Positive Aspects:
• Fantastic hotel location
• Lovely lobby area
• Friendly and helpful staff
• A variety of tea bags provided in the room, along with a beautiful China tea set and a separate kettle for water (aside from the coffee machine)
• Slippers are provided in the room (note: no bathrobes)
• Breakfast was included, but the buffet options were fairly limited. The food was decent, though nothing special, and we’re not picky eaters. While there was an egg and omelette station, there was an extra charge if you wanted eggs or an omelette made to order. Scrambled eggs were included in the breakfast buffet.
Things to Consider:
• We were assigned a room on the 8th floor, but the elevator only goes up to the 7th floor (we were not informed about it till we walked to the elevator). From there, we had to walk up a few flights of stairs. After a long cruise with 5 suitcases, we appreciated the staff's help in carrying our luggage to the room. However, we had to allocate extra time at the checkout to get assistance with bringing our luggage down.
• The air conditioner is positioned directly above the bed on the ceiling, blowing icy cold air straight down from a one-foot wide, unfiltered pipe. While the air is refreshing, it feels like a hair dryer blasting directly onto your head. We had to turn it off at night, which made the room uncomfortably warm. Additionally, the rain during the night created loud noises, amplified by the air duct running through the ceiling. The roof insulation seemed inadequate, causing the rain sound to be particularly disruptive at night.
• The bathroom is quite spacious but feels bare, with just two metal hooks for towels on the wall. The countertop below the sink has no drawers and offers very little space for toiletries. The design is very basic, almost like an exam table you'd find in a veterinary clinic. The mirror is oddly secured with large bolts to a strange pole attached to the table. Honestly, Dexter would probably appreciate it – it seems like it could be easily hosed down for cleaning. LOL
• For coffee drinkers, there are only two coffee pods (one regular, one decaf), while there are 20 tea bags available for tea drinkers
• The desk in the room is similar to the bathroom countertop— no drawers.
• The room contains a very small closet in the living area, which isn't suitable for long clothing, and only offers two small drawers for storage.
Summary: We stayed here for one night after a cruise to catch our flight the next day, the hotel was selected by the cruise company. Personally, I wouldn't want to stay here for more than one night due to issues with AC duct location and the lack of storage space for clothes and other personal items. It would be equivalent to living out of the suitcase. The beds are fairly soft, with a mattress pad on top, which is ideal if you prefer a softer, fluffier mattress—though it’s not to my personal liking. Based on U.S. standards, I would rate this hotel no higher than 3 stars, though I recognize that standards may differ in New Zealand. I wouldn't describe my stay as a luxurious 5-star experience.