I stayed at the Commodore for several nights and thoroughly enjoyed my stay – I was accommodated in the newly refurbished rooms and they are fanstatic probably the best rooms in Christchurch. I was very fortunate during my stay to meet the family owners and managers of the hotel – the Patterson’s who went out of their way to make me feel both at home and to help in any way possible. Would I recommend this hotel to you – yes, without hesitation!

I liked the Copthorne a lot, but it was a tiny bit pricey for a room, and then to have to pay for internet. I got a call from someone about a tour when I just perused the brochures, kind of weird, but I took advantage of the offer and went. The staff is excellent, and they have a "motel cat." A blue tinted siamese who wanders the halls at will looking to be stroked. I found it cute, of course I'm sure there's some grumpy tourists out there who would be upset by the whole thing. There isn't a lot nearby, but the hotel offers a free return ticket on the efficient and frequent bus to downtown. They also gave me a free beer!

I've stayed here several times now over the past two years, both on business and pleasure, and it has been pretty consistently good. The staff are always excellent and very helpful, and the airport shuttle service is quick. They also offer complimentary bus travel vouchers if you want to go into Christchurch city, and the city transit bus stops right outside the Hotel. I have only had one occasion over many stays where the service in the restaurant was not up to standard, but I put that done to some new and fairly young staff.
The rooms are all of a good size, and the new business wing rooms are excellent.
It is a great location if you don't need to be too close to central Christchurch, and its proximity to the airport makes it number one for catching ingoing & outgoing flights.
There is no air conditioning, which may be a problem on the infrequent summer's day when the heat becomes a bit much, but here, you're better off to have decent heating for the winter months - which they have.
Nice pool and spa pool, good bar areas and a decent restaurant.
One of the nice touches is the resident Siamese cat, who seems to have free run of the place when he is visible - although they shoo him out of the restaurant & bar! Nice homey touch!

The restaurant dinner cost more than the accommodation - but hey the restaurant service and meals were EXCEPTIONAL. Another party had assumed our name and restaurant booking and although we arrived early, the Maitre D organised his staff to get right on top it in an orderly and efficient manner.

The room was spacious with 1 queen and 2 single beds (room 139), and a kitchenette type area.

It has a motel type appearance on the outside, probably because it is a low set collection of buildings. It also has the air a of business persons stopover hotel for airport connections - but we had no issues being a family. The 24/7 airport shuttle was very helpful and meant that we did not have to rely on taxis and their unpredictability.

I'd recommend it to a family, but book the restaurant when you check in.