Rainbow Motel

The reception was good, and although the place is very old, it’s clean and acceptable, with some modern updates. The Wi-Fi, though, was unusable. I couldn’t livestream anything, which was really disappointing these days.

We’ve stayed at Rainbow Motel regularly and used to like coming here, but this visit has put us off. The new staff member kept locking the lounge, so we couldn’t sit and eat comfortably and had to go outside or upstairs instead. While we were cooking and eating, she was brushing her teeth in the kitchen, which felt completely unhygienic. She was also rude and unhelpful throughout. A really disappointing change.

The building is a bit old, but it’s hard to beat the location opposite Gate Pa shopping center in Tauranga. The staff were friendly and helpful, and when my son arrived at the last minute for the Jazz festival despite not being on the booking, they let him stay without an extra charge. I’d definitely return.

The room took a while to warm up, and it was very dusty, maybe a 2/5 for cleanliness. I woke to a cockroach on my pillow, apparently trying to make a home in my ear, then another joined me for tea. I have videos as proof but can’t upload them. The motel wasn’t what I’d been led to expect.