Chester Street Backpackers Long Term Accommodation - BBH

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Reviews

1. Tom van der Stelt ★★★★★

   I bought a campervan from Antony about a month ago. For a solo traveller with little knowledge about campervans and cars in general, Antony was a gift. He took hours to show me different vans, talk me through the pros and cons and answer all my questions. He gave the possibility to pay a deposit to claim the vehicle (and its price) early and when I picked my van (a 1999 Toyota Lucida Estima) he quickly fixed a WOF-appointment and walked me through everything I needed to know about the vehicle. He even drove with me to the AA to fix the registration. The van did need a thorough cleaning and some of the utensils and camping gear that were left in there were moldy and had to be thrown away, but that was to be expected when buying a used van that wasn't used over winter. Now, after the first two weeks of travelling with it I can only say that I'm really happy. Yes, you might pay a bit more than via Facebook Market Place or other online private sales locations, but you get tons of knowledge, a guarantee on your first 500 or 1000km (depending on the van you buy) and a sense of security about your van back for it. Other pros are the 50% buy-back guarantee, the camping gear that it came with and the fact that Antony is just a genuinely honest and nice guy who loves helping backpackers on their journey. Would definitely recommend!

   almost 6 months ago
2. Daria Svetlova ★★★★★

   I was living at Chester Street for about 4 months, and I honestly could not have imagined a more beautiful place that I am so lucky to call my New Zealand home. The location is perfect as the city center is just a 20 minute walk away and you can reach really nice cafes, museums, pubs etc, and the owners always have great recommendations for things to do around. The rooms were very cosy with comfortable beds, the kitchen has everything you could need for cooking and baking, and the lounge is perfect for movie nights and board games. Karen and Antony (the owners) make sure that everybody feels cared for and at home, thank you Karen for sharing so many beautiful (travel) stories and advice, for always bringing fresh flowers that lit up the space and helping out with any bumps along the road. Also a huge thanks to Antony for sharing so much knowledge about cars with me, I would have been lost without you! During my time at Chester Street, I have met so many lovely, kind, and interesting people from all over the world, and having a place to stay long term that makes you feel at home away from home really allowed us to grow really close (can't forget our princess Pipi the cat, of course, the star of the show!). This hostel is truly one of a kind! :)

   almost 9 months ago
3. Kayla Liis ★★★★★

   While we didn't stay at the accommodation, we bought our campervan from Antony here. He's a genuine and trustworthy seller who made the whole process extremely seamless and stress-free. He was great at communicating even before we arrived in the country, taking our calls and giving us photos and specs in advance. If you're in the market for a van in Christchurch, I can definitely recommend reaching out to him.

   almost 10 months ago

1. 이가은 ★★★★★

   It wasn’t just a hostel—it was my home. Over the past six months, I made so many wonderful memories with amazing people. Everyone was always kind, welcoming, supportive, and considerate. Karen keeps the place clean and cozy, provides organic eggs, and cares about how we’re doing. Antony shows up whenever we need him and can fix just about anything. Lucy, the staff member, is the friendliest and most amazing person! And I miss Pipi the cat so much. The location is great—15min walk to the CBD—and the environment is very safe. I feel so lucky to have spent such a valuable time at Chester St Backpackers!

   almost 10 months ago
2. Huize Adam ★★★★★

   I've stayed in Chester Street for 4 months and could have easily stayed for much longer (and I wish I could have!!). The place feels like home away from home. All the other backpackers staying longterm makes it feel like you are living in a shared flat with the nicest and funnest flatmates. The place always looked tidy thanks to the lovely staff (thank you Karen, Lucy and Antony!!), the house would often smell like freshly baked bread or crêpes (thank you Mowali and Justine), there would always be fresh flowers on the kitchen table, often there'd be fresh free range eggs from the owner's farm, and of course there is Pipi the cat to really top off that homely feeling! The owners are super accommodating and helpful and truly only a phone call away. Antony sells campervans for backpackers and was always willing to help you out with any car-related issues or help you think along to find solutions. Karen was super sweet, always in for a fun little chat, and made sure to keep the house and garden nice and clean. She'd always put fresh flowers on the kitchen table and made a lovely fruit cake for christmas. The house and location itself are great! Only a 15/20 min walk from the city center, in the prettiest street of all of Christchurch, and with the Avon River and the surrounding green area very nearby, perfect for a run, bike ride or picnic! The house has a very nice and warm interior. Big kitchen table, lounge with comfy couches, a big tv, plenty of books, films and games to choose from, a backyard with two picnic tables, so plenty of space to hang out with your flatmates :). The porch especially is great for a nice little morning coffee in the sun. Chester Street Backpackers and all the people I've met there is what made my time in Christchurch very special and would definitely recommend to any other (solo)travelers!

   almost 11 months ago
3. Eddie Heinz Roder ★★★★★

   We arrived to Chester Street in the middle of September and were instantly greeted by Antony who welcomed us in and showed us our room. He gave us some really solid advice as we are backpackers about various things in the city, cars, etc. We met Karen shortly after and had a long chat with her, it made us realize quite how much both Antony and Karen had a passion for the Hostel and to keep it running as smoothly and as well maintained as possible. We were initially only meant to stay here for a week but ended up liking it so much we stayed for over four months. The rooms are a good size, the kitchen is fully stocked and has a comfortable amount of room, and the bathrooms and utilities were spot on. We also made a strong connection with Pipi the cat who was just absolutely adorable and took a liking to us and she ended up sleeping in our room for about half the time we were there, which was really nice and helped us really feel at home as we're both animal lovers. Would definitely recommend for anyone who's looking for a good priced hostel that's well maintained and has a super friendly environment, only a 15 minute walk to the city center.

   almost 3 years ago

1. K Niedo ★★☆☆☆

   What was once a loved renovation project turned backpackers is now just a forgotten inconvenience for the owners of Chester street backpackers. 2 out of 3 sinks don't work, 1 out of 2 showers, hardly ever cleaned, old stove that doesn't work well anymore, mice inside, tiny- expensive rooms, what's sad is the owners know about all of this and don't seem to care anymore. They really have seemed to have given up on the place.

   almost 4 years ago
2. Hauke Frerichs ★★★★★

   what should I say about this place to put it in the right spot? This place is awesome, the owner is a kind and smart guy who always takes his time to have a chat with you. The house is clean and compare to other hostels nice and quite with a great working kitchen. (fresh eggs and herbs are even in the garden! The rooms are cozy with single beds not packed like in every other hostel. It's just a great place to stay for a day or a month. I miss this place now already but I will definitely come back if my travels ever bring me back to Christchurch!

   more 7 years ago
3. Annie Jo ★★★★☆

   Rooms, showers and bathrooms were quite clean, and the atmosphere is nice. The whole place was pretty cold though...and the kitchen towels were needing a wash. If you're really alergic to cats don't stay here. There is one sweet gray cat that wanders about.

   more 8 years ago

1. Laura Freire ★★★★★

   Cozy, little, homey hostel which feels much more like a shared flat than a regular hostel, as the max number of beds in a room is 3. The rooms are all decorated very homely. The staff is very caring and friendly and provides good insider tips about what to do in Christchurch and around. City Center is at walking distance which makes it very easy to discover the city. When the sun is shining – which did very often while I was there – it is great to sit outside in the little garden (: I’ll definitely stay again at Chester Street, when I come back to Christchurch!

   more 9 years ago

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