James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
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James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
147 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
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Avg. $252 /night, 3/20 - 3/21
$265
per night
$191
per night
$116
per night
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Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
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About
#15 of 53 hotels in Wellington
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
The James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor is located in the heart of Wellington City and features a unique thoroughfare between the leading retail district of Lambton Quay and business hub of The Terrace. The hotel features 269 accommodation rooms, two restaurants and bars, and a complimentary in-house gymnasium. High-speed internet connectivity is available throughout the hotel and the exclusive 26th floor Harbour View Lounge offers 24 hours access and the pinnacle of executive comfort with spectacular harbour views, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. The Executive Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Suites have been fully refurbished, including brand new furniture, extensive bathroom renovation with walk-in showers.
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Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Banquet room
24-hour security
Parking
Wifi
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Kid-friendly buffet
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Executive lounge access
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Room service
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Walk-in shower
Safe
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Electric kettle
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
HOTEL STYLE
Bay View
Business
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Hindi
Location
147 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
161 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.0
5,039 reviews
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Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Many guests praise the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor for its strategic central location and the convenience of direct elevator access to shopping areas, as well as its clean, comfortable rooms with modern amenities. However, some visitors note that while the hotel's atmosphere could benefit from an update, features like a pillow menu are a nice touch.
Despite the occasional critique regarding room consistency and service speed, the staff's friendliness and professionalism are often highlighted. Travelers also advise that the value may not always reflect room quality and additional costs.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Traveller rating
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Detailed Reviews
This was our first stay at this hotel and already planning our stay next year. The bedding was super comfortable, we had a newly furnished room and it was exceptionally clean with lovely toiletries, the location is superb with a lift down to the main CBD and the buffet breakfast was great with so many options - we particularly enjoyed the omelette station. The general consensus amongst our group was the terrible coffee - hopefully the coffee machine will be upgraded in the near future before our next stay. The staff in the restaurant were so friendly and nothing was a problem for them. Many thanks to those that attended to us at our breakfasts.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Request a newly furnished room.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was one of several hotels I stayed at during my small group tour across NZ. The location was great: walking distance to everything you’d want to see on a first visit plus grocery and drug stores. I had room service one night and it was quick and delicious. There’s also a coffee bar in the lobby that is good and serves all kinds of hot drinks. There’s an exercise room that is very small but functional.
My single room was a good size with breakfast included: lots of fresh fruit and eggs/ pancakes made to order. As noted in other reviews, the rooms probably need updating: furniture and carpeting are showing wear and tear. The bathroom also could be updated to remove the shower curtain and replace with a glass enclosure.
I would consider staying again.
My single room was a good size with breakfast included: lots of fresh fruit and eggs/ pancakes made to order. As noted in other reviews, the rooms probably need updating: furniture and carpeting are showing wear and tear. The bathroom also could be updated to remove the shower curtain and replace with a glass enclosure.
I would consider staying again.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We stayed in a Deluxe Room on the 26th floor for 2 nights. The room was modern and clean, and included good ammenities. The hotel has easy access to Wellington CBD via an in-hotel elevator, and the staff were friendly and helpful.
The Deluxe Room provides access to a lounge that's equipped with a small selection of fruit, snacks, hot drinks, and soft drinks. The elevators are split into two banks for the upper and lower levels, meaning we didn't have to wait too long to get to and from our room.
We booked via Booking.com and had the option to choose free parking or discounted buffet breakfast. We chose the buffet breakfast, which was very disappointing, and paid an additional $30 per night for the carpark upon arrival.
We'd definitely stay here again. Next time, we'd opt for a cheaper room as the lounge access provided by the Deluxe Room wasn't worth the premium, and we'd skip the buffet breakfast.
The Deluxe Room provides access to a lounge that's equipped with a small selection of fruit, snacks, hot drinks, and soft drinks. The elevators are split into two banks for the upper and lower levels, meaning we didn't have to wait too long to get to and from our room.
We booked via Booking.com and had the option to choose free parking or discounted buffet breakfast. We chose the buffet breakfast, which was very disappointing, and paid an additional $30 per night for the carpark upon arrival.
