Trip
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A bed in a dormitory at Adventure Queenstown Hostel is available for $ 23. Photo / Supplied
The idea of ââQueenstown being an expensive destination may have come out of the window with hostel accommodation costs falling by 50% for this time of year.
NZ Hostel Association president Brent Duncan told Chris Lynch on Newstalk ZB while the city has been expensive in the past, prices are quite affordable at the moment.
Rooms are available for as low as $ 17 at Nomads Queenstown and $ 23 at Adventure Queenstown Inn, Duncan said they typically rest at $ 36 for this time of year.
Similar rates are touted by other hostels in town.
“The occupancy we’re grappling with here is really the source of a lot of competition and low rates.”
Duncan said they have worked hard to change the perception of hostels.
âWe’re so far removed from that stereotype and that’s what we’re trying to change. Traditionally, people see hostels as something that they would use while traveling a long time and trying to save money, but there are many benefits to using the hostel system. while traveling even for a short time. “
He said that over the past 20 years they have seen incredible progress in the quality of hostels.
“We have around 300 small independent youth hostels, the vast majority of which have less than 70 beds. The quality is really there.”
He said that since the ban on overseas travel due to Covid-19, many middle-aged couples are arriving and staying in private rooms.
“It opened their eyes, I think.”
Duncan said that the standard of hostels in New Zealand is so high that in the past 14 years we have won the Best Hostel in Oceania 12 times.