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Around The World Backpackers Reviews

314 Barbadoes Street, Christchurch, New Zealand

Reviews & Ratings Explained

84%Overall Rating

From 109 ratings
  • 83%Character
  • 85%Security
  • 78%Location
  • 90%Staff
  • 84%Atmosphere
  • 86%Cleanliness

The following reviews were submitted by customers who booked in the last 6 months.

The reviews and ratings in the rating box are based on all-time feedback and are the opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up to the minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is. Read our review guidelines »

We now classify our reviewers based on how well travelled they are.

  • Novice Nomad: 1-10 Reviews Added
  • Avid Traveller: 10-20 Reviews Added
  • Globetrotter : 20+ Reviews Added
  • Show Translated Reviews In A Specific Language
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90%

This was my second stay there and as always I was very satisfied.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 03 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Canada
  • Female, 41+
  • (17 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thanks again Sylvie. Your rating and review of our hostel is appreciated. All the best with your travels...Geri & Lee

77%

narrow dorm rooms, poor bunk beds

  • Novice Nomad
  • 27 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Switzerland
  • Male, 41+
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hello Uwe Thank you for your review. I am sorry that you found our dorm rooms "narrow" and our bunk beds "poor". You did not explain why the beds were "poor". They all have comfortable mattresses and don't creak as a lot of bunk beds do. Our dorm rooms are not large but they are a good size for 4 people to sleep in. Thank you for giving our staff a great rating - we all proud to provide top customer service to all our guests. Happy travels...Geri.

77%

Staff were very helpful, location is very close to the city. Kitchen could stand to be cleaned a little more frequently, perhaps just the other guests at the time.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 22 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Australia
  • Male, 18-24
  • (11 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hello Solon Thank you for reviewing our hostel. We always appreciate people taking the time to do so. I am pleased to hear that you had a lovely stay. Regarding the kitchen, we try and keep the kitchen as tidy as possible throughout the day and evening. We do have signs in the hostel regarding people tidying up after themselves but, alas, not everyone does so. We have introduced security cameras in the kitchen and this is helping us is making sure that everyone does their bit to keep the kitchen tidy for everyone. I hope you had a pleasant stay in NZ! All the best Geri

60%

Just a very average Hostel. Not the best I stayed in whilst touring NZ ! Acceptable for 1 night though.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 21 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Male, 31-40
  • (4 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hi Bryce I am sorry that you found our hostel "Average" - we certainly don't think we are - but thank you for taking the time rate and review our hostel. I do hope you take another chance on us and stay with us again should you return to Christchurch. All the very best, Geri.

87%

Very welcoming staff! Close to the city centre and to the Intercity bus station. Good clean facilities. Security measures are in place but depends on fellow travellers to enforce. Very clean except when mess left in kitchen by other travellers. I would stay there again and am going back at the beginning of March.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 20 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Canada
  • Female, 41+
  • (17 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hello Sylvie We are very pleased that you enjoyed your stay in our hostel. Yes, the kitchen! It is the bane of our lives. Without trying to police everyone, we are hoping that people take notice of the signage in the kitchen and helping out with keeping the kitchen tidy for everyone. Unfortunately, there are some people who don't really care - which is a shame as they only add to the discomfort of others. We look forward to seeing you again soon. All the best Geri & Lee

53%

The place looked decent to start with but what really turned me off was that when i went to bed i noticed the sheets had stains... I was hoping to get a quick sleep and head out early in the morning so i was disappointed to see that i had to cover the pillow case and remove the sheets prior to getting into bed.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 20 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Australia
  • Male, 18-24
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hello Antonios Thank you for taking the time to write a review of our hostel. Let me apologise for the stain that was present on your sheets. This should never have happened. The cleaner on the day must have missed seeing this spot. All the sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers are freshly laundered for every new guest that arrives. We do not re-use duvet covers for each guest - that has never happened in our hostel. We take pride in providing a clean environment for all our guests and this is evident in the good ratings we receive for cleanliness. Please be assured that your bed linen was very clean and that the stain you said you saw was not due to someone else that had slept in those sheets. If only you had come to Reception to tell us about your issues, then something could have been done about it as soon as possible. Instead we hear about this situation through your review. Can I please suggest to you that should you experience a similar thing again in another hostel or hotel, that you go and speak to the staff immediately if anything is not to your satisfaction. Sometimes situations like these arise and all accommodation providers I am sure would rather they had the opportunity to set things right straightaway. I would like to offer you a free night in our hostel should you return to Christchurch. I wish all the best in your travels and in life! Best wishes, Geri.

