Nomads Queenstown

I’ve been travelling for more than 50 years, visited 44+ countries and stayed in just about every type of accommodation you can imagine — from sleeping in a tent in Baghdad for 18 months to staying at The Upper House, one of the top hotels in the world, and everything in between. So, I’d like to think I’m reasonably qualified to judge a bed, a bathroom and whether a place is worth the money! Like most people, I read the reviews before booking. TripAdvisor is one of my go-to references, so I was genuinely surprised by some of the reviews about Nomads. And, quite frankly, not in a good way. But rather than blindly believing the keyboard warriors, I decided to read between the lines and make up my own mind. My conclusion? Nomads has been getting a pretty unfair wrap. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by a lovely receptionist who was friendly, welcoming and explained everything I needed to know. Then I got to my room on the third floor — and, much to my surprise, I found myself in a large suite. And this wasn’t some glorified backpacker’s broom cupboard either. The room had pretty much everything you’d expect in a hotel, but for roughly half the price. A private ensuite, a shower producing bucketloads of roaring hot water, toilet and basin, multi-channel TV with Netflix and other streaming options, a bar fridge big enough to accommodate a large pizza (always an important consideration), wardrobe, and tea and coffee facilities. Seriously, what more do you want? Now, before anyone gets carried away, yes — Nomads is a backpackers’ hostel. There are dorms on the lower floors and a communal kitchen. I used the kitchen for breakfast and lunch and had a bit of a chuckle at some of the reviews complaining about the kitchen equipment, including burnt pots. Seriously? I managed to find skillets, usable pots, sieves, cutlery and all the basic gear required to knock up a decent breakfast and an easy lunch. No, it wasn’t the Ritz kitchen — but then again, I wasn’t expecting Gordon Ramsay to leap out from behind the fridge. It did exactly what a hostel kitchen is supposed to do. Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at Nomads. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it was a treat. Was it noisy on Saturday night? Yep. But you’re staying smack bang in the centre of Queenstown. If you’re expecting the sound of birds gently waking you at 7am, perhaps Queenstown isn’t the place for you. Nomads even provides earplugs for the precious ones! For me, the location, room, facilities, price and overall experience delivered exactly what I needed. After 50 years of travelling, I’ve learned that you shouldn’t always believe everything you read. Sometimes you just have to go, experience it for yourself and make up your own mind. Nomads — I’ll be back. You delivered.

I had a very disappointing experience staying at this hostel. From the moment I arrived, I felt unwelcome and unsupported by the staff. Whenever I needed help, it seemed like nobody was interested in finding a solution or even listening to my concerns. Customer service was by far the worst part of my stay. The kitchen is in terrible condition. Most of the pots and pans are old, burnt, damaged, and barely usable, making it very difficult to cook a proper meal. The common area also needs serious maintenance. The sofas are old, torn, and uncomfortable, giving the whole place a neglected feeling. The beds creak loudly every time you move, making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The windows also provide very poor insulation, and they feel more like thin sheets of glass than proper windows. Overall, the hostel feels poorly maintained and in need of significant investment. Based on my experience, I would not recommend staying here, especially if you expect clean facilities, comfortable accommodation, and helpful staff.

Sarah is the most amazing worker ever. If the terminator made maids, they would make Sarah. I was in a bunkhouse with a bunch of dirty hippies, and she kept the place perfectly clean. I'm not sure where she is from, but I suspect it is heaven.