ArtHouse Accommodation

I spent a lovely month here. Jay was a cool dude who'd go out of his way to help you feel at home. The cleaning crew did a great job, the beds were comfy, and the air cons were good. The smart TV in the communal area came in very handy.

One of the better hostels I've stayed in. Jay, the receptionist, is incredibly helpful and friendly. The cleaning crew were meticulous and did a good job, though things get dirty fast once people start using the facilities.

The rooms were okay, with air conditioning, a skylight that brought in plenty of daylight, and good WiFi. They did smell strongly of body odor, though. The kitchen was cluttered, and birds came in through the windows to pick at food left on the stove or counter. There were plenty of fridges, two microwaves, and eight toaster slots, but the birds made the kitchen unpleasant to use. The main reason I wouldn't return is the service. Staff often responded to complaints as if they had no responsibility to represent the company, taking things personally and showing little empathy. The defensive attitude felt arrogant and disrespectful. I could have stayed long term if the service had been better. The key deposit process adds a $1 or $2 surcharge. They require guests to pay it because they can't put a proper hold on a credit card, and they don't accept cash unless you're a New Zealander with a local bank account. A deposit or bond is meant to be returned in full, so this extra charge feels like a fee for nothing. Reception staff seem to get complaints about it constantly, but guests shouldn't have to pay extra for something that's supposed to cost them nothing. They should find another way to handle deposits. You also have to remember the door codes, so write them down and make sure your phone doesn't run out of battery. I wouldn't stay here again because of the service, and the birds in the kitchen were too much as well. Edit: I haven't come across this key deposit surcharge at other hostels in New Zealand or Australia. It seems they've got themselves into a corner and can't work out another approach. The smell wasn't bad enough to affect my rating, as hostels all smell like that. My bigger concern is that staff don't seem aware of how their responses come across. They answered that concern with the familiar line that they'd investigated themselves and found no wrongdoing.

During my four months of travelling, this was the best hostel I stayed at. The location made getting around Tauranga easy, with bus stops nearby for trips all over the area, including Mount Maunganui. The InterCity stop is about four minutes away, and supermarkets are close too. Lola, Gavin, and the owner Memphis were all so welcoming and helpful. They couldn't do enough for us.