved exploring the abandoned Sheraton video with your comments. thank you for this lovely video.Donna

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Donna, thank you for your comments!!

Fascinating!

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

Other photographers would have been content to just shoot the outside of the building but not Vic! Amazing work as always...

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

lol... thank you for your wonderful comments.. you are right, a few views from the outside would have made a very boring video indeed...

what a shame and such a waste! very eerie, great vid :)

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

First time we went to Rarotonga in 1996, we saw that hotel. It's amazing that it's still standing

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Edward Travels Hello, thank you for your comments and for watching my videos!! Please do not forget to subscribe to my channel!!

@EdwardTravels

8 жыл бұрын

+Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures Thanks. Just subscribed, pls sub to my channel as well.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Edward Travels Thank you and I just subscribed to your channel my friend.. you have some nice videos, keep up the great work!!!!

@AshkenaziChristian

7 жыл бұрын

Did it ever operate as a hotel? I ask because if not, they were allowed to get very far along in construction which doesn't make sense.

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

No, it never opened for business..

It's sooo cool I want to know sooo much about the Sheraton

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos!!

your work is quite valuable thank you so much

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hello and thank you for viewing my videos!!

My mum was living back home in Raro as a teen before she moved here and she says it was beautiful, you can tell that that place wouldve been STUNNING if it was in use today!!!!!

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Raro is very beautiful, I hope I can go back one day!

Somebody should buy the land and re-invest in it - as it definitely spoils the landscape. Great documentary.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Oliwier EB Thank you, the Chinese tried to take over a few years ago but the local government decided not to give them exclusive rights to the beach (which the Chinese were requesting) so the whole deal fell through..

@Cta2006

8 жыл бұрын

+Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures  As much as it is and eyesore , I'm glad that the Chinese did'nt get the exclusive rights to the beach.  The locals should have buldozed this place down and replanted the area. such a huge area not being used to any good.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Cta2006 When I passed through Rarotonga a few months ago, the whole resort was still there, abandoned...

@Cta2006

8 жыл бұрын

Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures Yes, I forgot to put in the word "should " (have)

@hellurmoto3163

6 жыл бұрын

They wont, the land may have been given back to the government but the previous and actual owners of the land could have (i heard) cursed it and probably had more to do with why the building is still there and why it hasnt been busted down and has not had anything else rebuilt on it!

I went there just got back from Rarotonga and I saw the same two cows

2023 Ready for guest's ....sooon :)

@VicStefanu

10 ай бұрын

Really? Now I must go there again and stay there this time too!!!

I've lived here my whole life and have never thought to explore

@VicStefanu

2 жыл бұрын

I bet by now the whole place is totally unsafe to walk around (it was already very unsafe when I made this video). I heard that the Chinese had bought the place, what happened??

It's too far gone already to renovate. It would need to be torn down.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Brian H True, all the buildings are totally destroyed...

Things happen for a reason and i believe that the hotel/resort whatever was never meant to be there otherwise it would've been finished without the investors. i say get rid of it build something for the people.

Watching your video is awesome ,my family owns the land Pa Ariki ..Im from Rarotonga born there ,ive never been inside those buildings i just see it from the road ,this is my first time i see it the inside now from your video it amazing i can imagine how so beautiful and amazing if it finished but sad,it could be one of the best hotel on Rarotonga..

I went to Rarotonga Cook Islands last week I just got back and we went to to the Hilton resort to have a look

Yes excellent commentary and camera work, others could learn from you AND no unnecessary background music. Thank you for sharing.

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hi, thank you for viewing my videos and for your wonderful comments!!

I can't wait to go back to the Cook Islands.

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

I am going back to the Pacific in a couple of years and definitely I am going back to Rarotonga!!