93%

Very nice hostel close to the major railway station but in a quite area of bangkok. Free WiFi, clean rooms and toilets, nice staff, cool building! Would stay again! Thanks

  • Globetrotter
  • 17 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Male, 41+
  • (125 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thanks so much Kenneth...but I think you've got us mixed up! I hope you did enjoy your stay with us here at ATW Backpackers. All the very best with your travels...Geri.

97%

Staff at reception has been very friendly and helpful.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 15 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Taiwan
  • Mixed Group, 31-40
  • (1 review)


100%

Very nice hostel, manger was very friendly, would recommend this hostel.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 15 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Couple, 18-24
  • (6 reviews)


67%

The staff members were friendly.The kitchen was lower quality but adequate. I enjoyed the rooms.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 14 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Male, 25-30
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hello Reece Thank you for reviewing our hostel. We appreciate you taking the time to do so. It would be great if you have the time to email us any suggestions that you may have to make our kitchen of better quality! We believe it offers everything a traveller needs...stove tops, oven, Free tea, coffee, sugar, spices, oils etc. Plenty of cutlery, pots, pans, utensils, plates, cups, glasses. We provide a large fridge to store your food as well as food bins. We have a lovely communal dining table and seating. We hope that you stay with us again should you return to Christchurch. All the best, Geri & Lee

27%

I don't normally go out of my way for reviews, but in this case I feel the need. Do not stay here. Any place that threatens through signs to kick you out at the drop of a hat is a joke. Been traveling for over a decade and never felt more unwelcome or wanted to get out of a hostel more than here. Not a nice memory at all!!


77%

It's clean and warm. The staffs are very kind, too. It's benefit to take free shuttle to train station when you need to take the train to Arthur's Pass.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 10 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Taiwan
  • Female, 41+
  • (16 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hello Yenhui So glad you had a lovely time in our hostel and hope you enjoyed your trip to Arthur's Pass. All the very best from us all at ATW Backpackers. Geri

77%

Owners are helpful and honest.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 31 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Sweden
  • Male, 41+
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hi Joakim Thank you for reviewing our hostel. I am pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us. Hopefully we can accommodate you again should you return to Christchurch. Happy travels. Geri

100%

Good and clean hostel, friendly staff

  • Globetrotter
  • 27 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Switzerland
  • Male, 25-30
  • (22 reviews)


77%

This was a pleasant hostel just outside the CBD (walking distance). Nice and clean, free tea and coffee in the kitchen, and a nice patio to spend the warm evenings. No free wifi though, and only 20mb upon arriving for your whole trip. Plus no lockers in the rooms. But the woman at the front desk was very pleasant, super helpful and friendly. I'd stay here again!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 25 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Female, 18-24
  • (5 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hi Rebecca Thank you so much for taking the time to review ATW Backpackers and that your stay with us was a pleasant one. Regarding WIFI, we give 20MB when you check in . However, we do have 2 x free computers with Internet that are available 24/7. WIFI is quite expensive this part of the world and providing the free computers hopefully helps our guests catch up online with friends and family as well as booking ongoing travel and accommodation. Regarding lockers: While we do not have any lockers in rooms, we do have a small safe that we have available to all guests if they need to store small items. Thanks again Rebecca, and I hope your stay in NZ was amazing! Cheers Geri

90%

Friendly staff and enjoyed free pizza night!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 23 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Female, 25-30
  • (4 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Hi Daisy So glad you had a lovely stay with us and appreciate you taking the time to rate us and write a review. It is very much appreciated. All the best with the rest of your travels. Geri

67%

Pretty standard backpackers, nothing out of this world. Nice small yard and hostel out back.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 18 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Female, 18-24
  • (5 reviews)


97%

The Around the World Backpackers is a fantastic backpacker in Christchurch. It is super clean, offers a good kitchen with free coffee and tea. It's quite small so everything feels very familiar and the owners/managers are super friendly and helpful. It's an easy 15 min walk from the center. So go for it!!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 15 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Switzerland
  • Couple, 31-40
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you Kevin. What a lovely review of our hostel and it is very much appreciated. So glad you had a lovely stay. Hopefully we can accommodate you again if you are ever in our neck of the woods again! All the very best from Geri & Lee.

30%

suburb of citiy and the host was not good

  • Novice Nomad
  • 15 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • South Korea
  • Male, 18-24
  • (1 review)


100%

Loved this hostel. It had a great feel and the owners were lovely and friendly and helpful. Recommend you stay here!

  • Globetrotter
  • 13 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Couple, 31-40
  • (30 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you Sara - what a lovely review of our hostel. We always appreciate it when our guests have taken the time to do so. Hopefully your travels through NZ were great and that you will return to our beautiful country again. All the best from Christchurch and ATW Backpackers...Geri.

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