While the big chains can provide a certain sameness that some people find assuring, many people find that selecting small boutique type places that have a personal touch really adds to their enjoyment. You know that you will be greeted on arrival by someone who has chosen to run a business accommodating travellers because they love it. This feeling permeates the whole stay, and helps you to feel both cared for, and given enough space to really make the place your own, no matter how short your stay.

The benefit of the smaller establishment is you can feel more connected wherever you’re staying in the country – whether you have chosen a place in one of the main cities, such as Wellington or a more rural backdrop, such as those in Canterbury. You get to get right into the community, and will often get to listen to some of the amazing stories only a local could tell about the characters who live nearby, or the best places to get amazing food, or that extra secret fishing spot. These are things you can’t read in a tourist flyer, and are far more fun to get straight from the horse’s (or host’s!) mouth while staying at a small luxury hotel in New Zealand.