New Excelsior Backpackers, Christchurch

Advantages: excellent location, friendly staff
Disadvantages: tv room, internet facilities

...Two days after Christmas, I was shortly due in New Zealand on 30 December on a flight from Sydney, where no beds were available. I needed to book a hostel in Christchurch to ease my worrying mind. No problem. Booking online at basebackpackers.com was easy. I entered my MasterCard details at the secure payment section of the website and settled my fears. Everything you would expect to be there, is there. Just enter your arrival date, number of nights and which hostel (they have a network across Australia and New Zealand), then it's a simple choice of which type of room you would like. At base Christchurch I stayed in three different rooms, across two visits. The first was a 6-bed mixed dorm with no facilities (apart from a rattling window!), situated on the second floor next to the television room. The rooms are cleaned daily with bed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Wonderful view from spire, interesting decor, great central location near other sites, free
Disadvantages: Quite busy

...Christchurch is my favourite city in New Zealand. It is modern and happening, whilst still retaining a very refined and serene atmosphere, with its willow-banked river creeping through the city centre, benches in small gardens for people to pass time on, and lovely old buildings. The centrepiece of Christchurch would have to be its gothic-style cathedral. It is located in the attractively cobbled Cathedral Square, which is packed with people enjoying street performers, including jugglers and the famous Wizard of Christchurch, an official living monument who is a site in himself, preaching on all kinds of topics from a step ladder, tourists playing giant chess, marketstalls, baton twirlers, choirs, sculptures, cafes and bars. And there is no better place to watch all this going on that from the top of the cathedral spire. From... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Central
Disadvantages: small, expensive, food of low quality

...This place is very visible in Amsterdam because the owner has a good sense of marketing and promotion but you should definitely avoid this place for several reasons : - Prices are very high compared to low quality of the food - Service is aguable and you always need to ask twice to get served - The place is very small and they tend to have much too many tables - The owner only accept Credit Cards when it suits him, that is not very often. I went there to celebrate new Years Eve with my fiancee and that was among the worst experience in a would be good restaurant. In Amsterdam, I would advise Christophe or Excelsior which deliver much better value for your money according to me.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful