Family Apartment, 2 Bedrooms | Individually decorated, individually furnished, blackout curtains

Reviews of Dolphin Motel

4 out of 5
Dolphin Motel
69 Williams Road, Paihia

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 308 out of 619 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 205 out of 619 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 63 out of 619 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 32 out of 619 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 11 out of 619 reviews" "

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Bruce

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We booked 3 rooms and none of them had a decent hot water system. The hot water ran cold after 2 minutes in all of them The rooms are getting very dated. However the staff were very friendly and helpful Location was good
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from mo on 20 Mar 2024
Good Morning your comments have been notedthanks for your review

10/10 Excellent

Rachel

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautifully clean rooms. We had a nice balcony. Great parking. Would definitely go back again.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from mo on 20 Mar 2024
Thank You for your review

10/10 Excellent

dwight

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Margaret was very helpful!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
Response from mo on 13 Mar 2024
Thank you for your review

8/10 Good

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The manager was very friendly and helpful
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from mo on 15 Mar 2024
Thank you for taking the time to give a review

8/10 Good

Carolyn

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Pity there was no ice tray in the fridge.. everything else was great
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from mo on 13 Mar 2024
Thank you for your review Ice trays available on request

6/10 Okay

Shylah

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
This is a classic motel in a small town. We were in the older side of the establishment, the room as quite dated as were the appliances. The towels were very small and were quite old (white towels but were grey and fraying). The space was good as it fit the purpose we needed (a bed and a shower) however it wouldn't be somewhere we'd book if we were spending lots of time in the room. The staff were very lovely and helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 13 Mar 2024
Thank You for your review comments noted

10/10 Excellent

Madison

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a wonderful stay here! Definitely stay in the deluxe superior rooms as you’ll be in the newer section/build onsite. Lovely stay and super close to everything. Parking onsite.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Response from mo on 4 Mar 2024
Thank you for your reveiw

10/10 Excellent

Helena

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Clean, comfortable room with nice balcony.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 3 Mar 2024
Thank you for your review

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Older motel but well kept up. Clean and had everything required for our stay. Great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 29 Feb 2024
Thank you for your review

2/10 Terrible

Gregory

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I agree with the negative reviews, what pictures you see on the website is not what you get. They advertise this beautiful photo but you stay in this old part of the motel. The management has let this part go into disrepair as the carpet is worn out in some sections and there is mould in the rooms and they do smell. The major problem is there is no smoke alarm in the room and it can be seen that they don’t care and it’s seen time after time again in the reviews
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 26 Feb 2024
Your comments have been noted and passed to the owners

6/10 Okay

Man Chuen

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
Nice staff. The room was big and spacious. Very good location as it is right in the centre of Paihia. Airconditioning was not working very well which the remote control was not working. A lot of grasshoppers in the room. The room smelled a bit moldy.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 23 Feb 2024
Thank you for your review your comments have been noted

8/10 Good

Gerald, Dartmouth

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Older property charm with newly renovated well equipped rooms. The kitchenette was a nice surprise
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 17 Feb 2024
Thank you for you review

10/10 Excellent

Brenda

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and roomy. Check in and check out very easy. Friendly staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Response from mo on 17 Feb 2024
Thank you for your reveiw

10/10 Excellent

Hilda

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice tidy and quiet
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from mo on 1 Feb 2024
Thank you for your review

10/10 Excellent

REEMA

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice place
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from mo on 31 Jan 2024
Thank you for your review glad you enjoyed your stay

6/10 Okay

Carol

The bed and kitchenette was clean but the carpet was dirty, and the shower had mold. The pillows were huge and hard, bring your own. Reception is only open limited times so plan accordingly. Parking was convenient.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Response from mo on 26 Jan 2024
your comments have been noted thank you

6/10 Okay

Eva

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Response from mo on 20 Feb 2024
thank you for your review

6/10 Okay

Binoy, Epping

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Best Location. Outdated Rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 26 Jan 2024
Thank You

10/10 Excellent

Lata

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean , staff friendly and close to everything
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Response from mo on 26 Jan 2024
Thank you

10/10 Excellent

Jack

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderful place comfortable beds close to town and just so friendly
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 24 Dec 2023
Thank you for your review Merry Christmas and a happy safe new year

8/10 Good

Shipping

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Overall was a good time. Water wasn't drinkable though, tasted salty so had to buy water bottles. And the shower was either hot or cold, wasn't until the last day we managed to find the middle ground, which was a bit sucky for me as I am partial to warm showers. But the property itself was nice and the room was quite comfortable and within easy walking distance of just about everything Paihia has to offer.
Response from mo on 20 Dec 2023
Issues noted thank you for your reveiw

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 20 Dec 2023
Thank you for your review

2/10 Terrible

Nikki

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very unprofessional. Would not recommend this place and will not be returning in the future
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 24 Dec 2023
noted thank you

4/10 Poor

Kahu

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Response from mo on 24 Dec 2023
noted

10/10 Excellent

Jeanikka

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 9 Dec 2023
Thank you for your review

10/10 Excellent

Dennis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Convenient Location
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 6 Dec 2023
Thank you for taking the time to give a review

10/10 Excellent

Dennis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 9 Dec 2023
Thank you for your review

