AKL Hotels

[Evan]

Anybody got any advice for a nice AKL hotel, i will be on the very anti social LA flight on my last morning.
In 2 minds if i should stay close to the airport but did not see anything good, is there ? or a nice place in the city.

Any hints from anybody ?

Crowne plaza maybe ?
Westin seems a bit pricy unless its really good.

 

[munitalP]

Hilton, downtown!

10/10

Mr!

 

[turtlemichael]

CP is ok..it's maligned in the FT forum but I actually found the Club there more than passable. And it does earn points for a PC member like you.

 

[Evan]

CP is ok..it's maligned in the FT forum but I actually found the Club there more than passable. And it does earn points for a PC member like you.

Yes, i have earnt my Platinum again this year already (90k points so far) so not so worried about it being PC but hey its cheap.

I like the idea of the Hilton, looks very nice. Have to check it my Hilton membership thing gets me anything also. (Yes i am a HH but i also have the paid thing as well for all my AU stays and i think that also includes NZ... to check)

E

 

[Mal]

(Yes i am a HH but i also have the paid thing as well for all my AU stays and i think that also includes NZ... to check)

Yeah, HPC covers NZ as well, although availability for the"Exclusive Rate cards" is limited.

 

[Evan]

Yeah, HPC covers NZ as well, although availability for the"Exclusive Rate cards" is limited.

I still have my $99 card since i only renewed a month ago, it does say NZ so i will ring and ask and probably stay there atleast 1 night to see what its like.

 

[Mal]

I still have my $99 card since i only renewed a month ago, it does say NZ so i will ring and ask and probably stay there atleast 1 night to see what its like.

You can book online through the HPC site for the $99 rate - Equals 113.00 NZD .

 

[serfty]

I still have my $99 card since i only renewed a month ago, it does say NZ so i will ring and ask and probably stay there atleast 1 night to see what its like.

That's probably the best value of the HPC card; this property is otherwise quite expensive.

Note that you will need to fight hard for a stay credit if using that rate.

 

[JohnK]

I haven't stayed at the Crowne Plaza but I have stayed at the Hilton and the Grand Chancellor. Both are very nice but you will probably get more benefits out of the Hilton.

And if you are going to stay in town then a good alternative is to hire a car, and credit to one of the FF programs, which beats the price you will be paying for a taxi.

Note that you will need to fight hard for a stay credit if using that rate.

Just keep persevering with emails to Hilton Honors if the stay does not credit.

Personally I see no difference in using the $99 rate card in Australasia or paying $99 for a room in the family of Hilton properties in the USA. The stay and points should credit as normal but Hilton Honors loves to play games. One of the reasons I have given up trying to achieve status with Hilton Honors....

 

[Flashback]

Hopefully straitman will chime in, I vaguely recall him suggesting a nice place near the airport to anat0l when he did the same flight.

 

[Gold Member]

Thumbs up fo the Hilton. Another place you might want to consider is the Sebel Suites on Viaduct Harbour. I stayed there just recently in a Marina Suite with great views over the harbour and all the moored yachts/boats.

 

[Leumas]

The Hilton has been given a thumbs down lately on FT... I haven't stayed there for over 2 years now, so don't know what it's like.

The Westin is very nice though. I'd pick the Westin over the Hilton.

Sky City Grand (not the normal Sky City) is very good too. There's also the Langham, but I've never stayed there.

 

[tuapekastar]

Hopefully straitman will chime in, I vaguely recall him suggesting a nice place near the airport to anat0l when he did the same flight.

Not wanting to put words in straitman's mouth, but I think it was The Ventura Inn he spoke about...and recommended as quite ok in context of the other hotels/motels nearby.

And if I've ballsed that up, sorry!

 

[anat0l]

Not wanting to put words in straitman's mouth, but I think it was The Ventura Inn he spoke about...and recommended as quite ok in context of the other hotels/motels nearby.

And if I've ballsed that up, sorry!

That was the name of the place recommended to me.

Last time I had to take LA801 I just stayed up all night and waited for a shuttle / cheap taxi to go to the airport (NZD 35). Left AKL city at 0230h, arrived about 0300h, checked in, immigration didn't open until 0430h :shock:

If you absolutely must stay somewhere, I'd consider how much time you're spending there, unless comfort is an absolute must. In which case, there are some nice contenders in AKL, but I can only give you my experience from my stays last year.

Hilton is very nice and comfortable, although I have heard from FT that the ball has dropped a bit since I was there last June (but then these are the same people who had a go at the CP). Note there is no Exec Lounge in AKL (not that would be useful anyway, because you wouldn't get any breakfast before you had to head to the airport).

The Mercure Windsor (note there are two Mercures within half a block of each other), which was quite comfortable and is very much downtown in Queen St (unlike Hilton which is about two-ish blocks away, tucked into Princes Quay).

The Rendezvous is good but is a little bit of a walk to downtown. Also, unless you are being driven there, a bit difficult to get to.

The Crowne Plaza is located right next to Auckland Tower. Clean delivery with the usual PC and CP simplicity.

