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Please see Nelson for other available Nelson hostels and accommodations.
Please see Nelson for other available Nelson hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
The Palace is just a stone's throw from all the shops, bars and restaurants of the city centre, yet its wonderful gardens and fabulous views give it a very peaceful, laid-back atmosphere. It has nice, spacious dorms with wide windows, old fireplaces, and no bunk beds are a welcome change and the facilities are generally very good - kitchen, TV room, internet, outdoor patio and spa, laundry etc. Free tea and coffee are available all day, and a complimentary breakfast of cereal and toast is provided each morning.
This hostel seemed very popular with longer-stay visitors and while many were keen to make you feel welcome and offer information about what to do in the area etc., some made you feel you were in the way by using 'their' TV or sitting at 'their' table to eat your dinner, which was a shame. I suppose everyone has their bad days but the staff seemed quite unhelpful too. On several occasions there was nobody around to help with enquiries. One morning I saw several angry people waiting to check-out for over half an hour with no staff in sight. In the end, someone had to get the owner out of bed. That's not so good when you have a bus to catch!
This hostel seemed very popular with longer-stay visitors and while many were keen to make you feel welcome and offer information about what to do in the area etc., some made you feel you were in the way by using 'their' TV or sitting at 'their' table to eat your dinner, which was a shame. I suppose everyone has their bad days but the staff seemed quite unhelpful too. On several occasions there was nobody around to help with enquiries. One morning I saw several angry people waiting to check-out for over half an hour with no staff in sight. In the end, someone had to get the owner out of bed. That's not so good when you have a bus to catch!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2004
Their Description
The Palace Backpackers Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | 114 Rutherford Street, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand |
| Location | One Block west of main street. 300m from intercity bus station, 500m from visitors centre. |
| Website | www.thepalace.co.nz |
| Telephone | 03 548 4691 |
| Fax | 03 548 4658 |
How is The Palace Backpackers rated on other websites?
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great place This is one of the best backpackers I've stayed in so far. I love the main house, it really feels like being home on the other side of the world. The gardens around are so nice with all the sunny sitting areas. I'd love to stay here much longer but have to continue my travel again if I'd like to see more of New Zealand. — Koen , The Netherlands (2012-01-13) Hostel from Hell The man who runs this accommodation is an absolute nightmare -- he kept money from us (including a key deposit which was supposed to be refunded) claiming he was taking payment for cleaning obligations, when we left our rooms in immaculate condition (they were cleaner than when we arrived!) He not only cheated us out of money but also behaved aggressively, yelled and swore at us, much to the shock of other stayers passing by. I would NOT recommend this backpackers purely because of the hostile, unprofessional and downright appalling behaviour of the owner, Dave. — Steph , New Zealand (2012-01-05) Extremely poor Out of all the backpackers I have stayed at throughout New Zealand this is the worst experience I have had. Firstly screwed up our booking even though I rung several times to confirm numbers, we were then overcharged and because the system they run is cash only with no receipts, to prove anything, was very difficult and to get back what was overcharged was painstaking. The staff that do the work are all very polite HOWEVER this cannot be said for the owner Dave, who comes across nice over emails etc but as soon as you pay your money everything changes, He is arrogant, rude and extremely obnoxious and won't tolerate any sort of good spirit especially over New Years and the holiday period. WOULD DEFINITELY NOT STAY AGAIN. — Rob , New Zealand (2012-01-01) Absolutely Wonderful! Although not as widely publicized as other Nelson hostels, the Palace was my favourite hostel in the whole of New Zealand. With a beautifully furnished colonial house, gardens and large, well-equipped kitchen, it feels more like a home than a hostel. I only planned on staying there a week but ended up there over two months, the story of more than a few backpackers who passed through the Palace. The owner, Dave, is delightful and may even play chess or scrabble with you (if you ask very nicely). Beyond the beauty of the property, the Palace offers free breakfast, free tea and real coffee, spa, hammocks, games, outdoor courtyard for eating, socializing and smoking, smoking hut, video room with a collection of films, internet, international book exchange ... the list goes on and on. The beds are comfortable (not bunks!), the rooms are spacious and you can find plenty of places to escape to, if need be. This place is truly gorgeous and full of character. — Gina , Canada (2011-09-23) The Best I have traveled around the world extensively and stayed at a myriad of hostels and I have to say, that the palace in Nelson New Zealand is THE BEST!! I stayed, traveled, went back, stayed, traveled -- tried another hostel -- went back, stayed longer. The house is a gorgeous victorian villa surrounded by greenery. The dorms don't even feel like dorms because they are all small -- no more than 5 beds! And the beds are all made up when you arrive -- don't even need to use your sleeping bag!! The spa is wonderful in warm or cold weather. The breakfast is great -- And FREE!! Best free breakfast I have ever come across! And what hostel has proper cafetiere coffee all the time?! The Palace is close to the city and the staff really care about making sure you have a great stay and making sure you make the most of your time in the region -- not only while you stay but suggestions for when you move on. I can't stress how amazing this place is. If you're going to Nelson -- any time of the year -- this is the place to stay! And I do recommend more than one night because it's always worth it! — Sarah , Australian (2011-07-31) Of all the hostels in New Zealand I have visited, this one has the most character. It is very spacious with many cozy corners to chill out, including the awesome hammock. It's a big comfy house. — Kelly (2005-01-04) This hostel is just great. If you want to have a nice stay in Nelson, in a very, very, very nice home and with very, very, very cool staff, this is the place to be!!! It has a nice spa, a nice hammock, all surrounded by lots of trees, just a country place in town — how good is that?? The owner really cares about how you enjoy your stay in the hostel. He'll make sure that you have a nice and comfortable stay (most of owners are just looking to get money from their guests). Come have a look and if you've got any complaints, it might mean that you're just the kind of person who prefers a backpackers built like a hospital that treats guests (you) like a simple number!!! — Caroline (2004-12-13)