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Reviews of Uenuku Lodge - Hostel

1 out of 5
Uenuku Lodge - Hostel
217 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Reviews

6.4
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 34 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 80 reviews" "

6.6/10

Cleanliness

7.2/10

Staff & service

6.8/10

Amenities

5.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

2.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Katharine

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awful. No bath mat, soap, bin, glass/cup. Filthy lockers, poop in toilet. Holes in walls, filthy walls. Tv ripped off wall. One neighbour making disgusting noises, clearly very ill. Another screaming super offensive abuse. Nearly called police. Extremely upset. Felt very unsafe.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leonie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Pleasant surprise!
Lovely refurbished room with opening window! Comfortable bed and clean new bathroom adjacent to the room. Good off street parking and right opposite the gig I was going to. Overall a very pleasant surprise. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

As

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location and friendly staff
Our room was perfect. Staff was very friendly. Location was excellent.Enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Response from Manager on 3 Feb 2020
Thank you for your motivating an kind reviews. We are really happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. We would love to welcome you. Regards

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We were able to check ourselves in, very late at night, without any hassle, and stay the night cheaply. The place itself was pretty hostel-like though (which is fine - it's a hostel).
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
Response from manager on 28 Jan 2020
Thank you dear guest for your kind reviews. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay. We will be glad to serve you again.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very central with great staff. The room was also very nice -especially the free upgrade from our original room
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020
Response from manager on 23 Jan 2020
Thank you dear guest for staying with us. We really appreciate your kind reviews. Looking forward to serve you again.

10/10 Excellent

Samuel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019
Response from manager on 9 Jan 2020
Thank you Samuel for your kind reviews. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. Hope to welcome you again.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very poor amenities and cleanliness. Very old property, makes noise when someone walks upstairs. Not properly washed linen.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
Response from Manager on 17 Dec 2019
Dear guest, Thank you for your very kind ratings. Regarding the linens, they are washed everyday along with the blanket cover once the guest checks out from the room or the bed. We also have the clean and ironed sheets from the commercial laundry. Hope the misguided review doesn't affect the forthcoming guests to our lodge. Regards Manager

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2019
Response from manager on 17 Dec 2019
Thank you dear guest for your kind rating and reviews. Hope to see you again. Regards Manager

6/10 Okay

Man Ling

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Budget choice
Although there are so many ppl while I ck in, everybody is considerate of the cleanliness, the kitchen, lounge, bathroom are very clean. But ppl just not considerate about night time noise. Ppl keep walking around and making nosie after 12am, cause almost cannot sleep whole night. Location is great, walk to sky tower just 30mins, nearby lots of bar restaurant, hv unlimted free wifi and free parking which is great
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Response from manager on 17 Dec 2019
Thank you dear guest for staying with us. Hope to see you again. Regards Manager

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Toilets are hit and miss(some hit and some miss). No bedding change or bin empty in 7days. Price good, location good so would stay again if we had too, but if budget permitted would find a hotel.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
This property is in a great location. However it is getting a little bit tired and dated. The linen wasnt 100% clean with some stains on the bed spread. Other than that is was perfectly comfortable
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019
Response from Sona on 6 Aug 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019
Response from Sona on 25 June 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Would've been perfect if the beds and pillows were in better condition.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019
Response from Sona on 3 June 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments . We will inform to higher management and take the action on it.hope we can welcome you back again.

6/10 Okay

belle, new zealand

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
friendly ppl and staff . accommodating close to amenities transport at door and central
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Response from Sona on 30 May 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments . We are glad you liked our staff and location.Hope we can welcome you back again.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Very basic accommodation, in need of some renovation and I felt that it could be cleaner. We booked here because of free parking but there were not many spaces and it's in 2 rows, so if someone parks behind your car, you can't get out. Thankfully didn't happen to us and we were only staying for one night. Location was good though, 30 mins walk to downtown.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019
Response from Sona on 28 May 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments . We will inform to higher management and take the action on it.hope we can welcome you back again.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very noisy, impossible to sleep, other guests party until 2am
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments . We will inform to higher management and take the action on it.hope we can welcome you back again.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
You get what you pay. The room was ok. "Fresh" towel was covered with lots of black long hairs. Bathroom could have been cleaner. Parking - First come, First serve. When we returned to Auckland two weeks later we preferred another accomodation.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments . We will inform to higher management and take the action on it.Hope we can welcome you back again.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Awesome Hostel
Great hostel! The location is perfect, and the private rooms are pretty good. Staff is great and it’s wonderful to have free WiFi and free parking. The kitchen is good, sometimes the cookingware can be a bit dirty, but the kitchen is cleaned daily. Bathrooms and showers are fine. It can be noisy given the location. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019
Response from Sona on 5 May 2019
Thank you for taking the time to share your comments and we're delighted you liked the rooms . We will like to inform you that the property is getting renovated .Hope we can welcome you back again.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice backpacker but could be a little bit mor clean
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2018
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable feedback . We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again. Kind Regards

