Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront

This isn't a luxury hotel. The rooms are quite dated, and in the ocean view room the view is only a tiny sliver. The pool they advertise isn't owned by the hotel, and it's a five minute drive away. The laundry service was particularly frustrating. We paid quite a lot, were told it would be ready in two hours and left in our room, but it took about five hours. When we asked, they couldn't say when it would be done. It was then rushed, some things were folded and the rest thrown in the bag, with some items still wet. After we'd finally checked in, they called and made us come back down to collect it. We're not picky, but that was bad customer service. One front desk person was especially unpleasant and unhelpful, though the other two we met were delightful. It's a shame they weren't all on the same page, especially since the hotel was only half booked and not very busy.

Matthew at Salt was so pleasant, and I loved the bay view during breakfast. The room was clean, and the bathroom had both a shower and bathtub. Of all the places we stayed in New Zealand, this was my favorite. The rate was about $100 (US dollars), as tourist season was nearly over. One small complaint, if you can call it that: there were drinks and snacks on the counter and in the fridge when we arrived, and consuming them would have meant a charge to your credit card. I’d highly recommend the place and stay again.

The restaurant had a lovely waterfront view, and the food was excellent, though the portions were small and the prices on the expensive side. Our room was large and comfortable, with the best bathroom lighting I've seen in a hotel in a long time. The desk clerks were friendly and efficient. There were a few minor housekeeping disappointments during our week. The bathroom sink was discolored and looked unclean, extra washcloths weren't provided consistently after we asked, and the sheets weren't tucked in as expected. The tissue box also wasn't replaced for the last two nights.

I stayed at the Millennium Hotel in New Plymouth last January 2025. It took me a while to write this because the disappointing stay stuck with me, and I wouldn't choose to repeat it. Parking was limited on site even though we arrived fairly early, and I was lucky to find a spot near the hotel. I was told the only other nearby parking area was prone to break-ins, which added stress. The room seemed dated and due for a major refresh. The TV didn't work properly, and the lights flickered for quite a while before settling down. At check-in, there was also a breakfast problem that should have been easy to sort out. I'd booked online at a rate that included breakfast and showed the confirmation, but the front desk agent said I'd have to pay again. The response felt dismissive, and nobody tried to clarify or help, so I went back to my room with it unresolved. The property needs significant updates, along with better staff communication and customer service training. I don't expect to stay again unless the facilities and guest experience improve.