Sky City Grand Auckland - Worth the Stay?

Ever thought about planning a little getaway and staying at the Sky City Grand Auckland? Well, I am here to share my honest experience from my stay with the Sky City Grand Hotel here in Auckland.

Auckland is a great destination to explore if you are visiting New Zealand. The population of New Zealand is just over 1.6 million inhabitants, classifying it as New Zealand’s largest city. Also known as the City of Sails, we are surrounded by beautiful blue waters harboring a plethora of sailboats (like the name) and are a commercial hot spot for many businesses all over NZ! Having grown up in Auckland I can see the appeal of visitors wanting to check out the city, epic beaches on offer, and absorb the melting pot of culture prevalent in everyday life.

There is clearly so much to explore in Tamaki Makaurau (Maori word for Auckland), finding a central place to stay also makes it so much easier to enjoy the activities we have to offer. Being central also makes transport within Auckland City much easier, Auckland Transportation is built to help all individuals get around the city and suburbs, although there are several updates taking place so, allow extra time when traveling. The following are a few things that you can do when staying with a Sky City Hotel, check out the Auckland Zoo, visit the Ports of Auckland, head to the beach and enjoy some of the best sunsets in Auckland, visit the University of Auckland, Auckland Library and perhaps take a walk around the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Be sure to check with MetService Auckland or Rain Radar Auckland to determine the best weather conditions, I must say that Auckland weather can be very temperamental, especially in the colder months!

Auckland City Skyline looking southbound — Image Credit: Callum Alvins

Having lived here I have had the opportunity to appreciate all these things, now I am looking closely at some of the businesses that make Auckland great. I recently turned 21 (Vegas here I come….eventually), I had a special evening out with my friends and was looking for a high-quality stay to top off my night out.

After researching through various sites (as you do), I remembered wanting to stay at the Sky City Grand. This stunning hotel is adjacent to the Sky City Casino, Sky Tower, and just down the road from the busiest shopping street in the city, Queen Street. In terms of location, you have Auckland City in the palm of your hand, truly an amazing central spot if you are popping in for a short or long stay and you need easy accessibility to the rest of the surrounding city/suburbs.

View from the Auckland Sky Tower looking down street view — Photo by Marcela Vitória on Unsplash

First Impressions

I decided to Uber into the city from my house in the suburbs of Auckland - I think this was a wise move as I was limited on time and Auckland traffic and parking can be something of a nightmare. However there is parking available with Sky City Parking. As I arrived I proceeded through the grand revolving door entrance, slightly miffed that I wasn’t greeted by the outdoor staff - but this wasn’t going to ruin my mood.

Walking into the lobby it was shaped long and rectangular with check-in desks along the right-hand side of the wall. I was greeted by a lovely receptionist who took care of checking me into my room and organizing anything that needed to be done. Disclaimer: as with many luxury hotels be prepared to spend a minimum of $200 NZD upon check in to secure a room bond.

One thing that I do tend to notice over and over again when checking into hotels is the slight arrogance coming off some staff. Understandably I am a young traveler, at the age of 21 staying at nice hotels I am often not taken very seriously. This is acutely noted though, and something I think the general service industry in New Zealand could improve on.

Hotel lobby entrance The Grand by SkyCity — Image Credit: The Grand by SkyCity

I was directed toward the elevators where I was jetted up to the 19th floor to find my room. The elevators ran smoothly, quickly, and were rather spacious, something I’m definitely taking notice of now during these social distancing times. Hallways on all floors were also wide allowing enough space for multiple guests to pass each other with ease, another element I definitely appreciated.

Rooms

The Sky City Grand is one of the larger hotel establishments in Auckland City, right across from the Auckland Sky Tower, Sky City Hotel, Sky City Casino and, more you’re sitting on prime real estate, you’ll find an extensive variety of rooms available. These rooms come in different packages depending on the style of stay you are looking for. For example, there are simple one-bedroom rooms, double rooms, suites, executive suites, romantic stays, etc available. This time I opted to book into a Grand Delux Harbour View Suite - this being one of the larger and therefore more expensive rooms.

