Napier's BEST Kept Secret: Shoreline Motel's Unbeatable Ocean Views!
Napier's Shoreline Motel: Honestly, It's Worth It (Despite the Quirks!)
Alright, let's be real. Finding a truly amazing place to stay, especially when you're bombarded with marketing fluff, is like finding a perfect avocado – it requires a bit of luck and a whole lot of searching. But trust me on this one, folks: Napier's Shoreline Motel? It’s earned its title as a "Best Kept Secret," and those "Unbeatable Ocean Views?" Yeah, they're the real deal. Forget the meticulously crafted brochures; this is the raw, unvarnished truth, from a fellow traveler who loves a good ocean breeze.
First things first: The View. Oh. My. God. Seriously. I swear, the first morning I woke up, I literally gasped. The turquoise ocean stretched out forever, the waves were crashing just so, and the sunrise? Forget Photoshop, this was pure, breathtaking artistry. You could sit in your room (most rooms, anyway…see below!) with your coffee and just lose yourself. That alone is worth the price of admission.
(Okay, Now for the slightly less perfect bits…because let's be honest, nothing's perfect):
Accessibility Woes & Wins:
- Wheelchair Accessibility: I didn't personally require it, but I did a bit of digging. The website boasts "Facilities for disabled guests," so I'd recommend a very specific call ahead to make sure your needs are met. Don't just assume! This is crucial, so double-check the room's actual access.
- Elevator: Thankfully, they do have an elevator! A small mercy.
Internet & Tech Stuff (Because We're All Glued to Our Screens, Let's Be Real):
- Wi-Fi in all rooms: YES! And mostly reliable, which is a huge win. Free Wi-Fi? Always a good thing.
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't even bother with this, but it's an option, I guess!
- Internet Services: Not much beyond basic Wi-Fi, as far as I could tell.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Yes, but sometimes spotty, especially during peak hours.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Probably not. This isn't a conference center!
- Projector/LED display: Nope.
Cleanliness and Safety (Important, Obviously!):
- Cleanliness and Safety: They seem to take this seriously. Rooms sanitized between stays. I felt surprisingly safe, which is a huge relief these days.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: A major plus!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Good to see!
- Hand sanitizer: Available.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Yes, thankfully!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to know what they were doing.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: A definite selling point.
- Smoke alarms: Present and probably working.
- Fire extinguisher: Present and hopefully in good working order!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Because Food is Life, Right?):
Restaurants/Dining Experience: Okay, here's where things get a little…interesting. They don't have on-site restaurants (major bummer!), which means you're either eating takeout in your room, or hitting up the local spots.
Room Service: The very basic options here:
- Bottle of water: Yes, thankfully. Hydration is key.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Not applicable.
- Coffee/tea maker: In-room, and THANK GOODNESS. My morning view required a hot cup of joe.
Snack Bar: Nope. You're on your own for late-night cravings.
Essential Condiments: Be prepared to bring your own. I did, and I wasn't sorry.
Services and Conveniences (The Practical Stuff):
Convenience store: Nope. Stock up beforehand!
Concierge: Nope! You're on your own for recommendations. But hey, that's part of the adventure!
Daily housekeeping: Yes, and they did a decent job!
Cash withdrawal: There's an ATM nearby, which is helpful since they don't offer much in other money services.
Currency exchange: Nope!
Facilities for disabled guests: Already discussed, needs confirmation.
Luggage storage: Yes! Handy for early arrivals or late departures.
Laundry service: Available.
Doorman: Nope. Just you and the ocean.
Car park [free of charge]: Yes! Huge plus.
Car power charging station: I didn't see one.
Taxi service: Yes, but probably best to book in advance.
Air conditioning in public area: Nope.
For the Kids (Family Travel Edition!):
- Family/child friendly: Yes - but very basic. If you're traveling with kids, pack accordingly.
- Kids facilities: None specific that I saw.
Getting Around (Napier is a Gem!):
- Airport transfer: Available, but probably book a private transfer.
- Bicycle parking: There's some, but it’s not particularly secure.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes! Huge plus.
- Car power charging station: I didn't see one.
- Taxi service: Yes, but probably best to book in advance.
- Valet parking: Not applicable.
In-Room Details (Living It Up!):
- Air conditioning: Yep! Essential in summer.
- Alarm clock: Yes.
- Bathrobes: Surprisingly, yes!
- Bathtub: In most rooms. Luxuriate!
- Blackout curtains: Absolutely! Crucial for those sunrise views!
- Carpeting: Yes.
- Closet: Decent size.
- Coffee/tea maker: YES! Praise be!
- Complimentary tea: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes!
- Desk: Yep.
- Free bottled water: Yes.
- Hair dryer: Yes.
- High floor: Ask for one, for the best view!
- In-room safe box: Yes.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Available.
- Internet access – wireless: Spotty, but generally works.
- Ironing facilities: Yes.
- Laptop workspace: Yes.
- Linens: Clean and comfortable.
- Mini bar: Limited, but present.
- Mirror: Plenty!
- Non-smoking: Yes.
- On-demand movies: Available.
- Private bathroom: Yes.
- Reading light: Yes.
- Refrigerator: Yes.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes.
- Scale: In the bathroom.
- Seating area: Decent.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Usually, yes.
- Shower: Yes.
- Slippers: No! Bring your own.
- Smoke detector: Present.
- Socket near the bed: Yes.
- Sofa: Depends on the room.
- Soundproofing: Pretty good.
- Telephone: Yes.
- Toiletries: Basic. Bring your own favorites!
