Paihia Beach Resort & Spa

we are currently staying in this hotel. the staff are lovely especially the lady on reception. we are staying in a superior appartment with a separate bedroom. The accommodation is very good, well equipped kitchen and comfortable bed. One issue is that there is nothing to put food in the oven in! And no oven gloves otherwise there is everything you need. The rooms are serviced everyday. The pool is good and stays open until 10.00 which is good. Nice and quiet hotel . Easy to find with a full sea view. Free clothes washing and drying is brilliant. There is free car parking. Our only complaint is the breakfast which is really very poor, I would have rated this hotel with full marks if not for the terrible breakfast. We have breakfast included in our rate. There is no fresh fruit, not even orange juice. You have to choose a cooked option with eggs or a continental option that is very sugary. Fried tinned sausages horrible! You can’t choose what you want to eat. No healthy option.

Rooms are in need of updating, needs redecorating, new kitchen units and modernised bathroom BUT the view is amazing so worth putting up with these cosmetic issues. We were on the top floor, huge balcony with fantastic sea view. It’s a shame they only provide one sun lounger on the balcony. It’s just a short walk to the town where there are plenty eateries, a small supermarket and ferries to Russell and other boat trips. It is very close to the Waitangi Treaty ground which is worth a visit. Our stay included breakfast, which was made to order and excellent every morning, the lady who served us was lovely too. Parking on site was useful as well as free to use guest laundry.

Pros - Great sea views from Large balconies. Spacious rooms. Easy flat walk to town( for eateries, boat trips, ferries to Russell) and Treaty Grounds. Good evening meal in on site restsurant.( though menu v limited and service very slow).Pleasant staff. On site parking. HOWEVER ... Cons- the decor/ furnishings are very very very tired. Scuffed chipped walls and paintwork. Stained carpets. Outdated bathroooms. Thin towels. No 5 star touches like robes , slippers etc. like, looks like, a 1960s motel. So, not a 5 star hotel experience.

Great location nr beach and lovely room with direct access to the pool (from floor 1). Very friendly staff who were very welcoming. Had one evening meal at the hotel which was very good. Would have eaten there again but menu was a bit limited. Breakfast (included in the deal we had) was very good. Local shops and restaurants approximately 10 minutes walk away. Booked as part of a package so can't comment on value

We arrived in Paihia late afternoon. When we walked into the lobby we immediately knew the hotel was not going to be as advertised. It was a motel style lobby with a rack of brochures and carpet from the 70’s. The gentleman at the desk was very nice and showed us to our rooms. We stayed over new years and were paying 550.00 Canadian per night. We were on the top floor, nice view but a room that has not been redecorated since again probably the 70’s. Old and worn rugs. A bathroom door that had severe water damage, swollen and cracked at the bottom, a fan that did not work, mold on the bathroom tiles and water temps in the shower that went from hot to cold as people flushed toilets etc. The little kitchen in the room came with a microwave that was at least twenty years old and damaged cabinets . The tv did not work. If this was a 200 dollar a night room, no problem but not 550.00 . Breakfast was not included in our stay. The pool area was well kept. It is definitely a family run operation. The food in the restaurant was good. I discussed with the manager/ owner about how disappointed I was in the room and that the hotel does not reflect a 4.3 rating. He said that it is new years and normally the rooms are 200.00 and then went on to say that most of the hotels in New Zealand are run down like his hotel which is just not true. He did say he appreciated the feedback but offered absolutely no compensation. We are now at Woodhouse mountain lodge for 300 per night. Breakfast included and it is absolutely beautiful. I would give Paihia beach resort a 2.5-3 star rating.