Saltwater Lodge
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#7 of 14 hostels in Paihia
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, Hindi
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool / beach towels
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Bicycle rental
Bicycles available
Books, DVDs, music for children
Indoor play area for children
Parking
Wifi
Complimentary tea
Canoeing
Diving
Game room
Golf course
Hiking
Horseback riding
Mini golf
Snorkeling
Tennis court
Darts
Fishing
Table tennis
Board games / puzzles
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
14 Kings Road, Paihia 0247 New Zealand
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 85 out of 100
85
13 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
Traveler rating
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Detailed Reviews
We booked a deluxe 4 bedroom for a family of 4, 2 teens. What we liked: spacious and extremely clean room, on third floor, large bathroom with liquid soap dispenser, bath and beach towels, complimentary coffee, tea, sugar, and milk. The Lodge itself is a block away from a kayak rental shed and a five minute stroll down to the wharf and all of the tourist cruises. We appreciated the 10:30 p.m. curfew. Disadvantages: no window, and no fan in the bathroom. There is a pub in front which tends to play loud music, not much that can be done, earplugs are provided.
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Date of stay: December 2017Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Third floor above the kitchen
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nachiket_VAITY, Manager at Saltwater Lodge
Responded Dec 29, 2017
Thank you for your review. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed your stay with us. Unfortunately, we are not able to control the bar but we keep the noise minimum at our side. Best wishes for future travels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I've stayed in a fair amount of hostels since 2008 worldwide ( and n.z) and this is the best one ever.
Firstly staff were welcoming and informative. I stayed in a 4 bed female dorm with ensuite bathroom which was super clean. The cleaners knocked on the door to clean it as I looked around thinking 'it already is clean'. Rooms are off a balcony which I liked as you got to mingle and eat outside and pick the herbs and fresh tomatoes.
The kitchen I found is really well Layed out with three sinks and stoves so at least it less fighting!everything is labelled and they have thought of every utensil you could need with plenty of them. Also enough fridge space.
Biked to some local walks which was great and got informative advice from staff.
This hostel has really thought of all the finishing touches to make your stay easier.
Firstly staff were welcoming and informative. I stayed in a 4 bed female dorm with ensuite bathroom which was super clean. The cleaners knocked on the door to clean it as I looked around thinking 'it already is clean'. Rooms are off a balcony which I liked as you got to mingle and eat outside and pick the herbs and fresh tomatoes.
The kitchen I found is really well Layed out with three sinks and stoves so at least it less fighting!everything is labelled and they have thought of every utensil you could need with plenty of them. Also enough fridge space.
Biked to some local walks which was great and got informative advice from staff.
This hostel has really thought of all the finishing touches to make your stay easier.
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Date of stay: January 2015
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have stayed in a number of hostels/backpackers over the years and this is the best ive come across. the staff were lovely and treated me like family from the moment i walked through the door.
the room was very comfy, spacious, light and (very!) clean; even included a fridge & microwave (being en-suite was a huge perk!). The Internet worked really well and its located right on the beach and is only 5 mins walk from the centre of town.
Next time I'm in Paihia I will head straight back to Saltwater :-)
the room was very comfy, spacious, light and (very!) clean; even included a fridge & microwave (being en-suite was a huge perk!). The Internet worked really well and its located right on the beach and is only 5 mins walk from the centre of town.
Next time I'm in Paihia I will head straight back to Saltwater :-)
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Date of stay: February 2015Trip type: Traveled solo
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family stayed in a family room of Saltwater Lodge on 26 to 30 Dec 2020.
We liked the location of Saltwater Lodge because it's only a short walk to the major shops in Paihia.
Our friends in Rotorua, who stayed in the other rooms, convened with us in the common room to have wonderful group dinners and breakfasts.
However, our friends and I all agreed that the respective rooms where we stayed in were dusty and not up to standard. I needed to clean the bathroom in our family room to make it suitable for use. The TV in our room did not work. There were insects in the linen that made me itchy. The bed covers were dusty. The room also had very limited power points. My family members and I found the room to have a bad smell. The room were never serviced during our entire stay.
Never again are we going to stay in Saltwater Lodge. Our friends also had a similar bad experience. It was a terrible place to stay and a total rip-off. Shame on you Saltwater Lodge.
We liked the location of Saltwater Lodge because it's only a short walk to the major shops in Paihia.
Our friends in Rotorua, who stayed in the other rooms, convened with us in the common room to have wonderful group dinners and breakfasts.
However, our friends and I all agreed that the respective rooms where we stayed in were dusty and not up to standard. I needed to clean the bathroom in our family room to make it suitable for use. The TV in our room did not work. There were insects in the linen that made me itchy. The bed covers were dusty. The room also had very limited power points. My family members and I found the room to have a bad smell. The room were never serviced during our entire stay.
