Kowhai Motel Rotorua

Very smelly and dreary accommodations. As we are traveling for months through New Zealand and this was our 27th accommodation we knew by now that these sort of motels booked by *********** did not live up to expectations so we tried to cancel already a few weeks in advance. Unfortunately it was a non refundable booking so we just hoped for the best. Upon arrival it was as bad as I thought. The worst thing was the smell outside from the drains right next to our window. The chairs were too big for the room and the floor underneath covered in dust.cobwebs with dust balls hanging from the ceiling, old wires everywhere. A manky old cookplate somewhere on top of a cupboard. The only nice thing was the pool. Even though everything around it was broken and old the pool,itself looked reasonably clean. As for the mineral baths, horrible! Looked like a health hazard to me. In future I’m Steering well clear of these sort of motels. Basic does not have to equal dirty and broken.

Oh dear, where do I start? The unit (16) had a strange smell on entry......not the Rotorua pong we all know....but stale and greasy. The kitchen was beyond usable and the fridge was mucky. Stored a few wrapped goods in the larder but wouldn't use glassware, crockery or cutlery. Bathroom also needed better cleaning: base of shower door and windowledges were dirty. There is nothing welcoming in this unit.....no pictures, no clocks, no colour anywhere other than the bedding. Which brings me to the bedroom......there's nowhere to store clothes: in each of the bedrooms there is a cupboard but it has no shelves or rail and could barely be opened due to the position of the bed. Under the bed was in need of a Hoover. The lounge is OK although furniture could do with replacing.....just old and past its best. The whole place is soul-less. Car park is difficult to negotiate. Now there are a few good points: Location - an easy walk into town: the unit has Sky TV: Beds were comfortable and towels good quality. I mentioned my concerns at checkout but received no apology / explanation, just a smile and told that this was the only room available..... Sorry Kowhai Motel.....I am very disappointed. You can do better.

We booked online for 2 nights here. The place was beyond disgusting. We could not stay despite having to forfeit a night's accommodation. Was filthy spa dd not work and strange musty smell. Do not book!

This place was an actual Rubbish Tip. We arrived late and had to book a room for $180 Aus. The room was old and tatty. There was a pervading smell within the unit and it was not the local hotsprings. It was a smell of rotten smell fighting the smell of a powerful disinfectant. There were cockroaches in the room and someone elses medicine under the fridge. I demanded and received a $100 discount