The Sebel Quay West Auckland

We had a lovely, relaxed stay at the Sebel quay west. The pool was great, the rooms were clean and tidy, and the staff were lovely. The decor is on the older side, and there’s scaffolding on part of the building at the moment, but neither affected our stay. It’s in a really convenient spot, and we’d recommend it.

We had a good time and found it great value for money, with the city-centre location making it easy to get around. Our two-bedroom apartment on the 14th floor was huge, with a big dining and living space and a wraparound balcony overlooking the harbour. The kitchen had everything we needed. Both bedrooms were a decent size; one bathroom had a shower and tub, the other just a shower. There was also a laundry room, a linen cupboard with extra towels and sheets, and a safe. The property has a pool, spa, and sauna, which looked good. Parking is limited and costs $40 a night. Check how to reach the car park before you arrive, as the main entrance is under construction and there’s nowhere to stop. Reception is staffed only from 8am to 2pm. After that, the front doors are locked, so you need a key or have to call someone. The check-in staff were friendly. As a Gold member, I was given three bottles of water, two small red wines, and one small sparkling wine. That was a lovely touch, especially since my family doesn’t have status. The hotel is dated. The corridors smelled a bit chemical, and the apartment had chipped tiles, cracked corners on the wardrobe mirror, stained curtains, and old furniture that didn’t really match. The carpet felt wet around the bathrooms. They put a rollaway bed in the room that we hadn’t asked for. I asked to have it removed, but they left it, so we had to make sure we weren’t charged extra. City noise comes through even on high floors because there isn’t much sound insulation. If you’re sensitive to traffic, construction, or ships, keep that in mind.

There’s no hotel restaurant. The only option on site is a small, separate cafe that isn’t affiliated with the property, so you’ll need to go elsewhere for a proper meal or room service. The lobby looks like someone has tried to freshen it up, but the rooms and furnishings still seem stuck in the 1970s. The hotel is clearly showing its age and really needs an update. Given the tired rooms and limited amenities, the price feels steep. For that rate, I’d expect something more current and convenient. I’d look elsewhere unless location is your main priority.

The only things this hotel really has going for it are the location and spacious rooms. My Accor membership got me an upgrade to a two-bedroom apartment, which was a nice thought, but the place felt tired. The furniture looked like it might have come from a second-hand shop: mismatched dining chairs, a side table being used as an entertainment stand, and small, cheap, decades-old TVs in both the lounge and main bedroom. The bathroom was in rough shape, with cracked tiles, peeling and bubbling cupboard doors, grubby marks on the doors, a cracked basin, and a shower head that kept falling down and wouldn’t stay up properly. On the first night, switching off the bathroom light must have blown a fuse or circuit, because the bedroom lamps and power outlets on the bedside walls stopped working. Only one of the three lifts was running, and there was nowhere for guests to be picked up or dropped off. The building was covered in scaffolding when we arrived, and it was hard to find the entrance. We hadn’t been told about the exterior renovation on the Accor booking site, and if we’d known, we wouldn’t have chosen to stay. You enter and leave by pressing a button or swiping a card. The hotel seems so understaffed that you have to ring a bell at the check-in counter. When someone eventually came over with a cleaning tray, they asked, without much interest, “Can I help you?” They could see I had luggage and it was 2pm, so I obviously wanted to check in. There was no energy, enthusiasm, smile, or real welcome. I don’t blame the staff if the person meant to handle arrivals also has to clean.