We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Contact accommodation for availability.
There are similar hotels available.
View all
smart99

A very cold experience

2.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 14 Aug 2024
The bed was fabulous and the apartment very clean and spacious but we found that the heating systems aren’t up to the job. Arriving in damp clothes to an apartment that was freezing cold was not a nice experience, and the heat pump was not working. In retrospect we should have got hot drinks and sat out near reception while the place warmed up after maintenance got it working, but we shouldn’t have had to. On day 2 a very old (but effective) lounge wall heater expired, filling our apartment with acrid smoke, resulting in having to be moved to another apartment that again was very cold, think 12 degrees Celsius, and did not have a wall heater.

The bedrooms were only heated by a tiny fan heater, which of course cannot safely be used while asleep. My daughter’s room facing the street would have been 10 degrees C at most on some mornings. Small oil heaters would have been enough. To be told with attitude that we could have asked for electric blankets was unhelpful. They can’t be safely used all night either.
Date of stay: July 2024
Trip type: Travelled with family
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Problem with this review?
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.
Rajeev Dahiya, Guest Services / Front Office at CityLife Wellington, responded to this review
Responded 15 Aug 2024
Hi smart99chaos,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. Once again, sorry for the inconvenience you experienced with the heating during your stay. We understand how crucial comfort is, especially when it comes to temperature, and we fell short of providing the experience we aim for.

We did make several efforts to address the issue, including relocating you to another apartment for the remainder of your stay to ensure a more comfortable experience and providing a wine bottle and hand-crafted chocolates as a gesture of goodwill. Additionally, we waived off $470 on your accommodation to help make up for the discomfort.
I’m truly sorry to learn that despite our efforts we did not meet your expectations in terms of service and comfort. Please be assured that we are taking your feedback seriously to prevent such issues in the future and to enhance our guest experience.

I appreciate your understanding with unexpected maintenance, and I hope we have the opportunity to provide you with a much better experience should you choose to stay with us again.

Kind regards,
Rajeev Dahiya.
Front Office Manager,
CityLife Wellington
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Nearby Hotels
  • Expedia.com
  • ZenHotels.com
    $175
  • Hotels.com
5.7 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Restaurant
  • Expedia.com
  • ZenHotels.com
    $166
  • Hotels.com
2.6 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
$317
Save more with IHG One Rewards
  • Booking.com
  • Hotels.com
  • Priceline
0.1 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Pool
Queen Studio with Shared Bathroom
  • Expedia.com
  • ZenHotels.com
    $118
  • Hotels.com
1.3 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
JCHGC Exterior
Get rewarded with One Key
  • Booking.com
  • ZenHotels.com
    $149
  • Hotels.com
0.1 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Restaurant
Get rewarded with One Key
  • Booking.com
  • ZenHotels.com
    $199
  • Hotels.com
0.6 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Pool
Guest room bath
Get rewarded with One Key
  • Booking.com
  • Sofitel
    $251
  • Hotels.com
0.6 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Restaurant
  • Expedia.com
  • ZenHotels.com
    $150
  • Hotels.com
1.2 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Restaurant
Get rewarded with One Key
  • Booking.com
  • Lol.travel
    $195
  • Hotels.com
0.5 km from CityLife Wellington
Free Wifi
Pool
Exterior view
Get rewarded with One Key
  • Booking.com
  • ibis
    $125
  • Hotels.com
0.2 km from CityLife Wellington
Restaurant
Bar/Lounge
View more hotels in Wellington
Reviews (1,236)
Filter reviews
1,236 results
Traveller rating
525
500
146
49
16
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageAll languages
More languages
Traveller rating
525
500
146
49
16
Show reviews that mention
All reviews city life cable car lambton quay directors suite great location two bedroom apartment full kitchen gilmer terrace washing machine and dryer central location kitchen facilities an upgrade great room te papa street noise staff were friendly and helpful an easy walk
Selected filters
Filter
Updating list...
3 - 8 of 1,236 reviews
Reviewed 30 April 2024

Great stay. Service on arrival was prompt and friendly. Forgot how big the 2 bedroom room was. They’re huge with plenty of space for 2 adults and 2 teenagers to relax in between shopping trips on Lambton Quay which is so easy to access from the hotel. Beds were really comfortable. Washing machine and dryer in the room is always a bonus.
Room was extremely quiet with a lounge & dining area.
The note, chocolates and cookies on arrival were an appreciated personal trust.

