Nikau Apartments Nelson — Hotel in Nelson

Booked through wotif.com, and stayed for 2 nights in March 2008.||||Arrived to find the reception locked up, and a sign telling me to phone a number for assistance. Ten minutes later, someone arrived and checked me in.||||Apartment was small, but modernly decorated with fairly new furnishings - bed, wardrobe, desk, TV, and a well equipped kitchenette with a full oven, hob, microwave, sink, fridge, freezer and a good range of cooking and eating equipment. Bathroom was clean and fine. My initial thoughts were "this is pretty nice, and well equipped, although it feels like student accommodation from University".||||Well, it soon became pretty obvious why that was... because these apartments ARE student accommodation. They're located on the side of the NMIT campus, and every other apartment in this complex that I could see out of my window was occupied by students. And while I have no problem with band posters, wacky photos of friends, and retro-effect lava lamps, students are generally quite noisy. And these ones fitted in nicely with the stereotype.||||So, from 4pm through until about 7pm every day, we had the dull 'thud thud thud' of a hundred stereos kicking out various indie basslines while the students worked away on their essays and assignments. This was then replaced from about 7pm til about 9pm-ish with the loud televisions and chattering conversation of a bunch of 18-year-olds cooking and eating together. And then from about 9pm onwards the 'banging dance tunes' kicked in, and the hilarious drunken laughter, and increasing volume conversation.||||Thankfully this then went quiet around 10.30-ish, the silence only punctuated at half 11, half 12, and 2-ish by three separate groups of drunken students excitedly laughing and chatting away loudly as they returned from the pub, and once again putting on their stereos and laughing loudly for about 20 minutes, no doubt until someone told them to shut up and keep the noise down.||||Helpfully, the owners of the apartments did leave an information sheet in the room with a telephone number of a warden you could phone in case of excessive noise. Very thoughtful of them. Shame that they're less up front when you're booking through websites like wotif and lastminute that you'll be renting a student apartment for the night, rather than a professional serviced apartment.||||Oh, and the rooms have no curtains, just blinds... which unfortunately don't keep the light out too well in the morning, especially as some of the slats were bent and damaged on mine.||||Overall - not a pleasant experience.||||If you're a young traveller in the 18 to 23 age bracket who's planning on a big boozy night out in the clubbing metropolis that is Nelson, then these apartments may suit you down to the ground.||||However, if you've grown out of your student days and are wanting 'grown up' accommodation without constant ambient adolescent noise, or interrupted sleep in the middle of the night, then steer clear of the Orange apartments.||||That said, during NMIT's vacations, assuming the students aren't around, these would probably be very good value, well...

I have to say I was a little nervous after reading reviews, but living here has actually worked out very well for our American family at four. I think it’s really been whipped into shape over the last year or 2. It’s quiet and clean. Location can’t be beat; we are within easy walking distance of the Mai Tai river, center of town, Queen’s Gardens, and the Centre of NZ. Mike and Carol in the office have been accommodating and helpful when needed. Our fridge started having issues and it was quickly replaced after letting them know. My daughter swears that she would not have gone on the school camping trip had it not been for her peptalk from Carol! I can see how college students might get frustrated here if they thought they were going to live it up and get a little crazy after leaving home. The rules for tenants are held to with no parties, no smoking, occasional apartment cleanliness checks, etc. But personally, I really appreciate this. Although there are plenty of college students here, you’d never know it! Know that it’s nothing fancy. Some of the furniture has seen better days but all of it is in working order and functional.

All in all, I’d...

I have to say I was a little nervous after reading reviews, but living here has actually worked out very well for our American family at four. It’s quiet and clean. Location can’t be beat; we are within easy walking distance of the Mai Tai river, center of town, Queen’s Gardens, and the Centre of NZ. Mike and Carol in the office have been accommodating and helpful when needed. Our fridge started having issues and it was quickly replaced after letting them know. My daughter swears that she would not have gone on the school camping trip had it not been for her peptalk from Carol!|| I can see how college students might get frustrated here if they thought they were going to live it up and get a little crazy after leaving home. The rules for tenants are held to with no parties, no smoking, occasional apartment cleanliness checks, etc. But personally, I really appreciate this. Although there are plenty of college students here, you’d never know it!|| Know that it’s nothing fancy. Some of the furniture has seen better days but all of it is in working order and functional.|| ||All in all, I’d...