6/10 Okay

Vicki

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Outside furniture was dated and rusty
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Response from mo on 9 Dec 2023
I agree new replacements on order

10/10 Excellent

Wendy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Another great stay.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Response from mo on 9 Dec 2023
Thanks for your review

8/10 Good

Shane

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Response from mo on 18 Nov 2023
Thank You for your review

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Ordinary stay
Ordinary, room wasn't cleaned daily and towels not changed out daily as motel has policy to save water so towels changed out every 2nd day. Also needed to cleaned dishes etc, if left would be charged $40. Even if you were staying more than 2 days they didn't clean dishes when they came in to clean the room. If the policy had been highlighted prior to booking I wouldn't have booked. When I book motel/hotel etc I like to relax and enjoy the stay without cleaning even if it's dishes
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from mo on 24 Nov 2023
points noted thank you

10/10 Excellent

Anne

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location. Nicely designed space and facilities.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from mo on 11 Nov 2023
Thank you for your review

8/10 Good

Colin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location, near shopping, transportation and the beach. Friendly & helpful duty manager. Well ventilated and heated for any season.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from mo on 31 Oct 2023
Thank you for your review safe travels

8/10 Good

Anna

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I had a good stay! There was no one to check in due to staff shortages though and I arrived to my room door open and one set of keys on the table. I was a little uneasy as wasn’t sure if there was meant to be two and someone had taken the second set. Bed was also quite hard. But apart from that parking was easy, room was tidy and clean, tv worked well and kitchen had everything you’d need :)
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from Kath on 30 Oct 2023
Thank you for your response, we do try to do our very best.

8/10 Good

Colin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quiet, central & pleasant
Close to stores, transportation & the beach, this motel is well laid out overall and units are properly kitted out. Ventilation & heating are good for any season. Duty manager was a rare gem.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from Kath on 30 Oct 2023
Thank you, your response is very much appreciated, please come again.

10/10 Excellent

Ria

The lady at reception was fantastic, our room was ready earlier than 3pm.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from mo on 28 Oct 2023
Thank you for your kind review

10/10 Excellent

Juliet

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A very clean comfortable modern room. Convenient location.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from mo on 27 Oct 2023
Thank you for your report

4/10 Poor

Chris

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
It was run down and shabby and not very clean. Ants. Door was difficult to lock. Somebody appeared to be living in a van in the carpark just outside the unit.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Te Arahuta, Coromandel

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed in the older part of the motel which was still lovely. The lady at the front desk was welcoming and friendly 😁. The rooms were lovely and clean but I thought it unusual for the note in the kitchen, requesting guests to do dishes, if not a $40. Charge 😬 Do you check if the dishes have been done properly. Sorry 😐 I've just not come across this before. Any who 😁 great place to stay and the new part of the motel looks beautiful.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023
Response from mo on 11 Nov 2023
Thank you for your review the dishes sign was placed inthe kitchen as people were leaving dishes in every roomunwashed, since the signs its cut the practice down by 95%. Regards

8/10 Good

Nicholas

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We picked Dolphin because its really close to the Towncetre and a good price. We wanted to find a motel we can stay at when we come up to Paihia
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from mo on 28 Oct 2023
Thank you for your review

10/10 Excellent

Shane

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Dolphin Motel is my go to and as I travel lots with my job I am there very often and love the home away from home feeling, and the staff are wonderful and so accommodating.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Response from mo on 28 Oct 2023
Thank you for your review

8/10 Good

Henk

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and modern, highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Michael

Travelled with group
Disliked: Staff & service
A very smelly fridge, missing forks, and room service every other day.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shane

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from Kathy on 26 Jun 2023
Thank you so much for your views, I will pass this on to our workers who do try to do the very best that they can. They will be tickled pink.

6/10 Okay

Jeffrey

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from Kathy on 25 Jun 2023
Thank you for your response.

10/10 Excellent

Gerard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The units are modern and brand new. The owner was excellent- very helpful. The premises has plenty of parking, very quiet and very close to shops & entertainment areas. Will definitely return.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from mo on 6 Jun 2023
Thank You for your review glad you enjoyed your stay

10/10 Excellent

Okirua, Rarotonga

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff at the dolphin motel were very courteous, efficient and friendly. Catered to our needs. Thank you very much Dolphin Motel.
Response from mo on 29 May 2023
Thank you for your review so glad you enjoyed your stay

10/10 Excellent

Lionel

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great spot
Stayed 1 night in May 2023
Response from mo on 28 May 2023
Thank you for your review glad you enjoyed your stay

8/10 Good

D H

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2023
Response from mo on 28 May 2023
Thank you for your review

4/10 Poor

Karl

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Photos are deceiving. We paid a cheap price for the cheap, old, ugly part of the motel. The photos show the exterior of the new part of motel only. Room felt damp, smelled musty. Everything felt and looked dirty. Stinky off white towels that they expect you to use for 2 days according to signage in the bathroom. Could barely communicate with owner (language barrier) but he expected us to be ok with 2mins of hot shower only. Had to turn shower off when it got cold and turn back on for 2 mins of hot water and repeat until you were clean. Our under 2 y.o fell in the shower as she was trying to desperately get out of the cold water. Unfortunately she was the 1st to experience the ridiculous problem. Take your $ elsewhere!!!!
Response from mo on 23 May 2023
Good morning Your comments have been noted