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Summary of reviewsThe Godley Hotel in Lake Tekapo is highly praised for its picturesque location, nestled right on the banks of the lake and offering breathtaking views of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Its central position in the village places wonderful shops, cafes and restaurants within easy walking distance. This accessibility extends to popular sightseeing spots like the Dark Sky Project and Tekapo Springs, making it a top choice for guests looking for both convenience and stunning scenery.
Guests consistently commend the breakfast served at the adjacent Jack Rabbit Café for its high quality, taste and presentation. The breakfast options, though not a buffet, are made-to-order and customizable, offering good value. The European-style breakfast options and the helpful, friendly staff make the morning dining experience even more enjoyable.
While the Godley Hotel excels in breakfast service, dinner options are limited as the on-site café and restaurant close fairly early, prompting guests to seek alternative dining options nearby. Fortunately, the village has an abundance of good restaurants to choose from.
The rooms offer a varied experience; several guests have enjoyed the spaciousness, cleanliness and especially the spectacular lake views. The modernized rooms are appreciated for their comfort and neatness. However, some rooms are described as dated and in need of refurbishment with issues like poor ventilation and noise isolation. Despite these aspects, the cleanliness and stunning views remain substantial draws.
The hotel maintains a strong reputation for cleanliness with housekeeping praised for generally upholding high standards. Modern touches in renovated rooms and the overall upkeep of facilities contribute to a comfortable stay. However, some inconsistencies in housekeeping, particularly in the bathrooms, have been noted.
Guest reviews consistently highlight the exceptional service provided by the hotel staff, who are often described as friendly, helpful and efficient. The staff's diverse backgrounds and multilingual abilities create a welcoming atmosphere, making guests feel valued and well cared for.
While the availability of free WiFi is appreciated, many guests have reported issues with slow and unreliable connections. There are instances where the WiFi works well, but the overall consensus points to a need for improvement in this area.
The beds receive mixed reviews; most guests find them comfortable and conducive to a good night’s sleep, although some report issues with softness or ageing mattresses. The hotel could benefit from investing in new mattresses to ensure consistent comfort.
Accessibility at The Godley Hotel is generally good with convenient parking and easy access to local attractions. The hotel is particularly noted for its accommodating ground-floor rooms and well-equipped bathrooms for guests with disabilities. Despite the absence of an elevator, the central location and friendly staff enhance its practicality and accessibility.
In summary, The Godley Hotel shines with its superb location, friendly staff and generally comfortable and clean accommodations, making it a desirable choice for visitors to Lake Tekapo. However, potential guests should be aware of the limited dinner options and some variability in room and WiFi quality. Show more
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Hotel near Golf Courses
As a prominent hotel in Lake Tekapo, The Godley Hotel offers convenient access to the area's golf courses, including The Cairns Alpine Resort Golf Course and the Mackenzie Golf Club, both within a short driving distance.
Hotel near Ski Resorts
Situated in Lake Tekapo, The Godley Hotel offers country-style accommodation with views of the lake and mountains. It's centrally located, making it a convenient base for accessing Roundhill Ski Area and other local attractions.
Business Hotel
While specific business amenities aren't detailed, its consistent listing among top hotels suggests adequate facilities for business travelers. Further research would be needed to confirm specific offerings.
Accessible Hotel
This hotel has accessible rooms available and provides wheelchair access throughout its grounds. It also includes facilities such as accessible toilets.
Hotel with Free Wi-Fi
Cheap Hotel
Room Types
Standard Room with Lake ViewModern rooms with clear views of Lake Tekapo.
This room type does not have any kitchen facilities or microwave
Standard RoomComfortable rooms with en suite bathroom.
This room type does not have any kitchen facilities or microwave
Superior RoomThis twin/double room features a flat-screen TV and electric kettle.
This room type does not have any kitchen facilities or microwave
Guest Reviews
7.4
Good
Location
Nestled right on the banks of Lake Tekapo, The Godley Hotel enjoys an enviable location that places it in the heart of the action. Visitors can appreciate stunning views of the shimmering lake and the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd right from their rooms. The hotel’s central position in the village means that it's just a short walk to a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants, making it extremely convenient for guests to explore the area.
