Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - AKL Hotels

Hi There,

I will be transiting in AKL for a flight to HKG (from SYD). Arrive in AKL around 9:30pm and the flight to HKG next dat at 2pm.

Jsut wondering what hotel would you guys recommend.

Want proper beds with PROPER duvets and nice surroundings. Also somewhere good to eat.

Have been to AKL before and not interested in toruist stuff.

For that length of time I'd head into the central city rather than staying out by the airport.

Any hotel suggestions?

I don't think priceline works?

Also I checked the Hilton.com site the price is so expesnvie!

I am killing my firend as I lend him my Hilton Premkum cards and he lost it!

Is there a wotif.com in AKL? or anythign similar for cheap 5 star hotels (if such hotel exist in AKL).

yup wotif.com and select nz

Any hotel suggestions?

I don't think priceline works?

Also I checked the Hilton.com site the price is so expesnvie!

I am killing my firend as I lend him my Hilton Premkum cards and he lost it!

Is there a wotif.com in AKL? or anythign similar for cheap 5 star hotels (if such hotel exist in AKL). Yes, wotif.com covers AKL. So does needitnow.com

No, unfortunately Priceline's "name your own price" bid service does not include AKL.

Except at very busy times, you can often also find good last minute, "standby" deals for upper end hotels at the booking service on the arrivals level at the international terminal at AKL.

I would personally recommend the Crowne Plaza on Albert Street. I doubt very much it is the best in town (haven't stayed anywhere else) but rooms on the club floor are often priced quite reasonably and are of a high standard (and the snacks and drinks in the club lounge between 17:30 and 19:30 make for a very nice start to an evening).

Thanks.
How come the Hilton is so expensive? Is it the best hotel in AKL? 400+ per night seems excessive for AKL?

I am thinking of staying at the Sky City (since I should be able to get a bite there given my late arrival time (9:30).

I want to kill my friend that lost my Hilton vouchers! especially the 50AUD welcome voucher is lost as well!

I also realised there are 2 hotels within Skycity (4 star and 5 star)

The Grand hotel looks good with the duvets and the 4 star hotel looks pretty average (no duvets)

However on wotif.com they jsut stated Skycity Hotel, but showed a picture of the Grand Hotel rooms.

Just wondering is this a good place to stay (I guess maybe there is chance I can WIN back the hotel money here!)

I would personally recommend the Crowne Plaza on Albert Street. I doubt very much it is the best in town (haven't stayed anywhere else) but rooms on the club floor are often priced quite reasonably and are of a high standard (and the snacks and drinks in the club lounge between 17:30 and 19:30 make for a very nice start to an evening).

I would agree with the Crowne Plaza - 4 star, but comfortable, good price and location

Haven't stayed at Sky City Grand, but the Sky City hotel rooms are pretty serviceable and certainly not cold enough to require a duvet.

That said my preferred hotel order in AKL is Langham -> Crowne Plaza -> Sky City. I generally stay at the CP as work doesn't like to pay Langham rates.

Sky City location is ok, but you get noise sometimes. And I got bored of it and the lack of reward system after ~50 nights over 2005/2006.

The Hilton is probably regarded as the nicest hotel in AKL, and I've never seen a room below $280/night there.

There're plenty of decent hotels in Auckland.

Not sure why the Hilton is so expensive, I managed to find a rate under $300 when I stayed there a couple of weekends ago, including car parking and breakfast (which is very good).

Sky City Grand is a lot better than Sky City. Sky City is showing signs of tiredness and getting a bit worn down. IMHO, Sky City Grand is better than the Hilton.

The Duxton and the Carlton are OK too. I've found very good rates at these places on wotif.

Anyone tried the Mercure (the one closer to the water)?

Since this is not about the airline, moving to the appropriate destination forum.

cblaisd
Senior Moderator

Personally I prefer the Langham, but the top 5 hotels in AKL are much the same (all good). The Hilton certainly does not deserve its high premium, but seems to be able to get away with it with a combination of brand name, group marketing to fill up the rooms cheaply while allowing selling non-group rooms for double the price, and an inconvenient wharf location that is sold as a feature. The Hilton does have some nice suites and furnishings and is a better than average Hilton, but not really better than its competition in AKL.

If you want to try the Hilton, keep an eye on its web site. They frequently have a "cruise package" for about NZ$295/night all in (that's a little under US$200). You'll get what you pay for though...likely a low floor room without a view. Unless you have Hhonors status (I did not at the time).