Never again are we going to stay in Saltwater Lodge. Our friends also had a similar bad experience. It was a terrible place to stay and a total rip-off. Shame on you Saltwater Lodge.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nachiket Vaity, General Manager at Saltwater Lodge
Responded Apr 7, 2021
Hi Richard We are sorry that you didn't have an enjoyable stay with us. The date you visited was a very busy time of year for us, with 100% occupancy during your stay. Nevertheless, we strive to fully meet our guest's expectations at all times. However, upon reading your review and consulting with our staff, we found several inconsistencies with your account of your experience at Saltwater Lodge. Our rooms are cleaned to the highest standard, with a thorough clean occurring each new booking as well as a deep clean regularly. A guest from your group did come to reception and said they were sneezing frequently, we are confident in our cleaning standard and believe that this is due to the time of year, when pollen in the air is prevalent. Regarding your claim of insects in the linen, our laundry is sent to an offsite laundromat that hot wash all laundry. Upon your checkout, we cleaned the room thoroughly and could not find evidence of this. When a member of your party came to the reception to complain about the above things and other issues, our office staff actively tried to fix the issues brought up. Our staff member offered to give a considerable discount to your party, to which the group member accepted. Upon going to the rooms, we found that despite your claim, the microwave did work and that the tv was also working (the instructions were beside the remote). Upon checking out, another group member in your party proceeded to complain about further issues and threatened our staff member with a negative review if they did not receive a further discount. We found this threat to be unacceptable and decided to not give your party a further discount, given that $700 off the original booking had already been discounted. Saltwater Management
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Such a nice hostel - so close to everything, beds were comfortable, rooms have their own bathroom and were clean, big kitchen... really helpful with maps and things to do as well. We needed 2 keys and they were happy to oblige.
great value
great value
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Date of stay: February 2015Trip type: Traveled with friends
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It might be for a reason that the climate up in Paihia is quite mild but I really liked the fact that the room doors are actually slide glass doors like you expect them to have for balconies/terraces. I stayed on the first level and it was so nice to have kind of a loggia on the whole length of the building and could sit outside just in front of your room to chat with the others, eat & drink.
The room included a private bathroom with shower and good sized lockers for each person.
The room included a private bathroom with shower and good sized lockers for each person.
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Date of stay: January 2015Trip type: Traveled solo
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed 2 nights here at the end of December. Room was great, new, spacious and really clean with tea & coffee making facilities and our own bathroom. We had a double bed for us and bunks for the kids, a ranch slider onto the deck with table and chairs and even a wee peek of the sea from our corner room. (It's one building back from the beachfront). There was a table tennis room, basic but still fun, and free bikes to use. Really appreciated the free 50MB daily internet; this would be particularly great for overseas travellers. The only thing that could be improved is the squeaky top bunk; because they're metal it may need a bit of padding at the joins. Fabulous place and great value for money.
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â We had the right hand corner room on the top floor for the water view.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place is described as 'budget accommodation', which I can't really understand as there was nothing budget about it. The room was really clean, with fresh towels every day and an ensuite bathroom. The rooms were all on one large, shared balcony, but it was always quiet and really nice to sit out at night. The lodge is a 30 second walk from the beach, with 3 or 4 bars all surrounding the actual lodge itself. I went out of season, so Paihia itself was quiet, but the lodge was brilliant. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: October 2011Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Such a beautiful Lodge with excellent staff! From check in to check out everything was wonderful! The manager Rohit was very friendly and accomodating. The room was very clean and the beds were very comfortable. Overall we had a very pleasant and enjoyable stay at Saltwater Lodge. We will be back!
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from lenka_rohit, Manager at Saltwater Lodge
Responded Feb 18, 2017
We would like to thank you for reviewing your stay at our lodge. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay and that you was satisfied with service and facilities. It is great to know that you would choose us again for your stay in Paihia. We looking forward to your return. Kind regards Lenka & Rohit
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Didn't expect this from a backpackers.Rooms were clean, & spacious in both family accomodation & share accomodation (with in room lockers in share rooms. Amazing idea!!!!! ) Ensuite in family room was large & clean & share bathrooms were clean & nice.Staff were friendly & helpful.Great to have an on-site laundry with a line with pegs as well as a dryer. Really a fantastic place to stay within walking distance of everything.
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from lenka_rohit, Manager at Saltwater Lodge
Responded Feb 16, 2017
Thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay at our lodge. We would like to thank you for kind words and we couldn't be more thrilled that your stay exceed your expectations. Your satisfaction is important to us. We wish you safe travels. Kind regards Lenka & Rohit
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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"Room 9 is the furtherest away from the road and bars, and also the communal lounge which can get noisy too."Read full review
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandNorthland RegionBay of IslandsPaihia
NUMBER OF ROOMS
19
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Saltwater Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Saltwater Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Paihia Harbour (0.5 km), St Paul's Anglican Church (0.2 km), and Sandpit Poolroom & Bar (0.02 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Saltwater Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and a golf course.
What food & drink options are available at Saltwater Lodge?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities, complimentary tea, and free instant coffee during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Saltwater Lodge?
Conveniently located restaurants include JFC Paihia, El Cafe, and Tipsy Oyster.
Is Saltwater Lodge located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.6 km away from the centre of Paihia.
Are any cleaning services offered at Saltwater Lodge?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Saltwater Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Hindi.
Are there any historical sites close to Saltwater Lodge?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Pompallier Mission and Printery (3.3 km), Waitangi Treaty Grounds (2.3 km), and Flagstaff Hill (4.0 km).
Is Saltwater Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.