In the end, it's either your loyalty or how much you're prepared to spend - that's the choice I'd make.

Big note - if you intend to use an airport shuttle, make sure you book as far in advance as you can. Places book out very quickly for the first shuttles of the morning. The Airbus does not operate 24 hours and the first service from the city will not get you to LA801 on time. You probably do not want to book a taxi to the airport unless you can share the fare. (Shuttles are only around NZD 25.)

 

[Evan]

Sorry i should have said, i am not doing a turn around the same night, i will probably stay a couple of nights but thanks for all the good advise.

Now i was wondering how people read the rules for xONEx's since maybe i can change to a different QF flight ? Especially since i only tool LA801 because it had F, which it no longer has

E

 

[JohnK]

Hilton is very nice and comfortable, although I have heard from FT that the ball has dropped a bit since I was there last June (but then these are the same people who had a go at the CP). Note there is no Exec Lounge in AKL (not that would be useful anyway, because you wouldn't get any breakfast before you had to head to the airport).

Another reason why I totally ignore reviews on travel related websites. Who are the people doing the reviewing or criticising? The ones who only like to stay in 5 star hotels and presidential suites? Give me a break! There are plenty of hotels/motels ~$100/night which are more than adequate.

I stayed at the AKL Hilton in September 2008 and the room I was allocated was perfect for the one night stay on the $99 rate.

 

[notzac]

As an aside, I'm looking for a reasonable hotel in AKL for May for a few nights - however I've got no specific loyalty to any hotel brand and would rather stay somewhere a touch more "boutique" than your average Hilton or Marriott. I'm also trying to find somewhere with non-gougy Internet access rates (somewhat of a rarity in Auckland CBD it seems!) Here are the options I've found and liked the look of so far - any other suggestions/recommendations?

Hotel DeBrett - looks very sexy, right at the top end of what I wanted to spend though. Includes complimentary WiFi, seems to be stumbling distance from a few good bars
The Quadrant - horrid website (flash/sound), however gets reasonable reviews on TA. About 10 minutes walk out of the CBD on the downside, very cheap on the upside.

Hmmm.

 

[anat0l]

As an aside, I'm looking for a reasonable hotel in AKL for May for a few nights - however I've got no specific loyalty to any hotel brand and would rather stay somewhere a touch more "boutique" than your average Hilton or Marriott. I'm also trying to find somewhere with non-gougy Internet access rates (somewhat of a rarity in Auckland CBD it seems!) Here are the options I've found and liked the look of so far - any other suggestions/recommendations?

Hotel DeBrett - looks very sexy, right at the top end of what I wanted to spend though. Includes complimentary WiFi, seems to be stumbling distance from a few good bars
The Quadrant - horrid website (flash/sound), however gets reasonable reviews on TA. About 10 minutes walk out of the CBD on the downside, very cheap on the upside.

Hmmm.

Had a look at those two and agree with all of your conclusions.

The DeBretts is a black sheep in that the internet is complimentary - and that probably props up the price plus the "boutique" value. Admittedly, the rates in May are decidedly higher than those advertised on their web site - all the cheap rooms probably gone?

If you don't mind the 10 minute walk, The Quadrant doesn't look too bad for its price. No note about the internet, so I'm going to punt it is charged.

The long and short of it is that broadband internet in NZ is expensive - full stop, no joke. Almost everywhere you go, it is expensive. Most hotels will charge hourly rates (no day caps on cost either) - and a handful will also limit bandwidth; Australia isn't much better but at least for $30 a day I can bleed as much internet as I can from a Hilton in Australia (or, at least now until Mar 2010, I could use my HHG to get Exec Lounge - 'net access there - or free high speed internet).

 

[serfty]

... I could use my HHG to get Exec Lounge - 'net access there - or free high speed internet).

That would be guaranteed "Continental" breakfast or internet.

Lounge access via HHonors is guaranteed for Diamonds and only where a lounge exists and is open.

 

[futaris]

We stayed at the Westin Viaduct over the Easter Weekend, using SPG points. The hotel definitely lives up to it's reputation, but I'm not sure that I'd spend 300 NZD/night to stay there otherwise.

On the plus side, we did get a free upgrade to a larger room, a junior suite I think. I think this was since we arrived fairly late and were going to leave fairly early. Can't comment on the restaurants/breakfast, but the room service menu wasn't that expensive.

We flew out on QF50, which leaves at OMG o'clock too. There were a few people from the LA flight in the QANTAS club, and some South American newspapers there. Since there were two of us, we just did a one-way 24hr car rental from Auckland City to Auckland Airport (with Hertz, which is 2 blocks away). ~80 NZD covered the rental, fuel and we should get some BMI miles to boot. Parking overnight is no problem, as there is plenty of street parking nearby.

Oh, and if you're after prepaid Internet and have a 3G modem, Vodafone NZ now offer Prepaid Broadband. 40 NZD for 512MB data, 10 NZD for 100MB, 1 NZD/day.