I had a one-night stay there between flights in August. About 30-40 minutes from the airport in rush-hour traffic. You'll find tons of info on this property in the Hilton forum and on tripadvisor.com. Easy walk to restaurants in Viaduct Harbor to stretch your legs. Short 5-minute walk to the ferry terminal if you want to hop over to Devonport.

I would agree with the Crowne Plaza - 4 star, but comfortable, good price and location
I stayed at the CP when I was in AKL and was generally pleased. The location is great, the room was nice, but they tacked on a charge for using the room safe. I would stay there again, I would just make sure I didn't get shafted on the safe thing.

I stayed at the Stamford Plaza Auckland this past February. Very nice hotel in the business district a few blocks up from the waterfront. Enjoyed my stay very much.

http://www.stamford.com.au/spak/

I stayed at the CP when I was in AKL and was generally pleased. The location is great, the room was nice, but they tacked on a charge for using the room safe. I would stay there again, I would just make sure I didn't get shafted on the safe thing.

Yeah, the safe thing is interesting. They claim it is a monitored safe but do not say how monitored and, more importantly, how the monitoring justifies the cost of using the safe.

If they are going to have monitored "paid" safes, I'd much rather have a guarantee that the safe is indeed monitored and "safe" plus a description of what they are happy to insure and a guarantee of a "no quibble" payment in the event of a verified (due to all their fine monitoring) theft!

I, too, was looking for reasonably-priced hotel in downtown AKL and came across The Quadrant.

It is my understanding this is a new apartment/hotel complex and one of the poshest AKL addresses. I think you'll find the nightly rate to be around $150 NZD, all in. Here's the link: http://www.thequadrant.com/.

Safe travels.

Thanks.

That hotel looks nice, although the location might not be the best. But for 1 night @ 159NZD incl tax, it is not too bad.

I would agree with the Crowne Plaza - 4 star, but comfortable, good price and location
I stayed at the CP when I was in AKL and was generally pleased. The location is great, the room was nice, but they tacked on a charge for using the room safe. I would stay there again, I would just make sure I didn't get shafted on the safe thing.
Yeah, the safe thing is interesting. They claim it is a monitored safe but do not say how monitored and, more importantly, how the monitoring justifies the cost of using the safe.

If they are going to have monitored "paid" safes, I'd much rather have a guarantee that the safe is indeed monitored and "safe" plus a description of what they are happy to insure and a guarantee of a "no quibble" payment in the event of a verified (due to all their fine monitoring) theft!
I really think using a room safe is like using the toilet in the room - it is a standard feature of the room that should be included in the cost. What was even worse was that there was no indication (sign, sticker, whatever) at the safe to indicate that there was a charge for using it.

While I was pi**ed off when they pulled that on me at check out, it was my last hotel of a long RTW trip and I was ready to go home. I was in no mood to argue and (regretably) paid the charge.

I really think using a room safe is like using the toilet in the room - it is a standard feature of the room that should be included in the cost. What was even worse was that there was no indication (sign, sticker, whatever) at the safe to indicate that there was a charge for using it.

While I was pi**ed off when they pulled that on me at check out, it was my last hotel of a long RTW trip and I was ready to go home. I was in no mood to argue and (regretably) paid the charge.


I would definitely dispute a safe charge if there was no indication you would be charged for it (until check out).

The Hyatt has rooms @NZ$175.50 hyatt.com rate & one earns half of a FFN :) until Jan. 31/ 2007. Or use 5000 GP points!

Personally I prefer the Langham, but the top 5 hotels in AKL are much the same (all good).Just bumping this one, for clarification on what a common top 5 might be. From reading this thread is it Langham, Hilton, Hyatt, Sky City Grand, Crowne Plaza?

Sounds reasonable to me, kiwibigdave. I've also heard very favorable things from many people about City Life - after 3 or 4 stays they tend to automatically start upgrading you.

Amazing that the Hyatt is a GP Cat. 1 :) & will remain so in 2007 ^ while the Hilton is HHonors Cat. 6 :eek: !

We stayed at the Sebel Suites this past January (NZ$200?) for a 1 BR suite- great view of the harbour and plenty of cafes, etc. at the Viaduct.

I just stayed at the CP AKL and I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. Yes, the location is quite central BUT the hotel is a dump and in urgent need of a renovation. They will start renovating the hotel next year, so until this renovation is completed I would avoid this place.