Vacation there can't help but to see it so sad it would have been beautiful, we would have stayed there, beautiful Island we have been there twice now, love ❤️ the place, love the people! If I had the money,

We have just been over and saw this building and wondered what had happened. Thought it must have been a cyclone. Would probably cost a lot to tear down and clean up. Such a shame as it would have been an amazing place to stay. Thank you for the video. :-)

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos..

Been there maybe 10 years ago It's dangerous. The pool is near invisible covered in vines.

@VicStefanu

2 жыл бұрын

I agree, it is a very dangerous place... Thank you for your comments!

Oh how nice this place would have been.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+benit basich How true... and it now stands all ruined and abandoned..

This place is cursed by the true landowner, they never approved of the labd to be given over to be used in such a manner, many attempts to try and regenerate it have failed. There is a buggy tour that goes through the area. We went through as a group in buggies... when you stop and take a look around , it has quite an eerie feel to it. I think its best that it's just left alone and no re development takes place.

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Theresa, thank you for your comments!!

@Kymo883

4 жыл бұрын

😆 Who told you that ? Could you name your source of information about the “landowner cursing it and never approving the land to be used in such a way?” The entire island is used in such a way with resorts all over the place, it’s how the cook island economy survives and they love tourists so the development would have been welcomed by the locals. Redevelopment is just what it needs, don’t mistake a company running out of finance to finish the project as some kind of mysterious supernatural warning not to build there.

my little brother Will be going There. cook Island. hope he always be fine. and I like' to see ur video. 😀

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hi and thank you for your message. I do not know how old your brother is, but Rarotonga is a very safe place, so he will be ok. There are several videos from the Cook Islands, you can view them all on my channel...

Very interesting video of the abandoned Sheraton Resort & Hotel in Rarotonga. It is really ashamed that this complex sufferred such a horrible fate. Vic, was any part of this Sheraton complex ever operational? Would you have any idea which group of people may have put the graffitti on these buildings?, and why were these buildings simply boarded up, and afterwards put up for sale. These buildings are now in such a decrept condition, that I do not think they can ever be renovated and made into an operational resort. Was nobody ever interested in purchasing the property from the government. Do you know why there is now a guard watching over this abandoned property? Outside of the va;ue of the land, I do not think that any of these buildings are now even salvagable to be rebuilt at some given point of time in the future. Do youknow why there were cows on the property? They seen to be out of place.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Michael Friedman The graffiti was created by young people coming onto the property (thus the existing guard).. The Chinese were interested in re-developing the resort but they wanted to have exclusive rights to the beach, something that the local government would not accept.. The guard is there so that people do not get hurt (although he seems to spend more time on partying than protecting the property).. The cows are there simply because no one controls the property and some one just brought his cows over.. amazing..

I believe the land was sacred and thats why the project was stopped.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+RaEdd2 Not true, I mention in the beginning of the video why this project was left unfinished...

@damonsam250

8 жыл бұрын

you are right the land is tapu (sacred).and the Italian mafia have dirty money.fair enough to put a stop to the build.alot of the damage was caused by cyclone and the graffiti is not only from locals but also tourist.

It's good he went at Day

@VicStefanu

4 жыл бұрын

Hello, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

Woww what a watse

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

I agree.. A friend of mine just came back from there and it is still neglected and falling apart!

not good!:( grrrrr! will go when I'm over there...mbe there is a Tanifa ...lol thnX for showing this mess!!!grrrrrrr!

went there one night had a look around very spooky

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Byron Andrews It is dangerous at night because there are things all over the place and you can get hurt...

way nicer than any Sheraton that I have ever stayed at...the lack of complacent disgruntled minimum wage employees is a refreshing change

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hello and thank you for viewing my videos!!

I came here on the rato buggies I saw someone swinging keys around on his finger

There are a lot of abandoned hotels and motels in the USA as your probably know quite a few in Florida! It makes for guite a few videos! None as fine as yours of course!👩‍🏭♥️

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

I know.. I know... I hope I will get to videotape a few later on this year..

I was there last year and did not hear about this hotel. Where is it ?.