2/10 Terrible

R, New Zealand

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed here, never stayed somewhere so unclean and disorganised. Would not recommend.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2018
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable feedback. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again. Kind Regards.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable marking.

4/10 Poor

Judith

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
It was very convenient as we attended a function across the road. Very basic and in need of a deep clean. No towels and had to be requested. Bed comfortable , didn’t notice going to bed but in the morning pulled back the covers to find the Queen bed had a single sheet across the top, it reached only halfway and our bottom halves had been lying directly on top of an uncovered mattress. Felt a bit sick thinking about how many other people had also been lying on it. , Dont be fooled by the description of Hotel, “ double ensuite “. It is virtually a backpackers so we had to contend with young people , loud talking and laughing and running up and down wooden stairs. The stairs were directly over our bedroom. It was reasonably priced, had parking and served our purpose for the evening. Probably wouldn’t choose to stay there again.
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable feedback. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again.

6/10 Okay

Andrea, Auckland

Disliked: Room comfort
Close to City
Perfect location and great price for a stop gap. Bit disappointing there were no parks available and the bed was so uncomfortable you could feel the springs (a bit squeaky too). All in all good for what I needed.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2018
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you Hemadi for your valuable feedback we're delighted you liked our location. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again. Kind Regards.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Friendly and helpful staff. Clean room and comfortable bed with plenty of blankets., The ajacent shower room could have done with a clean. We were only provided one towel in a bedroom that sleeps two people. The car parking situation is not ideal, with cars having to be parked in such a way that blocks vehicles in. Luckily I got a street carpark right out front. This place needs a good makeover and up dating. It looks like a shabby student flat. But the bedroom was clean and comfortable enough. I'd stay here again if need be for an over night stay or two. I didn't use or even peep into the kitchen or lounge room. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in walking distance.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2018
Response from Sona Manager on 5 May 2019
Thank you Hemadi for your valuable feedback we're delighted you liked our rooms and the service. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Response from Sona Manager on 6 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable feedback. Regards

4/10 Poor

Amber, Flagstaff, AZ

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness
Nice Location and Staff, Had Bedbugs
My husband and I rented a private double room upstairs. The room itself is nice with big windows facing downtown in the distance and an in-room sink. However, after being in the room for about an hour, I noticed a small insect crawling on my pillow and immediately pulled up the sheets and the mattress and Google to double check that what we'd found was in fact a bed bug. It was. And there were further signs on the wooden bed frame in the form of small black spots (bed bug feces) and in the crack between two pieces of wood on the bed frame? Full grown bed bugs/bed bug shells and larvae. Zoom into the crack on the photo I attached for evidence. We immediately packed up our things and informed the very nice lady at the desk that we were leaving due to an infestation of bed bugs. She was very nice and put us up in their sister hostel about a mile away (Freemans Backpackers). We found the second room to be very clean and satisfactory and we stayed for two nights.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017
Response from Sona Manager on 6 May 2019
hank you for your valuable feedback we're delighted you liked our location and the service. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again.

8/10 Good

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great position. Clean , basic.
Just had one night here. Ponsonby road good for places to drink and eat. Very close to the city centre. Reception has opening hours check them as not sure what happens if you arrive outside. Car park is 8 (10?) spaces double parked in front of the hostel
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Response from Sona on 6 May 2019
Thank you Linda for your valuable feedback we're delighted you liked our location. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again.

8/10 Good

Hopu

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2017
Response from Sona Manager on 6 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable marking.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was a bed.
Not what I thought, not what I wanted, not what I'm used to. It was a bed for the night. OK for that.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017
Response from Sona Manager on 6 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable feedback . We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again.

