The Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park recently claimed the dubious honours to Escape the City’s “Worst Caravan/Campsite Award“. As Ying is to Yang, it gives me great pleasure to award The Jailhouse hostel in Christchurch, New Zealand, winner of Escape the City’s “Best Hostel Award”. (Yes, I just created this award too.) In the budget price range it whips the competition, and badly — it’s the best hostel in which we’ve stayed. Globally.

Converted a couple of years ago from a disused jail, the owners have clearly stayed in hostels themselves and have thought through just about everything. It’s cleaner than everywhere we’ve stayed, it’s brighter, it’s interesting, it’s sociable (but not too sociable!). There’s a cinema, a gym, a free pool table — not that we’ve used any of them. More importantly, the kitchen and bathrooms are spotless and better equipped than everywhere else. The staff are first class. The bedroom size is adequate (in fairness, it was a prison cell), the beds are better than most hotels, and we’ve even got a TV and DVD player (with free DVD rentals) in the room. There were two rolled, fluffy white towels on the bed awaiting our arrival. If it weren’t for the beautiful countryside that demands exploration, I’d vote to stay here until our visa expires.

Squiffy and I are seriosuly considering getting the staff here a box of choccies to say thanks. Every time I look, they’re cleaning or helping others. On my return, one of my business vague ideas is to run a hostel. If I do so, this place will be my benchmark. And I’d hire any of the staff in a nano-heartbeat. Well done guys: The Jailhouse… Rocks!

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