Date of stay: April 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank EggGirl
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.
Rajeev Dahiya, Guest Services / Front Office at CityLife Wellington, responded to this reviewResponded 2 May 2024

Hi EggGirl,

I’m pleased to hear that you had an amazing stay! Also, that you enjoyed the spaciousness of our suites and found them perfectly loaded with amenities for your family's needs.

Our team strives to provide exceptional service, so your positive comments about our staff are truly appreciated. Lambton Quay is indeed a fantastic area to explore, and we're delighted that our convenient location added to your overall experience. It's always our goal to ensure our guests feel welcome and valued, so we're glad you appreciated the personal touch.

Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back to our hotel in the near future.

Kind regards,
Rajeev Dahiya.
Front Office Manager,
CityLife Wellington

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 3 April 2024

We stayed at the CityLife in Wellington for 2 nights during our month self drive tour of NZ.
Our 1 bedroom suite (202) was very impressive - lounge with sofa and coffee table, proper kitchen including oven, bathroom (shower over bath) with a full size washing machine and tumble dryer above it (washing powder sachets provided), full size dining room table at one end of the lounge, bedroom (with bathrobes) and further ensuite toilet with washbasin off of the bedroom. The lounge and bedroom looked out across the shopping street of Lambton Quay.
The hotel's reception is effectively at the rear of the hotel and on the 6th floor, as the hotel is on a hill. From the shopping street at ground floor 0, there is no parking, only lift access up to the rooms and reception. if you have a car then the hotel guest parking is allocated bays within a public car park 100 metres up the little back road, but there are a few loading bays directly outside the hotel reception which we used to unload on arrival, and load when departing. Our travel agent had pre-paid the parking charge for us. Our room 202 was on the 2nd floor so we had to go up in the lift to get to reception and to retrieve the car, which feels odd but works fine! Otherwise we walked out via the shopping street, as the cable car pedestrian access is few a minute's walk to the left off Lambton Quay (get there early to avoid the queues!), using that to access Zealandia and the botanic gardens. The waterfront is a 10 min walk. We headed down to the waterfront early evening on our arrival in the warm sunshine and enjoyed drinks and food on the terrace of the Dockside restaurant and bar - it turned out they serve free roast lamb sandwiches on a Friday eve to customers - result!! Woolworths is close by on the same shopping street as the hotel for breakfast supplies.
There were takeaway delivery menus in the room and on the other night of our stay when we were tired we ordered Thai food - placing the order via a phone call to reception. It took an hour to arrive but it was delivered direct to our room.
A very comfortable stay with everything we needed. There were no issues with noise despite the hotel's central location - the shopping street was empty of cars and people in the evenings!

TOP TIP for guests like us who are moving on from this hotel via the Interislander ferry to Picton next morning: it's only 10mins drive, but best to do a route recce the day before when a ferry isn't in, as access is slightly confusing (not helped by SatNav - watch the road signs), and then finding the car rental drop off area is also a bit of a challenge, plus the drop off area isn't equipped to deal with the number of passengers/rental cars in high season. For your ferry departure, best to drive around in front of the terminal to drop the bags with one of you, whilst the other goes off to drop the rental car.

Date of stay: February 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank Roundy
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.
Rajeev Dahiya, Guest Services / Front Office at CityLife Wellington, responded to this reviewResponded 15 April 2024

Kia ora Roundy,

Thank you so much for your detailed and glowing review of your recent stay at The CityLife in Wellington! We're thrilled to hear that you found our one-bedroom suite to be impressive and well-equipped for your needs during your tour of New Zealand.

It sounds like you made the most of our central location on Lambton Quay, taking advantage of the nearby amenities and attractions. We're delighted that you found the suite comfortable, and that city noise wasn't an issue despite our central location.

