Romantic Hotels in Rotorua

I stayed in the Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel for three nights while attending a conference. The Sudima was selected as it was the cheapest of the four listed by the conference organisers. The accommodation and buffet breakfasts were standard and wouldn’t in themselves warrant a review, either positive or negative. What did warrant a review, however, was the check-in experience. This is the reason for the level-two rating. Having stayed at a range of accommodation – from higher end to backpacker - I cannot recall anything like it, either here in New Zealand or overseas. There was one person at the reception desk and only one other guest checking-in before me. That check-in took a seemingly interminable time, but that can happen for whatever reason. My check-in appeared normal, but thereafter the experience ‘went to custard’. Assigned a room on the third floor I duly went with my bag to the room. Arriving there the magnetic door card wouldn’t open the door. I then returned to the reception desk, explained the situation and was provided with a new set of door cards. I then proceeded back to the third floor and, yes, the door cards this time successfully opened the door. However, upon entering the room I was surprised to find evidence that someone else was using the room. Material around the room showed that this person was also a conference attendee. (Interestingly there was a half drunk bottle of whisky on a table, but alas it was a blend and not a single malt so there was no temptation to take a few swigs.) Using the room’s telephone, I called the reception number but there was no response. Anxious that the room’s inhabitant may return I returned once more to the reception desk to be provided with a new room and corresponding door cards. Another ascent to the third floor finally eventuated with valid room occupancy at the Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel. The time lapse since first entering the hotel stretched to about 40 minutes.

Great location in the heart of Rotorua, right next door to the lake and Eat Street restaurants and came highly recommended to us, but left us a little disappointed - especially for the price. Room a little outdated, holes in the blinds which let the light in, dirty grout in the shower and the shower head was broken and the glasses were dirty. I never ever leave a bad review, but after a great experience at 4 other different hotels across NZ this trip, the front desk lady on arrival at the Novotel was not the friendliest - it felt like we were an inconvenience to her. It was check in time and she was the only staff member on with a queue of people. On a positive note, the bed was comfortable.

I'll start with the things I liked. The breakfast buffet. It was nice to have a quick way to get a good breakfast at the hotel. The decorating in the lobby was very nice. Now the not to nice parts: The room was cramped with 2 queen-sized beds. (Though it did have a refrigerator and kettle.) I opened the curtains to be surprised by shredded sheers. The wi-fi was very poor. The access is not handicap accessible. The front steps did not have a railing. The ramp was great for luggage, but would not have accommodated a wheelchair. (I have bad knees and use a cane.) They seems understaffed. A common problem throughout our trip. But the staff was helpful. They acknowledged the torn sheers and have plans to replace them all.

It didn't start well - my room was next to the night gate whose keycard lock is kaput and if it was not closed carefully it closed with a clang. My phone call to the night manager (reception closes early) to change rooms was ignored. But next morning the front desk staff was most helpful in changing my room to a quieter one. Avoid rooms 11 and 12 if you can. The hostel itself is modern, well set up and well located. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped. The dorms are small but the ensuite facilities are good. The bunks are comfortable and come with a reading light and privacy curtains. The hostel is located a few blocks from the tourist center around the lake shore and from the supermarket in the Central Mall. It is also just across the road from Kuirau Park, a geothermal area in the heart of Rotorua. Relax and soak your feet in the thermal footbath. Parking was not a problem. Haupapa Street outside the hostel has metered parking from 9 to 5 Mon to Fri and 9 to 12 Sat. Outside those hours parking is free and unrestricted. Across Ranolf Street on the edge of Kuirau Park there is unrestricted free parking at all times - get in early to claim a spot. Hostel staff also told me that they have off-street parking for $15 a night. Security is not great - the broken gate lock means that the common areas are open to anyone, but the rooms are secured by keycard locks.

Very suitable to choose where to stay, the parking lot needs to be booked in advance, the front desk service attitude is really good, you can walk to the Polynesian Spa, the location is very good, not far from the Government Garden. Not a one time stay, it is a recommended hotel.

The positives first: The hotel is not terrible. It was not our first choice, but we ended up booking here, as well as booking our friends we were meeting here and another couple joined us for one night and paid for a room. We alerted the manager and he put us all on the the same floor, with a lake view. The room was clean. A little tight on space, but this is not a negative. Staff were friendly. The negatives: NO HOT WATER!! We stayed for 4 nights. One person out of 6 had a hot shower, as he showered just after we arrived. That was the last hot shower. The water was progressively colder, each day. And it was the whole hotel. This was the topic of conversation with every other hotel guest we happened to meet in the lift. We complained, every day. At each stage, we were told they were... waiting for someone to turn up...the problem was fixed but because everyone kept using the water it could not warm up...the problem was not fixed, they were waiting for someone from somewhere else. I think they had no idea and I did feel sorry for the staff, but a hot shower is absolutely a basic requirement. At no stage was there a note slipped under the door to apologise and ask us to bear with them. It was incredibly frustrating. It seems petty after this to mention the bathrooms also need a bit of care and smell very mildewy, but if it were not for the hot water issue, this would have been my main complaint. The last thing to mention, it rained the whole time we were there and the Ibis has no lounge area. We ended up sitting in one of the rooms, as a group, having a natter, like high schoolers. This is more of a Rotorua problem, though, as Rotorua seemed to shut down early and there was no where to just chat, in the evenings. Ibis Rotorua is not somewhere we will stay again.