Quest Ponsonby

The power outage was apparently planned, and they knew about it days before we checked in, but nobody told us before arrival or at check-in. There was a notice on a wall in the lift that we didn’t see, since we used the stairs. We came back to Quest at 10:30pm after an evening out to find everything dark, with no power to charge devices, no hot water, and no wifi. They told us to use our phones for light. Our phones were flat, so we borrowed a light to get around the room. At 8am the next morning, they knocked to get it back and said they wouldn’t charge us for it. They could have planned better, perhaps with a generator, or offered compensation, even a cafe tea or coffee voucher. We also had to pay extra to park our car. There were problems with the shower too: it leaked, the shower head wouldn’t stay up, and the shower gel dispenser fell off the wall the first time we tried it. Duct tape had been used to hold it up. We’d left our toilet bags on the floor next to the shower because there was no vanity cabinet, and they were affected by the leak. There was a coffee plunger but no grounds, just instant coffee sachets and tea. The room and apartments need updating and urgent maintenance. The foyer felt more like a police station reception, with perspex screens, rather than a warm welcome. We’ve stayed in other quest apartments, and this was the worst one. For the price, there are better options. We called after the stay to discuss our disappointment, but a rude woman brushed us off, insisted nothing could be done, and said we had been told about the outage. We definitely hadn’t.

The location was great, with plenty of restaurants, bars, and food courts within walking distance. There’s no breakfast or other meals provided, but nearby options make that manageable. Staff were friendly and helpful. I stayed at Quest Ponsonby Apartments for two weeks, and the room was convenient for a longer stay. It had a separate bedroom with a double bed, plus a living room with a sofa, dining table, chairs, and a balcony. There was heating, a washer and dryer, and a small kitchen with a hot plate, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster, pots, pans, cutting board, and knives. It also had satellite TV, a cupboard, an iron, and a hair dryer. Wifi was limited to 7GB per week, which may not be enough if you use a lot of data. It’s decent for a long stay or family visit, comfortable enough for the price and location, though not the best.

We paid 300.00 per night for room 314, and it didn’t feel like a 4 star place. It was a hotel room rather than an apartment, with a broken dryer and washing machine jammed into the bathroom. There was only a microwave for cooking and no dishes for heating anything. The room was shabby and needed repairs. The sink faucet wasn’t attached and came out in your hand. Reception was closed, so we had to call to check in. The man was rude. They should sack management and start again.

The rooms looked rough in person, with scratches and marks all over the walls, though they were clean and that may have been the only good part of the stay. The website photos are deceiving. Check-in was a bad introduction to Quest: the front desk woman was rude and accused me of being a scammer when the system didn’t accept my card on the first try. For the price, I expected a warm welcome and someone who could communicate clearly and respectfully, but she was difficult and argumentative. I noticed other reviews mentioning poor service. If that matters to you, stay clear. I certainly won’t be coming back.