The Hostelz.com Review
HI - YHA Napier Hostel is a pleasant, quiet, and friendly hostel across the street from Napier's seafront.
The Location
The hostel is on the Marine Parade, a wide avenue that runs beside the ocean. It's about three flat blocks from the Intercity bus stop; Magic Bus and NakedBus stop on the Marine Parade itself. If you have your own car, you can park for free along the street on weekends and holidays and for two hours between the hours of 8 and 5 on weekdays. Otherwise, you'll have to pay to park in a city parking lot.
Rooms and Bathrooms
YHA Napier was once a private home, so rooms and bathrooms are tucked in wherever they could fit. Singles are very small. The dorm we saw was a double-bunked four-bedder. Bathrooms all have shower, toilet, and sink together in one room; there are six such bathrooms in the hostel. Showers have good water pressure. For-fee storage lockers are available.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is large for the size of the hostel and well equipped. Herbs, spices, and a vegetarian cookbook are available (for free) from reception. There are outdoor and indoor dining areas; the outdoor area is an internal courtyard. The laundry, also off the courtyard, is exceptionally good. There is a comfortable TV lounge. Internet access is good and fairly reliable, but it does not reach to all the rooms. Room heaters are on a timer; there is no limit on their use, but they must be turned on every half hour.
Summary
We liked YHA Napier very much. Napier's seafront is beautiful, and the neighborhood around the hostel, while mainly a place of bed-and-breakfasts and other backpackers', is quietly attractive. Guests are of all ages -- we saw one family with a small baby.
The Location
The hostel is on the Marine Parade, a wide avenue that runs beside the ocean. It's about three flat blocks from the Intercity bus stop; Magic Bus and NakedBus stop on the Marine Parade itself. If you have your own car, you can park for free along the street on weekends and holidays and for two hours between the hours of 8 and 5 on weekdays. Otherwise, you'll have to pay to park in a city parking lot.
Rooms and Bathrooms
YHA Napier was once a private home, so rooms and bathrooms are tucked in wherever they could fit. Singles are very small. The dorm we saw was a double-bunked four-bedder. Bathrooms all have shower, toilet, and sink together in one room; there are six such bathrooms in the hostel. Showers have good water pressure. For-fee storage lockers are available.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is large for the size of the hostel and well equipped. Herbs, spices, and a vegetarian cookbook are available (for free) from reception. There are outdoor and indoor dining areas; the outdoor area is an internal courtyard. The laundry, also off the courtyard, is exceptionally good. There is a comfortable TV lounge. Internet access is good and fairly reliable, but it does not reach to all the rooms. Room heaters are on a timer; there is no limit on their use, but they must be turned on every half hour.
Summary
We liked YHA Napier very much. Napier's seafront is beautiful, and the neighborhood around the hostel, while mainly a place of bed-and-breakfasts and other backpackers', is quietly attractive. Guests are of all ages -- we saw one family with a small baby.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2011
Their Description
HI - YHA Napier Hostel Details
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HI - YHA Napier Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great Place Loved the hostel, the rooms were big, the atmosphere was really friendly and it rubbed off on the guests so everyone was always in good mood. The staff are fantastic and really helpful. The place was kept really clean and the view of the beach is lovely. It's about a five-minute walk to the supermarket and pubs. Great place. — Linda , Ireland (2008-10-30) Friendly atmosphere Great location and very friendly atmosphere. Rooms clean and spacious. Bathrooms are heavily used so can be less than spotless later in the day. Kitchen clean but sometimes a bit cramped. Seems to lack quiet communal space. Nice courtyard out the back though. — Keith , UK (2008-04-07) Another belter of a hostel, rather homey. I had a room looking onto Marine Parade and the view was awesome. Staff were friendly and really helpful. a great place to chill out, as I said right on Marine Parade and a short walk into town. you can hire bikes across the road at Marineland, and there are some top notch bars and cafes in the area. Overall really nice. — Griz (2006-12-26) Stayed here in March 2006. This place was just okay. Location was nice, near the beach, but the hostel was overcrowded (they were putting people up in storerooms and staff quarters) and the staff just didn't seem to care. Nice TV room, but bathrooms were tiny and not very clean, and the bunks were squeaky and uncomfortable. For what they charge as a YHA, you can probably do better elsewhere. — Sarah (2006-07-09) This is a good hostel with lots of character. The staff were some of the friendliest and most helpful people you could hope to find. — Monkey (2004-12-30)