Ramada by Wyndham Newmarket Auckland

I've stayed here a couple of times and think it's a good choice for a short visit, with decent pricing, clean rooms, and friendly staff. It's easy to walk to the mall, along Newmarket strip, or to the gym on the corner. The rooms are small, and being so close to the motorway means it's not especially quiet. Parking is limited and the spaces are small, so getting in and out can be tricky for some people. Once you know where the driveway is, the hotel is easy to find, but my first arrival was confusing. My Uber driver couldn't work out which driveway to use, got frustrated, and dropped me at a business down the road, so I had to walk to the hotel.

Reception staff were friendly, helpful, and accommodating, and the location was perfect with restaurants an easy walk away. The room was clean, comfortable, and as expected, good value in that respect. But money was taken from our account for parking without asking, even though we were supposed to authorize it on arrival. We'd also booked for another couple and ended up copping the whole charge. 😠

The stay was pretty mediocre, and I wouldn't want to return. My room was adequate and comfortable, but there was no microwave or ice machine. I later heard ice was available, which made it worse that staff had told me to go to a shop down the street to buy some. Check-in set a bad tone. There's nowhere to park while you get checked in, so you have to stop briefly in a tow away area. Once you have the room, the cramped garage is acceptable but not great. The woman who checked me in was condescending and snippy. The other staff were very nice, but that first impression stuck with me. I just stayed at the Ramada in Queenstown, and the difference was night and day. The staff there were incredibly friendly, which puts Auckland to shame. They need to send their staff down here to learn how to do their jobs properly.

We enjoyed our stay. The room was lovely, clean, and well equipped, and the bed was super comfortable. It's close to the shopping centre and public transport can get you into the city centre without much trouble. Thankyou.