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Rude owner
I have never been treated so rudely as I was by the owner of this hostel. As somebody who has stayed at hostels in over 25 countries I consider myself well versed in hostel etiquette. If a guest or group doesn't fit in with the crowd you could at least expect a bit of professionalism when asked to leave. Especially from somebody who repeatedly told me this was her business and she couldnt afford to lose customers. Because I wasn't renting one of the most expensive rooms. Traveling with two young children is hard enough with out having to find last minute accommodation during the height of the season and being subjected to a snotty diatribe in the courtyard in front of a host of hungover complainers. Get some earplugs and Buck up. Rose, consider renovations so the walls separating rooms directly off the shared kitchen and shared living space aren't "paper thin." Your lack of insulation isn't my fault, nor was your late night party session. As for my kids, I've traveled extensively with my children and have had nothing but praise of their behaviour but even I can't predict when a small child will fall and cry disturbing others most deserved sleep. I'm so sorry it was so difficult for all of you to briefly coexist with other humans. Then making us pay full price with little to no effort to find us new accommodations. If you insist upon discriminating upon young guests I suggest you make it a posted policy. Also the nails sticking up through your rotted staircase are dangerous and your vegetation could use some tending.
Best in Paihia
I got the chance to stay here for two weeks while in Paihia. Rose (the owner) is lovely, as well as her dogs and all the people who pass through. It's a quiet place off the main strip of hostels, but still close enough to get anywhere you need. Breakfast, wifi, bikes, and comfort, it's really all you could ask for. Be aware that because it's such a relaxed place, chances are when you're looking to check in or out, or have questions midday, that Rose might not be there to help (she's usually out swimming) so as long as you're ok with more laid-back service, you'll love it here!
Friendly and low-key, right outside of town
It's a 10-minute walk to town, but this place is friendly, clean, and low-key. You have to walk outside to get to the toilets/showers and kitchen, but it's quiet (no noise after 11pm) and the owner is great.
Pickled Parrot Backpackers, BBH hostel, is definitely a gem in Paihia. They offer free Wi-Fi and free broadband as well as a free breakfast every morning. The rooms are very secure and comfortable and Rose, the owner, is incredibly friendly and helpful (as are her dogs!).
The Location
This hostel feels very isolated in the middle of a bunch of trees in a quiet area of the city. But it's only a fifteen-minute walk into town and from the bus. To get here from the iSite, simply follow the highway up, past the rows of motels. There will be signs around Grey's Lane directing you towards the hostel. Parking is readily available.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorm rooms have secure door locks as well as lockers in the room, but you will need to provide your own lock. They have six-bed dorms (made up of three bunks) and single rooms, as well as tent sites. The beds are very comfortable and are made up with full linen. The linen is a little thin, and the ladder on the bunk seems a bit awkward, but the frames are solid (so no squeaking) and the bed is comfortable, so no real complaints.
The showers are very clean, with several hooks behind the door for your things and a soap dish in the shower for your toiletries. It also has plenty of space for showering and changing. The heat is good and consistent (maybe even a little too hot) but the water pressure is really hard -- it feels like a jet stream pounding your back. And since the water pressure is so hard, everything you put on the floor (shoes, dirty clothes) will get wet -- even if it is by the door of the shower.
Common Spaces
Inside the hostel is a small TV room with a book exchange and several board games. It has a computer with free internet and Skype, and free Wi-Fi is provided (they use Tomizone, but will give you as many 60MB/hour vouchers as you like). SkyTV, DVDs, and VHSs are available for the TV. There are only three small couches and a row of bar stools by a bar to sit on, so not many people use it. It's connected to the kitchen, which is a little small, but is fully stocked and very clean -- and free breakfast (toast, butter, jam, cereal, milk) is provided every morning.
Since the inside sitting area is a bit small, and Paihia has some beautiful weather, people typically hang out on the decks outside. There are two covered areas, which get plenty of sunlight, with chairs and benches and tables, which functions both as an outside hang-out area and as a dining room. Here, you're likely to meet one of the three dogs belonging to the owner of the hostel -- all of which are very friendly and very well behaved.
This hostel feels almost like a retreat. It's isolated, in a beautiful location, with a friendly and helpful owner. The setting contributes to the feel of the hostel, which is very social, friendly, and laid-back. It isn't a party hostel, there's a pretty strict "no noise after 11" policy, but people are frequently up late into the night talking with new friends.
Summary
This is a fantastic hostel in Paihia. It's comfortable, it's social without being a party hostel, it's in a beautiful location, and it comes with a bunch of freebies like internet and breakfast. It's definitely one of the best.
Lovely
Lovely hostel, just around the corner from all the others so nice and quiet. Lovely gardens and resident parrot! Really friendly owners made us feel so welcome and were so helpful, even though we kept changing our minds and booked an overnight boat trip half way through. Lovely clean rooms, nice kitchen and bathroom, and very friendly and relaxing. One of the best.
Great, friendly hostel!
One of the best budget accommodations I have visited during many years of traveling. Immaculately clean, friendly staff, and as an added bonus there is Rocky the parrot. What a great character he is!
Pickled Parrot Backpackers has recently changed ownership. There is no parrot anymore but the new owner who lives there and runs the place has some very friendly pets. This place provides pillowcases, clean sheets, duvet, blankets, towels, and a simple breakfast in the morning (cereal and fruit).
