☆This is the first average review I write on Airbnb.
All the feedback mentioned below was provided directly to the hosts over the past 18 months to give them an opportunity to work through the feedback and sadly these issues have not been addressed. Here is a general account of my experience as a solo kiwi traveller attending weekend workshops in Ngatea. I made 10 bookings there since early 2021.
"What this place offers" has inaccurate information which has not been corrected by the hosts.
■ TV with Chromecast & Netflix. It was true in 2021 but since April 2022 the room features a monitor with a chromecast only - netflix and TV are no longer available. You can bring your own device to connect to the monitor through Chromecast.
■ Kitchen and dining says there is a stove for cooking. The new bedroom is no longer connected the the Villa so there is no access to the fully equipped kitchen, Coffee machine or bathtub. Your bedroom will be locked from their side. You have a microwave, minifridge, toaster and kettle.
■ Breakfast is provided and it used to be wheetbix, milk, Vogel toasts, jams, instant cofee/tea until July 2022. In Sept 2022, the cereals were removed from the breakfast package.
■ listing mentions heaters and fans are available. The heater was not provided in May or June even though it was fairly cold, it is only provided in winter months and that was the same last year. It is cold in Ngatea at night regarless of the season and it's an old villa with wooden floor, not warm.
■ Check in is contactless since covid and a key is left in a safe, they send you the code. from 4pm.
During my most recent stay the key was not there. This was not communicated to me.
■ The airbnb room has a separate door access to the garden (your only access) so you have your privacy of coming and going, normally. In July the host opened the bedroom from their side in the evening and without knocking and explained that "they didn't hear I was here". My car was parked in front of their lounge and I did not need anything. That was an awkward moment, I just came out of the shower.. In my last stay I had to ask the host to respect my privacy.
■ Noise - it is right by a busy road used by trucks days and night and earplugs are a very good item to bring along. Neighbours like to party and in June 2022 drunk loud neighbours played loud music all night when I stayed to attend a course, they were very drunk a few metres away only from my room. The hosts were not home during that weekend to assist and when i contacted them they just said they didn't know.