Hilton Auckland, great location but something is missing
The Hilton Auckland has a unique location in the middle of the city's bay with breathtaking skyline views like no other hotel in New Zealand
New Zealand
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The second hotel I stopped at on my world tour was Hilton Auckland in New Zealand. All the hotels I chose for this madness had one thing in common: the sea.
In this article:
The best bonuses
In fact, the 4 facilities I booked are all by the sea, it would be better to say inside the sea, and this hotel is right surrounded by it.
Reservation
As always. you only book through Hilton's app, thanks to Diamond status you can get free upgrades, breakfast and many bonus points for each stay. Before booking, however, I checked to see if the hotel. participated in American Express' FH+R program. to maximize point collection and take advantage of the rich bonus of the moment. Unfortunately, however, this hotel is not in this program.
In this case to book I used points, the cost of the night was 51k Hilton Honors, against a room cost of 400 NZD, about 250 euros. Not an impossible conversion, but considering that I have over 400k points in my account I preferred not to pay cash.
Location
The hotel is located on the tip of Princes Wharf, closer than that to Waitematā Harbour, without getting wet, it is impossible to go.
It can be reached in about 45 minutes by uber from the airport and from here you can walk leisurely throughout the downtown area, all the way to the iconic Sky Tower, one of the city's landmarks, or to the CBD, the nightlife district.
Given the presence of so many free flow electric scooters around the city, I used them to get around during my stay without any problem.
Check-in
I arrived around 7 p.m. at the hotel and had already completed the online check-in so everything was very quick. I had not received any upgrade notice by email, but I was offered anyway: from a basic room I upgraded to one with a view of the Auckland harbor.
As a Diamond member, I was reminded that I had breakfast included and specified that it was "continental breakfast."
Who has at least Hilton's Gold status must remember that the breakfast included is continental, we could simplify with the cold part of the buffet. So pastries, fruits, juices, breads, jams. While the hot/salty part such as eggs, omelets and other dishes are not in the included part.
The hotel
Seen from land and at night, the hotel appears to float in Auckland Bay. As with the Sydney's Pier 1 I think even this Hilton Is the result of a rehabilitation of a port structure, obviously in this case completely renovated and enlarged.
Throughout the hotel there is a feeling of being on board a cruise ship and actually even the shape of some of the rooms is reminiscent of the bridges of the sea giants that dock not far from this hotel.
The most beautiful part is definitely the ground floor, the one that houses the reception and the large lobby. In the center of the circular sofas are fireplaces 2.0, considering that it's cold here in July it's really a nice way to warm up the environment, especially from an aesthetic point of view.
Sitting around these fireplaces for a drink while chatting with friends must be very relaxing.
The lobby then becomes a bar, the Bellini, and I must say that this, too, is an apt choice: a nice calling card for someone entering this hotel for the first time.
There is also a small gymnasium, open h24, and an outdoor swimming pool on the second floor.
The pool is small and open even in winter, but it is not heated, so it is like taking a dab. The special feature is that at one end it juts out into the void, and it is like swimming through the air.
Big flaw is the absence of the lounge and the fact that to "compensate" for the lack nothing was offered. Neither a drink nor a voucher to use at the bar.
The room
My room, 514, was a Harbour View: the view during the day and at night was really beautiful. The receptionist recommended setting the alarm early to view the sunrise "Is amazing from your terrace." Too bad, though, that I caught a gray, autumn time with zero chance of seeing the sun rise over New Zealand.
The most beautiful thing about the room is definitely the view, the small terrace being covered and enclosed is livable even out of season.
Otherwise it is the same Hilton room, without any reference to New Zealand or Maori traditions.
King bed with classic topper where you feel like you are sleeping in the middle of a cloud.
Mega screen, which I don't think I even turned on.
Classic in-room amenities with mini-bar (full), snacks, nespresso machine, and option to use the kettle to make your own in-room herbal tea.
The bathroom also perfectly within the norm, nothing more nothing less than what would be logical to expect.
The chocolates in the room
One of the things I really appreciate about hotel chains is how they know how to enhance, with little expense, a customer's loyalty. Nine times out of ten, when I enter a Hilton hotel (or even Marriott, Hyatt...) I find a surprise waiting for me in my room. Over the years I have found everything from birthday cakes, to bottles of wine. From socks to gadgets branded with the hotel's logo.
This time they were delicious chocolates, with a tag that explained the flavors and indicated, if desired, where to go to buy them. Nice touch.
Food & Beverage
I spent only one of the two nights in Auckland in this hotel; when I make these trips I want to try as many things as I can, so two nights in the same hotel is a waste.
Breakfast is served on the second floor, in the hotel restaurant. The room is strategically placed in the bow of the facility; it feels just like having breakfast on the deck of a cruise ship, only you don't hear the movement of the sea.
The buffet also gave me that middle-of-the-road feeling. It was almost closing time when I went downstairs, but no one bothered to help me pour a glass of orange juice from the nearly dry container. Unlike other establishments at this level, I did not see product research, much less an attention to presentation. All very impersonal.
Confirming that we think "American way" in this Hilton, I was asked what kind of breakfast I would have. Not being hungry, I made do with continental: bread butter and jam, some fruit and a cappuccino (for a fee).
In conclusion
Would I return to this hotel? Probably not. It is not worth the cash cost let alone the points payment. The location is super, the facility is beautiful, but it lacks soul and some touches that make the guest breathe New Zealand. There are many alternatives starting with the nearby Park Hyatt Auckland which was my second New Zealand hotel.
Pro
- The position
- The view
- The terrace of the room
Against
- Impersonal room
- No lounge