I wanted to see the Hilton Auckland after their suite refurbishment, and it was well worth the visit. The popular Bow Suites, so named because they are shaped like the bow of a ship, overlooking the Waitemata Harbour, have had quite the face lift.
The interior, designed by Catherine Stormont of HBO&EMTD, is contemporary in feel, blending in with the overall design of the hotel which has been dubbed the “New Hilton” in its embrace of sleek lines and minimalist decor, interspersed with traditional Mauri artistic accents. There is a sense of being in the Presidential cabin of a luxury international cruise liner, and its proximity in the harbor, with cruise ships arriving and departing below your terrace, adds to that feeling.
Furnishings and fabrics are muted tones, “decked” out with Italian leather furniture. The Presidential suite has two plasma televisions, dining for four, a work desk and credenza, a chaise and side table over looking the wrap around deck, wrap around couch with chaise angle, an outdoor lounge area and eating area, huge bathroom with separate bath, rain shower, and toilet, floor to ceiling glass doors with water views from every single angle, electronic shades, and wispy white transparent curtains to mute the suns raise, but allow in the reflections of the sea.
The artists’ glass sculpture and vases that graced my room, included locals Simon Kaan, Graham Fletcher, and Heather Straka. Part of the upgrade included the concept that every space should have a touch of authenticity. Amenities have also been upgraded to the Crabtree & Evelyn “la Source” range, an improvement over past choices.
Hilton Auckland stands 300 meters from the city center adjacent to the Viaduct Harbor. It was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in June 2001 and is situated on the northeast corner of Princes Wharf. There are 160 deluxe rooms and six suites. Not a “small” hotel, but it does have the feel of a boutique hotel. In 2005 it was named the Top New Zealand CBD Hotel of the Year.
White Restaurant, and Bellini, the lobby lounge bar, have been created by Dan Kwan of Tribeca, the design firm based in Singapore. His intent was to provide an environment that would be a white canvas for Executive Chef Bernard Bernabe to paint his culinary palate, and to be a minimalist setting for the hues of blue and green of the bay reflecting through the floor to ceiling windows.
Bernard Bernabe, even the name is a mouthful, was born in the Philippines. His family immigrated to New Zealand when he was nine years old. Now, at the ripe age of 28, he was the driving force behind the award winning team when white was honored with the Restaurant of the Year award in 2004.
General Manager, John Ingram is a soft-spoken gentle man with a lot to say. He treated me to details about the local cultural community and life in Auckland, as well as his the importance for the global hospitality community to see this Hilton in its rightful light, a “new Hilton” as he called it. With 160 deluxe rooms and six suites, one can hardly call this a boutique hotel, yet I agree with him that it has that feel. Staff is very professional and ingratiating, food is superb, and the atmosphere modern and light.
My favorite feature of the hotel is a glass-fronted swimming pool that juts out in such a way that with goggles under water, you have the illusion of swimming out to sea.
Luxurious restored historic building in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand’s City of Sails. A short walk to the waterfront, Queen Street and city attractions. Rooms and multi-bedroom suites, rooftop swimming and spa pools with stunning harbour views, indoor lap pool, 2 gymnasiums, sauna, tennis court, restaurant & bar, beauty day spa. Click here to book your stay. heritagehotels.co.nz
If you plan on going skiing for a weekend in the South Island of New Zealand you might like to consider going to Mt Hutt located at the foot of the Southern Alps around 2086m above sea level and approximately 90 minutes drive from Christchurch (Chch).
Mt Hutt is one of the many popular ski destinations in the South Island, along with Coronet Peak, Cadrona and The Remarkables near Queenstown. Flying to Chch is cheaper with flight prices as much as half the price when compared to Queenstown. Also with, Christchurch being the largest city in the South Island, it tends to have more flights scheduled, compared with the likes of flights to Queenstown ex Auckland, for example.
Flying to Chch is also a better option in terms of flight times, if you plan on going skiing for a weekend, as you could fly earlier in the morning and leave later in the day back to Auckland, thus giving you more time on the slopes.
You will need to take into consideration where you are going to stay. With so many options available including hotels, motels and self contained apartments, your choices are endless, here are some reasons why booking a hotel for your ski trip is a great idea : - They are a more luxurious accommodation option and tend to offer services and facilities such as a Bar & Restaurant – which means you don’t have to worry about cooking and cleaning up - Beauty Spa’s – where you can get a massage, perfect for your weary muscles after a day up the mountain! - And in many cases a heated pool and spa Of course each differs so it depends on what facilities or services you would like.
