Holiday Inn Express AUCKLAND CITY CENTRE by IHG

After getting off the airport shuttle, it's about a 7-8 minute walk to the hotel. The hotel's location is very central, close to Queen Street, Britomart, and the harbor. There's a supermarket right across the street and a Chemist Warehouse nearby, which is convenient for buying fish oil and souvenirs. However, nights in the CBD can be quite dangerous; even close to midnight, I heard drunk people and homeless individuals arguing. The complimentary breakfast at the hotel is decent, nothing to complain about. The staff were also good; check-out in New Zealand is usually at 10 AM, but the front desk granted a late check-out until 12 PM, so I got to enjoy a nice lie-in after breakfast. As for hygiene, the only thing to mention is that some small details could be improved. When I checked in, there were dirty water stains on the sink, hair on the bath towel, and the air conditioning filter indicated it needed changing.

I stayed here twice, and it was a pleasant surprise that the hotel even provided snacks and a welcome letter in the room for our second stay. These small details often leave a perfect impression on guests. Looking out at the city night view from the window, all the fatigue from the day's travel just melted away. Time to relax and unwind.

The room wasn't very clean, and the water pressure was quite low, which made showering a bit unpleasant. Breakfast was decent, though. I really liked the Japanese guy at the front desk.

The staff were very friendly and accommodating, even allowing a late check-out. I did find some hair on the sheets, but after contacting housekeeping, they promptly came to change the entire set. The hotel is right in the city center, just across the street from the cathedral, making it super convenient to walk everywhere.

The hotel's location is unbeatable! Queen Street is just around the corner, and the wharf is a short walk further. The breakfast buffet was a great deal, with red and yellow kiwis, and even feijoas! They also let us check in early for free when we arrived at 8 AM. On our last day, even though we checked out early, they still let us have breakfast as soon as we got to the restaurant. And the shower pressure was amazing. Seriously, incredible value for money!