How to Pick the Best Boutique Accommodation in Niue

Advice on Choosing a Boutique Accommodation in Niue

Niue is a small island nation with small accommodations to match. That’s right, out of around 30 accommodations on the island, only one has more than 50 rooms. The rest are quaint guesthouses, cottage complexes, motels or holiday homes which never feel “crowded”. Nevertheless, choosing a boutique accommodation in Niue can be tricky when considering the location, facilities and services, the type of accommodation and the price. See the guide below for more advice on choosing a boutique accommodation in Niue.

For examples of boutique stays, check out the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations in Niue.

5 Things You Need to Know About Boutique Accommodations in Niue

Almost all of Niue’s accommodation is boutique – they are either a holiday home or have only two to seven rooms/units
Even the largest accommodation, which is the resort, has around 55 rooms in the complex
All of Niue’s boutique accommodations have self-catering facilities
For entering Niue you need to have your accommodation booked before you arrive – see The Best Way to Book Accommodation in Niue for advice
Don’t plan on hiring a car? Stay in or close to Alofi so you have access to some shops and restaurants on the island.

How to Pick a Boutique Accommodation in Niue

Types of Boutique Accommodation in Niue

The variety of boutique accommodations in Niue is very limited. There are no hotels, no bed & breakfasts, no boat stays, no homestays and just one resort. The types of boutique accommodation can be divided up into guesthouses, villas, cottages, units and holiday homes.

Guesthouses

Guesthouses in Niue tend to refer either to backpacker-style accommodation, where guests in private rooms share communal facilities, or a budget holiday home (i.e. hiring a whole home for your group). Guesthouses of the former tend to have three to four rooms for guests. These are your cheapest type of accommodation on the island, ranging from NZ$50 to $70 per night. Check out some examples of guesthouses in the 10 Best Guesthouses in Niue.

Villas / Cottages / Units

Another type of boutique accommodation in Niue is akin to a villa/cottage/unit complex. These are usually properties with a selection of two to seven separate self-contained accommodations where each unit has its own private self-catering and bathroom facilities and bedrooms. These types of accommodations are where the largest range of prices are, ranging from NZ$70 to $520 per night. Check out some examples in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Niue.

Holiday Homes

Finally, holiday homes are a common type of accommodation in Niue, where visitors can hire out entire homes for their group. They are often located in villages or between villages away from other tourist accommodations. Holiday homes range from NZ$200 to $550 per night. See some examples in the 10 Best Holiday Homes in Niue.

Location, How to Get There and What is Nearby?

On the one hand, location is important in Niue if you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive too much. On the other hand, Niue is a small island where nothing is more than a 30-minute drive away so, if you have a car, you will be able to get around easily. Nevertheless, it’s still worth considering locations, how to get there and what is nearby when comparing boutique accommodations.

Where is the Boutique Accommodation Located?

Niue’s boutique accommodations are scattered in and between many of the villages in Niue. Each village will have its own sea track or attraction nearby, but only Alofi has shops, services and restaurants. With that in mind, if you want to be able to easily access these, make sure you stay nearby Alofi. The only exception for food is that Tamakautoga has the Scenic Matavai Resort‘s restaurant, Tuapa has the Hio Cafe & Bar and Avatele has the Washaway Cafe (only open Sunday).

How to Get There

If you hire a car, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting anywhere on the island thanks to Niue’s short driving distances. However, if you’re not hiring a car from day one, then you might want to consider choosing an accommodation that offers airport transfers and/or bike hire for getting around the immediate area. Learn more about getting around the island in our Niue Transport Guide: 11 Ways to Get Around Niue.

What’s Nearby?

It typically makes for a pleasant stay if you are staying somewhere with things to do nearby. Many of Niue’s boutique accommodations will have a nearby snorkelling spot or sea track to explore. For convenience, you might also want to consider staying close to restaurants or supermarkets, most of which are in Alofi. Check out the villages, where they are located and what there is to do nearby in A Guide to the Villages in Niue. Plus, check out Where to Stay in Niue for tips on location.

What’s Included in Your Stay?

It’s the added extras that can turn a good holiday into a great holiday. Make sure to compare the inclusions of Niue’s boutique accommodations, as well as the facilities so that you have everything that you want and need.

Self-Catering Facilities

Self-catering facilities are typically included in a boutique stay in Niue. You can at least expect basic cooking facilities, such as a stovetop, microwave, fridge, cooking utensils and crockery, a toaster and a kettle. Only some accommodations have ovens and additional kitchen appliances like a rice cooker, grill, barbecue, pizza oven, etc.

Transport Services and Facilities

A small selection of Niue’s boutique accommodations offers some sort of transport-related service. This could be free airport transfers, car rental (either included in the rates or an additional cost), or included bike hire. For more information on these services, check the following articles:

Typically Included Facilities

These are the facilities that are almost always included in your accommodation in Niue:

Car parking
Hot water (usually solar-heated)
Fans
Insect screens
Gardens.

Additional Services and Facilities

Some, but not all, of Niue’s boutique accommodations include additional services. Take a look at the services and facilities below and pick the ones you require to keep in mind when comparing accommodations.

Swimming pool
Whale watching deck
TV
Telephone
WiFi
Washing machine
Air conditioning
Outside deck or verandah
Tea and coffee
Toiletries
Iron
Portacot
In-room safes
Fresh seasonal fruit
In-house tours or cultural activities for guests.

More About Boutique Accommodation in Niue

That’s it for how to pick the right boutique accommodation in Niue. More tips for experiencing a fun and smooth getaway to the island can be found in the guides below:

Finally, check out The 30 Best Accommodations in Niue so you can compare places to stay.

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Niue Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. He is also consulting regularly with Niue Tourism to ensure content accuracy. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

Contact Robin via our contact page