Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre by IHG — Hotel in Waitematā

I travel 2 - 3 times a month on business and leisure. I will write an honest and thorough review. This was a business + leisure trip. I was there for business, but I brought my family with me: wife + 10 year and 4 year boys. ||Would I recommend?|Yes to business travelers, single travelers, couples, families with older kids|No to families with little children, strollers, and long stay guests with lots of luggage||Location: 2 / 5|On the map, it looks like a 5/5. But the hotel is on a steep slope. Not easy when you have a 4 year old, and not easy when you have lots of luggage. The taxi drivers (NOT the Uber drivers) here are incredibly, horribly behaved. They park their cars in the entrance - with lots of space between them, but not enough for your Uber to park, so you end up being parked far from the entrance. Again, with all of your luggage, so you're now pushing your luggage up the hill for check-in (after 12 hours of flight from Korea with the kids). Very awkward. If I were the GM here, I'd make sure the taxi drivers don't clog up the entrance.|Btw, to make this experience even worse, the taxi drivers are just staring down at you, looking at how you're dressed from top to bottom. They clearly see we are struggling with all the luggage but they don't care. My first uber upon check-out actually cancelled the ride after seeing where I was standing. Our eyes locked and he still cancelled it. What an experience. ||Pre-Arrival & Welcome: 2 / 5|I had to call the hotel 7 times to tell them that I booked the first night so that I can check-in the next day morning, so "please do not no-show me." Wow. Really hard to get this message across. I won't write the details, but let me tell you, this isn't a labor issue that the hospitality industry is facing right now. This is training issue. ||Room: 5 / 5|Gorgeous rooms. Honestly one of the best hotels I've stayed in recently. I would say that the rooms were better appointed and more comfortable than some of the luxury 5 star hotels I've stayed at across the region. I had the view of the tower and the city and honestly, I couldn't believe I stayed in such a nice room for the price. |There is a water filter in the hallway to fill your tumbler. This is an amazing touch, as everything in this country is on the expensive side (relative to other Asian countries). Not having to buy water in the city is a huge bonus. ||Breakfast: 4 / 5|First of all, there's a staff here who is absolutely amazing. She's from South Asian origin, and she walks around ensuring everyone has their morning coffee, and that kids have received their marshmallows and so on. She is so incredibly genuine - you would believe if she said she was working for the joy of working. The restaurant interior is very pleasant, although tables are a little too close to each other. As for the food itself, I believe in quality over quantity, and I think this was a hit and miss. Overall display was great, but the quality of hot food was inconsistent. Options for bread was lacking (although yes, I know this contradicts with my quality vs quantity statement). ||Other weird experiences:|I frequently get on business calls late night, from 10 pm - 2 am. I was working in the lobby downstairs (where the breakfast is). I was shocked that the staff in the evening were very 'casual.' Actually, I have no idea what words to use to describe the situation. Essentially, the staff at the desk were chatting with each other (which is perfectly fine - I'm not a soldier), but extremely loudly, laughing out loud, joking, etc. I felt like as a guest, I was actually intruding others who were trying to have a good time. At some points, I couldn't hear my client on the call very well because of the noise. I've worked at hotels for many years, and this behavior would not have been tolerated in anywhere from 2 to 5 star hotels. It was just bizarre considering how the hotel is physically incredible. (The physical property and staff quality are a mismatch) ||But to be fair, it's only the night staff. During the day, the...

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a truly exceptional stay at the Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre, an IHG Hotel. As a renowned "hotel critic", I must say this establishment exceeded my expectations on many fronts.

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: Under the capable management of a very sweet Lady, the staff at Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre displayed a level of service that is nothing short of exemplary. Meghan's (the manager)leadership style conveys a positive and harmonious work environment, evident in the camaraderie among her team members. My relative, Susan(malo aupito tuofefine), who is coincidentally a receptionist at the front desk, candidness sets the tone of warmth, making me feel like an honored guest.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: The attention to cleanliness in this hotel is commendable. The cleaning staff, the subtle lady, exhibited genuine enthusiasm in ensuring the patrons' comfort. Their efforts are appreciated, as it's clear they take pride in maintaining a spotless environment.

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥: The classic room I stayed in was a testament to the hotel's dedication to detail. From the bespoke, curated decor to the thoughtful amenities, every element of the room exuded a sense of elegance and refinement.

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Morning tea at Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre was an experience. Their coffee service alone earns them a solid five stars in my book. The quality and variety of offerings ensured a perfect start to each day of my stay.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: A standout feature for me was the vegan-made amenities provided in the men's room. This attention to eco-friendly and sustainable products not only aligns with modern values but elevates the guest experience

In conclusion, my brief time at the Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre was nothing short of extraordinary. The exceptional service, combined with a focus on cleanliness, attention to detail, barista excellence, and sustainable amenities, sets this hotel apart. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any...

Apologies for this lengthy review!! |I’ll start with the lovely positives. |Hotel is in a great location. Literally round the corner from the main high street. Staff are wonderful. Every single one of them. Reception staff, breakfast staff, cleaning staff. All super friendly, smiley and approachable. |Breakfast was delicious and hot with plenty of choice and the WiFi speed was superb. ||Okay, so that’s loads of positives I hear you say!! Yes, you’re right! But sadly now I must convey my massive disappointment at our room. |Our room was for three adults (mum, dad and our 6ft 2 son) We booked a room with two queen beds (which we got) but the room is absolutely tiny. No space to store luggage, no turning space, and nowhere to sit, apart from the bed. However, that didn’t bother us too much as we’re not here to stay in the room other than to freshen up, dress and sleep. ||Speaking of sleep!! That brings me nicely on to the e beds! |The beds are one of my two main reasons for my average review. We must have been really unlucky as other reviews rave about the sleep quality!! We are lucky if we have slept for one good night between the three of us. They are so bad that I even considered lying on the bathroom floor where it would maybe have been cooler and possibly more comfortable! |The other reason for my grumbles is that we had zero air conditioning. In New Zealand. In their summer, with a huge glass window heating our room every day while we were out enjoying the 26°+ weather. |We spoke to reception just after we checked in and were told that they would look at it for us although they were having some filters changed so it may be to do with that. We’re leaving tomorrow after 4 nights and haven’t had air conditioning throughout. |Despite speaking to reception again. |This, mixed with the uncomfortable beds and pretty much no sleep means I cannot give this hotel the 5 stars that the staff deserve. Sorry. If you like a bed of bricks, this is definitely the hotel for you! Sadly we wouldn’t...