Room Check: Staying at Drifter Christchurch, a hybrid hotel and hostel

Forget what you think you know about staying in a hostel, a lot has changed since your mum and dad slept in a dorm, writes Anna Leask

Location: Christchurch city centre, less than five minutes’ walk from the CBD’s best bars, restaurants and shops.

Style: A hotel and hostel hybrid – modern and stylish with a community but calm atmosphere.

Price: Dorms start from $52 per person and private rooms start from $162.

Perfect for: People exploring Christchurch who want more than just a room. Drifter aims to encourage connections between guests, by offering spaces for reading, films, music, well-being, cooking and general meetings.

First impressions: Friendly staff, including Ned, Drifter’s resident dog. Large open spaces remain comfortable. I was also very impressed with the digital access: a simple app download and you are registered and can access your room and the main entrance with the press of a button. Updates are also sent via the app on activities around the hotel, and there is a convenient messaging service for contacting staff.

Pieces: There are a mix of en-suite dorms – two each for the larger rooms; private rooms and lofts on two levels. Rooms are bright and fresh and many have balconies. Next to every bed, including dorm rooms, is a power outlet with USB port for charging your devices. The rooms are lush and comfortable. Whether you’re in a suite or a dorm, you’ll have plenty of space.

Bathroom: Impressive size, immaculately clean and the most delicious shower products from family-owned Kiwi RAAD. The giant towels and GHD hairdryers and straighteners in the bathroom are an added bonus.

Food and drink: The Drifter bar-restaurant is currently under construction and will open its doors in September. In the meantime, cooked meals are available from a vending machine located in the shared kitchen. A supermarket is across the road, so you can BYO your shopping if you want to eat there. But within a five-minute walk you’ll find one of the city’s best restaurants and eateries at The Terrace or Riverside Market, Little High, New Regent St. There are also plenty of cafes to stroll through during the day.

Facilities: Drifter, which spans 95 rooms, offers a fairly unique menu of extras: it has a beautiful library area, a Zen room with luxurious oversized beanbags, a terrace area, a screening cinema three films a day, space to take out your laptop and work. if necessary, and others to host live music, poetry readings and cultural performances or exhibitions. There is no on-site parking, but this is easily remedied with nearby indoor and uncovered options ranging from $10 to $20 per night/day. And the laundry room is a treat: no coins, no tokens; These are all electronic transactions, including a message to let you know when your wash or dry cycle is complete.

In the neighborhood: Markets, restaurants, bars, the famous Ballantynes ​​Department Store and Mecca’s largest cosmetics store in Australasia, Central Bus Station and the iconic Christchurch Tram. The city’s new stadium is under construction just a few blocks away, so Drifter will be a great place to stay if you’re in town for a concert or big sporting event. Cathedral Square is a short walk away, as are the stunning Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, as well as a culturally rich museum and art gallery.

Friendly and family-friendly: Families are invited to reserve private rooms. Minors are not allowed in shared dormitories. It’s a great space for young people, it’s calm and quiet – nothing like the hostels that moms and dads probably stayed in during their backpacking years.

Accessibility: There is an elevator to all floors and the hallways are spacious. However, many rooms have tiered areas with steps leading up to bathrooms, for example.

Sustainability: The toiletries are from RAAD, made from ingredients of natural origin. Everything comes in glass bottles and the components are recyclable or biodegradable. Drifter’s water of choice is Antipodes, also in a glass bottle and recyclable. Given the zen room, sound bath and yoga sessions, I think it’s clear that Drifter is committed to the common good.

Contact: thedrifter.com/venues/christchurch