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Reviews of City Lights Boutique Lodge

4.5 out of 5
City Lights Boutique Lodge
56c Mountain Road, Western Heights, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 68 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful stay in peaceful surroundings with a great view down into Rotorua. Close enough with a car to all the local attractions but far enough away from the busy town centre. Lovely breakfast, very comfortable room and even managed to find time for the hot tub! Would highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing place to stay
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely beautiful accommodation and the owners/staff were amazing! So friendly and kind to us during our stay. The room was so clean and was very very comfortable! Would definitely stay again! It’s amazing!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021
Response from David on 19 Jul 2021
Thank you for your review, we are happy that you had a great time here.

10/10 Excellent

K

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing place to stay and hosts. Has everything you need to stay and more including Alpacas you can feed and an outdoor spa pool.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Response from David on 7 Jul 2021
Thank you for your nice review.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The cottage we stayed is fully equipped with everything we need and has a beautiful view overlooking the city of Rotorua. We loved that we could feed the Alpancas everyday. The location is handy away from the city but handy to get around. Our hosts David and Grace were very friendly and hospitable, and made us feel very welcomed when we first arrived. We enjoyed our stay and would sray there again when we next visit Rotorua
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021
Response from David on 8 Jun 2021
Thank you for your review we are really happy to hear you had a good time here

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved the peaceful outlook from the cottage. Was cool to feed the alpacas in the morning too. Nice to have use of the spa as well. Owners were super friendly and allowed us to keep to ourselves for a nice quiet weekend away.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Response from David on 21 Apr 2021
Thank you for staying with us. David & Grace

10/10 Excellent

Charles

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
lovely place to stay
We stayed in a separate cottage that was well organized , extremely clean and comfortable. There were many extra touches , such as robes, Beach towels, barbecue, food for breakfast, maps and things to do in the area. We hosts were very helpful. There is a lovely hot tub to use. The accommodation is about a 15minute drive to the centre of town. Great place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Response from Grace on 14 Jan 2020
Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us & liked the cottage. We hope to see you again one day.

10/10 Excellent

Genevieve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect Place to Stay
We highly recommend a stay here. The cottage included several thoughtful touches - the hosts have clearly put a lot of thought into making sure everything a traveler might need was in the cottage and made us feel welcome and provided lots of info about the area. It was a sleemless check in...Perfect location for those with a car up on the hill with stunning views and a hot tub and alpacas!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Response from Grace on 13 Jan 2020
Thank you for your review. We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay with us and liked meeting our friendly pets. We do hope that you visit us again one day.

10/10 Excellent

John Keith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Upscale B&B in Rotoroa
Very upscale B&B home with lovely views of the Rotoroa valley & city. Immaculate rooms with nice breakfasts too. David & Grace gave us great activity recommendations & helped book a dinner event, as well. They were extremely friendly & professional. Bonus: 5 adorable alpacas nearby, to feed, pet & take photos. We’d return!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Response from Grace on 8 Jan 2020
Thank you John for your lovely review. It was lovely meeting you and your wife and we are very happy that you enjoyed your stay. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday too. Thanks Grace & David

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wow!
It was awesome! Great hosts and a beautiful location.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019
Response from Grace on 22 Aug 2019
Thank you for your review, we are happy you had a good time here.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful views. Alpaca's in the front yard. Very close to town. We were in the private house so it was very nice and cozy.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019
Response from Angie & Leigh on 22 Feb 2019
Thank you for leaving a review. We are happy that you enjoyed the views and your stay. We think it's great having alpacas in the next paddock too.