Upon entering the room I was blown away by the standard of cleanliness, decor, ambiance, and the city view. I was excited to see more of a harbor view, but I saw more of a cityscape this was a little blip that I was not too worried about.

My room had 2 bathrooms (one powder room upon entrance), a living area accompanied by a small kitchenette, a separate bedroom with a large double bed, a small walk-in wardrobe, and a large second bathroom.

One thing that I was particularly impressed with was the modern design of the master bathroom. Leading from your bedroom you are taken through to a modern stone-like oasis housing a walk-in shower, toilet, bath, and a large sink and mirror. Although absolutely spectacular and contemporary, the lack of natural light was a small problem that I noticed. This meant mainly getting ready in the living room where I could take advantage of the natural light. However, this may not be a problem for many as it is a personal preference.

Other than this, the cleanliness was of an excellent standard and was truly an elevated and relaxing space to spend my time.

Image Credit: The Grand by SkyCity

Amenities/Services

The services and amenities at the SkyCity Grand are limitless. This was an impressive part of the hotel I was truly entranced with. Although not getting to experience all of them here are a few that stood out to me throughout my stay.

Pool/Gym/Sauna

A very well-appointed gymnasium is available to all guests throughout your stay at the Sky City Grand. This is accompanied by a 25m heated lap pool, sauna, and spa. There really was an option for everyone here. Not only this but there are personal trainers available upon request to assist with your fitness journey throughout your stay - something that really stood out to me.

Breakfast and Dinner - Gusto at the Grand

Breakfast is located on the same floor as check-in, a truly 5-star continental buffet selection is available to set you upright for the day ahead. Here you will also find an assortment of self-service beverages including teas, coffee, water, and juices. You are also given the option to order a barista-made coffee at an extra fee.

Return back to this dining space in the evening to be transported to a gorgeous authentic Italian environment - Gusto at the Grand. Order delicious cocktails, meals, and desserts - definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Auckland City.

Breakfast Buffet at Gusto at the Grand. Hotel in Auckland central The Grand by Sky CIty — Image Credit: The Grand by SkyCity

East Day Spa

One of Auckland’s most prestigious spas to truly find time to decompress and escape reality. An “East meets West” ambiance prevails throughout the spa, you’ll have the choice to indulge your body in a variety of hand-picked experiences. Anything from massage therapy to beauty treatments including manicures etc is available. A reminder for those looking to enjoy the East Day Spa is that it is essential to book here in advance due to high demand.

24 Hour Service

There is staff available upon request 24/7 which is a huge help when in need of any assistance, or a late-night room service snack!

Parking

Valet parking is available upon request for an extra fee per night. My partner arrived slightly after I had checked in with his car. The staff took care of the car immediately and parked it away safely. However, we did run into a problem upon check out which did spoil the end of my stay. After checking out and expecting to wait for a maximum of 10 minutes for the car (as told by the concierge) we were unfortunately left standing around for just over an hour. This was problematic as we had things to do and in general, needed to get back home. The verdict on the long wait was that the key to his car had been temporarily lost and there were several miscommunications along the chain in an attempt to find his car. Unimpressed with this, and expecting to be taken care of like the rest of the stay, we were what seemed to be disregarded. Prioritizing other guests above us for an hour without any communication was unacceptable. After the fact, we were offered complimentary gifts upon our next stay. However, I would have preferred a refund on the valet parking fee, just something to consider for future stays.

Final Thoughts

After staying at the Sky City Grand in Auckland, my overall final thoughts were positive. We were generally treated with respect, had a gorgeous clean room to stay in, delicious food, views, and more. The only fork in the road was perhaps that we were not taken seriously enough due to the fact we look young. Unfortunately, this is a common recurrence within the service industry that I find while traveling and it’s one way to spoil a nice trip. However, the Sky City Grand is a must-stay when you are in Auckland, and for all the positive reasons I would recommend this stay.

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