The Setup on Dixon - Hostel

Right in central Wellington, the location is a real plus: close to shops, bus routes, Cuba street, Te Papa and the wharf. My room was comfortable, quiet and clean. It also had a small fridge, so I kept my food there. This is a large hostel that feels more like a cheap hotel. The big kitchen wasn't well stocked or clean, there were no shared spices, and nowhere to label your food. The dorm-style bathrooms were kept relatively clean, but I didn't like that a switch controlled the shower, leaving me no control over its heat or power.

For a cheap stay, it was central to everything and the buses were amazing. It had what I needed, and I could have put up with a lot of the problems for a night or two. The room was warm and dry, and the bedding was clean, but that bed was the most uncomfortable I've paid to sleep on. I could feel all the spring wires down the middle of the mattress, and by day three they were hurting my ribs. That was the dealbreaker. The room was mostly clean, though there were food stains and holes in the carpet. The microwave and toaster were broken at first, but got replaced. The lift was out, a few showers weren't working, and one shower smelled vile every day. The sanitary disposal bins in the toilets were constantly overflowing.

The staff were nice, the place was clean and the location was good. Still, the room and showers made it a rough stay. The showers were always cold, with no way to adjust the temperature. I'd rather pay a dollar for a five-minute hot shower. There was nowhere in the shower to put or hang clothes. I didn't see a single window anywhere, and couldn't control the room's airflow or temperature. There was no fresh air or sunlight in the building. The fridge in the room made constant noise, and the twin room barely had space for luggage.

The rooms were very soundproof, and the place was clean and in a fantastic location. The bathroom had a few issues, including nowhere to set toiletries down. At night it got too hot, so they had put freestanding heater-coolers in each room. It was hard to figure out which floor the hotel was on. I had to ask a security guard; it's on the third floor. Don't arrive between 12 and 1, as reception will be unattended.