Charleen herself was VERY sweet. We arrived late because our flight was delayed (and I'm talking after midnight) and she still met us cheerfully to let us in. I felt so bad about keeping her out so late! The place is clean and very centrally located. It's a wee bit sparse, but for us, it was totally fine. We only stayed two nights and basically slept and showered there. We did get VERY frustrated with the internet the second night, as we spent over 2 hours just trying to book a hotel room in the city (because Charleen's was booked for our last night in Auckland) and nothing would load. So if you are dependent on strong wifi (for work or otherwise) you might want to be aware that you might not get it here (though I don't know if this is a common problem or not). Small things would take this place from good to awesome...things like a full-length mirror for dressing, an international converter or usb converter, a small table or stand in the bathroom so one can do makeup/get ready (my stuff kept sliding off of the tiny sink and crashing into the floor), a slightly later checkout (like 11 am?) and perhaps a map of the city for guests. But overall, I'll take a great host (Charleen) over poor internet any day. :P The bed was comfy, the place was clean, and she even had chocolate waiting for us. So to sum it up (sorry, I am a detailed reviewer!) it's well worth the money. :)