10/10 Excellent

John, Auckland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
More than expected
Walking into something without too much expectations, my partner and i where very surprised. So nice to be greated like old friends who haven't seen each other in ages! The views, tiny gym, sauna, spa, comfy beds and you have to feed the alpacas! Was a real nice change to be JUST out of town (Just a couple of kms). Home made breakfast with a country touch was a sad reality that we had to leave that day. Will be back but not soon enough.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018
Response from Angie & Leigh on 8 Jul 2018
Thank you for your review. We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay with us and will be returning one day. It was lovely meeting you too.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This is the best place to stay in Rotorua. The hosts Leigh and Angie are so warm and welcoming. You will experience true hospitality here. Their homemade breakfast that we enjoyed here each morning was delicious, healthy and filling. It is the perfect to start your sightseeing day. The homemade blueberry muffins and zucchini bread were delicious and comforting. The homemade plum jam, grapefruit marmalade, lemon curd, peanut butter, and muesli were delectable as well. Our room was extremely clean, comfortable and luxurious. This really felt like our home away from home. Angie and Leigh gave us extremely valuable tips on when and where to best see the sites. I think we made the most of our 2 days here because of Angie and Leigh’s recommendations. When we visit Rotorua again, we will certainly stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2018
Response from Angie & Leigh on 3 May 2018
Thank you so much for your review. We are extremely happy that you enjoyed your stay with us and everything we do to make our guests feel comfortable and happy with us. We are glad you liked all our homemade preserves and muffins and you found our advice and tips helpful for you to make the most of your time with us. We hope that you enjoyed the rest of your time in NZ too and we hope to see you again one day if you ever return to Rotorua. Thanks again, Angie & Leigh.

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great option in Rotarua
A comfortable stay in a well- decorated house. Lots of lounging space, a spa, views, excellent breakfast.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2018
Response from Angie on 18 Feb 2018
Thank you for your review. We are happy that you enjoyed your stay.

8/10 Good

Arie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great honeymoon stay!
We stayed for two nights on our honeymoon and had a great time! The hosts are extremely accommodating and went out of their way to give advice on activities, get to know us, and make our honeymoon feel special. They decorated our honeymoon suite and offered to drop us off downtown in the evenings. They obviously care about their visitors and their business. It felt like staying at a friend's home, having breakfast and drinks in the living room and getting to know the hosts and other guests. Views are amazing and getting to feed the alpacas was so much fun! Walls in the rooms are a bit thin/accommodations a little tight for those wanting a lot of privacy but the hosts and warmness of the place more than make up for that and it's a true B&B experience. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2017
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are really happy that you enjoyed your stay with us and enjoyed the little extra touches we added for you honeymoon. Generally, people who stay in B&Bs know that they are staying in someone else's home and expect other people to be around. Our self-catering cottage and apartment would probably have been a better option for you if you wanted privacy because they are fully self-contained and away from the main house. We do care about our guests and want to help them to have the best time they can when they are with us. Thank you for recommending us.

10/10 Excellent

Alex, Hamilton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful B&B
Had a wonderful stay at City Lights Boutique Lodge Really nice place not too far from all the attractions Hope to be able to go back with friends
Response from Angie on 20 Sept 2016
Thank you for your review. We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and wish to return. Hopefully you will be able to stay longer next time and make the most of the wonderful attractions that Rotorua has to offer.

10/10 Excellent

Jeff

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great Homestay in Rotorua.
Great stay at City lights with wonderful hosts that prepare a great breakfast for you. Great views of the city from the house and cute alpacas in the backyard.
Response from General Manager on 7 Sept 2016
Thank you for your review. We are happy that you enjoyed our breakfast and the views, especially the alpacas. We hope to see you again one day.

10/10 Excellent

Joy, Warsaw, Poland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fab city getaway!
After a long day of driving and sightseeing, City Lights was like a relaxing oasis for us. In fact, we bought groceries in town and took advantage of the outdoor grill to cook our own dinner. Local NZ wine, cheese and steaks plus the lovely views - what's not to enjoy! After dinner, we enjoyed relaxing a bit more in the hot tub! Thanks to our lovely hosts for a great night! Angie was sweet enough to turn on the heater to warm up our cozy room before our arrival and made us fresh museli in the morning. And we got to meet the friendly alpacas. So cute! All in all a great place to stay during your NZ adventures.
Response from Angie on 19 May 2016
Thank you for your review. We are happy that you enjoyed a relaxing stay with us. Even though it was only one night you really made the most of your stay, which is what we like guests to do. It was great meeting you both and we hope you come back & stay longer the next time you are in NZ.

10/10 Excellent

Steven, Charlotte

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Extremely clean and hosts very friendly!
What a wonderful time. The hosts were very attentive. We really enjoyed meeting their pet alpacas! City Lights was extremely clean and neat but with a homey feel
Response from Angie on 4 Feb 2016
Thank you for your review. We are very happy that you enjoyed meeting our alpacas and were happy with your stay with us. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in NZ too.

