[Debs]

So far have had quotes from Abel tasman hotel, captial view motor lodge and victoria court motor lodge - cheapest being $125 (2 adults,2children)

Anyone have any other suggestions??? Car parking is a MUST. We want clean and nice - as have two very young children - but don't want to pay so much !!

Hubby has interviews in CBD so within 20 mins would be fine. Just until we get a rental sorted .......speaking of which, sorry to go off on another tangent - but anyone know how quick that will be to sort out?? The thought of us stuck in a hotel is not great! I understand fully furnished rentals are harder to come by ? Which is what we'll need as our container will still be in UK

Any help much appreciated!

[Tia Maria]

Debs,

I can't make a personal reccommendation but have you checked out Wot-if:

www.wotif.com

They have some great last minute deals. I tend to check them first, then send an email out to the hotel/motel, to see what they can offer and then book the cheapest.

Don't always be put off by stated prices the hotels will often do quite good last minute deals, especially if you are staying for a couple of weeks. Novotel have always offered us much better rates than advertised and they suit us as they have 2 double beds - 1 for us, 1 for the kids and normally include breakfast.

Send off a few emails, its not high season so you should be able to get a good deal. :nice1

Cheers

Tia

[SarahEDH]

Not sure if this will help, but . . . I found the Camellia Court in Lower Hutt to be very clean, it has playground equipment behind the motor lodge and it was priced around $100/night. You might ask about a multi-week discount. Easy drive to the CBD -- less than 15 minutes -- but I wouldn't rely on the train, which can run late. There is a guest laundry room ($2.00 per use) and it's close to a lot of shopping and services in Hutt City. There's a website for the Camellia Court but I couldn't attach the link, sorry --

[anna_c]

My parents and their youngest two children (I think 8 and 13 at the time) stayed at Victoria Court and were very happy with it. Looked clean and is very central, you've also got the freedom to do your own cooking. However, that was just for a holiday, so you may be wanting different things.

[ElizabethD]

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/1408.asp

We stayed at the Belmont cottages--the Gate house. it is smallish but is fully furnished and we loved it (kids aged 8 and 11.) It is in the Belmont hills which is a straight shot onto the motorway. i think we paid about $80 per night. the kids were free and there was a lot of space to play--a tree swing and a gtrampoline. try and negotiate


check out holiday houses which are fully furnished and are much cheaper this time of year. Google holiday houses nz

Good luck

[tigerlily]

Since it's off season you might be able to score some sort of bach or beach rental for cheap? Being able to cook for yourself might make it more affordable in the end.

[Big Puku]

I would go Bach this time of year, plenty of choice for $85 a night (e.g. www.rentabach.co.nz)

[Debs]

hadn't thought of holiday homes - great idea - do you think we might get a good deal if we book for 8 weeks (till ship comes in)

Any recommendations within 20 mins of CBD would be fantastic

cheers

[KD17]

Hi Debs

This link will take you to your earlier question where some of us posted various links which may be of help.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10353

Are you planning on hiring a car when you get here?

20 mins drive from the centre of Wellington may take you to Petone on SH2 or Newlands on SH1. The traffic is not that bad, we live near Plimmerton which take 30 minutes in normal traffic and 45 mins during the working week. The trains are pretty good here and reasonably priced and there is a station at most towns on SH1 and 2.

I agree that you should be able to find a decent Bach rental this time of year, which are furnished. We stayed in one in Korokoro, a lovely area and also about 20 mins from Wellington. A long term fully furnished rental is not that easy to come by.

It's getting a little on the chilly side now so you will need a woolie for the evenings.

Bet you can't wait now eh? when do you arrive? :raebanana

Debby & Keith

[Ana&Steve]

We just stayed at the Abel Tasman. Last year we stayed and it was great, but this year we had some issues. Here's what I wrote on a different thread:stayed at the Abel Tasman Hotel for 11 nights. All in all, I give the hotel about a 6 out of 10. It was very centrally located, and we had a nice corner room with lots of windows and a kitchenette. We negotiated a price of $89/night, a pretty ok price for the CBD. On the down side, when I booked I read they had internet access, so we brought the laptop and no phone, thinking to check emails throughout the day. As it turned out, they had two computers in the lobby that they charged 50cents a minute to use and no internet access in the rooms. So we joined an internet cafe that was $30 bucks for 20 hours. (the hotel installed wireless during the time we were there and we didn't find out until we were checking out) They were awful at taking messages for us, we'd find out though emails that people were trying to reach us. ( We really should have found a way to have a cell phone) They were doing construction and revamping the phone lines during our stay (and installing wireless apparently!) so it was a bit noisy and smelled like paint a lot.In addition, they have parking for $10 a night but it's rumored to be a tight squeeze. They have a laundry room, but on a cold day (according to the girls at the desk) the dryer needs another cycle, so including a $1 bag of soap, 1 load costs $7. They have room service food from Brix, and I think it's just $3 more (not sure if it's per item, though!) The location can't be beat, and the maids were all very nice. Also, there is a dairy right next door, a Mojo's Cafe a few doors down, and the best steak house EVER, the Crazy Horse, half a block down. ($$$ though)
I hope you find a place that suits, good luck on the trip!
Ana

[Malay-Coopers]

We have recently arrived (Thursday) from the States and are staying in Ngaio, a suburb of Wellington. We are staying at a furnished flat, nice and clean, with easy access to the train into town and room to park a car off the street. It may be a bit pricey but perhaps cheaper than a hotel. Here is the web address . . . http://www.ngaiohomestay.co.nz/ There is a park within a five minute walk too. Feel free to PM me for more details.

[annie abercrombie]

We stayed in Quest apartments in the CBD for the first month which was very pricey but had everything for me and the two little ones + they arranged for a cot to be put in for us on arrival.

As for suburbs, a holiday home in Petone would be ok, Karori, Khandallah, Wilton are all fine. The Bucket Tree in Tawa was recommended when we came but they were fully booked. I am not personally keen on Tawa to live but - it has great facilities for smaller children - soft play, a good playground, fantastic swimming pool, nice library, a kindy and lots of childcare centres, toy library etc. The Bucket Tree motel is near the softplay play and a kindy (+ outlet shopping mall for Mum).

I found this nomadic living really hard with children so we ended up renting an unfurnished house before our stuff arrived. We had 3 weeks of sitting on the floor, sleeping on lilos and spending $300 in the warehouse on the basics like plates and saucepans. I have since found great 2nd hand and op.shops where I could have kitted a house out for $50 I reckon (The Trash Palace in Porirua is marvellous for this sort of stuff).

Good luck with it all.:cheers