If you are taking the self drive option from Christchurch to Mt Hutt, you will pass through the town of Methven which is just 25 km’s from Mt Hutt. Methven has a range of hotels which often have deals on offer where you can (for instance) get a ski & accommodation package at a discounted rate. This can save you money and time waiting up the mountain to buy your tickets. Also with Methven being close to Mt Hutt you don’t have to worry about driving back to Chch, when you might be weary from your day.
If you are catching the daily Shuttle back to Christchurch it’s a good idea to find an accommodation provider close to where you will get picked up and dropped off each day. This limits the amount of time you spend travelling to and from your destination. There are plenty of hotel accommodation options in Chch, some offering short stay rates in affiliation with some of the air lines.
If you are taking off on an unexpected weekend of skiing, a good option is to check out some of the last minute accommodation websites for deals on Christchurch hotel rates as many (in the normal course of business) do not sell all of their rooms and often have these on offer on last minute accommodation websites at a discounted rate of up to 60%. This is a great option if bad weather has been predicted too, as it provides you with the option of booking your accommodation at the very last minute.
This is a win-win situation as the providers gets to sell another room and you get a discount.
So, wherever you choose to stay on your Christchurch Ski holiday, you can be sure to find a hotel that lets you sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
When choosing a hotel in New Zealand, a great starting point is to understand their star ratings. The Qualmark system in New Zealand and Australia has a star grading for accommodation and is New Zealand Tourism’s official mark of quality : - Basic acceptance is that a 1 star will meet the customers’ minimum requirements – Basic, clean, and comfortable. - 3 stars and the accommodation provider provides a range of facilities and services and achieves a good to very good quality standard. - The highest standard is 5 stars and is considered to be amongst the best in that country.
The AAA (US) rating system applies a similar method and rates accommodation on a one to five Diamonds scale. Many Hotel providers also use a “self rating” system and this shouldn’t be taken as a negative in most cases. Larger Hotel chains have developed their own rating systems that accurately reflect what options are available for each of their resorts. Star ratings can be a good guide for pricing, but should not be the sole decider, when choosing your Auckland hotel. It is expected that a 1 star Hotel room will be cheaper than a 5 star. But for those 2, 3 and 4 star hotels, specials, last minute offers and specific locations can lead to a 2 star hotel being more expensive than a 4 star. For example, a 3 star hotel located in Auckland city centre, could charge more than a 5 star hotel an hour out of town. This needs to be kept in mind when choosing a place to stay, but don’t let price be your indicator of quality and comfort.
With cost in mind, think also about what your stay is intended for. If you are visiting friends or family in Auckland, then try to consider your choices based on location. Meaning that you can get to (and leave as quickly) your guests location without any major requirements or inconveniences to them.
If your travel is for business, do you really need to be located in the city? Unless you can walk to your meetings, maybe a hotel at Auckland airport will suit your purposes better. Just like any other day, you will be heading into work for 8-12 hours and should have no real need to return to your hotel room throughout the day.
With it’s international airport, Auckland has a plentiful array of hotels and offerings for travelers. Hotels near the airport tend to cost less than those in the central business district and cater predominantly to business people. You will also avoid having to get up hours earlier than needed. By staying close to the transport hubs you avoid the need to allow additional time for delays and traffic jams prior to departure. Plus most Airport hotels provide a free shuttle service. One thing we have also noted is that the staff in Airport hotels take wake-up calls seriously – They know the importance of these calls and the consequences. So unlike many other stays, I have never missed a flight (due to a missed wake up call) when staying at an Airport Hotel.
It is a good idea to also list in writing, what you want in a hotel stay. Quality ratings are a good indicator of comfort, but do you want to pay for options you know you probably won’t use? Most websites will list all the amenities such as 24 hour reception, mini-bar, room service, valet, laundry etc. Compare these offerings and if you find you’re paying 20-30% more for the use of a gym or sauna (that you probably won’t use), then theses savings are worthwhile.
Finally, decide on what your budget is and stick with it. Search online and try last minute accommodation websites which offer great discounts for those travelers wanting to book at the last minute. But don’t always just take the hotel rate into account when deciding as there may be some inclusions on offer. These could include free breakfast, a drink voucher and discount tickets to local attractions or free parking. If you are traveling with kids serviced apartments have become popular choices because of the kitchen facilities and the ability to cook your own food and thus save money. Also consider taking smaller more frequent breaks as apposed to a long getaway.
This urban accommodation is centrally located in the cultural and economic core of Auckland – the “City of Sails.” Re-designed rooms accompanied by supreme comfort and stunning views of the city and Waitemata Harbour combine to ensure your stay at this Rydges Auckland accommodation is inspiring.
