Holiday Inn Auckland Airport

[markis10]

The Holiday Inn is not located on the airport as such but is in an area best described as an industrial park some 4km away, opposite the Grand Chancellor.


There is a shuttle bus (the big yellow bus) available every 30 minutes from 4AM to 2AM that does not have a set timetable, tickets can be purchased from parking ticket style machines at the bus rank on the right of the city bus rank and in the hotel, cost is $6 each way, payable with coin or credit card.

 

[markis10]

I arrived after midnight (as I imagine many do) and was promptly checked in. The room is old and worn but OK, much like the proverbial country brick hotel, with a very soft bed and the normal HI amenities.

 

[markis10]

Breakfast in the morning was average and costs $27, normal buffet type food however as I was dining late and close to the finish of the service! food was not fresh.

The hotel features a special on four square that would be handy if you check in while the bar is open.



There is also a pool area which is somewhat small for the size of the hotel, and does not allow food and drinks.



The grounds also contain some unfenced shallow ponds.

 

[markis10]

Internet is free for rewards club members but was patchy and slow, typical of many Reivernet installations. Other amenities include a mini bar that is "just the way you like it", in other words empty to be filled on request, a good iron , aircon and flat screen TV.

Conclusion
I paid $90 for the night and found it good value, quiet and a good sleep was had, but the hotel can get pricy going by some dates I was looking at, with 6 hotels nearby it may not always be value.

 

[eric2011]

Internet is free for rewards club members but was patchy and slow, typical of many Reivernet installations. Other amenities include a mini bar that is "just the way you like it", in other words empty to be filled on request, a good iron , aircon and flat screen TV.

Conclusion
I paid $90 for the night and found it good value, quiet and a good sleep was had, but the hotel can get pricy going by some dates I was looking at, with 6 hotels nearby it may not always be value.

Thanks for all this info on the shuttle bus and hotel. I've got a dash across the ditch tomorrow and back on Friday and had booked the HI and was researching bus options when I came across all your info. Because of last minute bookings best rate I managed was $150 NZD

 

[markis10]

Thanks for all this info on the shuttle bus and hotel. I've got a dash across the ditch tomorrow and back on Friday and had booked the HI and was researching bus options when I came across all your info. Because of last minute bookings best rate I managed was $150 NZD

No worries, the bus ticket machine can be a bit hard to find at AKL, as you come out of customs and go outside, you need to turn right and head past the city bus stop to the one that has the car park shuttles etc. The machine will be there, same as many of our parking meters, and takes coin or CC.

 

[eric2011]

No worries, the bus ticket machine can be a bit hard to find at AKL, as you come out of customs and go outside, you need to turn right and head past the city bus stop to the one that has the car park shuttles etc. The machine will be there, same as many of our parking meters, and takes coin or CC.

Thanks Markis, in your opinion did you find the bus to be on time. The schedule quotes leaving hotel on the hour and the half past. For an 8.05am domestic would the 7.00am be the correct one to take. No luggage, not even a CO. I have a domestic down to Whakatane and then back to AKL in the arvo for a flight back to BNE in the evening

 

[markis10]

Thanks Markis, in your opinion did you find the bus to be on time. The schedule quotes leaving hotel on the hour and the half past. For an 8.05am domestic would the 7.00am be the correct one to take. No luggage, not even a CO. I have a domestic down to Whakatane and then back to AKL in the arvo for a flight back to BNE in the evening

I think it must have been on time, I was not in a hurry so just sat outside on a bench enjoying the scenery till it rocked up. There were taxis at the hotel if things got tight.

 

[eric2011]

Thanks, all info digested

 

[serfty]

...
There is a shuttle bus (the big yellow bus) available every 30 minutes from 4AM to 2AM that does not have a set timetable, tickets can be purchased from parking ticket style machines at the bus rank on the right of the city bus rank and in the hotel, cost is $6 each way, payable with coin or credit card.

...

Just noticed this - my last stay waslast year, a NZD10 R/T fee for the bus was charged to your folio. Of course, only if they know you were using it.

 

[eric2011]

Thanks everyone, did a dash on Thursday arriving 5.00pm into AKL & stayed at HI on Thursday night then early morning flight to Whakatane. Late evening back TGA to AKL and back to HI then the 9.20 ANZ 747 to BNE on Sat All this during their so called cyclone Lusi.

Air NZ 777/300..... J class to AKL, 9 out of 10

Holiday Inn AKL airport..... Booked standard room got King pool view, Good restaurant, bar, service etc for an older type airport hotel. 7 out of 10

Air NZ domestic flights...... Excellent, 10out of 10

Air NZ 747/400....... J class to BNE, 4 out of 10. ( old plane, older hosts, mechanical probs, etc)

Airport shuttle was Mickey Mouse, hotel to airport was ok and time but coming back from airport the buses seemed to float off into a differs universe, but for $6 each way it was better than the $26 for a taxi ( I paid it cause the bus was in the other universe when I needed it the most. lol