Hotel Haspar - Remuera product reviews

Three years ago, I visited this establishment with a wheelchair-bound co-worker, on the assurance it was wheelchair-friendly. That, to say the very least, turned out to be an utter disaster for all concerned. After being contacted a while later by the new manager, who reassured me that many of the issues raised in the first review had been addressed, I was invited to return some time for a reassessment. When an opportunity to travel to Auckland arose recently, it seemed an excellent chance to see how matters had improved under new ownership. For a start, this operation is no longer claiming wheelchair-friendly status, so that won't mislead potential guests now.

The basic layout of the premises is still the same, with the steep ramp dropping you down from the roadway into the main parking bay, which loops right around the property. Parking is 1 car per unit, a little 'snug' in some places, and the driveways can be a little scary in longer wheelbase vehicles, but if you know your stuff you can do it.

The new owner has nearly 3 decades of experience in the Hospitality industry, and this has seen MASSIVE payoffs for the venue... it's being run properly, all facts and figures are included in the room guide (including all phone and internet pricing in great detail), and the whole feel of the place is 'up' a huge notch. They have even begun overhauling the restaurant decor. It's already far better than it was, and there are more improvements to come. To highlight their new policy of honest feedback, the reception foyer now has a pinboard covered with newspaper clippings, letters and photos detailing customer feedback, both good and bad. I look forward to seeing this review on that wall in good time too.

Because we reached Auckland later than anticipated, our dinner plans had fallen through, so the opportunity to make use of the on-site restaurant was great. Though prices aren't exactly in the McTakeaway range, they aren't up there with 'snob dining' either. A 2-course meal for two adults rounded off at around $70... which isn't the worst I have seen by a long shot. As an added bonus, because of the late hour, we were able to enjoy our meal in our room, since the restaurant was about to close when we ordered, and the food was delivered to us while we unpacked.

The room had a spa pool that was amazing. If you really relax in steaming water, you'll love this. I found it a bit too much after about half an hour, but then that's just me... I have a low tolerance for hot water. With two of us in the pool, it was close to overflowing, so an obvious user-friendly valve to let some of the water out would have been good... in the end a bit of sneaky MacGyvering solved it... rubbish bins are good for bailing water out of the spa and down the sink.

This is a small operation, as such you should not expect to get 5-star service... They're currently aiming for a healthy 3-star QualMark rating... so forgiving them a small plastic lid tucked away in an awkward corner under the furniture, or some such, will be par for the course. You should also be aware that the showers are a tad 'cosy'... for one. No way could two people fit in at the same time. This may or may not be an issue for some people, but I enjoy a good back scrub, and the inability to get one without having the door open and nearly flooding the bathroom was disappointing.

Take care with the broadband too... there are two plans, a 2hr-&-20mb-cap plan for $10, and a 24hr-&-100mb-cap plan for $33.95... but you can blow that 100mb away all too quickly these days, with websites flooding us with Flash content. I found that after I hit cap, unplugging the laptop caused the network to 'lose' my settings... even though I was nearly 3-hours short of my 24hr limit... so I just abandoned it and hit the sack. I should make it clear here that this is no reflection on the hotel itself, but more on their ISP... however guests here may wish to keep this in mind if they plan to use the service.

The location is pretty good... easy to find heading north or south on the motorway, close to fairly large conglomerations of shops (Newmarket is only 5 minutes drive away, and Sylvia Park is about 15 minutes tops, even in crap traffic), and despite it's close proximity to the motorway, there is very little noise to be heard once you are in your unit for the night. I am quite sensitive to traffic noises when I sleep, and it was worthy of note that the only thing to waken me during the 2 nights we stayed was my own snoring!

Overall, this was a very pleasant experience this time around. Sure, the place still has a number of upgrades still to process, but the amount that has been done in the last 5 months alone is extremely impressive, and the "to-do" list promises much more to come in the next 6 months. There is a definite plan in place to repeat this review within a 12 month timeframe to comment on the upgrades completed by that time, and it is my sincere belief that the review will reflect the results in a highly positive light. It's not often I have the pleasure of posting a follow-up review that reflects such a massive improvement, but this is one of those rare, and delightful, moments. Rates vary seasonally, from $85 during off-peak for the basic rooms, up to around $200 per night - during peak season - for the rooms with spa baths. It will pay to check their website, or ring them for current rates about 2-3 weeks before your planned arrival.