The Westin Auckland-Lighter Quay

[Keith009]

The Westin Auckland-Lighter Quay
Viaduct Harbour

I was v happy when this hotel opened last year, as Auckland has had no Starwood properties till then, after the Sheraton turned into the Langham. This hotel has a v nice location on the Viaduct. It is near plenty of v good restos and cafes, and has a beautiful waterfront setting.

I arrived at about 0030 and a very good looking bell hop sprang out to help with my bags. Got an upgrade to a Junior Suite, which had a v large bathroom. The v minimalist decor was soothing after the extremely long day I had. The Heavenly Bed at this property was one of the most comfy beds I've ever slept on anywhere in the world! It had a v soft mattress, just the way I like it.

Like I mentioned the bathroom was huge and had seperate bath/showers. The shower stall was generously sized. I personally prefer a standalone shower stall as I always feel iffy about falling down (especially when hungover) in one of those combined bath/shower type things.It featured the usual generic Westin toiletries, IMO premium-brand toiletries would've been nice like what features in similar room categories at lots of properties in Asia.

The rest of the hotel also features a rather contemporary and minimalist decor, with a Maori accent. I love the Westin's clean and sharp feel, the Westin is my favourite Starwood brand after the Ws and the art/tech LMs.

 

[Keith009]

Didn't experience too much of the service to comment on it extensively, but the staff I've dealt with were pleasant enough.

I'd woken up too late for brekkies at Q Restaurant, but the cafe Toast made a mean Eggs Benedict with salmon and sauteed spinach as well as awesome soy latte.

I thoroughly enjoyed my short stay here. Pity it was too short a stay, as the flight delay had reduced my stay to less than 12 hours. Deffo my property of choice on my next visit to Auckland!

 

[ioki]

the pictures you've taken of the westin strikes me as they seem to be very similar to the hilton auckland's decor!! uncanny!

 

[Homer]

I stayed at this hotel for two nights back in April, in a Junior Suite. It is nice and new as you point out - and a cut above the Hilton which is showing a little bit of its age now.

However I found the service was pretty terrible. The check-in staff were arrogant and the "concierge" desk was staffed by a succession of pimply teenagers with less local knowledge than me (and I only visit AKL a few times each year).

But the silliest incident was that an American guest was complaining about the fact that he didn't get an upgrade on check-in, and he was doing this loudly in the executive lounge on the top floor so that everyone else could hear. The hotel manager placated him by offering him a half-priced dinner in the hotel restaurant for 4 people, plus a free bottle of wine. Then later, when my wife and I were dining in the hotel restaurant, the manager walked in and complained about the (previously complaining) guest to a waitress. It was terribly amateurish and I felt embarrassed for them.

Still, I'd stay there again too...even just to see if they are still working out how to run a hotel...

 

[Keith009]

I stayed at this hotel for two nights back in April, in a Junior Suite. It is nice and new as you point out - and a cut above the Hilton which is showing a little bit of its age now.

However I found the service was pretty terrible. The check-in staff were arrogant and the "concierge" desk was staffed by a succession of pimply teenagers with less local knowledge than me (and I only visit AKL a few times each year).

But the silliest incident was that an American guest was complaining about the fact that he didn't get an upgrade on check-in, and he was doing this loudly in the executive lounge on the top floor so that everyone else could hear. The hotel manager placated him by offering him a half-priced dinner in the hotel restaurant for 4 people, plus a free bottle of wine. Then later, when my wife and I were dining in the hotel restaurant, the manager walked in and complained about the (previously complaining) guest to a waitress. It was terribly amateurish and I felt embarrassed for them.

Still, I'd stay there again too...even just to see if they are still working out how to run a hotel...

Eeek.... thankfully no pimply and clueless teenagers at the concierge desk for moi.

It would be far more productive to report denial of benefits (whether actual or imagined) to SPG Corporate Customer Service - the property actually gets fined if after an investigation the guest's complaint is verified. Last time the Sheraton Sydney tried to give me a park view room when there was an exec suite available (checked online after I got into my room) - i emailed corp cust svc and CCed the GM. Turns out the property was corporate owned, and the GM is also SVP of Starwood Asia Pacific. I got upgraded immediately to a v large suite that was way bigger than the Select Standard Suite upgrade PLTs get...:mrgreen:

 

[sr81]

Stayed here about two weeks ago and was upgraded to a corner room on the third floor that looked very similar to QF009's photos. Had no idea it was a junior suite though the GF was quite taken with the view and the size of the shower.

In all it was an OK hotel. I found the service was slooooow from the house staff but the bar staff were a step above. The man making coughtails on Friday night rocked and knew how a good shaken should be going on!

Auckland Fashion Week (not an oxymoron) was taking place during our stay and I was continually frustrated by the lack of attention staff paid to paying guests. They seemed more concerned with these posers who weren't even staying there. Simple things like porters and hailing taxi's took way to long.

Upon my return to MEL I was sent a kind letter from the duty manager informing me that my mini-bar usage had not been added to the original bill and that I owed them an additional NZD150. 'I have gone ahead and charged your credit card this fee'. No you f'n don't! The mini-bar list was everything in the mini-bar, one kit-kat, one Corona, one light beer, one coke etc....

Thankfully one phone call at 9am MEL time resolved the problem and the charge removed.

I liked the propety but they seem to be missing the 1%'s. I would stay here again as I like to location and layout of the propety.