Your tip about navigating to the Interislander ferry is incredibly helpful for future guests, also want to mention that we have 24 hours reception team available if any guest assistance is required during the stay. We appreciate you sharing your experience to make future guests journeys smoother.

We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to The Heritage hotels on your next visit to Wellington or any other destination in New Zealand!

Kind regards,

Rajeev Dahiya
Front Office Manager
CityLife Wellington

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 27 February 2024

Wonderful stay with a family.
Facilities have certainly exceeded our expectations. Great kitchen, spacious and very central to everything which worked well for us.
Staff is kind and helpful and room was very clean too.
Would recommend and will be back for sure.

Date of stay: January 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank Jess K
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.
Rajeev Dahiya, Guest Services / Front Office at CityLife Wellington, responded to this reviewResponded 6 March 2024

Hi 930jessk,

Thank you so much for the great feedback!

We are thrilled to hear that you had an awesome stay and that you liked our hotel location and loved having kitchen in your suite. Our suites are indeed spacious and fully equipped with all the amenities.
Our team strives to provide exceptional service, so your positive comments are truly appreciated.

Hearing that you and your family had a great experience overall is the best thing we could hope for! Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back to The CityLife Wellington in the near future.

Kind regards,
Rajeev Dahiya
Front Office Manager
CityLife Wellington

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 15 February 2024 via mobile

We have 2 days to explore Wellington and places to go includes Weta cave, Wellington museum, Wellington zoo, cable car and botanical garden.

Location of this accommodation is quite close to the places we wanted to visit. We are staying like 2 blocks away from the cable car ticketing booth.

We do not have time to go to the water front but I saw signage stating water front is like 10 mins away by foot.

There are stores and supermarkets right below the hotel.

Complete set of kitchenette is available in the hotel room which my family loves it. We cook and eat before and after our day trip. This is something which we do not have chance to do when we are at home.

Date of stay: December 2023
Trip type: Travelled with family
Thank Patricia050875
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.
Rajeev Dahiya, Guest Services / Front Office at CityLife Wellington, responded to this reviewResponded 6 March 2024

Hi Patricia,

Thank you so much for your delightful feedback!

We are thrilled to hear that you had an awesome stay and that you liked our hotel location and loved having kitchen in your suite. Our team strives to provide exceptional service, so your positive comments are truly appreciated.

Hearing that you and your family had a great experience overall is the best thing we could hope for! Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back to The CityLife Wellington in the near future.

Kind regards,
Rajeev Dahiya
Front Office Manager
CityLife Wellington



Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 23 January 2024 via mobile

An excellent location in the city centre and within walking distance of the waterfront, botanic gardens, Te Papa and Parliament.

Key things to know before you book:
1. Parking is offsite in a public car park and is $31 per night
2. If driving, enter via Gilmer Terrace and check into the accommodation from this entrance (5-6 short term parks outside the reception doors). No parking is close on Lambton Quay
3. Rooms on level 7 are only available to guests via the stairs - so double check your room allocation before heading off.
4. Air conditioning is only in the sitting room - not suite bedrooms.
5. Countdown (supermarket) is very close for the self caterers.

Date of stay: January 2024
Trip type: Travelled with family
1  Thank megb981
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.
Rajeev Dahiya, Guest Services / Front Office at CityLife Wellington, responded to this reviewResponded 26 January 2024

Hi Megb981,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent stay with us. We are delighted to hear that you appreciated our excellent location in the city center, and the convenience of being within walking distance to popular attractions in Wellington CBD.

We also appreciate your valuable insights for future guests, providing key information to enhance their experience. Your tips regarding parking, and the details about air conditioning are particularly helpful.
I want to notify you that the information about our vehicle and pedestrian entrance is mentioned on reservation confirmations, and we are continuously improving our facilities by installing Aircons in suite’s bedrooms. All our suites have full kitchen, and we are pleased to know that you found our proximity to supermarket was convenient, especially for those who prefer self-catering options.

Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to continuously improving our services based on the insights provided by our guests.

We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back for another enjoyable stay.
Thank you once again for choosing to stay with us.


Kind regards,
Rajeev Dahiya
Front Office Manager
CityLife Wellington

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
View more reviews