ibis Auckland Ellerslie — Hotel in Ōrākei

Th hotel was way too small. I understand that it was a budget hotel and i should not ask for too much when paying relatively little. However, this hotel that i stayed for two nights really did not live up to my expectations. There are definitely some merits in this hotel, such as a clean environment and the fact that most basic tools are offered. This may be a perfect place you are looking for if you just want a place to stay overnight and have a simple showering. However, this may be a hotel you wont like if you are asking for more. Firstly, the room size. Space is usually the concern of a budget hotel. The rooms in Ibis Aukland Ellerslie are all of standard sizes, equally small and cramped. A big luggage with the two sides to open can barely be opened up just in front of the room door and the bathroom door. Since it is a room for two, a second luggage is expected to be opened up. The only place for that to happen will only be the desk. This means that you wont have much space left to place your bags and perhaps charge your phones. The room also become cramped and difficult to walk. Secondly, the bathroom. The shower has very limited space and you can hardly spread out your arms.The common problem of all hotels, the water in the shower is not strong enough.So it takes you a long time to shower. The door at the shower is also very different from all comventional doors we have seen before. The two doors cannot be closed completely and water splatter out. Once you step out of the shower, you reach the sink. How convenient!? Coming out of the bathroom, you stand a chance of stepping on your opened luggage. Then it comes to the window. We lived in the rooms on first floor and passerbys can just look into our room easily, so we had to keep it closed and covered. Thirdly, the bed. There are two single beds in one room. Im not sure whether the locals like to sleep on soft beds or not, but the beds offered are two soft. It is like a bed with broken springs. The moment you sit down on the bed, you will sink for 5 cm. It definitely does not give you a good sleep. Lastly, the sound insulation problem. Sound insulatio was an issue for my dad. He seldom cares about this, but this hotel really changed him. At 12 midnight, my dad couldnt sleep and he heard someone knocking the door. Of course he was shocked. He opened the door and he saw no one. That was scary. Soon later, he heard another one. He opened the door again. Someone was kocking the door of the room next to his and he could hear it clearly. It happened to me too but fortunately not at midnight. However you wont hear noise other than people knocking doors. In a nutshell, i personally dont like the hotel because the shortcomings really overwiegh the benifits. But then again, its cheap. But we payed quite some moeny to attend a tour, staying overnight in such a hotel.... we just...

checked it on 17/1/23 around 2124, I was attended by the Indian stocky guy at the reception, first approach by the reception guy was "can I have your name" I was showing him my appointment details on my phone but completely ignored it. he ask my credit card to hold $300 and ask me to enter my PIN # On the EFTPOS terminal, I replied The booking is fully paid from work and if I neer to give my credit card I don't need to enter my PIN, The reception said that's how they do it then he realized something and change the price to $50, it feels like we're negotiating on something, since I was so tired I just entered my PIN so I can go to my room; he gave me the swipe key and said, it's in level 1 1057, I went to the lift on the right side of the reception to go on level 1 but I couldn't find the room so I went up to level 2 and nothing so I went back to reception and ask the guy how to get to my room, he said that's an Novotel lift not ibis so I said, you didn't explain properly and there's no sign saying its Novotel or any direction to go to ibis room. I ask him to take me to my room and he said he's just going to tell his staff so I'm thinking he's the boss but very incompetent, all of the sudden the real boss appeared and take me to my room. long soty short, the stocky guy should have explain clearly how to get to my room and ibis should have put a clear sign to direct the guest to ibis building, the manager said the stocky guy is new, I totally understand if he told me at the beginning but yet he pretend and lied on my face from acting that he's the boss, and giving me a wrong information about the parking that it's only $7 but actually it was $22 per night. the stocky guy doesn't smile, did not apologize at all, he should not be at the reception, he's best as security guard, such a liar and incompetent.

on the other hand the bar tender called Andri is such a lovely and warm person with great customer service, the ibis management should make him as a customer service trainer to teach other people how to...

Where to start? First up only herbal tea in my room and was told everything else had run out, trip to the bar and one of the beers ontap which i like was out of supply, the beer I had was warm due to all beer glasses were straight from the hot washer as staff were too busy to clear the evenings mess. Second night tap beer again served in warm glass not on. Also I requested a Pink Gin special for $10 special promotion the response was hilarious, " sorry sir we have run out" well take the signage down! Now this all seemed imaterial however the worst was about to happen. The big grass playground next to the hotel houses one of Ellerslie's biggest days of the year in Horse race circles one which as I would think would see the hotel nigh on full with plenty of advanced bookings. We went to the races and returned to the hotel for dinner I was astonished to see customer's queing 15 deep and Two staff only, these poor staff well and truly under the pump, serving beer, taking food orders, making time consuming cocktails and having to google how to make said cocktails WOW, making Coffee and also letting empty glasses etcetera to mount on tables and anwhere they could. As it was late mid eve by the time we got served (an amazing 45 mins) I ordered a pizza and wedges, something any chef should take what say 20 mins to serve. An hour later i asked how my order was going to bar staff one he said would fnd out,then he started serving and forget I asked bar maid exactly the same and same response, the waiter from kitchen done exactly the same. Eventually when people were walking out the receptionist came to help I got a response within 20 mins and over 2 hours after my order I received one luke warm Pizza and burnt wedges, not a happy customer. Summing up we ate elsewhere for the next 3 days and used the bar for a night cap.

UPDATE 21/01/19

Prasheel from the Ibis called me an we chattted, he thanked me for my honesty and met with his staff and ironed a few issues out and next visit we will see...