Kiwi International Hotel

On the second day, the room lock broke and needed fixing or replacing. All my things, including life-saving medicine, were inside, and I was locked out. I was told to wait in reception without any estimate for how long it would take. I spent 1 hour and 45 minutes there with no updates. It was my last day of the holiday, and I hadn't planned to spend it waiting for access to my belongings. I only got help after saying my friend was having a medical issue and we needed our medication. The maintenance man was rude, snarky and condescending while working on the door. I wouldn't recommend this if you want an effortless stay.

The staff were welcoming, and being central to everything worked really well. It’s a bit in the thick of it in Auckland, which is what you sign up for, I suppose. A great option if you’re coming for a concert or other entertainment. We were happy with the simple setup for a few days, since we didn’t need much.

The location is good, but I got bed bugs here twice. I stayed last July and had them, then took a chance and came back, only to get them again. This time I was on the bottom floor; last time I was near the top. The whole place must be crawling with them. Don’t stay here. The bathroom light blew within five minutes of arriving. The receptionist “fixed” it, but there was no bathroom light for the rest of the stay.

The included breakfast was only continental, and there was no option to pay extra for a cooked one. It’s been good, but there’s room to do better, especially for tourists. I’d gladly pay for a cooked breakfast on a rainy day. Management, perhaps open up all breakfast options to everyone. Food for thought.