10/10 Excellent

Deb, Hamilton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Luxury in the hills
Had a lovely stay in this gorgeous B & B. The couple that run it are just so sweet and can't do enough for you. Very comfy bed and the breakfast, superb! Highly recommended!!!
Response from Angie on 4 Oct 2015
Thank you for your review. We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay with us & thought the breakfast was great. We are always looking for ways to improve what we offer & value feedback.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Response from Angie on 22 Aug 2015
Thank you for your score.

10/10 Excellent

David, New York

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hidden Gem of Rotorua
Went above and beyond to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Hidden gem of Rotorua. Must stay!!!!
Response from Angie on 22 Aug 2015
Thank you for your lovely comments. We are glad that you were happy with your stay.

10/10 Excellent

Vito, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The best view and very friendly owners.
Don't worry about the distance from town, it really isn't far and it is well worth the extra 5-10 minute drive to get there because you can get away from any sulfuric smells and the views are just stunning from up the hill. The city lights at night are beautiful to look at and the views during the day are just as grand. The caretakers of the bed and breakfast are truly a delight! They are very friendly and offer the best advice for things to do and places to eat around Rotorua. Nothing but fresh air and the feeling of privacy all around the property. This place is the perfect getaway in New Zealand. There are also some alpacas on the property that the owners will let you feed and get close to if you ask. Some rooms are very quaint but cozy. We recommend the suite as it has plenty of room, a great view, and it doesn't cost that much more than the other rooms. I was celebrating my birthday during one of the days I stayed there and when the owners found out they were so nice that they got me a card and a souvenir the next day (the day of my birthday)! I highly recommend this place if you are staying in Rotorua. I can't imagine a better place to stay. With a tasty complimentary continental breakfast every morning you can't beat it! The owners will work around your schedule. The location is just within 7-15 minutes of all the attractions in Rotorua. Don't miss out!
Response from Angie on 1 Jun 2015
Thank you for your lovely review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us & we enjoyed meeting you both. We also love the view & never get tired of looking at it as it changes every day depending on the weather. We hope you come back to stay again one day.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location. Friendly staff. Very comfortable rooms.
Response from Angie on 18 Jun 2015
Thank you

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan, Auckland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best B&B in Rotorua
Fantastic bed&breakfast! Best stay so far in Rotorua.
Response from Angie on 30 Mar 2015
Thank you for your comments. We are happy that you enjoyed your stay with us & you thought that ours was the best stay you had. Thanks again.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Citylights
This BnB owners Angie and Leigh made us feel like a family Superb view through our room Amazing ambience Overall a wonderful stay
Response from Angie on 30 Mar 2015
Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us & liked the views. We hope to see you again one day.

8/10 Good

Gary, California

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
NIce B&B, but far from town
This well-kept modern B&B is artistically decorated and sits high above Rotorua. Which means it is a fairly long drive into town, but has none of the sulphurous smells either. The owner is pleasant and helpful, has a well-mannered cat and dog, and several alpacas out back. The City Lights views are seen from the common area and 2 of the guest rooms. The 3rd room (our room) had a view of the side utility yard, so ask for one of the view rooms when booking. the room was also pretty small, but of course that is typical for almost all B&Bs. Our bathroom was odd in that there was no enclosure for the shower. It sprays right onto the main floor. There is a semi-circular hanging curtain that somewhat contains the water spray, and a drain in the center of the room, where most of the water drains, but you do end up with a generally wet bathroom floor if you take a shower. The breakfast was quite nice.

8/10 Good

Gina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
great 2 bedder 5 mins from centre Rotorua
Great little 2 bedder apartment, just 5 minutes drive from Rotorua. Very comfortable and well laid out, has everything you need, including internal laundry (came in very handy with a little one :)) Owner very friendly and helpful, good advice, and lovely breakfast hamper pack. Only 2 small negatives - small shower, and small bedrooms - not enough room for our luggage plus portacot. But that said, is great little 2 bedder for a good price.

10/10 Excellent

Kelly, Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A lovely place to stop in Rotorua
Our hosts were welcoming and friendly and the location has lovely views do the surrounding countryside. We really enjoyed our stay.

