9 Cron Street, Franz Josef Tel (03) 752 0188 or 0800 666 876
BUG review
Montrose is a nice purpose-built hostel with a good range of facilities. The dorms are tidy and spacious with made-up beds and the brand new bathrooms are squeaky clean. Amenities include two huge lounges with sofas and large screen TVs with plenty of DVDs. They also have a sauna, a barbecue and internet access. There is a young independent traveller vibe here and reception staff are friendly.
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Price Dorm bed $22-24 ($19-21 BBH) Double/twin room $60-130 ($54-124 BBH) Prices are in New Zealand dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Review from a HostelBookers customer 15 January 2010
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Jodie Stockings
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 14136)
Amazing location, right up in the mountains
6 of
7 people found this review helpful
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Jennifer Sims
Review from a HostelBookers customer 10 January 2010
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Jennifer Sims
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 14384)
This hostel is ok, its comfortable and the communal areas are nice. The staff are ok however we were given the fire exit room which had no lock on the door and no place to store valuables, the safe was offered however access to this is limited and we wouldnt have been able to get our stuff before getting the bus away.
Pros:
Clean and good facilities.
Cons:
Not much atmosphere, particularly in the satellite buidling.
ukulelemaybe
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 1255)
There are two buildings. Most of the facilties are in the main buidling, but the satellite building seems to be quieter and has its own very large kitchen and lounge that hardly anyone uses. Everything's pretty clean and in good condition but the reception staff are not the most helpful.
Pros:
Friendly,very clean,good kitchen,free DVD/video rentals
Cons:
It rains - but then it is the Wet West Coast
eucao
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 264)
Really nice place. Stayed for much longer than we'd planned because it was so nice. We stayed in the new block which was lovely - really clean. Other block is the original one and the newer one is only a couple of years old from what i can work out. Would ask for new block as the other kitchen is more crowded. Great TV lounge and the free video and DVDs are great for a rainy day (fairly common!).
Pros:
Freindly staff
Cons:
Tiny tiny room and not enough showers
louised
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 177)
Our twin room was a tiny room with a bunk bed. It had no plugs to charge our cameras and no real room to move about. It was very clean though.They had 2 showers on our floor and with the amount of people using them they got dirty quickly. Try and be the 1st in! 2 kitchen areas to use and loads of eating space. The pool table and TV area is really nice. The dorm rooms looked spacious.
3 of
10 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Badly run 13 May 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 12422)
Did the same as the previous reviewer and followed a magic driver's recommendations - big mistake. The hostel layout is really nice, big spacious rooms, 2 kitchenettes and great lounge area. Unfortunately it's completely let down by the lack of facilities, compared to the other hostels in the area, and to their own description in ads I'd seen. The "video library" consisted of one video in the lounge, and free vouchers for the (tiny and old) selection in the local garage, and if you're in FJ for a few days and trying to save money, there isn't much else to do in the evening. The spa was empty (as experienced by another traveller very early this year), internet was the slowest i've come across in NZ, and $10 an hour!! What I found worst was the maintenance and hygiene. Only two toilets upstairs, one ran out of toilet roll on Sat, which still hadn't replaced on Tuesday morning. i.e, the toilets weren't checked or cleaned for 3 days. The heating was off from about 9pm until late afternoon while i was there - it was freezing cold. My quilt smelled dirty, definitely hadn't been washed for a long time. I'd stay in Chateau Franz if i was in FJ again.
6 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
London, UK
Badly managed 1 April 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 12423)
Made the mistake of following Magic driver to Montrose. The sheets were dirty and 7 beds were crammed into a tiny dorm. Paled in comparison with Chateau Franz, which was far friendlier. Couldnt even supply us with umbrellas, which should be a must in FJ i.e. rains approximately 5m per annum - actually went across the road and borrowed a brolley from the Chateau - the manager Oscar was only too accommodating. Get your act together Montrose...!?
9 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Jeremy
average 13 January 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Jeremy
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 12424)
This place really has insufficient bathrooms. On my floor for at least 20 people, there was 1 toilet, 1 toilet/shower and 1 shower room. It does have a nice barbeque area in front, but there was no water in the spa. I didn't find the bunks to be that comfortable, and there were no ladders to get to the top ones. It has a large TV lounge, which can be a pro or con.
2 of
10 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Manchester uk
standard fare 8 January 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 12425)
Characterless clinical type of hostel. You know the kind - metal bed frames, no furniture in the room except the bed, horrible yellow walls. I suppose it is clean enough but there is no atmosphere at all. Backpacker bus hostel so you get the crowds. Its got the features that are standard ie tv, good size kitchen and internet access and extras like a spa (which no-one was using) and a little shop. its nothing special. I was a bit disappointed really for the money i paid (which is more than my guide book quoted).
8 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Carol
Scotland
Good Hostel but with really bad bathrooms!! 12 December 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Carol
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 12426)
First impressions of this hostel were not good when greeted by guy at the front desk who looked like he really didn't want to be there and wasn't friendly at all. Murmured to us where to find our room and that was that. Also there was only 1 shower (under the same door and lock as 1 of the 2 toilets) so you will be in for a long wait if it is busy! Comfortable room though and really good mix of travellers staying there, the huge TV brings people together as everyone gathers to watch it! Overall good hostel but could do better.