The ease of access extends to prime sightseeing spots like the Dark Sky Project for night sky enthusiasts and Tekapo Springs for some relaxation. Whether you're interested in scenic walks by the lake, discovering local historical sites or simply soaking in the magnificent views of Lake Tekapo and the surrounding mountains, the location of The Godley Hotel makes it all effortlessly accessible.
Complementing the fantastic location, guests have praised the friendly and helpful staff and the comfortable, clean rooms that offer a welcoming stay. Parking is plentiful and convenient, further adding to the hotel’s appeal. For those seeking seamless access to the best that Lake Tekapo has to offer, coupled with exceptional views, The Godley Hotel stands out as a top choice.
Breakfast
Visitors to The Godley Hotel consistently praise the breakfast experience, which is served at the adjacent Jack Rabbit Café. Guests often highlight the quality and taste of the food, describing it as delicious, plentiful and abundant. Many note that the inclusion of breakfast in the room rate offers excellent value with a variety of options available to suit different preferences.
The European-style breakfast receives special mention for being generous and beautifully presented, often including coffee, desserts and freshly made continental items. The breakfast service at Jack Rabbit Café is also commended for the helpful and friendly staff, making the experience even more enjoyable.
While not a buffet, guests appreciate the made-to-order system, allowing for fresh and customizable meals. Some visitors, however, feel that the breakfast could offer more variety and options, like fruits and yogurt, but generally, the consensus is positive.
The scenic views from the café and restaurant provide a lovely backdrop for breakfast, enhancing the overall dining experience. Despite minor hiccups, such as breakfast not being available on certain days or extra charges for additional items, the breakfast offerings at The Godley Hotel receive high marks for flavor, quality and service.
Dinner
The Godley Hotel offers a mixed dining experience, particularly when it comes to dinner options. While the hotel is praised for its convenient location, clean facilities and beautiful views, the on-site dining options leave something to be desired. The Jack Rabbit Café receives high marks for breakfast and lunch with guests appreciating its well-priced meals and great service. However, the café and the hotel restaurant close quite early, generally around 2:30 to 4:00 pm, leaving no options for evening dining or drinks.
Guests frequently express disappointment at the lack of dinner service, noting that the limited hours and closure due to staffing issues are inconvenient. Many guests had to find alternative dining options nearby, which, fortunately, are abundant and offer good variety. The nearby TLV restaurant and other local eateries are recommended for those looking for evening meals.
Overall, while the Godley Hotel excels in atmosphere, location and daytime dining, potential guests should be aware of the limited on-site dining options in the evening and plan accordingly.
Rooms
The rooms at The Godley Hotel are a mixed bag, catering to various preferences and experiences. Many guests appreciated the spaciousness of the rooms and the stunning lake views, which added charm to their stay. Cleanliness was generally a recurring positive with multiple reviews highlighting the rooms as neat, tidy and comfortable. Renovated rooms, featuring modernized updates, received nods for their comfort and clean condition.
However, several rooms were noted to be dated with guests expressing needs for upgrades and refurbishments. Common issues included dim lighting, small and cramped spaces and poor ventilation, resulting in stuffy atmospheres. Noise isolation was another drawback; thin walls caused disturbances from adjacent rooms and neighboring areas. Some rooms lacked basic amenities like air conditioning, leading to discomfort during warmer days.
Despite these points, the hotel's location and views remained a significant draw for visitors. Overall, while some rooms may need attention and modernization, The Godley Hotel offers functional accommodations with the promise of beautiful scenic views.
Beds
The beds at The Godley Hotel received mixed feedback from guests with positive mentions highlighting the comfort, warmth and coziness of many beds. Numerous reviews praise the beds as "super comfy", "very comfortable" and emphasize the presence of comfortable bedding which contributed to a good night's sleep.
However, there are notable complaints about the beds being overly soft, resulting in a lack of support. Several guests pointed out issues with beds being old, sagging or too small, which detracted from their comfort. Some guests experienced uncomfortably hard beds, while others found the mattresses to be overly soft and bouncy, leading to disturbed sleep.
Although some guests appreciated the firmness of the beds, others found them unpleasant. Overall, while a significant number of guests expressed satisfaction with the beds, suggesting a warm and comfy stay, there are also recurring suggestions for the hotel to invest in new mattresses and upgrades to enhance guest comfort further.
