hiya,

I am considering a trip to New Zealand for about 3 weeks; leaving next week. I use a sleep apnea CPAP to help with my breathing while I sleep so I would like to avoid hostels and have a private room instead.

I am trying to budget for hotels and B&B's and get a sense of availability. Would I be safe in busing from town to town on my journey and getting a hotel or B&B in the $50 range in most places?

thx,
Doug

Ask youself if you could get a hotel room or a B&B room for $50 per night in your country and that should give you an answer.

Many hostels have private rooms within your price range. Check www.backpack.co.nz for listings.

Lee Ann

Sorry, I hit send too soon! You might also want to look at http://www.qualmark.co.nz/index.jsp for a list of hotels and B&Bs around New Zealand. I wouldn't think you should have any difficulty finding lodging this time of year.

Lee Ann

Thanks for the tips!

As often happens, I don't know where LizzyF is coming from.

If you do your research you will find hostels with single rooms. But at your budget you could book a double or twin and still get in under $50 (aud never mind usd).

If you aren't into booking in advance - sort of pins you down, doesn't it? - good on ya - then it rather depends on where you are going to go.

You can get some great deals at pubs. Bathroom may be down the hall, but it'll be perfectly adequate - and you may be the only person there.

How will you be travelling?

Public Bus or car?

You will have better luck with a hostel than a B&B in that price range. As Elendil mentioned, hostels have private rooms, even the YHAs. Also use the bbh.co.nz website. They have a rating system, stay above the mid 80's and you will be fine. Also use the hostelz.com website for independent reviews and photos. The standard of cleanliness in NZ is high, even for modest accomodations. The only places I would avoid are some of the holiday camps and the "hotels" which are associated with bars.

I was about to give you the same answer before even reading these responses. Many hostels have single rooms.

THe first site Elendil gave you is a good one. The hostels are smaller and more B&B feel to them, over the big College dorm type of YHA .
Either way, you should be ok. We stayed in both types...big and small. I preferred the smaller ones.