Rainbow Lodge - Hostel

The kitchen had everything we needed, the toilets were clean, and the staff were helpful. The showers worked fine, though they could do with an upgrade. People often went out drinking, so bring earplugs if you want to sleep through the night. There were nice people around, and I really enjoyed my stay. Better than a lot of other hostels 👍👍

The reception looked pretty dirty at first, so we worried the rest of the place might be the same, but it was actually really clean. Our six-bed room was spacious and the beds were comfortable. The kitchen had everything we needed, and the staff were super friendly. A really nice place. We'd go back.

The communal areas were shockingly dirty, especially the free coffee setup, which looked like it hadn't been cleaned in ages. Our room, on the other hand, was very clean and tidy, and the staff were friendly. It's very affordable and in a great spot for Taupo City Center, but I wouldn't stay here again.

The three-bed dorm had comfortable beds, and the hostel was cute and well laid out. Cleanliness was okay for a hostel, and I liked seeing efforts to cut down on plastic. They also seemed to offer a range of activities that could be fun for backpackers. But the thin walls were a problem: people talked in the dorm hallway from 6 am without trying to be quiet. I'd only recommend it to deep sleepers. The kitchen has two hobs, which helps when lots of people are staying.