Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Great view on roof, cheap |
| Disadvantages: |
no free lockers and not that friendly |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Albert Park Backpackers in Auckland is a very cheap place to stay, the location is great but it was not the friendliest hostel I have stayed in.
I flew in from LA which is a 12 hour flight and was pretty tired as I am sure you can imagine, I pleased that the directions I had from the hostel where easy to follow, I just had to jump on a shuttle bus, this was easy to find and cost $15.
Address: Albert Park Backpackers
27-31 Victoria Street East
Auckland, New
Zealand Phone: 09 309 0336
Fax: 09 309 9474
Email: bakpak@albertpark.co.nz
To get to the hostel from town walk down from Sky City visitors centre over Queen Street and into Victoria Street East and you will find it on the right, opposite the Victoria St car park.
Reception:
The staffs at Albert Park are friendly enough but are not very forthcoming when it comes to giving out information. I really felt that a lot more information could have been given to us when we arrived to save visitors having to keep coming back to reception.
Rooms:
When I arrived at the hostel I checked in and got in the lift to my room on the 4th floor of the 5 floor building.
Linen is not provided you have to give a deposit of $2 for sheets and pillow case.
I was in a 6 bed female only room, when I entered the room I was surprised how small it was and also shocked that no lockers where provided, I just assumed that all hostels provided them, I guess I was wrong. Some of the people I was put into share with had been at the hostel for a while, living and working, they had totally taken over the room and had put sarongs up on all the beds so that they looked like little hubby houses, this was most unfriendly.
Feeling a bit awkward I decided to take a trip to reception to find out about the locker situation, I was told that only small safes where available behind reception at a cost of $1 each time you had to open and close it! All you could put in them was passport and money really, this I thought was an absolute con and hassle I was very unimpressed with this service.
Laundry:
I then decided to check out the rest of the faculties, the laundry could only be used after 12pm as they use it to wash all the sheets etc for the rooms, again not always the most convenient time, it cost $2 a wash and $2 a dry and washing powder was $2 a sachet. I soon learnt to save up my washing until I really had to do it or to share a load with a like minded traveler to save money.
Kitchen:
The kitchen facilities where ok, not the best I have seen, no cookers only hobs and a microwave, washing up seemed to get done but no one ever dried up or put away. I know it is down to the backpackers to do these things but the hostels them selves should really try to keep on top of it as well.
The fridges where packed and no boxes or bags where provided you had to buy your own and make sure they where labeled, from what I heard from some of the long stays food thief's where very big in this hostel and stuff was always going missing.
Lounge:
The lounge area was in a separate room and the door was always shut, a lot of people living at the hostel would often congregate in this area making short stay visitors feel un-welcome.
Bathrooms:
The bathrooms where not the greatest the water leaked from the showers onto the floor outside making it hard to keep clothes dry and to get change easily.
Roof Top:
On the roof top of the building is smoking terrace which is a great place to go and catch some sun, also you get a great view of the Sky Tower from their.
Costs:
To stay in a 12 bed dorm room costs $18 a night, 6 bed dorm $21 a night, single room is $52 a night, double is $62 a night a twin is also $62 a night. You can get a discount using a VIP Backpacker card which will give you an extra $1 off I night.
These rates are good compared with other places I have stayed the average costs of a dorm room in New Zealand is 18 - 27$ a night.
Conclusion:
This hostel is ok for a cheap place to stay for a couple of days, it is not the best but not the worst, my stay was not that great but sadly I think that is because the other backpackers were rather unfriendly something I didn't come across very often.
Display pictures
View of the Sky Tower from the roof |
