New Zealand is known for its terrain, natural beauty, adventure activities and food and wine, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be as many hotel chains and point-friendly accommodations.
However, in Auckland at least, that is changing. There are currently a number of premium hotels in the city where you can earn or redeem points, enjoy the benefits of elite status and save some money.
284 new rooms JW Marriott Auckland is one of the newest companies to enter the hospitality sector in New Zealand, having just opened in December 2022. Nothing like stunning. Park Hyatt Aucklandopening in 2020, JW Marriott is not a newly built property.
Instead, it’s a refresh of what was once Stamford Plaza Auckland…and it shows. The full renovation is not expected to be completed until mid-2024.
However, JW Marriott Auckland is open to guests, so when my family was in the city last month, we booked in for a night to check on its current status. Here’s our stay at the new JW Marriott Auckland and what you need to know.
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Central location in Auckland
JW Marriott Auckland could be the ideal location for a city break. It’s located in an area known as the Central Business District (CBD), but don’t let that fool you if you’re in town for fun. It’s still a perfect place for that, too.
Basically everything we did in Auckland (aside from the transfer to and from the airport) was within walking distance of the JW Marriott.
The hotel is just steps from the lively Viaduct Harbor and the Wynyard Quarter with its waterfront cafes and restaurants, the ferry terminal where we departed to (can’t miss) Waiheke Island and the bus stop where we left town to Hobbiton a short walk. and the firefly cave.
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The Sky Tower and the New Zealand Maritime Museum are also quite close together, in case those attractions are on your wish list.
Correct price
While nightly room rates vary, typically rates charged at JW Auckland start from $190 to $250 a night, which isn’t bad for a high-end brand like JW in a big city (all prices are the same. in US dollars).
If you are looking to use a Marriott’s 35,000 Points Certificate, you might have some real luck, as most nights are now at or below 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. This means you can use Marriott’s 35,000-points certificate plus recharge about 10,000 Marriott pointsthat’s exactly what we did for one of our rooms.
And yes, I did say “room” in the plural. Although one of the standard room types is 387 square feet with 2 double beds, as in much of New Zealand, the maximum capacity in a room is three people.
Related: How to save money when booking multiple rooms for a family
As a family of four this meant we needed two rooms, which was a bit less of a pain when one was booked with a free night certificate plus points while we locked the other with low cash ratio.
Marriott’s elite benefits are good
As one Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Member (remember, available only by having Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card), we received some solid benefits during our stay.
The first good news is a Marriott Suite Night Rewards because one of our rooms was moved into what the hotel calls a junior suite, which is several hundred dollars a night more expensive than a standard room.
In fact, to me, this doesn’t look like a junior suite but a generous sized regular room. However, we appreciate the extra space.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS
The other is more tangible Marriott Platinum Benefits until we were told about a free happy hour every evening at the lobby bar. I was told this happens when there is no guest lounge available.
The bartender said we could choose from pretty much any wine or beer, and although I think the happy hour was inclusive of one drink per person, we didn’t charge for any, though although we each had two drinks.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS
We chose breakfast as a Marriott Platinum benefit on this stay. Most of it was on par with other hotel breakfast buffets we’ve eaten in New Zealand – beans, sausages, cold cuts, bacon, scrambled eggs and fruit are central. However, this one has a special surprise: the juicer.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS
It’s fun to toss pre-peeled oranges, lemons, carrots, celery, etc. into the juicer and instantly have fresh juice. This is a novelty, even among our various hotels in New Zealand.
Last but not least, late payment was made upon request without any hassle.
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Nice indoor swimming pool and gym
JW Marriott Auckland features a beautiful indoor pool and a top-floor hot tub for guests. The pool is open from 7am to 9pm, with the gym listed as open 24 hours a day.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS
No one used the facilities during our visit and the natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows makes for an inviting space for a dip or exercise.
The rooms are fine
For the most part I have led with the positives, but as you may have gathered from some of the photos, the JW Marriott Auckland is not complete.
It’s open, active, and worth looking into. However, the rooms (and much of the rest of the hotel) have not been fully refurbished and that is evident from the moment you walk in the front door.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS
The hotel still looks the same as it did before it was JW, based on researching some older photos online. If you’re looking for modern design, decor and functionality, you won’t find it here. The rooms, hallways and other facilities feel at least a decade old.
Also be aware that prior to becoming JW, this hotel was used as a 14-day managed quarantine facility for people entering New Zealand during COVID-19. That might explain why some parts of the room look like they’ve seen quite a bit of wear and tear, with people confined to a small space for a longer period of time.
Reasons JW Marriott Auckland may not be for you
We enjoyed a night at the JW Marriott Auckland, but it might be the best option for your trip. Here are a few reasons that might prevent you from booking:
- It is very brown. The carpets, walls and even many decorative accents at the JW Marriott Auckland are very firmly rooted in the brown and tan color palettes. It’s all the same when you close your eyes, but if you’re looking for modern surroundings while you’re awake, this isn’t (yet).
- It hasn’t ended. For the hotel to meet current JW Marriott standards, there will be a lot of work underway in phases for at least the next 18 months or so, so guests should be prepared to deal with some activity. construction and noise.
- While the hotel itself is not brand new, it is new to Marriott, so there is still some learning curve to navigate. A good example is “free” happy hour, where it’s not clear what’s actually free or how it will work.
- HR is a mixed bag. We met some helpful and kind staff, but also some who seemed less engaged or less informed. As an example of mixed service, it sometimes took a while to get help from the bartender even though we were sitting at the bar with a few other patrons around.
Should you choose JW Marriott Auckland or Park Hyatt Auckland?
If you’re looking for a hotel with the “better” score between JW Marriott Auckland and Park Hyatt Auckland, Park Hyatt wins by a big margin.
However, you will typically also pay more for what you get at the Park Hyatt. For example, on a randomly chosen Saturday a few weeks from now, rooms at the JW Marriott start at $184 a night, while rooms at the Park Hyatt start at $331. la.
As long as that price difference remains, you can choose JW if you want a good room at a good price in a central location.
If you want a more luxurious stay — or have a Hyatt point rather than a Marriott point — then the Park Hyatt would be my pick.
When we stayed there right after our night at the JW Marriott it was a remarkable step up in terms of facilities, food and service. Since the hotel is purpose-built and incorporates an incredible amount of artwork by New Zealand artists and craftsmen, not to mention some of the city’s most popular restaurants, it’s worth it. expectation.
When the JW Marriott’s renovation is complete, perhaps its rooms and amenities will be within striking distance of the Park Hyatt.
Check
For now at least, it’s safe to say that the JW Marriott Auckland — technically one of the newest hotels in town — isn’t the prettiest yet.
While I’d prefer the nearby Park Hyatt if all else being equal, I don’t regret saving some money on our first night in Auckland at the JW Marriott. It’s a hotel with some potential and might even be a more appealing option after it’s been completely converted into the modern JW Marriott.
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For Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex prices and fees, click This.
