Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hotels, Motels & Pubs
HOTELS
At the top end of the hotel scale are five-star international chains, resort complexes and ar-
chitecturally splendorous boutique hotels, all of which charge a hefty premium for their mod
cons, snappy service and/or historic opulence. We quote 'rack rates' (official advertised
rates) for such places, but discounts and special deals often mean you won't have to pay
these prices.
MOTELS
NZ's towns have a glut of nondescript, low-rise motels and 'motor lodges', charging between
$80 and $180 for double rooms. They tend to be squat structures congregating just outside
CBDs, or skulking by highways on the edges of towns. Most are modernish (though decor is
often mired in the '90s) and have similar facilities, namely tea- and coffee-making equipment,
fridge and TV. Prices vary with standards.
PUBS
The least expensive form of NZ hotel accommodation is the humble pub. As is often the case
elsewhere, some of NZ's old pubs are full of character (and characters), while others are
grotty, ramshackle places that are best avoided, especially by women travelling solo. Also
check whether there's a band cranking out tunes the night you plan to be in town, as you
could be in for a sleepless night. In the cheapest pubs, singles/doubles might cost as little as
$30/60 (with a shared bathroom down the hall), though $50/80 is more common.
Rental Accommodation
The basic Kiwi holiday home is called a 'bach' (short for 'bachelor', as they were often used
by single men as hunting and fishing hideouts); in Otago and Southland they're known as
'cribs'. These are simple self-contained cottages that can be rented, in rural and coastal
areas, often in isolated locations. Prices are typically $80 to $130 per night, which isn't bad
for a whole house or self-contained bungalow.
For more upmarket holiday houses, the current trend is to throw rusticity to the wind and
erect luxurious cottages on beautiful nature-surrounded plots. Expect to pay anything from
$130 to $400 per double.
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