Lylo Christchurch

“Novel experience – walking the backblocks of an empty airport & hotel/hostel accommodation at night. Clean. Quiet night.”

Review of the Lylo Hotel, Christchurch Airport, New Zealand Christchurch Airport and the Lylo Hotel have become synonymous with our travel to New Zealand during the past three years – given the inconvenience of early-morning flights and/or late evening arrivals. Therein, of course, is the convenien… more

Review of the Lylo Hotel, Christchurch Airport, New Zealand Christchurch Airport and the Lylo Hotel have become synonymous with our travel to New Zealand during the past three years – given the inconvenience of early-morning flights and/or late evening arrivals. Therein, of course, is the convenience/value of the hotel. We first stopped over in 2023 having arrived on a late-night flight. This time we had an early morning departure. Apart from the name of the place – which has changed – the hotel was much the same as we remembered from earlier - highly convenient, friendly people, value-for-money. We had booked into a ground floor ensuite double room #23 which was accessible along a corridor that linked directly to the lobby/concierge inside the main entrance. It was in a quiet part of the building and away from the communal sleeping, food-preparation, dining, recreation areas, laundry, etc. The room was compact/space-efficient; it contained a single narrow passageway from the door to the window - higher than usual on the outside wall of the building. To the left as you enter was the ensuite bathroom then a double bed set into the three surrounding walls. So, there’s a measure of decision-making/choice/clambering around for who sleeps against the wall and who sleeps against the passageway? Get up in the night and you may have to clamber over your partner. Seating? On the side of the bed. You can store your cases under the bed or in the passageway. There’s a small television fixed to the dividing wall of the bathroom which enables you to watch it laying on/in bed. Limited space apart, the room was convenient, comfortable and welcome for an early departure the next day. Sleeping area, passageway and bathroom were clean and presentable. There was plentiful hot water. The television contained an easy-to-use alarm that worked-well for that wake-up call. We enjoyed a quiet night. We checked out the next morning by following the instructions at the desk of the concierge … to drop your e-key in the box provided on the counter. There was a novelty element about leaving – the fading darkness/creeping light and the empty airport outside, the walk along the quiet back blocks following the covered pathway between the hotel and the terminals. The covered section stopped/started close to the neighbouring Sudima Hotel. We knew the route from earlier and of the importance of collecting a luggage trolley for the journey – from wherever there was one available – terminals, car park, road outside, etc. This we kept in the room over night. Just across the car park from the hotel is the Spitfire Shopping Centre with focus supermarket and a selection of eating places – Mexican, Korean, Thai, Indian, etc. We chose the latter and, after dining well, returned to our room for an early night. We had checked in electronically for the flight 24 h earlier without being aware of the change of departure time and then arrived at the airport terminal for 06.00 h (for that original 08.20 h departure time). The flight had been rescheduled. An engineering issue had cropped up – we were informed - and departure would be at 15.00 h or thereabouts the same day. We had nine hours to fill and came away from that experience with a couple of tickets that would later provide lunch at the airport. Sleep beckoned, however, and we figured to re-explore the checkout time available at our hotel nearby. There was no concierge available at the desk (24 h service it said) so we headed down to the communal catering/cooking/dining/food/recreation area and made ourselves a cup of tea from the food/drinks that we had left there – which is what departing guests tend to do. Twenty minutes later we returned to the lobby. We were fortunate with a highly accommodating concierge who returned our door key and reminded us of the 11.00 h deadline for departure. It resulted in an additional – much appreciated - three hours sleep. We should have been so fortunate. Full marks to the LyLo Hotel team for their flexibility/consideration. Peter Steele 12 May 2026

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“Good option for early morning departures out of Christchurch Airport”

We recently stayed at the Lylo Christchurch hotel near the airport and had a good experience. This is a basic, sort of boutique backpacker style place with simple rooms that are small but functional, perfect for a one night stay prior to early morning flight departures. Check-in is at 3pm sharp but… more

We recently stayed at the Lylo Christchurch hotel near the airport and had a good experience. This is a basic, sort of boutique backpacker style place with simple rooms that are small but functional, perfect for a one night stay prior to early morning flight departures. Check-in is at 3pm sharp but quick and easy. You can use the facilities and lockers prior to check-in if needed. Our room was sufficient with a comfy bed, bit of space for repacking luggage, simple bathroom, telly mounted on the wall. The property includes a really nice indoor hangout area with lots of chairs, tables, hammocks and large kitchen space with loads of cookery and cutlery if you want to prepare simple meals instead of eating out at the nearby Spitfire shopping area just next to the hotel. Importantly, you can walk to/from the airport in 10 minutes from the property. Overall, Lylo is a well located and good, functional place near the Christchurch Airport. Room rates are reasonable for the location and quality of property. We'd be happy to stay here again based on this experience.

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