My last day in New Zealand was spent in Rotorua, where I luxuriated in geothermal pools at the Polynesian Spa and relaxed at the coolest, funkiest little hideaway on the planet, Sandi’s BnB. Sandi picked me up at the bus stop and took me to her funky little haven in its own tiny tropical jungle with add-on rooms that seem to have grown like appendages over the years. A beautiful and inviting little swimming pool occupied only by an inflatable unicorn was about 10 steps from my perfect little deck/patio.
I guess if there’s one thing a mother of six knows, it’s how to take care of people. Sandi was on the phone making sure my one little tourist activity, an evening visit to a Maori village was in order. Despite her effort, there was a snag in my reservation. She soon had that sorted out, but my Chinese phone didn’t get the message to me and I missed the first bit of the adventure. Still, the kindly Kiwis stepped up and made up for it. Sandi’s clout even had the tour bus drop me off on her doorstop!
One of my reasons for choosing Sandi's was the air-condiditioner. My reasons for going back, if I ever can, will be the cleanliness, the little extras, like the pool and patio but mostly - Sandi.