Suncourt Hotel Taupo

We’ve stayed at Suncourt several times with our two kids, and the pools work well for the whole family. There’s a shallow toddler pool, a deeper one, and a lovely hot plunge pool. The rooms are clean, roomy and excellent. We always pay extra for a unit facing the lake, because it’s nice to sit on the patio with a glass of wine after the kids go to bed. The $250 pre-authorization is the part that bothers me most. We checked out yesterday and it’s still held on my card, which could be a problem if you’re travelling on a tight budget. We haven’t eaten at the restaurant, since town is a short walk away and has all kinds of food options. The Taupo markets are right across from the hotel on Sundays, and they’re great to look around.

Dinner was a mixed bag. I was disappointed by the salmon, which was very ordinary, though my husband enjoyed his lamb shank. The staff were welcoming, the bed was comfortable, and the shower is accessible for people with disabilities. Check-in and checkout were straightforward.

The location made it easy to walk to parks, shops and restaurants, and breakfast was very good. Our room was spacious and well equipped, the staff were friendly, and both the bed and shower were great. Would recommend.

The kids’ meal was easily the best part of the food, at least it came as a whole meal. For the adult dishes, order a protein and the carbs and vegetables or salad cost extra. My meal was a blob of chicken and sauce without even a garnish. The wine was stale and overpriced, and the pasta was gluey and revolting. It wasn’t handmade. A machine in the kitchen does the work when you put the ingredients in. I know the different kinds of pasta, so please stop making excuses about that. I told the waiter it was average, but he walked off. Thanks to the woman at the counter for getting the chef, and to the chef for admitting the pasta wasn’t handmade and giving me a credit for the inedible mush. I don’t care about the credit as much as I care about honesty and transparency. The manager’s excuses and reply came across as arrogant. This place used to suit me, but it doesn’t anymore. Some of us eat a lot of fine dining, so get your act together. It’s a total rip-off, and SunCourt isn’t somewhere I’ll return to.