\u201cBut don\u2019t get too cozy,\u201d warns Shahab. \u201cYou\u2019ll want to head downstairs first for a martini at the bar, then dinner at Ada.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conversely, Australian travel writer Rob McFarland\u2019s favourite couple spot sits in the middle of the hustle and bustle.<\/p>\n
\u201cEco-conscious couples will love The Hotel Britomart<\/a>, which became New Zealand\u2019s first 5-Green Star hotel when it opened in 2020,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n \u201cLocated in the heart of Britomart, it\u2019s perfectly positioned for couples keen to sample the neighbourhood\u2019s high-end restaurants and designer stores.\u201d<\/p>\n Best for families<\/p>\n More than anything, a good hotel for families provides relief. According to Thompson-Smith, SkyCity Hotel, a 4-star accommodation offering in the CBD, does just that because \u201ceverything is right on your doorstep\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got the Sky Tower next door, and kid-friendly experiences like W\u0113t\u0101 Workshop Unleashed and the All Blacks Experience<\/a> within the precinct, which makes planning days out really easy,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n \u201cThe rooms are spacious and there are loads of dining options close by so you\u2019re not constantly jumping in the car. It\u2019s a stress-free base for seeing the city with kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Sitting roughly a 5-10 minute walk away is the Sudima Hotel<\/a>, which Lonely Planet\u2019s destination editor for Oceania, Jessica Lockhart, says \u201cmay lack kid-friendly amenities like a swimming pool, but its location is unbeatable\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cKids 12 and under are free, with a complimentary breakfast included for kids 5 and under and 50% for those aged 6 to 12,\u201d says Lockhart. \u201cIt also offers babysitting services on request; perfect for if you want to have a cheeky cocktail on the rooftop bar.\u201d<\/p>\n A short walk uphill there is a greater luxury feel, for those who want it. <\/p>\n \u201cFor families happy to splash a bit of cash, the 5-star Cordis<\/a> has a fabulous rooftop pool and a great range of kids\u2019 amenities, including a free, activity-filled backpack and a kids\u2019 high tea,\u201d says McFarland.<\/p>\n Best for luxury<\/p>\n \u201cLuxury can mean different things at different times,\u201d says Shahab.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I want to be immersed in the buzz of the city and surrounded by design that oozes good taste in a pared-back, organic way, then Hotel Britomart is a winner. You can step out of your room and straight into Kingi, Ghost Street or Cafe Hanoi, and there are always cool things happening in Britomart. <\/p>\n Thompson-Smith seconds this. \u201cIt really feels like Auckland, you\u2019re right in the middle of the Britomart precinct with great food, bars, shopping and the waterfront all around you,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hotel feels premium but relaxed, the design is very local, and the service is friendly without being formal. It\u2019s an easy choice if you want luxury that actually reflects the city you\u2019re visiting.\u201d<\/p>\n When you want everything in one place, Park Hyatt<\/a> is Shahab\u2019s go-to. <\/p>\n \u201cTake high tea in The Living Room, fit in a spa treatment and a loll in the outdoor infinity pool looking out to Rangitoto,\u201d she says. \u201cGaze out at the yachts over a rum cocktail at Captain\u2019s Bar then relax into dinner at Onemata.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a favourite for McFarland, but for another reason. <\/p>\n \u201cThis imposing, seven-storey waterfront property has all the 5-star trappings you\u2019d expect from a Park Hyatt, but what really sets it apart are the mesmerising harbour and city skyline views,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n For Canadian journalist Vivian Vassos, one hotel stands out when it comes to luxury. <\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t beat the Langham Group for top-notch luxury and service and the Cordis is no exception,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cA must when in Auckland is the hotel\u2019s outstanding Afternoon Tea. Add a glass of bubbles and you\u2019re feeling like a masterpiece among the hotel\u2019s stellar collection of artworks. It\u2019s an art gallery in a hotel, all in one.\u201d<\/p>\n Best for business travel<\/p>\n According to Angie Forsyth, general manager of Corporate Traveller NZ, the number of hotel stars or the brand don\u2019t always indicate the right choice for business travellers \u2013 it can depend on several factors.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the top factors is location \u2013 most business guests prefer to stay close to where they\u2019re working, and in Auckland that usually means in the central city, Viaduct, Wynyard Quarter or Britomart,” says Forsyth. \u201cBeing able to walk to meetings is helpful, particularly when time is tight.\u201d<\/p>\n When thinking about value for money, Forsyth points out that a cheaper room further out of the city doesn\u2019t always mean savings, once taxis and rideshares are factored in.<\/p>\n \u201cStaying centrally can often work out to be more cost-effective overall, while also looking after traveller wellbeing and productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n The centrally-located Sudima Hotel is again a favourite pick, with Thompson-Smith arguing it\u2019s a smart choice for business travellers. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s right by the newly opened New Zealand International Convention Centre,\u201d Thompson-Smith explains, \u201cwhich makes workdays easy, but it\u2019s also close to bars, restaurants, and the buzz of the city when the day\u2019s done.\u201d <\/p>\n Sudima\u2019s rooms are well set up for work without feeling clinical, Thompson-Smith says, \u201cso you can actually relax once you shut the laptop\u201d.<\/p>\n When Lockhart visits Auckland for work, she stays at a more atypical spot: the Convent Hotel. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be the first to admit that it\u2019s not a conventional choice; most of the rooms don\u2019t even have desks,\u201d says Lockhart. \u201cBut I\u2019m out of my room most of the day doing research or having business meetings. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m looking for is something that\u2019s affordably priced, centrally located, has an on-site restaurant, and \u2013 this is the most important \u2013 quiet at night so I can get a good night\u2019s sleep. The Convent Hotel ticks all these boxes, to the point that I rarely stay anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n Best for groups<\/p>\nEast restaurant at Sudima Hotel. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
A room at The Hotel Britomart. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
The Living Room at Park Hyatt.<\/p>\n
The Convent Hotel’s in-house restaurant Ada in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
The Hilton, on the end of Princes Wharf.<\/p>\n