Crowne Plaza Auckland by IHG

Breakfast service made a real impression on us. The staff were warm and attentive, bringing fresh coffee and hot chocolate rather than using machines, and serving omelettes and coffee right at our table. The lifts were easy to use despite their high-tech touch screens and added security. Our tour group stayed for three days and two nights. Since our IHG membership didn’t qualify us for an upgrade on an agency booking, we had a room facing the car park and nearby buildings, with a limited view. The toilet and shower area also looked more like a three-star finish. Still, the beds were very comfortable, and my family and I appreciated the hospitality. We’ll keep supporting IHG hotels.

The room was clean, quiet, and had comfortable beds and pillows. The AC took a while, but eventually cooled it down. Most of the rest was frustrating. There was only one person at reception, so check-in and checkout took forever. Parking isn’t part of the hotel, yet you have to pay manually at the front counter. The garage is tiny, hard to maneuver in, and the spaces won’t fit anything close to a normal-sized car. The bathroom was a mess: the toilet needed at least three flushes, and the narrow tub had a gross fabric curtain that didn’t stay against the bottom, so it kept blowing into me while I showered. There’s no bathroom ventilation either, leaving everything soaked with steam. The elevator system was confusing and inefficient. You tap your destination first, then have to find a particular assigned elevator, while other elevators open and close before yours. I’m left wondering whether the designers ever tried the guest experience to see if it made sense or met the expected standards, or whether corners were cut. This wasn’t what I expected from a “nicer” hotel.

We booked at short notice for the Sail GP and Valentine’s Day weekend and landed a great room on the 21st floor. I went downstairs for ice and coffee and was impressed by Tapo, who was professional and so helpful. He made me feel like a VIP. Thank you.

We chose a high floor for the NYE fireworks and room 2501 gave us the view we wanted. It also included access to the private lounge on level 28, with complimentary drinks and canapes for two hours each night. The location was great, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The room was nice, though the shower curtains really need replacing. Breakfast from the buffet was good, but a little Vegemite for the Aussies would have been a nice touch. For a five-star hotel, I’d expect bottled water in the room or a water station on each floor, since there’s nowhere to get filtered tap water in the room.