After a rather disasterous experience with the Comfort Inn hotel group (Choice Hotels) voucher scheme we came to the Comfort Inn Paraparaumu as a fifth choice. What a gem - we nearly forgave having to re-arrange our holiday.

The service was great, superb information booklet in the room of everything there was in the area, and the owner gave us all the information about going to Wellington on the train and how to do it cheaply (really helps to let you know what you are doing when you go to buy your ticket).

He brought breakfast to our room every morning, and offered the free use of a laptop if we wanted to check on our mail. Rooms were clean, cheerful and well stocked. There was a reasonable shopping centre and supermarket minutes away.

We also ate at the Retro Bar (steakhouse) just down the road, and had the best meal of the holiday. Great steak (says the husband) and I had a delicious chicken breast stuffed with brie and apricot. We also joined... more