We checked in with smooth efficiency at a smart reception in well lit and attractive surroundings as would be expected at any Hyatt Hotel and were shown to a room at about 11:15 pm after a long day of travelling. The bed was ready but appeared to be a little short of warm covers in the cold climate of Auckland after a week of warmth in Tahiti. A check of the room revealed no other bed covers or a spare blanket, there was no heating control to turn up, so we used the 3 towels from the bathroom on the bed to provide extra warmth. We slept well in a comfortable bed.

Waking at 7 ish we felt like a cup of tea. We found the usual kettle and after a while found we could only boil it conveniently in the bathroom. However when we went to make a cup of morning tea, the complimentary supply provided only green tea, camomile tea and earl grey, an acquired taste at best, and far from a morning cuppa. We decided to call for supplies, and housekeeping, Silvie, apologised for the poor service, and agreed to send up some English breakfast tea bags. She also asked about the need for milk, but as that was there already I confirmed no need. The tea bags arrived a disappointing 15 minutes later with unnecessary extra milk. Taking the tea bags and making tea, we had not expected any further action, until 10 minutes later the room service man began knocking at the door again. By now we had begun to shower and get dressed, so we ignored the knocks. They stopped but around 5 minutes later started again, and this time we called out - nothing needed come back later.

The taps in the bathroom needed new washers and were hard to stop dripping. The toilet ring seat was a woman's ideal as it would not stay up and required an extra hand to hold it. No problem of course if ablutions were taken in a seated position. However our next shock was the shower. When turned on it sprayed from several cracks/splits in the handle. That loss of water in the handle left little to come out of the nozzle and made temperature regulation difficult. How did the maid clean the bath? If with the shower it would have been obvious the handle needed replacement. Otherwise the shower had not been used for ages, or had not been checked for ages, or had been dropped, cracked and not replaced. Poor housekeeping again, but perhaps the room, No 1104, (allegedly a Regency room), is one of the last to be used as its "view" was the back of the building next door. Perhaps it was reserved for low rate internet bookings or used only when the hotel is full, although the hotel seemed far from full as evidenced at breakfast time.

The restaurant area at 08:30 was also agreeable and well furnished, but almost empty. Nevertheless another couple was at the desk waiting to be shown to a table and we were asked to wait too. The "manageress" took the other couple away and told us she needed to check if tables were laid, and that she would come back for us. Whilst we were waiting another member of staff appeared and took us directly to a set table not far away. She asked whether we would like tea or coffee, and we ordered tea whilst she very nicely explained the menu. We got up and took cereals and fruit from the buffet, at which time, the "manageress" found us to ask if we had been shown a table. Going back to our table and after eating our fruit etc, a waiter came and asked if we wanted tea or coffee. We said we had ordered already 2 pots of tea and he returned with 1 pot containing enough tea for 2 cups, not 2 people. As he passed by later I asked for more tea, and he apologised that they did not have any large pots. I suggested that if that were the case then 2 pots would be fine, with which he subsequently returned. This exchange proved the first order to the waitress had not been completed, but it did not explain why in a large, essentially empty restaurant, there were no large pots.

As for the room itself, it was old and very very tired. Old furniture, a lack of power outlets in convenient places, no heating or cooling controls, and carpets that were worn and stained, these all made a bad impression. Far from a Hyatt standard.

The week before we had prepaid for a night in the Langham for NZ$180 approx, compared to the Hyatt at NZ$160, and as far as we are concerned the difference is enormous. Until the Hyatt completes its upgrade programme which we were told has been completed to the 6th floor, we would say, "do not stay at this hotel at these prices go to the Langham instead". Its services, rooms, and facilities are vastly superior. As it seemed to us that the hotel was far from full, we also wondered why they would locate guests in such shabby and ill maintained rooms on the un-renovated floors if they have better renovated rooms on the lower floors. We do not know the hotel’s room location versus charge priorities and indeed whether rooms were free on the other floors.

On leaving, we asked for a taxi, and found that a limousine service had been ordered at higher cost. The Limo driver said that the Hyatt only allowed a certain standard of taxis parked outside the hotel. As the taxi industry in Auckland is unregulated, it is hard to beleive that the Hyatt can regulate who picks up from the hotel from a public street outside. The limo was fine however and its interior in sharp contrast to the room in which we had just spent the night.

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