Overnight stay in Auckland

[thommo9]

Hi everyone,

Looking to travel to Queenstown on 27th or 28th of November from Adelaide. Looking at flights and notice a lot of flights will be from ADL to MEL or SYD then to Auckland and an overnight stay in Auckland then Queenstown the next morning at 7am. Has anyone done the overnight stay in Auckland (at airport or in Accomodation)?

Obviously I am trying to find flights all in one day but finding it difficult on Qantas, VA and Jetstar to complete the journey in one day. The return leg is fine and can get flights in one day but going there, looking tough to find single day travel.

Any advice from anyone who has been in this situation recently?

Thanks!

 

[Mal]

Novotel Auckland airport. Great hotel.

Other options:
- Formula 1 (very budget)
- Sleep on airport bench (no comment, but others here have done that).

Getting into town isn't worth it. There are some nice "around airport" hotels, but IMHO don't bother. Stay somewhere very close.

 

[simongr]

The Novotel is good as long as you don't sleep through your alarm and miss your flight...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Haven't stayed in the Novotel, did stay in the Airport Grand Chancellor in July and it wasn't very Grand
Previous trips we have made taken lengthy and expensive cab fares into CBD. Next time I think I'll try the Novotel

 

[serfty]

The Holiday Inn provide a 24h shuttle at $10 rt - run every 30 minutes around ¼ past/to the hour.

The Novotel is extremely convenient.

I have slept upstairs at the observation deck level scores of times. Earplug and Eye mask are recommended. (I generally have lounge access with complimentary showers/breakfast before my onward flight the next morning).

 

[harvyk]

- Sleep on airport bench (no comment, but others here have done that).

Yeah, don't do that... AKL airport is a wasteland at 3am, and the benches are not comfortable... (trust me on that one...)

Depending on what time your flight gets into AKL you could always go into the CBD (that way there are decent resturants and bars to go to), I did WLG-AKL-MEL a couple of years back with an O'Nighter in AKL, I stayed at the City Central hotel, they where relatively cheap and last time I was there (and the various times before) they had a deal going with a local taxi co which meant that you could get a taxi back out to the airport and it'd be a flat rate of $30 (as apose to $60 or $70 it'd normally cost).

 

[serfty]

The Airbus runs 24H (albeit infrequently at night) and costs $26 round trup.

Taxi's are exorbitant unless you can get one of harvyk's deals.

There are also the SuperShuttle @ ~$32 o/w.

Many of my flights land about Midnight and with a, say, 8am departure leaving the airport is just too hard.

 

[samiam]

Novotel Auckland airport. Great hotel.

I stayed here a fortnight ago - $199NZD (not sure if this was the best price, booked through work).

An easy walk across to the terminal.

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm staying at the Novotel next week prior to my OMG O'Clock LAN flight! I can't see how you can go past it for convenience.

 

[munitalP]

I'm staying at the Novotel next week prior to my OMG O'Clock LAN flight! I can't see how you can go past it for convenience.

Be interested in your comments on the novotel. Hilton have priced themselves from the market on NOV 3 so I will have to accor... My track record with accor is less than ordinary...

 

[Mal]

Be interested in your comments on the novotel. Hilton have priced themselves from the market on NOV 3 so I will have to accor... My track record with accor is less than ordinary...

What do you want to know? I spent about 4 hours there recently between a "Way too late arrival" and a "Way too early departure".

 

[TonyHancock]

Be interested in your comments on the novotel. Hilton have priced themselves from the market on NOV 3 so I will have to accor... My track record with accor is less than ordinary...

I must admit Novotel is not my first choice. It is literally the convenience of walking to the terminal at Auckland. (I'm a control freak - waiting for shuttle bus stresses me out!!!) I'll report back!

 

[munitalP]

What do you want to know? I spent about 4 hours there recently between a "Way too late arrival" and a "Way too early departure".

Usual stuff quality, service etc

 

[Mal]

Usual stuff quality, service etc

At about 11:00pm, I dragged my tired body + carry-on over the ~50m walk to the hotel.
Check-in was simple. No negative comments there. Was asked if I wanted a wake-up call. I said no. Was asked if I really wanted to rely on my own phone. LOL - I can tell they get a lot of sleep-ins who then blame the hotel.
Room was more than adequate. Double Glazed windows I think - no noise. Bed was fine. Very puffy, and definately not saggy. Shower was good.
Didn't use any of the hotel services.
Checked out first thing the next morning. Took a little while to checkout. Newby was manning the checkout desk and had to refer to Manager for something.

Didn't use bar, nor restaurant etc.

Overall a good stay. They also have "day rooms" available if you have a daytime layover.

 

[munitalP]

At about 11:00pm, I dragged my tired body + carry-on over the ~50m walk to the hotel.
Check-in was simple. No negative comments there. Was asked if I wanted a wake-up call. I said no. Was asked if I really wanted to rely on my own phone. LOL - I can tell they get a lot of sleep-ins who then blame the hotel.
Room was more than adequate. Double Glazed windows I think - no noise. Bed was fine. Very puffy, and definately not saggy. Shower was good.
Didn't use any of the hotel services.
Checked out first thing the next morning. Took a little while to checkout. Newby was manning the checkout desk and had to refer to Manager for something.

Didn't use bar, nor restaurant etc.

Overall a good stay. They also have "day rooms" available if you have a daytime layover.

Cheers.

Location sucks but it just transiting, guess ok

 

[serfty]

Two of my last five nights at AKL have been Midnight arrivals, followed by ~5 hours sleep in the upstairs "dormitory" that doubles as an observation deck by day. I then check-in, head to the relevant airline lounge and have a shower and breakfast before my 7am/8am departure.

However, I have stayed at the Novotel three times.

Last two stays cost NZD90 and NZD125 on the 50% Accor sale.

The place is new; and it does the job comfortably - For a start it's location makes it far better than the HI - A 40 Metre walk from International Terminal arrivals.

Smallish rooms, but comfortable. The room keys are proximity cards. Mix of wood panels and glass. Better than many airport Hotels I have stayed at. But then it is new. Certainly convenient.

I ate a meal there a Saturday night early last month. Booking at 6pm I could not get a table 'till 8pm. The food was very good.

As an A|Club Gold I was given a top level room for my first stay. Buttons in the elevators for the Top two floors are labelled 'premium' or something. Came with Bathrobes and Slippers. (Oh, yes, the A|Club points posted within 36 hours :shock

They have day rates appear to be priced at NZD135 (~USD82) but I have seen as cheap as NZD104.50; in after 6am, out before 6pm.

Se this FT thread for a little more: Does anyone know anything about the new AKL Airport hotel? - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[thommo9]

Thanks everyone for their responses. A few good quality choices here, close proximity to the airport is a big deal maker for me here.

Let the research begin!