 

[Keith009]

According to someone on SQTalk, there've apparently been reports of guests falling into the ground level water features at this properties. :shock:

 

[Febs]

Thanks for the report. Found out today I have to go to Auckland next week, and this place is on our preferred hotels list. Whoo.

According to someone on SQTalk, there've apparently been reports of guests falling into the ground level water features at this properties. :shock:

Are the ground-level water features near the bar by any chance?

 

[Keith009]

Are the ground-level water features near the bar by any chance?

Not that I recall, but the hotel is on the Viaduct. I can see how that's easy to do after a night out at the Viaduct.

 

[ANstar]

I agree that service can be a bit slow and missing in some cases with this hotel.
Have only stayed about 4 times in the past 12 months but each visit has had some sort of service issue.

On our last visit, we noticed dirty room service trays along the corridor at around 10am. We came back to our room at 7pm and noticed the same trays sitting there plus more from through out the day. I thought it strange as our room had been made up, os staff had obviously been on the floor.

On our way out for the evening (about 9) the trays were still there so I mentioned it to reception upon leaving. They said oh we will send someone up to clear them. I questioned why the room service poeple who had been since or the maids could not have done this early - the response - not their job. I then questioned why they couldnt have got the right people to do it then - response not their job again!

Not really the right attitude!

 

[sr81]

Not that I recall, but the hotel is on the Viaduct. I can see how that's easy to do after a night out at the Viaduct.

As you walk up to the hotel the front entrance is framed by two water features that are lower than the pavement but have a very similar look. Expect one has water over the top of it.....

I could easily see someone tumbling in and getting real wet. The entrance is also poorly lit in that trendy sort of way so after a few bevvy's I would watch my step or it is squelchy, squelchy for you.

The health centre and pool is also very nice so a swim before breakfast is well worth a look in. The only drama is that if you are on the wrong side of the hotel you need to walk through the lobby in your robe/board shorts/budgie smugglers to get to the pool. Guess which option I chose.....

Enjoy your stay Febs it is actually a pretty cool little property.

 

[Alanslegal]

Thanks for the report. Found out today I have to go to Auckland next week, and this place is on our preferred hotels list. Whoo.

Febs, please report back your PLT upgrade.

 

[superchris]

I stayed last Monday night (6th) at this Hotel.

I received a platinum upgrade from a Superior (Bus Depot view) room ( NZD290) to a suite on the 6th Floor (638) that had an outside terrace area on 2 sides. Was told that this was the best of the Junior suites on this top floor.
The Exec Lounge is now closed (turned into a seminar room) but I was given 2 drink vouchers (ration cards) for the Office bar.Just a quick one nighter but I was pleased with the Plat recognition and service. Buffet breakfast was nothing special but the coffee was excellent.

 

[Alanslegal]

Buffet breakfast was nothing special but the coffee was excellent.

Since there is no more lounge, was breakfast complimentary as a PLT guest?

Little things like free breakky make me - 'this leisure traveller' interested in

 

[superchris]

Since there is no more lounge, was breakfast complimentary as a PLT guest?

Little things like free breakky make me - 'this leisure traveller' interested in

Alanslegal,
Breakfast was in Q restaurant and I can confirm now that Buffet breakfast in Q cost me NZD32 .

 

[Keith009]

Like i said in my review, v nice brekky to be had in the cafe Toast next door (also part of the hotel), which might well be a cheaper alternative to Q. Moreover Q brekky stops at 11am or thereabouts, which might be a bit of a challenge to wake up for some of us. (ok speaking for myself here...)

 

[Febs]

Toast..thanks, I'll have to check that out. Will report back on Plat upgrade too...if it's anything like my last 10 SPG stays (with the sole exception of W Union Square)...I'll be very, very impressed.

Quick question (rather than starting a new thread...) How are Duty Free prices in AKL? Specifically for single malts - Glenmorangie, Macallan etc..? Pretty much on-par with SYD/MEL/BNE (i.e. barely worth it)?

Last question - why would QF offer MEL-SYD-AKL (leaving from MEL dom) with a 1hr connection time through SYD? Surely that's nowhere near enough, for people flying Y, no APEC, etc..? Also, having not connected dom->int through SYD before...is there a free bus if flying QF? Or can you ride the train for free?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[serfty]

There's a 'free bus' -but a 1 hour connection seems somewhat tight (plus you dip out on full enjoyment of the Flounge)

Why would you fly via SYD unless you were after some additional SC's?

MEL has two daily flights; one gets in around 6pm - a 747/332, the other is a 737 and gets in around 1am (But good for WP, in that you can pre-flight eving meal in the Flounge

 

[Febs]

Why would you fly via SYD unless you were after some additional SC's?

MEL has two daily flights; one gets in around 6pm - a 747/332, the other is a 737 and gets in around 1am (But good for WP, in that you can pre-flight eving meal in the Flounge

Both are terrible options for our situation sadly. We need to put in half a day's work on Wed, and still get into Auckland at a reasonable time on Wed night. The options are: fly out of MEL 11:50am (no chance of making it out to site that morning), or fly out 8:30pm (and get into AKL @ 2am...)

Ideally a ~4pm flight out of MEL would've been perfect. We're going to take a ~2pm out of MEL and get into AKL at around 10:30pm. Not ideal, but the best situation. I was looking forward to trying out the MEL Flounge...but I guess I'll just have to stick with the best.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[serfty]

OT: A bit

Fair enough - indeed I guessed the answer as I posted ...