@VicStefanu

4 жыл бұрын

On the way to Muri Beach as you travel south from the airport..

Raro is beautiful I'm set to go there for the 3rd time soon... however this is an eye sore, gross and I wish they'd just pull it down! I can see how it would of worked large chain hotel I don't know why someone didn't take it over. The latest was 24 Jan 2022 there looked to be movement in some sort of clean up, can only hope progress 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

@VicStefanu

2 жыл бұрын

Hello, thank you for watching my videos!! 👍👍👍Last rumour I heard was that the a Chinese travel company wanted to buy it, but, they wanted the beach as part of the package, which of course it was rejected..

@ronniestar8762

2 жыл бұрын

@@VicStefanu completely understand why! no need to privatise the beautiful beaches! Surely there must be some sort of compromise??

@VicStefanu

2 жыл бұрын

@@ronniestar8762 I was told that there was no compromise regarding the ownership of the beach, only the government can own the beach and that ownership was not negotiable and this is why the Chinese pulled out of the deal..

I rode through the abandoned resort on my bike in 2009 - there was no guard & it looked as bad as it does in the video... It looked like a standard Sheraton layout, the place needs to be bulldozed & given back to owners who should work with partners that can build a beautiful place that gives back to the land & the Raro experience.

@VicStefanu

4 жыл бұрын

Hello, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

Weren't the islanders trying to find a place for a grave yard for their families? Wouldn't knocking this down and using it for that be a solution? I remember seeing this on 2008 and it stuck out like a sore thumb.

@VicStefanu

3 жыл бұрын

My understanding is that the local government are looking for a new investor to take over the property, it would be too expensive to demolish..

Land needs to be given back to the original owners

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comments!!

@VicStefanu...Couldn't this property have been put to better use? As it stands, it's an eyesore, whatever the justification for letting it go by the board. Couldn't it have been converted to a hospital or housing for the aged? Some benevolent project as a redemption to its beginnings?

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Jay Young I think that there is a problem with the land title now.. the Chinese tried to get it but they wanted to privatize the beach and that was not acceptable t the lcoal government, so this huge property is vacant and destroyed..

loved this place.should never have been built though

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Damon Sam Hello, thank you for your comments and for watching my videos!!

Creepy !

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Hello and thank you for viewing my videos!!

@gibsondrummer

6 жыл бұрын

Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures i love your videos, you visit wonderful and diverse locations and your style is so pleasing thank you Crete please and Sicily Then the British channel islands

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comments, I have visited all the Channel Islands, you can find the videos on my channel!!

Why is it you only got 10 minutes? Sure as hell looks the vandals had a LOT more than that.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+ctrcflyin2011 lol... good question and which certainly requires an answer... there is quite a shady character on the property, acting as the 'guard'... well, that day he was preparing one of the large rooms so that he could play ping-pong with his friends who were coming in 15 minutes (you can imagine what takes place on the property)... so, he gave me 10 minutes to walk around and told me to leave before his friends arrived, it was 10 minutes or nothing I guess..

@ctrcflyin2011

8 жыл бұрын

It is a shame this place has fallen into such a mess. Looks like it would have been a grand vacation spot if it had been finished.

@matthewwajs1807

8 жыл бұрын

We have just come back from there , and only managed 5 minutes before the guard chased us off for not paying his " $5" tour fee . So glad to see your video

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

I did not pay any fee... I spoke to the guard nicely and he gave me a few minutes to walk around....

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear that. The day I went there, he had invited his friends for drinking and he wanted to get rid of me, so he allowed me to walk around.. He told me to stay only for 10 minutes but as you can see here, I walked around for over an hour and left without speaking to him..

Can you give me some futher infomations about Rarotonga island, is it warm constantly during whole year includes the nights, is coastal ocean water warm for swimming during whole year and is it true that there on the island is no drink water, no rivers,no lakes that people have to buy bottles from shop or to collect from rain?

