254 Cornerstone Dr, Albany, New Zealand.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 night stay at the Ramada Suites Albany in New Zealand. My accommodation was on the third floor in a one bedroom apartment. Located close to the Northern Motorway, it was a very easy 35 minute drive up from Auckland Airport to the hotel. Reception staff were very helpful, and parking was readily available at the location.
Close by, less than 3 minutes’ drive away, there is a Westfield shopping complex with supermarkets and all manner of shops. The apartment is fully equipped for a home away from home experience. Washing machine & Dryer are in the bathroom, soap powder is provided. The kitchenette has a full sized fridge, a microwave and a dishwasher. Dishwasher powder and dishwashing liquid is provided. Cooking utensils are provided, including microwave cookware, frypan and saucepans for the two hob cooktop. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate sachets are provided. The kitchenette is stocked with everything you could want to cook basic meals, which is what I did during my stay. Air-conditioning, TV, dining table and lounge area provide home style comforts. I found the hotel to be quiet, and I was not disturbed by noise from other guests.
There was a fair bit of external road noise on Friday night with loud revving sounds from “hoons” who liked the sound of their engines. This was annoying, but had stopped by about 11pm.
I liked the layout of the apartment, because the bedroom had a sliding door to close it off from the rest of the apartment. This was useful for me to keep the cooking smells out of the bedroom. It is also helpful to close the door to block out any unwanted road noise or light. The sliding door is also a good idea if two people were staying in the apartment. In that case, one could retire to the bedroom and shut the door, allowing the other to watch TV with minimal disturbance.
There are restaurants on the ground floor of the building that the Ramada Suites Albany has arrangements with to allow billing direct to your room number. You can also order in takeaway pizza or Mexican food through reception. These are convenient services if required.
The housekeeping staff visit your room every day to remove the rubbish, and a full room service is done every few days for longer visits. I found the hotel to be clean, functional and comfortable.
The location is convenient. It is only a 20 minute drive from Auckland City. Beaches are also close by, some as near as 9 minutes by car. Exploring areas around Auckland and to the north of Auckland is easy from this location. I took a day trip to Devonport on the last day of my stay and it was only 20 minutes’ drive from the hotel.
The hotel is also across the road from a Park and Ride station with access to public transport buses from Cornerstone Road.
I did have a bit of fun on Twitter with these lamp bases. You have to admit they are a bit unusual…..
I’ve been trying to come to terms with the lamp bases in my hotel room. Is it Art Deco? Or is it just a block of concrete??? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/O3kUJGNR2x
— Just Me And A Boarding Pass (@Fiona_Whiley_23) May 4, 2019
I will definitely choose Ramada Suites Albany if I return to this area of New Zealand in the future.
I stayed here at my own expense and this review is an unsolicited opinion of my experience.
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