I choose Ariki because of the excellent location right down town where I wanted to be and because it was cheap. $89 for a Family Room with private bathroom for my 13 year old daughter and I. Ariki was in this regard exactly what I wanted. As an added bonus it was good to see that they had good policies around security and the staff member I dealt with, Chris, was super friendly and informative. Couldn't have been nicer and more helpful if he tried. The place is a tired and basic and the beds are not the best I've ever had. The late night pub noise is also loud. But I won't put those down as things I didn't like because I knew what I was getting - its a backpackers next to a pub after all. The sort of place I used all the time back in my 20s. I got exactly what I paid for and expected. For $89 you can't expect an absolute palace but you can expect it to be clean, tidy, comfy enough, friendly and safe, which it was. I would happily come back here again.

Nothing.

Rob was really friendly right off the bat from check-in! Location is right above a bar so weekend nights can be really loud and noisy up till 3am but they do notify you in advance so you can back out if it’s too much for you! Room is comfortable. I think that the kitchen and toilets can be a bit cleaner but I reckon is just because it’s an older building . They did what they could to maintain cleanliness like clearing trash often and cleaning up! Location right near the coast and close to city centre as well! Free parking is a short 5-7 mins walk away from hostel

NIL

Helpful and friendly staff. Our room had all we needed for our short stay and at a good price. Beds were comfy, had our own private bathroom. Central location, we enjoyed being able to walk around and explore the town and the bus stops are right outside if needed. No allocated parking, but heaps of free parking after 5pm till the morning. The bar below gets loud at night but we loved it and would open our window to sing along or just listen. So bring earplugs if you don’t like noise lol

The manager was amazing, so helpful. Great location. Quiet with blockout curtains and we had a great sleep. The pub underneath and Green Door cafe next door were really good, enter from the back, don't be put off by the front which looks a bit rough. We appreciated being able to keep our luggage there until we left in the afternoon. Beautiful walks along the coastline. Totally recommend Ariki Backpackers.

Pillows a bit flat, could be upgraded. Kitchen ventilation needs work, quite smoky with only 1 person cooking.

Great central location in the CBD. Bed was super comfy, I slept so well, yes they mention the noise from the bars, bring a trusty pair of ear loops, the sleep of dreams! Shower was great in our room, really nice relaxed feel! Everyone really friendly, felt very welcoming. Would definitely recommend staying here if your visiting new Plymouth!

It was great for our needs/purpose! Gutted we didn't get to meet Rob we loved his replies back to the reviews!

Everything was great and transparent from the start. The hostel is above a karaoke bar, so bring your earplugs or singing voice. I opted for the first option and still managed to get my sleep. Really good priced laundry service with space to hang outside. Nice outdoor 'chill' areas too. The kitchen can get pretty hot when cooking but it is summer, so it's to be expected. Had a nice stay with helpful friendly staff.

The location, atmosphere and staff were all brilliant! Staff seems very interested in the customers and their stories. Very welcoming. Close to the CBD and lots of excellent coffees spots within a 5 minute walk. Next time I head down to Taranaki I’ll stay here for sure!

Only criticism was the pillow. But then I sleep like a princess and am very fussy with my pillows. Was a little thin for my personal comfort but otherwise the bed was grand.

The location is perfect. It gets noisy at night because of the bars downstairs, but the staff informed me about this when I booked, so I came prepared with earplugs. Yes, the facilities are quite small, but everything is conveniently on the same floor. Additionally, they consider to travelers with thoughtful features like comfy beds, air conditioning in the rooms, towels, and secure keys. 👍

There is not much space to sit outside.

It's party central in the evenings until late due to the nightclub downstairs. So, if you are young and hip, then go and enjoy. In this respect, I would regard it as the best place to stay if you want to party across the whole of the North Island because the night club is so accessible - no need to worry about drinking and then finding your way to your accommodation afterwards. Plus Ariki's is centrally located AND close to the sea AND close to a whole lot of other tourist attractions including markets on Saturday mornings plus it's opposite the waving wind 'Wand' which is a great selfie sight all to itself. This is a young person's party paradise so don't go there expecting peace and quiet in the evenings! The young international travelers that stayed there (when I was there) are universally friendly (why aren't more of our kiwi's kids like this I wonder) and I found it a very life-giving place to visit. New Plymouth has so much to see over the summer and I'd heartily recommend to even the most seasoned travelers even if you are staying elsewhere. It's an extremely unique location and is different to most other places I've visited in New Zealand.

> Great value for money, and very close to the beach. The service was outstanding, and the overall atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The rooms were exceptionally clean. It's perfect for deep sleepers, but light sleepers might find it a bit challenging since there's a bar downstairs that stays lively until late at night. Thanks to the staff’s thoughtful reminder — we were well prepared for it.