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

It is warm year round, it rains quite a bit and yes, you will have to buy water in plastic bottles but that is not expensive..

@andrewnichol5229

5 жыл бұрын

GogiNli its always warm I love it there

I heard that this place is used for paintball nowadays. I just saw a "f**k St Kents" graffiti. That's how we know that the kiwis were there. lol

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

lol.. Kiwis are all over the Pacific...

@ItingaNicholas

6 жыл бұрын

You’re right, Paintball Kuki’s (paint balling and laser tag) now operate here.

wow what a waste would have been spectacular, petty though, seemed to have been doomed from the start.

hat they abandoned? that reaches aerolinia Cook Islands

What a shame.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+MrGroganmeister Thank you for viewing my videos...

I bet they can’t clear the title on the place

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

It is more complicated that this..

The locals who were building it ran out of money

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

Ok, thank you for this information!

@maineblackrosetamarangi2567

3 жыл бұрын

Nahh it not the locals that build it ,it was the Italians ..

Dudes he's saying raritonka but it rarotonga

@VicStefanu

3 жыл бұрын

I think I said 'Rarotonga'...

A great renovation will do someone a millionaire

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Theosy Elizama Manongi One would have to spend many millioms to renovate and to rebuild this complex..

Since it was owned by the mafia, it wouldve been drug money, that could be why it was never finished, it wasnt built with love, anything couldve happened to people holidaying there if something went wrong within the mafia! Pretty sad that ALOT of money was involved but if the love and respect for the land wasnt there, it wasnt gonna happen!

I'm so amazed of how large the land is and how many buildings they've built but it all just went to waste. It's immature how idiots go to that place just to graffiti everywhere on it, I hope they get haunted. 😊😊😄

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hello and thank you for viewing my videos!!

It would not take much money to repair and put that resort back into business... But does the cook islands recieve enough tourists to keep it going?

@LeahKal

4 жыл бұрын

Its not worth repairing that would cost a fortune...

@maineblackrosetamarangi2567

3 жыл бұрын

It will take a fortune to repair them ..Your looking at 70million not finished build by the Italians ..

needs to be taken down

@VicStefanu

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! 👍👍👍

Is a safe island ????

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

Very safe..

@meranaseeb377

5 жыл бұрын

Sir thanks may I ask you that are. You from cook island ?I want to visit there next month Do you use what's app or Instagram for contacting ?

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

@@meranaseeb377 No, I am not from the Cook Islands.. sorry I can't help..

@meranaseeb377

5 жыл бұрын

@@VicStefanu thank you sir for respond have a peacful night

That they abandoned? that reaches aerolinia Cook Islands

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for viewing my videos, I am not sure what you mean with your comments... :))

I rode horses past this and had a good look.. It seems a waste to allow it just to sit and decay.. Couldn't they take it over and turn it into a hospital for the healing arts, alternative medicine, for cancer patients, wound care center, preventive medicine, and other medical programs much needed on the Island...

@VicStefanu

6 жыл бұрын

Good ideas... Apparently, the Chinese were going to buy it and convert it to a 5* resort but the whole deal fell through because they wanted to own the property all the way to the beach which is impossible because there is a road running along the coast..

@TerresaOxentenko

6 жыл бұрын

Hi, yes, I heard that it was caught up in a legal battle, not sure why or what.. I do understand that no one can own land in the Cook Islands unless they possess Cook Island blood, or at the least, Polynesian. They being Chinese, would have prevented them from owning the land. But I can't understand how they thought the island would take out the road that encircles the island for their hotel.. Papers likely got signed and construction started before the details were ironed out.... I still say it would make a good hospital for the healing arts and natural medicine. But thanks for explaining. I have Polynesian ancestry per DNA testing. I had no idea until I was tested.. I wish it would or could count, and if it did, I would look into buying it and investihng in a mini hospital and wound care center...