8/10 Good

Beat Boxer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Service and lodgings great
Last minute supporters needed a room for 2 nights (i.e. I get told the night before Im heading to Rotorua for the half-marathon) so luckily City Lights had a vacancy: kea room = queen bed, kettle for hot drinks on separate stand (milk provided, no room fridge), en suite, flat screen tv, closet with built in shelves/drawers (no luggage stand). Shared lounge/dining room. Access to shared small fridge (no access to kitchen..microwave etc). Service and lodgings great and well maintained. (compliments to the builder, great workmanship - so Dad raved) Little bit of a windy drive to get to from the road. Tip: dont arrive after dark like we did, some tricky turns, and you could miss the small signage (which Dad did). However, if you're after peace and quiet, away from the central city (..and your pocket is suitably padded), this tranquil b&b is perfect.

8/10 Good

Po, New Zealand - Auckland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Facilities: Basic; Value: Average price; Service: Respectful, tries to please;

10/10 Excellent

Julie, Salt Lake City

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful location overlooking Rotarua
Lovely location and accommodation. The hosts were very nice and the breakfast was outstanding.

8/10 Good

james, london

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Room comfort
pretty basic
Very difficult to find. There is a sign on the main road, but once you enter the area, signate is extremely poor. The place is very basic - nothing luxurious about it.

10/10 Excellent

Angie, Melbourne, Vic AU

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful Getaway at City Lights!
What a lovely way to spend time in Rotorua. Amazingly friendly and helpful hosts in serene and beautiful surroundings. A true getaway with all the comforts of home. Lovely views of the city lights at night and beautiful mountain and city views during the day. Can't wait to come back on my next visit but make sure I stay longer. Kids loved the open space and the animals - particularly the very friendly goat. Highly recommended.

4/10 Poor

Peter, England

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Facilities: Unpretentious; Value: Over-priced, Could be better; Service: Non provided ; Cleanliness: Grubby; Advertisement badly worded no mention that apart from main bed the others were BUNK Beds hardly suitable for a grown up to sleep on

10/10 Excellent

Stuart, Australia - NSW - Sydney

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Facilities: Good; Value: Affordable; Service: Go the extra mile, Outstanding; Cleanliness: Spotless, Immaculate, Pristine; Amazing people

8/10 Good

C & N, Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect place away from hustle and bustle
You will need to have a car if you choose to stay here. My husband and I stayed at the cottage during our stay. If you like to be away from the hustle and bustle, is definitely worth a bit of drive away from the town centre. The cottage is furnished with everything you need and we felt at home during our stay. Anyone with kids will love this little cottage too because the owners have a friendly goat and a few alpacas at the fenced up area. We personally enjoy sitting outside on the decking overlooking the town area every evening after spending the day exoploring the surroundings of Rotorua.

10/10 Excellent

Lil, Menlo Park, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent Hotel, a MUST in Rotorua
Our host Naomi pays attention to all details, and she is so delightful and helpful. We love the landscape view during the day, and the night view is the best with city lights against a starry sky. Love the animals in the house: Jelly the pooch and Snowy the cat. Love the goat in the fenced up yard, and the alpaca! Wonderful experience!

8/10 Good

Ellen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
overall our stay was great, except the hut or unit for family stay is a stand alone one and away from the main house, which is shown on the booking system.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
good mountain view
nice view I chose this cottage as per reviews. however, it is not as good as I was expected. it was ok. Rating for this cottage may 4 out of 5. not 5 of 5.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
As described and comfortable stay

10/10 Excellent

Joan, New Zealand - Bay of Islands

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Service: very friendly; Cleanliness: Spotless; a bedroom chair would have been nice

10/10 Excellent

Christian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Second time - Still as excellent as the first time
This was the second visit to the City Lights Boutique and will not be the last. Excellent hosts, beautiful rooms and awesome location.

8/10 Good

Susan

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service

8/10 Good

Antonietta, Australia - VIC - Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

10/10 Excellent

Sandra, New Zealand - Auckland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Facilities: Above average; Value: Affordable; Service: Good; Cleanliness: Spotless;

8/10 Good

achana, BKK Thailand

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely place to stay
The lovely place you must stay in Rotorua.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect place to unwind
A perfect place to unwind. Nice hosts and a great room. The location is far away enough from everything so you can unwind but only minutes from all the important places in town. Great rooms and just a perfect stay all around!