The Location
The hostel is very easy to find -- you'd pass by a sign on your left when driving into Paihia. It's actually a little bit of a walk away from the main strip, which is good for anyone that wants it quiet. There are also picnic tables outside.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Shared bathrooms are clean. Rooms are very clean and each room has a special name. The beds are comfortable.
Common Spaces
The common places include a large lounge area, one internet terminal, and a common kitchen. Everything is nice and clean.
Summary
We found the owner very welcoming and the place is clean. If you arrive and the office says it's closed, make sure you ring the bell or call the phone number that is provided there at the phone booth beside the office. The call is free and the owner will answer and meet with you pretty quickly to set you up with everything you need. We'd definitely go back to this hostel.
Great hostel -- quiet, clean, relaxing, away from the busy centre but still close enough to walk.
Brilliant hostel and very friendly staff. Absolutely nothing to complain about.
Such a cute hostel. It was just after lockdown so there werent many people around but I was happy to have a room to myself. The owner was lovely and made me feel at home. Plenty of free parking right outside the door.
The best and most beautiful hostel I've ever stayed in! So friendly and so safe.
Such a wonderful hostel. Great facilities, super nice and friendly staff, very clean.
Awesome relaxing home away from home. Extremely clean and comfortable. Short Walk away from the beach. Enjoyed meeting other travellers. The garden has fresh vegetables which can be used. I really enjoyed my time here, I would recommend it without hesitation.
The atmosphere was great and the owners are really kindly and friendly as well. Also people who stayed there were really friendly. The location is perfect!
Had a great few nights at the Pickled Parrot. The setting is very private, despite being near the beach and town - this is mostly due to the wonderful plants around the grounds. Veggie plots and lovely outdoor space that gets sun most of the day.
Cherry and her husband are friendly and always up for a chat and are happy to give advice about the area and activities.
The bathrooms were spotless. Kitchen area well set out and lounge area very comfortable and welcoming.
Highly recommend!
Really lovely hostel, good location, lovely outside space including a small veggie garden. The host Cherry is wonderful, cannot praise her enough during a difficult period for all her guests (the dreaded covid-19 crisis) she went above and beyond.
Clean friendly hostel.
This is the perfect place for people who are wanting a relaxing time away. The owner is so friendly and helpful and the hostel is so peaceful and chilled. Great living room and kitchen area!
Gorgeous and very clean place to stay. We booked a 6 dorm room and was placed in a twin bunk room which was a nice surprise. Location is 5 min walk to the beach and staff very welcoming. If back here again would definitely book!!
I cannot rave about this place enough, not only is Paihia a wonderful place to be, the PP is perfect. spotless bathrooms and facilities at all times, wonderful beds, large rooms and lockers, and the kitchen is so well equipped. Cherry is really what makes this place so special, shes a hostel mama she loves and cares for everyone and everything here like its her baby. shes so kind! the pickled parrot is gorgeous! plenty of places to sit and hang out, i extended my stay from 2 nights to 6.
The hostel was just what we ordered the owner was lovely and welcoming. The whole ambiance of the hostel was superb clean, tidy and comfortable and in quiet spot within easy reach of the centre of Paihia well stay there again
I felt like I was in a jungle tree house in the cabin. Nice to see colourful cushions and hammocks around the outdoor spaces. Especially good for dorm stayers.
I stayed here for 2 days and enjoyed it. It's REALLY quiet. Strict no noise after 10 pm rule which I liked. The atmosphere is a bit less social as a result of that and of the kind of people who are attracted to a hostel with a no noise policy. But I did see other folks who had made friends, especially the young peeps. I'm in my 40s so a bit different for me. It's very clean. The facilities are very good. Reasonable walk to the main area. Prices are really good. Would recommend!
AWESOME spot. Spotless kitchen, comfy beds with solid amount of space in room (I stayed in 4 room dorm), peaceful ambience. A lovely space to recharge or be close to the action without being in it.
This was the first hostel I've stayed in and it was a great experience! Cherry runs the place efficiently and with kindness and genuine concern for the guests. Ever patient, she seemed to have a solution to any questions/problems I had.
The facility feels like you're in a treehouse. Lots of plants and mature trees. Very green and quiet. There is a 10pm quiet request that all the guests adhere to which is nice. This is a relaxing, peaceful, beach retreat.
This is one of the best hostels in the area. The lady who runs it is kind and nice to talk to. It was a bit hot during summer (no fans) and the smaller two person rooms arent yet equipped with lockers. Overall I really enjoyed my stay and would stay longer if I could (it was all booked before I could extend).
Really good hostel. Felt very safe as a young solo female traveller. Everywhere very clean, kitchen big and well organised and tidy. Would definitely stay again
The Pickled Parrot Hostel is just amazing. The place is so beautiful with a lot of spaces to relax and to calm down. It's really near to the beach and also to the other hostels, but it's calmer there than in the other hostels. The kitchen was really nice and the bathrooms too!
I can really recommend it to everyone :)
Address: 9 Greys Lane, Paihia, New Zealand
Bedsheets
Breakfast
Parking
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Lockers in Lobby
Luggage Storage
Towels
BBQ Grill
Clothes Dryer
Concierge/Info Desk
Credit Card Payments
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Movie Library/Rental
Wheelchair Accessible
Curfew: No Curfew
Lockout: No
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