Criterion Art Deco Backpackers

Hostel

I have stayed in many hostels all around the world, and they all have their own unique atmosphere. The Criterion just felt wrong, the whole place smelled of old cooking, half the lightbulbs were not working. Many of the clientel staying were not your usual backpacker type people but seemed to be middle aged single guys. A local told me they had been housing the homeless in local backpackers, and I could believe this. I didnt feel happy leaving my daughter in the communal spaces alone.

Bedbugs, really dirty, staff not nice.

BED BUG ALERT! DO NOT STAY HERE! LT:DR bedbugs and no refund! Photos in the comments I stayed here for two nights this week
The first room was small and cramped and the hostel was in a general state of disarray but for $30 a night I didn’t mind and the hostel was in great location.
On my first morning in Napier I woke up covered in BITES. I had over 50 bites on my face, arms, neck and back. My mattress was infested with bedbugs.
I spoke to the reception who were really nice and sympathetic and moved both me and my friend to a different room and allowed us to boil wash our clothes fair free.
We stayed for our second night.
On the second day there were no more bites but there were no more bites but I was in agony from my wounds and asked for a refund for my first night.
I was told the manager would get back to me as the reception staff were unable to give me a refund.
I then had to call the manager as she didn’t get in touch with me. She told me she would speak to the owner as she also couldn’t refund me.
It comes to light that the owners are new but that the hostel isn’t up to their standard but they still continue to take money from paying guests.
She also wanted to tell me that since they paid for my laundry and moved us rooms that was adequate… it isn’t.
She also said they’re not taking new bookings but they are since I only booked on Monday and stayed on Tuesday.

I stayed there for 3 weeks and felt really confortable. The manager and staff were helpful and friendly, also good people staying. I would definitely go again.

The criterion was built as a luxury hotel in 1932, and it shows. Sure, things have changed over the years. The net on the ping pong table is sagging a little. The dart board is on the floor, leaned up against a wall. There's a shopping cart parked at the end of a hallway. Mysteriously, the living room bookcase has every Stephen King book EXCEPT for The Shining. But the grandness of a decades past remain. Wide corridors and large windows. A kitchen large enough to feed a rugby team. Deep-pile carpets and a sun-drenched balcony overlooking Napier's main square. If these walls of this hotel could talk… It's also pretty clean, and the beds are totally fine. So do yourself a favour and treat yourself to the Criterion.

Would highly recommend to stay over christmas! we had a huge lunch with all people from the hostel and everyone cooked dishes from their own countries! the owner brings a lot of meat for everyone and its like your a big family. The kitchen is a little bit to small for all the people but the rooms are okay and theres a big lodge with a pool table and a balcony where you can enjoy 1-2 beers.

Unexpected awesome place to stay. The neatness is impeccable from the entrance to the single bedroom. Very comfortable and spacious. Toilets and shower are in separated cabins allowing extra privacy, hot shower works well.
New owners are very kind, welcoming and ready to help with anything you need (even to stop by for a chat about the weather). Breakfast is awesome too.
Location is great, only a couple of blocks from the central city, main stores. You can easily walk anywhere back and forth. Highly recomended.

The 2 only things that are good is the location and that the kitchen is clean. The rest sucks. The receptionists (she seems from India) is not friendly at all. I slept in a 4 dorm bed and they never vacuum and don’t clean the sink. And I’m actually even wondering if they clean the mattresscover. Well I do hope so. Mattress sucks as well. You lie with your bum on the wood. I went to toilet at the I site and took a shower at the day spa. Just to give you an idea.

Beautiful hostel, great service and staff. The owner is very friendly and you can see that he really take care of the place and all the details. The kitchen is clean all day and the bathrooms too. We payed $60 per day for a double private room which is a very good price for what you get. The location is excellent, in the Main Street, one block from the beach. I totally recommend this hostel.

Very clean and the perfect location. Great staff. Pretty quiet — we had a private ensuite room next to the main entrance to the dorms and weren’t really disturbed by a lot of noise. Will definitely stay again when we return to Napier.

What a great hostel! It has character and great facilities. Geoff runs a tight ship with his crew and the hard work from the staff pays off and the great results show. Jenny who was in reception was a great asset to the hostel and was very friendly and approachable. Met some great people in a place you can definitely call a home from home! I miss it already. All the best at criterion keep up the awesome work!

We came to Napier on Friday 2 June and we booked no accommodation, we checked out 3 holiday parks and no go & price was a lot. I checked out some backpackers, & these guys accommodated us at the last minute with only 2 rooms left. I'm so happy that its smack in town & its 2 mins to the esplanade. You have to come & stay you won't regret it and go & visit the lady downstairs who has a very nice shop. Lottie.

We had the most plessures time here. Will never forget it.
During the night I had a Dream from the time when that Earth quake happened.
It must have been a ghost that died there at that time, that showed up.
I cried when I woke up. But, what ever… It was just great, the Place.