- Towels: Fresh and clean.
- Umbrella: I don't think they're available.
- Visual alarm: Probably available.
- Wake-up service: Can ask for one.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes.
- Window that opens: Essential for ocean breezes!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Beyond the View):
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: YES! Beautiful and refreshing! That's another huge plus.
- Pool with view: Yes! You can chill by the pool and soak in the ocean vista.
- Gym/fitness: No.
- Massage: Not on-site. Bummer!
- Spa: Nope.
- Sauna: Nope.
- Steamroom: Nope.
- Fitness center: Nope.
- Foot bath: Nope.
- Body scrub: Nope.
- Body wrap: Nope.
- Couple's room: Not specifically.
- Proposal spot: Perhaps, with the view!
- Room decorations: Basic.
- Security [24-hour]: Good.
- Smoke alarms: Yes
- Soundproof rooms: Available
- Check-in/out [express]: Doesn't matter if the view distracts you.
**The
Sheraton Zhaoqing Dinghu: Your Luxurious Escape in China Awaits
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. We're headed to the Shoreline Motel in Napier, New Zealand, and trust me, things are gonna get real. Forget perfect plans, we're embracing the glorious, chaotic mess that is life on the road.
Shoreline Motel, Napier, NZ: The Unplanned Adventure (and the Likely Headaches)
Day 1: Arrival, Anticipation, and the Search for the Perfect Pie (Probably Gonna Fail)
Morning (ish): Finally! After a flight that felt longer than my last relationship (a good thing, probably), we land in Hawke's Bay. The air is… different. Cleaner? Sweeter? Whatever, I'm already sold. Grabbed the rental car (fingers crossed it doesn't explode on a gravel road). Now, the drive to Napier… which, judging by the map, involves a lot of coastal scenery. Excellent. My Instagram feed is about to get a serious upgrade.
- Messed up: Forgot to pack adaptors. Already imagining the desperate scramble for charging cables. Sigh.
Afternoon: Check into the Shoreline Motel. The photos online looked suspiciously… perfect. Let's see if reality lives up. (Spoiler alert: it probably won't. But that's part of the charm, right?) Unpack, survey the room, and decide if it lives up to the hype.
- Quirky observation: The lobby is… very beige. Like, aggressively beige. There are no signs of life but the receptionist, or maybe the ghost of a holiday maker from the 80s, I'm not sure.
Late Afternoon/Early Evening: The Quest for the Ultimate Kiwi Pie. This is non-negotiable. I've heard tales of legendary savory delights. The mission: locate the very best pie in Napier. I'm thinking steak and cheese, of course. Or maybe lamb. Or, hell, all of them. We shall begin the reconnaissance immediately.
- Rambling thoughts: Pie. The ultimate comfort food. The cornerstone of any good trip. I can feel the carb coma calling already. I almost drove past a pie shop on the way to the motel!
- Failure: I went to the place I said I'd go to, and they were out of the good stuff. The despair was real. Wandered around aimlessly, bought a generic pie, and felt my soul slowly wither.
Evening: Pie consumption (whatever was left), followed by a sunset stroll along the Napier waterfront. See if I can make friends with a seagull, maybe learn a few Maori words to impress the locals (Kia Ora, I think?).
- Emotional Reaction: The ocean is beautiful, the pie less so. Still, I'm trying to stay positive, to soak it all in. The salty air, the distant glow of the city lights… it's a good feeling.
- Imperfection: My camera battery died. Again. Seriously, why do I even bother?
Day 2: Art Deco Delights and the Wine-Induced Slouch (or Two)
- Morning: Finally, proper breakfast . Fuel up for a day wandering around Napier's famous Art Deco district. Hire a bike and cycle around. I can't promise I’ll be elegant.
- Opinionated Language: This city is GORGEOUS. Like, jaw-droppingly beautiful. Those pastel buildings are just chef's kiss. A crime they don't have places like this back home.
- Afternoon: I'm doubling down on the wine tasting. I mean, it's Hawke's Bay! We're heading to a winery. I don't know which one, just one. We'll deal with the details later.
- Stronger Emotional Reaction: Wine. Glorious, delicious wine. I've made friends already. They like me.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Now we're really rambling. The wine tasting went… well. Maybe a little too well. Found a lovely place to eat, and went for a walk along the beach.
- Messier Structure: I think I made a fool of myself in the wine shop. Told too many people my life story. Bought too much wine. But who cares?
- Evening: Back to the motel. Probably attempt to watch a movie, but will more likely fall asleep.
- The truth: I fell asleep before I could watch the movie.
Day 3: Goodbye, and the Bitter-Sweet Sigh
- Morning: One last walk along the beach. One last attempt to find a perfect cappuccino.
- Late Morning: Pack our bags, check out of the Shoreline Motel, and head back to reality.
- Afternoon: Head to the airport and fly home.
- Emotional Reaction: It's hard to say what went wrong where, but I'm already missing it.
Post-Trip Notes (Because Let's Be Honest, the Itinerary Will Change):
- Expectations vs. Reality: Remember that perfect pie I dreamed of? It probably won't happen. Prepare for a few disappointments. Embrace the chaos.
- The Importance of Flexibility: Plans are merely suggestions. Go with the flow. Let the experience shape you.
- The Memory of it all: All the little things make it better.
So there you have it. My semi-organized, utterly realistic, and hopefully humorous itinerary for Napier. Pray for me. Wish me luck. And remember: the best travel stories are made of the messiest moments.
Unbelievable Pico de Loro Getaway: 1BR Ocean View! (Myna B 106)
