Ramada Suites Auckland, Federal Street

From the outside it doesn't look like much, but this is a great value hotel in central Auckland. The rooms are on the small side, though well equipped with a kitchenette, dishwasher, washer/dryer, and heated towel rack. Staff were very helpful and even arranged a day trip I decided on at the last minute. Well done!

The rooms were clean, and the staff were helpful and friendly, but I wouldn't recommend staying here. The location felt grimy and dodgy, and parking was a nightmare with only a couple of spots. The spaces were so tight against the wall and another car that ours got scraped, yet we were charged $28 for the night. The door handle to our room came off in my hand, and the bathroom door wouldn't close or lock properly. I also left a couple of things in the room, my fault, but when I returned a few days later for another night and tried to change it, that would have cost more. I was told the items hadn't been found.

Our room was large, clean, and had a comfortable bed, even though the hotel doesn't look like much from outside. It also had a washing machine, fridge, toaster, and dishwasher. If you're in transit or taking a city break, I'd definitely recommend it.

The location was great, and we had a pretty great room. The kitchen was a welcome bonus, along with the washer and dryer. I hadn't stayed at a Ramada since I was a kid, when they were usually very basic, so this was a pleasant surprise.