House Rules & Booking Terms
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Changed your plans? No worries! (Cancellations & Changes)
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Give us at least 2 days notice before check-in and we’ll refund you (minus a 3.7% card & admin fee).
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Cancelling within 2 days of arrival? Your first night’s stay is non-refundable and also your second night if canceling within 1 day of arrival.
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Booked through a travel site like Booking.com? Check their cancellation rules—most need at least 5 days’ notice and you'll need to do it on their site.
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Need to change your dates? No problem! You can do it for free up to 2 days before arrival (subject to availability).
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Cancellations must be made via phone or email and we’ll confirm once sorted.
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Lake Tekapo’s situated in an Alpine environment! We can’t take responsibility for road closures or travel delays, so you might want to look into travel insurance.
Paying Up
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We charge the full booking amount to your debit/credit card when you book. Easy as!
Groups & Long Stays (6+ people or 6+ nights)
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A 25% deposit secures your booking and is fully refundable up to 2 months before arrival.
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Cancelling within 2 months? The deposit is non-refundable.
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The rest of your balance is due 7 days before arrival.
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Need to cancel? Let us know at least 7 days before check-in, and we’ll refund everything except your deposit.
No Smoking, No Stinky Food!
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All indoor areas are smoke-free (yep, that includes vapes & e-cigs).
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Smoking or lingering food smells that need extra cleaning will incur a charge.
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Noticed something not how it should be when you check in? Give us a heads-up straight away!
Families & Kids
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Under 18s can stay in dorms/shared rooms only if the whole room is booked by their family.
Furry Mates Welcome (By Arrangement)
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Pets are allowed if you sort it with us first. They must be leashed, well-behaved, and never left alone.
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They’re welcome in your room and the garden, but not in shared spaces or on furniture.
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A $45 fee applies if pet hair means extra cleaning. Any mess or damage? You’ll be charged accordingly.
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If your pet causes any dramas, we may cancel your booking.
No-Shows = No Refunds
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If you don’t rock up on your check-in date, your booking might be cancelled.
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The first 2 nights are non-refundable, and we’ll charge your card if it’s unpaid. The rest follows our cancellation policy.
Keeping Things Chill (General Rules)
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Bring valid photo ID when you check in.
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Quiet time starts at 10:30 PM—let’s keep it cruisy for everyone! If you disturb others, we may ask you to move on.
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Visitors must check in at reception. If they use our facilities (beds, kitchen, lounge, gardens etc.) there’s a $35/hour charge unless pre-arranged.
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Check-out is 10 AM. Need a bit longer? Let us know the night before. Unapproved late check-outs cost $35/hour.
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Free parking is available on-site, first in, first served. There is endless free parking on the street out front.
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Sometimes we might need to swap your room for a similar one. If you’re not happy with the change, you can cancel for free.
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Free WiFi is available, but we can’t promise it’ll be perfect—sometimes things go wonky!
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Found something broken? Let us know ASAP, or you might be charged.
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No drying clothes in rooms or near heaters (fire hazard!). We’ve got a drying room and tumble dryers for that.
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Lost your key? There’s a $24 charge for a replacement.
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Borrowing gear from us? Please return it in the same condition—or cover the cost of replacing it.
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Using a promo deal (like Super Gold Card)? Make sure you meet the conditions, or we may cancel your booking.
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By booking or stepping onto our property, you agree to these terms (including any updates posted at reception).
Your Privacy Matters
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We collect contact info only to respond to your inquiries.
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Don’t want to share your details? All good—but we won’t be able to reply to your message.
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Want to check or update the info we have on you? Flick us a message at stay@tekapohostelnz.com, 03 680 6700, or PO Box 26, Lake Tekapo 7945.
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That’s it! We’re all about good vibes, great stays and making your time in Tekapo enjoyable.
See you soon!