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 40 accommodations on the island, only one has more than 50 rooms. The rest are quaint guest houses, 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 Accommodation in Niue.
Quick Things You Need to Know About Staying in Boutique Accommodation 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, only has around 55 rooms on the complex
- All but one of Niue’s boutique accommodations have self-catering facilities
- For entering Niue you need to have your accommodation booked before you arrive on the island – 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.
(c) Matapa Guest HouseTypes of Boutique Accommodation in Niue
The variety of boutique accommodation 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 guest houses, 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$70 to $110 per night. Check out some examples of guest houses in the 10 Best Guest Houses in Niue.
Villas/Cottages/Units
Another type of boutique accommodation in Niue is villa/cottage/unit complexes. 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$120 to $300 per night. Check out some examples in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodation 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 accommodation. Holiday homes range from NZ$150 to $400 per night. See some examples in the 10 Best Holiday Homes in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comLocation, 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 accommodation.
Where is the Boutique Accommodation Located?
Niue’s boutique accommodation is 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.
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 accommodation 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.
(c) PexelsWhat’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 accommodation, 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, with the exception of the Lialagi Units in Lakepa. 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 accommodation 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:
- 5 Accommodations in Niue with Bike Hire
- 6 Accommodations in Niue with Car Rental
- 8 Accommodations in Niue That Offer Airport Transfers
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 on the windows
- Gardens
Additional Services and Facilities
Some, but not all, of Niue’s boutique accommodation 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. Now check out The 30 Best Accommodations in Niue so you can compare places to stay.