8/10 Good

lb444, Auckland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location and great staff.
Stayed for a few nights when we arrived on our working holiday visa in Acukland. Clean hostel in an amazing location with really friendly staff. Good value for money. I would recommend again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017
Response from Sona on 6 May 2019
Thank you Hemadi for your valuable feedback we're delighted you liked our location and the service.hope we can welcome you back again.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice place close to bars and restaurants
Just stayed one night. Room was huge and comfortable. Staff were excellent and very helpful. I would not hesitate to recommend for a stay either short or long term.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017
Response from Sona on 6 May 2019
Thank you for your valuable feedback we're delighted you liked service. We will inform this to higher management and take the action on it, hope we can welcome you back again.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Terrible
Only 1 pague 2 days but the first day was very bad smell No good
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

Lauren

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hovel
Room filthy, extremely old broken furniture, worn out carpet, asked for room at rear for quieter stay, git front room with a bus stop and a car park and busy road... It is the ONLY twin room they have, so lied to me. Shared facilities, again disgusting, may be ok for youths backpacking but my children would never stay there. So dirty and grimy
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2017

6/10 Okay

Petrina

Liked: Staff & service
Cheap and convenient.
It was very old but conveniently located.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2017

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cluttered and dirty
5 bunks in a room.... no storage for baggage.... noisy.

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Place
As far as hostels go, this is a great place. Friendly staff and friendly people in common areas. Tons of food options right on Ponsonby.

10/10 Excellent

Ailsa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very pleasant hostel, great price, friendly staff and other hostel stayers were also extremly friendly and relaxed!

6/10 Okay

James, nz

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Hostel was adequate for the price.
We wanted to be in the area and wanted somewhere cheap to stay. This was well covered for that. Nothing flash nothing bad.

2/10 Terrible

Missy

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wouldn't stay here again!!
We booked as the website said a room that had 2 double beds and a ensuit- when getting there we were only given one bed so when I told the lady she said no its only meant to be one double bed! then why on the website have a picture with 2 double beds and clearly written in the description of the room that it had 2 beds!!!

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort
Close to K-Rd
Personally it was a bad stay due to the attitude of the managers.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Cheap and central to where we wanted to be.
Internet wasn't working first night, but fixed via a firmware update the next day so possibly not there fault. I've had better experiences for the price range, but at the same time, you really get what you pay for.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

6/10 Okay

Stacey

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
No-frills but uncomfortable
Not the best hostel we've stayed at. It was as clean as it could be but very, VERY old and rundown. We had unknowingly booked the family room (hotels.com were not clear), which is right next to the kitchen and patio. It was loud The bed was extremely uncomfortable, someone quite large slept in it before me so there was a massive lumpy dent that gave me backspasms for 2 days. If you want a no-frills place in a decent location, then it's great, but if you're looking for comfort, you won't find it here.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

backpacker hotel, close to CBD
Shared washroom, very noisy party guests below my window in the common courtyard. Good price, clean enough, close enough to downtown. Reception not there always, not a problem once you have your key, but could be waiting before you get keyed, depending on when your flight arrives.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
hostel
clean room, limited parking, nice street to walk on in the evening

6/10 Okay

James, Cambridge, UK

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great little place outside just outside of the CBD
First things first; This is a Hostel. People who give poor reviews of Hostels based on cleanliness or noise levels... I don't understand what you are expecting. Uenuku Lodge is in a great location for a backpacker and the free internet is a godsend. Yes the cleanliness levels are not perfect but they're good enough. Don't worry about it seemingly being far from the City Centre, there's a bus stop literally right outside the hostel which will put you on the inner link bus service and you can get off at the top of queen street. I personally am working full time and crashing each night in this hostel is absolutely fine. People tend to keep the noise to the outside smoking area at the back or the TV lounge so you can generally sleep right through it.The rooms are pretty well sized and each of the dorms have their own bathroom connected to them. All in all, I'd definitely recommend Uenuku Lodge for a cheaper alternative to the more central hostels but just remember You get what you pay for! ;)

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Not for longer stays
It was all right if you want to save some money, is £15 minutes from city centre

2/10 Terrible

michelle

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Noisy terrible place
People talked and played loud music in the communal area overnight every night, where some rooms could here that. U can't stop the even by request... U cannot sleep if u stay here. Simply no management and ignore other's feeling.. Highly not commend