Shoreline Motel

For an affordable motel in a good spot, this was great value. The people were lovely and the vibe was great. I liked being able to see the beach from the room, and appreciated the parking and the fact that you can get in from two sides. The room had cooking utensils, a TV with loads of channels, a bathroom spa, and a separate room for the kids. You can't stream your own stuff on the TV, though honestly, who comes here to stream? The walls are thin, so you hear quite a bit of noise. Earplugs might be a good idea.

The sea was just across the road, and we could easily walk to the city centre. Even though the motel is on busy Marine Parade, traffic noise surprisingly wasn't an issue. Parking was easy, even with several trips in and out each day. It was my first stay at Shoreline Motel over Labour Weekend, and it went really well. The staff were exceptionally friendly and found us a room with a lovely sea view. The room was clean and well stocked, including plenty of tea and coffee and a plunger. We didn't use the stove top, but the large spa bath was a highlight. You could watch TV while soaking in the hot water. Internet reception was good too. I'd happily recommend staying here.

The location in Napier is prime, but this motel needs a lot more maintenance and care for the price. I wouldn't recommend it based on our stay. I was there for work during the week, then extended the visit with my wife over the Auckland Anniversary long weekend. Communication was consistently poor, and reaching the front desk was extremely difficult. In my first room, which had a city view, it was uncomfortably hot, the A/C didn't work, the shower door wouldn't shut properly, and the furniture was dated and creaky. They did move me to another room when I asked, but the overall quality still didn't justify the price.

At $300 a night, I expected a lot more. The accessible unit 4 is spacious and very clean, but very tired. There was torn wallpaper, three cracks in the molding, dirty inset ceiling lights, and a fridge that had to be replaced. Fiona, the housekeeping supervisor, was absolutely outstanding, very polite and apologetic. The metal stairs can get noisy when people walk or run on them. The spot on Marine Parade is right by the ocean. I'd rate it 5.5 out of 10, and we wouldn't stay here from out of town again unless the owners actually put money into the place.