@tereoratapaitau7371

6 жыл бұрын

Terresa Oxentenko the land was cursed by the rightful owners. Or so I've heard.

what was the date when the construction was stopped?

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+Tom Cartwright I believe it was 2012...

@LeahKal

4 жыл бұрын

@@VicStefanu It was already abandoned & not in great shape when I visited in 2009

@VicStefanu

4 жыл бұрын

@@LeahKal Hello, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

Wasn't their land to give... This land belongs to the daughter of Kainuku-tamoko-ite-Rangi and Putaereere-a-Pa... Matakavau. Her brother became Pa... but she got kidnapped and taken to Aitutaki. Her descendants still wait for the return of their rightful land. I am a descendant of this Matakavau.

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hi, thank you for this information and for viewing my videos!!

@indigogirlisla

6 жыл бұрын

Yes ... my grandmother who is Aitutakian said that’s why the land never develops.The rightful owners aren’t on it

@teokotaicarnahan2766

4 жыл бұрын

Me too. Myself and bro Ric Puruto are the last 2 tribal Chiefs. (Ariki ) of Vaimaanga....hip hip hooray.

Only 20 some years old and the roof leaks, crappie job

@VicStefanu

5 жыл бұрын

The whole place was leaking everywhere.......

shame the local people put paint all over the place seems like cook islanders are not clean people

@GeeduggYaak

8 жыл бұрын

Dont blame them when tourists are to blame too

@TheKingmarsters

7 жыл бұрын

Hey, I suggest before judging the cleanliness of the Locals. You should go there and see for yourself.

@TheKingmarsters

7 жыл бұрын

I totally agree. I'm a very proud clean Cook Islander :)

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Rarotonga was very-very clean, the locals are super careful with their island...

@TheKingmarsters

7 жыл бұрын

Yeah I have families residing there too in Tupapa. We're from Palmerston Island the Marsters families.

How long is this heap of rubbish going to remind there, it looks ugly and not something you want to see on Rarotonga. William Percival New Zealand Gardenia Band 🇨🇰 Kia Orana

@VicStefanu

4 жыл бұрын

Hello, thank you for your comments!! 👍👍👍

What a total waste of time and resources to abandoned such a project . The contribution to the economy in terms of employment for the people in the community would have been significant. The unemployment rate on these islands are substantial.

@VicStefanu

8 жыл бұрын

+for Julius M. How true everything is that you are mentioning here, it is so sad to see such a huge project just rotting away...

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comments!!

@williambates566

7 жыл бұрын

Vic Stefanu - World Travels and Adventures The place was cursed,look it up Lots of people have scoffed at this fact, ignorant and disrespectful Yes The mafia were involved both ITALIAN AND LOCAL Monies went missing and there was little to zero accountability They also wanted to re route the main road around the back so the affluent tourists could bask in their own private lagoon To that I say get stuffed Come as tourist by all means But don't dictate ,what's to be done or change the whole landscape to suit your frivolous ways,if they had the go ahead it would have interrupted the daily routine,by reroute grandson the main road The curse is still upon the land,and it is not an evil curse,it basically means if you wish to make a fortune out of the land ,you will fail,and nothing good will come until the land is restored to its RIGHTFUL OWNERS

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for these additional comments. I am glad nothing happened to me when I was there... There was a guard but he was more interested in partying with his friends and he gave me a few minutes to walk around...

What a waste

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Hi and thank you for viewing my videos!!

My question is, why did the Italian Mafia wanted to build that hotel there?

@VicStefanu

7 жыл бұрын

Not really sure why that location exactly...

@ItingaNicholas

6 жыл бұрын

My guess is another way of hiding money offshore

@Valetdalgrup

3 жыл бұрын

sEE THE HISTORY INSTEAD to SAY mafia! If you dont know then keep your mouth ....

He doesn't no how to say rarotonga

@VicStefanu

4 жыл бұрын

You should be happy a foreigner came to your beautiful land to see it and it does not matter how he pronounces the name...