229 Queen Street (Corner Darby & Queen Streets), Auckland Tel (09) 358 4877 Websitewww.stayatbase.com
BUG Review
ACB, one of the best-known hostels in Auckland, became part of the expanding Base empire a couple of years back. It’s a 500+ bed self-contained travel universe with all the amenities, including a travel desk, a big bank of internet PCs, an employment office, and more. Rooms are clean and feature quality bedding, lockers for every bed, refrigerators and air-conditioning. The sixth floor Balcony Bar is only open in the summer, but is a congenial place to congregate over free sausage sizzles. The ground level Globe Bar is one of Auckland’s busier and buzzier night spots. ACB shares the advantages of belonging to a big and well-funded organisation like Base – clean, well-run facilities with many perks. On the flip side there can be a kind of impersonal backpacker-factory feeling.
Price Dorm bed $26-28 Single room $70 Double/twin room $90 Family room $130 Prices are in New Zealand dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit Cards MasterCard,Visa 2 night minimum stay for credit card payment
Pros:
nothing
Cons:
dirty, horrible staff, rooms not ready
suzer
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This was the worst hostel we ever stayed in. Checked in at 8pm and room wasn't ready as the other 2 people in the room had their belongings strewn all over the bed, garbage on the floor (in additional to the garbage all over the hallway), no pillows as they had them all, no blankets, etc. Took an our to get the hostel staff (who were rude and unhelpful) to get housekeeping up and this after an international flight. Hope IEP stops using this hostel...tell them too if you have come over for a work holiday visa with them!
Pros:
The travel desk, 24 hours reception, 24 hour internet
Cons:
low showers, so not too good for the tall people!
cheekycheese
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We had a week here. On arrival our room looked clean so we left our bags and had a walk about. At 2am when getting into bed, the sheets were still dirty (I HATE this!) but reception sent some poor guy up to change the sheets and off to sleep we fell. The next morning I had been bitten all over, ALL OVER! The reception staff were excellent and gave us a free up-grade to an en-suit with sky TV for the week. RESULT!! So we enjoyed our stay (obviously!). But the staff were good, gave us free washing powder and so on so the problem was sorted and we were happy with the result. The travel desk here is very good, we booked all our tours and got free photos and stuff, so well worth it.
very big, quite well run & not much atomsphere as a result. you won't stay in aukland for long as it's not renound for its scenery etc. but to get off the plane from a long haul journey its easy, safe & traveller fiendly.its is however alittle expensive for a private room & the internet is restrictive for downloads etc & not cheap. the bar is quite expensive aswell. overall i give this place 7/10 as it does nothing wrong but it does nothing really well or cheaply.
Pros:
arranging your whole trip
Cons:
hard to meet people
clairebear
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I arranged my whole trip here with a very helpful rep who got me all sorts of free stuff. My room was clean, but was in the middle of the building, so it had no windows. But that meant I could sleep in the middle of the day, and lose all track of time. The kitchen was big and had all necessary stuff. Two TV rooms always playing movies. Storage lockers under every bed. Good place to start out in a new country.
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(Review ID: 11747)
Stayed at ACB for 5 weeks, September 15, 2005
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Pros:
n/a
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Anonymous
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I stayed at the ACB for 5 weeks when i first arrived in Auckland. The location is superb which is why i stayed so long.Its just a party hostel. Its got no atmosphere, bathrooms are dirty, lounge has ripped sofas, tv lounge is too small for the amount of people staying there. The kitchen is small and lacks enough enough cutlery.The hostel price goes up when its a special event - like the lions tour - the price was almost doubled even for long term residents. your just treated as a number in this place.the pool table was out of order the whole time i stayed there. The dorms are crowded - too many beds crammed into a small place. You can hear the globe bar music thumping through the floor.If you want a great hostel stay in the smaller places - much more friendly staff and cleaner and more space.
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(Review ID: 11748)
Impressed, August 28, 2005
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Pros:
n/a
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n/a
Anonymous
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Good: This hostel had a great location, it was in the heart of Auckland city, and only 10 mins from K Road which has awesome shopping! Up Queen St was a really good asian foodcourt, as well as a movie theatre, 24 hour StarMart, etc etc. We were in a double room - very spacious, with huge windows, air conditioning and a fridge. The showers and toilets were extremely clean, and staff very friendly and helpful. On arrival we received free drinks cards at the VERY busy GlobeBar! We also had a car, and we managed to buy $20 24 hour parking tickets from reception (that's really cheap for Auckland inner city.)Bad: There wasn't really anything bad, a little bit more storage could be good in the rooms, but asides from that there wasn't really anything wrong!Conclusion: A really great stay with a perfect location and clean amenities. Thanks ACB!
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(Review ID: 11749)
In decline, August 21, 2005
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n/a
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Anonymous
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Blood stained dirty bedding, bogies on the ensuite tiling and shower curtain. Half kitchen hobs broken and malfunctioning grill. Lounge furniture ripped. Overpriced and impersonal. Needs hands on management and some refurbishment. To be avoided.
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(Review ID: 11750)
it does get better than this!, April 2, 2005
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Anonymous
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Well organized but 1 night is enough. It was institutional backpacking almost at its worst. Dont worry if this is your first experience of a backpacker as it can only get better for the rest of your journey. Go for the smaller hostels where you are treated like an individual rather than a number
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(Review ID: 11751)
Helpfull but cell like!!, February 13, 2005
Reviewer:
sue vanner
Pros:
n/a
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n/a
Imported Review
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weve stayed in acb twice. the first time was as we arrived in the city and we stayed in a 4bed dorm which was clean and had a fridge. we felt it was tidy and the bag lockers under the beds were usefull. it did feel a bit like a cell as no window and only artificial light but this in a way was helpfull to us as all we wanted to do was sleep after the 12hour flight and as soon as the light was out the room was pitch black, great for a sleep any time of day. we found the facilities very good and staff helpfull, but it did lack somthing. we decided that it was a great hostel to start your trip for two nights to get your bearings in the city, and also to use there facilities of the travel zone (very helpfull people) etc but then it was best to move on to the smaller hostels around the city as it was hard to meet people here. the second time we stayed there was in a double room, i didnt like this room as it was just a bed in a room about a foot bigger either side of the bed and again no window!! for a double and the price ive seen better rooms in alot of hostels. but overall we liked the place. (but i do agree about the showers there quiet annoying keep turning off when your washing)
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(Review ID: 11752)
Clean, great location but very overrated, January 21, 2004
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Anonymous
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The ACB is a huge hostel with great facilities including internet, travel centre and tv rooms. The rooms themselves are very clean and basic but the entire hostel is very clinical with little character. While the showers are nice and clean, they are a nightmare to try and actuallly shower in. You press the button on and water comes out for around 10 seconds and then you have to keep pressing it back on over and over again. The kitchen was also a nightmare. As a backpacker, you try and save money by cooking your own meals but this kitchen has only 3 hotplates that work and hardly any bowls, pots, spoons, etc. For a hostel that can hold up to 600 people it can be a long wait for your meal. Overall, the hostel was fine with the best location but if you are staying in auckland for awhile, i would recommend trying somewhere else.
