Pelicanstay at Auckland Viaduct Harbour

The location was fantastic, but the apartment felt like it hadn’t been maintained in years. The carpet had stains, the dishwasher didn’t work, and most bedroom light bulbs were out. We couldn’t use the oven or stove, and there were no plugs for the basins, so I had to shave in the shower. The second bathroom was tiny, about the size of a shoe box. The place was filthy.

Customer service was great, and the location by the viaduct worked well. A car park was available when requested. The room had a nice theme and a big-screen TV. My one complaint is the bathroom, which could use improvement. There was an empty cupboard with a laundry sink that could fit a washer and dryer, but when I asked the front desk about a washing machine or laundry room on the floor, they said there wasn’t one. Apart from that, my stay was excellent.

The apartment layout was lovely and generous, with an extra-large soft bed that I especially liked. It’s in a great spot in the Viaduct, near restaurants, and the wharf view is gorgeous. Free Netflix was a nice bonus.

We booked two rooms because the rates and photos looked so good, but we were unlucky with room 1L. It was old and badly in need of renovation. The carpet had lots of stains, the bed folded into the closet, and there was just one 240V socket for German or French flat plugs, with no USB outlet. For the price, room 1L was poor value and I’d avoid it. We’d expected a much better last night in Auckland; the Social M across the street, where we began our three-week holiday, was much better, with breakfast too. Room 2L, for our friends, was better, with a proper bed, renovated bathroom, and new carpet, though it still didn’t look much like the photos. Maybe some rooms do. After we complained about 1L, we were given a bottle of wine because no other rooms were available. In the end, you have to get lucky to have an acceptable room. Reception also gave us a very good breakfast tip: Sierra, about 100m down the street on the right.