Cleanliness
The Godley Hotel maintains a reputation for cleanliness, consistently praised by guests who frequently highlight the spotless conditions of the rooms and common areas. Many reviews mention the rooms as clean, spacious and tidy. Guests appreciate the modern touches and well-maintained amenities in certain renovated rooms, as well as the inviting atmosphere created by upgraded facilities and exceptional housekeeping standards.
The hotel's cleanliness extends to a comfortable and cozy lodging experience, where warm and clean rooms are often noted. Reviewers commend the hotel for strong heating, clean towels and well-maintained sheets, which add to the overall sense of comfort.
However, the feedback on housekeeping is somewhat mixed. Some guests have observed inconsistencies in cleaning, such as instances of dust or previous guests' items being left behind. The bathrooms, in particular, have received criticism for needing more attention to detail with reports of dirty showers, peeling paint and broken fixtures.
Overall, while the hotel may face challenges with occasional lapses in housekeeping and outdated decor in some areas, its commitment to cleanliness and comfort is well-regarded when consistently maintained.
Staff
The guest reviews for The Godley Hotel consistently highlight the exceptional service provided by the staff. Numerous guests have praised the team’s friendliness, helpfulness and efficiency. The front desk staff, in particular, received many compliments for their courteous and professional demeanor. William, Huay and Guillermo were specifically mentioned for going above and beyond to assist guests.
The multilingual staff, including those from Brazil, Malaysia and Japan, contributed to a diverse and welcoming atmosphere. Guests appreciated the quick and attentive service with issues being addressed promptly and proactively. Upgrades and additional amenities were often provided at no extra charge, enhancing the overall guest experience.
Despite a few instances of unhelpfulness and inexperience mentioned, the overwhelming sentiment was positive. The staff’s ability to make guests feel at home stood out with many reviews noting the warm and caring nature of the team. The helpful and knowledgeable receptionists were frequently acknowledged for their efforts to ensure a pleasant stay.
Overall, the staff at The Godley Hotel significantly contributed to pleasant and memorable visits, making guests feel valued and well taken care of.
Wi-Fi
The WiFi experience at The Godley Hotel brings a mix of impressions, leaning towards dissatisfaction despite some bright spots. Guests appreciated the availability of free WiFi and some even mentioned excellent, speedy connections that allowed for smooth streaming and work-related tasks. A few reviewers highlighted good WiFi speeds and unlimited access as notable positives.
However, the majority of reviews pointed to significant issues with the internet service. Many guests reported extremely slow, weak and intermittent connections with some unable to connect at all. Poor, patchy and even unusable WiFi was a recurring theme and there were mentions of persistent problems where the WiFi had not worked for months. Adding to the frustrations, some found that the WiFi password did not function, rendering the service inaccessible.
In summary, while there are instances of guests enjoying satisfactory internet speeds, The Godley Hotel largely struggles with providing a reliable and robust WiFi experience, leading to frequent disappointment among visitors.
Accessible
The Godley Hotel boasts a central location with easy access to the town's main attractions, making it convenient for visitors to explore nearby restaurants, bars and even enjoy stargazing at night. Guests highlighted the easy access to local stores and supermarkets, adding to the convenience.
The hotel offers good parking facilities with some reviews mentioning the availability of parking spaces right outside the rooms and free parking overall. Although the parking lot can feel a bit tight at times, it remains manageable for most guests. For those who travel long-term, the access to a washing machine midway through their stay was appreciated.
While the hotel does not have an elevator, making upper floors less accessible for individuals with mobility issues, booking an accessible room on the ground floor can mitigate this inconvenience. The hotel's proximity to the lake and its easy walking distance to various spots in the small town were praised. Moreover, the bathroom facilities were noted to be well-equipped for guests with disabilities, featuring suitable handrails and other amenities.
Friendly staff, easy check-in and check-out procedures and good overall accessibility make The Godley Hotel a practical choice, especially for elderly guests. Despite the absence of an elevator, its favorable location and accessibility for walking around the town offer a welcoming stay.
No, The Godley Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Godley Hotel.
No, The Godley Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Godley Hotel.