We'd definitely stay here again. Next time, we'd opt for a cheaper room as the lounge access provided by the Deluxe Room wasn't worth the premium, and we'd skip the buffet breakfast.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kind and professional staff elevating an experience with Wellington. Central location with no outside noises heard. Recommend this place to anyone wanting a hassle free stay and easily accessible taxi access where staff will arrange taxi pick-ups. Staff securely stored luggage after check-out allowing us to see Wellington for several hours without the hassle of carrying our luggage around.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do not stay here. The rooms are dated, carpets are threadbare, walls are thin, and you overlook a busy highway. It’s in a convenient location but people from the street cut through the hotel all day and there are several better hotels nearby. The front desk staff are unhelpful and did not care about my questions. They didn’t inform me that I needed a parking pass and because of this I spent $48 on parking for one night. When I tried to get a hold of the manager, it took several days and he only gave me a refund of $15 despite admitting that his staff made a mistake. There are several much better and less expensive hotels close by. Please do yourself a favor and avoid this place
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
asked me to pay 60 dollars for the upgrade and gave a me tour to choose a room. room #1 smelt like smoke and perfume, room#2 had a dirty duvet and room #3 which I took had poo in the toilet and blood drops and snout on a wall of basin and shower. she was with me during the tour so I could not have made this up. they promised to clean once I am back from the gym, only cleaned the toilet and walls remained dirty; at night time the inner duvet was smelly and was sticking out of the cover all the time because it was not done properly and I had no sleep. They still made me pay 40 extra for the poo in the toilet :D on top of what my company paid ; their food and coffee was disgusting.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed one night on our tour of New Zealand. We had booked a Terrace Wing Room. This is an entry point room so we managed our expectations accordingly. Our room on the 16th floor was
not just standard it was substandard!! The carpet was patched and dirty and the furniture very shabby. We were very tired after a long drive and my husband couldn’t wait to remove his shoes but he wouldn’t as he didn’t want to walk on the floor barefooted. I visited reception and requested a room change - we were move to another wing which had been refurbished at our expense. The receptionist was lovely - listened to our concerns and said she would raise them with the manager who would contact us. I also contacted our tour company and sent them photos. They immediately contacted us and offered to cover the cost of the upgrade and asked us to attend reception for a refund. Only after he was contacted by our tour company did the duty manager ring our room. I found him to be defensive stating that we should have researched more before booking. I advised that I had researched and viewed pictures of this room type across multiple booking sites - and they did not show the room to be this shabby or worn. He stated a refurbishment would take place next year. Not helpful to us!! And then suggested I just enjoy my new room. When I went to reception for refund of the upgrade he would not process it but assured me it would be done before we checked out. Two days later it still hasn’t happened.
The room in the refurbished wing had the same layout and was the same size but was significantly better with a lovely bathroom. The TV didn’t work but I just didn’t want to speak to reception about this as I was just over it at this point.
If you are travelling with a SVU like our hire car you will find the parking tight.
The thing I liked most about the hotel was the access via internal elevator to Lamberton Quay.
Would I recommend this hotel “No”
not just standard it was substandard!! The carpet was patched and dirty and the furniture very shabby. We were very tired after a long drive and my husband couldn’t wait to remove his shoes but he wouldn’t as he didn’t want to walk on the floor barefooted. I visited reception and requested a room change - we were move to another wing which had been refurbished at our expense. The receptionist was lovely - listened to our concerns and said she would raise them with the manager who would contact us. I also contacted our tour company and sent them photos. They immediately contacted us and offered to cover the cost of the upgrade and asked us to attend reception for a refund. Only after he was contacted by our tour company did the duty manager ring our room. I found him to be defensive stating that we should have researched more before booking. I advised that I had researched and viewed pictures of this room type across multiple booking sites - and they did not show the room to be this shabby or worn. He stated a refurbishment would take place next year. Not helpful to us!! And then suggested I just enjoy my new room. When I went to reception for refund of the upgrade he would not process it but assured me it would be done before we checked out. Two days later it still hasn’t happened.
The room in the refurbished wing had the same layout and was the same size but was significantly better with a lovely bathroom. The TV didn’t work but I just didn’t want to speak to reception about this as I was just over it at this point.
If you are travelling with a SVU like our hire car you will find the parking tight.
The thing I liked most about the hotel was the access via internal elevator to Lamberton Quay.
Would I recommend this hotel “No”
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Had we known to inquire about the water pressure in our bathroom when we booked, would have saved a very disappointing experience. The expectation that the shower pressure and water flow would be enough to have even the most basic of washes should be the bare minimum when paying a premium price for one of the better rooms in the hotel, I would expect. Staff shortages are no excuse for no water, but the staff that were there were very courtious and obliging. This is the second stay at the James Cook and will be our last for now. Disappointed
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Overall good stay, nice room, very clean and tidy. Room service was advising 20 mins delivery but was closer to 45 minutes and the food was average comparing to price.
All staff friendly and helpful. Location is perfect for my needs for business.
Thank you
All staff friendly and helpful. Location is perfect for my needs for business.
Thank you
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good stay, was everything we needed. The location was great as we could enter and exit from Lambton Quay as well as the Terrace. Room servicing was great as they would service when we needed it done and didn't need to be done at a certain time everyday. Would be good if TV had google Chromecast rather than just youtube and cable - a small issue though.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes valet parking
Thank you for your question. We offer a dry cleaning laundry service only, where your items are picked up and delivered, after being laundered. There are no coin-operated washing machines at the Hotel.
Hi Kurt,
Thanks for your message.
There is no pool at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor. Our leisure facilities include a day spa and fitness room.
Shower over bath and no hand help. Good pressure
There is a small fridge in the room - don't know about the safe as we didn't need one.
"Don’t stay here they overbook and will be disingenuous in their dealings with you."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$143 - $248 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
james cook wellington
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandGreater WellingtonWellington
NUMBER OF ROOMS
269
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
Which popular attractions are close to James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Nearby attractions include Escape Mate (0.3 km), Tarot Zamm - Tarot Reader (0.5 km), and Wellington Museum (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Yes, paid private parking on-site, paid private parking nearby, and paid public parking on-site are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Conveniently located restaurants include Shed 5 Restaurant & Bar, Boulcott Street Bistro, and Pravda.
Are there opportunities to exercise at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness centre during their stay.
Is James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.2 km away from the centre of Wellington.
Are any cleaning services offered at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Chinese, and Hindi.