ibis Rotorua

Nestled in the heart of Rotorua, this hotel stands out for its exceptional central location, offering guests unparalleled access to the city's vibrant Eat Street and the serene lakefront. Its signature feature is its prime position, making it an ideal choice for sightseers eager to explore local attractions, couples seeking a convenient base for romantic strolls, and business travelers valuing accessibility. Families also find it suitable, despite some room size comments, due to its proximity to activities. Guests consistently praise the comfortable beds and the generally clean rooms, alongside the friendly staff. To enhance your stay, consider requesting a room with a lake view for enhanced scenery and be sure to take full advantage of the reciprocal access to the neighboring Novotel's facilities, which significantly enhances the stay.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests highly value the reciprocal access to the neighboring Novotel's facilities, including a gym, swimming pool, and thermal pools, which significantly enhances their stay, compensating for the lack of these amenities on-site. The hotel also provides a convenient free laundry room in the basement, complete with automatically dispensed washing powder, proving very useful for travelers. Free Wi-Fi is generally reliable, allowing guests to stay connected, and in-room TVs offer a good selection of channels, including Sky. While rooms are equipped with a fridge and kettle, some guests note the absence of a microwave, and occasional issues with TV casting have been reported. The elevators can sometimes be slow or occupied with cleaning supplies, leading to minor inconveniences.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Room comfort and cleanliness receive mixed feedback. While many guests report clean and tidy rooms with comfortable beds and fresh towels, a significant number describe rooms as small, compact, or cramped, especially when accommodating two beds, making movement difficult. Some rooms show signs of being tired or dated, with observations of stained carpets, peeling paint, or scratched benchtops. Bathrooms are often noted as small and in need of refurbishment, with issues like leaking showers and occasional reports of mold. In-room amenities are basic, with limited toiletries often reduced to a combined body wash, and the absence of hand towels is a common complaint. Noise levels from noisy ventilation systems or adjacent rooms can sometimes disrupt sleep, and the AC is occasionally reported as not powerful enough, leading to warm rooms where windows do not open.

Dining & Food Quality
Dining experiences primarily revolve around the hotel's breakfast offerings, which receive varied feedback. While some guests find the buffet to be a good value with a decent selection of hot and cold items, many describe it as basic, mediocre, or bland, with concerns about food being cold or options being limited, such as a lack of brown bread or croissants. The coffee from the machine is also frequently criticized for its quality. Breakfast service often concludes early, around 9 AM, which can be inconvenient for some guests. The hotel does not offer on-site dinner service, but guests appreciate the convenience of being able to charge meals from the neighboring Novotel's restaurant or bar back to their room. Some guests note the absence of in-room cutlery or plates, requiring them to request these from reception.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is consistently highlighted as a major advantage, placing guests within easy walking distance of Eat Street, the lakefront, and various shops and attractions. This makes exploring the city highly convenient for visitors. Parking is available on-site and often free, though guests frequently report that the car park can become full, especially during busy periods or events, necessitating reliance on street parking. Some guests have noted that the car park entrance can be confusing to locate, and a lack of a canopy at the entrance means guests can get wet during heavy rain. Despite these minor parking challenges, the hotel's proximity to key Rotorua landmarks significantly enhances the guest experience.

Staff & Service
The staff generally receive praise for being friendly, helpful, and welcoming, contributing positively to the guest experience. However, the check-in process is a recurring point of frustration for many, often described as slow with long queues, particularly during peak times, and some guests report feeling that the hotel is understaffed. While staff are often accommodating and willing to assist with requests, some guests note a lack of comprehensive information provided upon arrival, such as details about reciprocal access to Novotel facilities. There are also isolated comments about staff being less knowledgeable about local parking options or being unresponsive to phone calls from rooms. Despite these inconsistencies, the overall sentiment towards the staff's demeanor is positive.

Additional Information
Several guests have reported disruptive false fire alarms occurring in the early morning hours, causing inconvenience and a lack of clear communication or apology from the hotel regarding these incidents. Another frequent issue involves key card malfunctions, with guests experiencing cards that stop working, leading to repeated trips to reception and delays in accessing their rooms. The hotel also lacks a room handbook, which guests find unhelpful for understanding amenities or services. While the hotel acknowledges Accor rewards program benefits for members, including drink vouchers, room upgrades are not consistently provided. Guests should also be aware that a 2% credit card charge may apply. The hotel provides umbrellas in rooms, a thoughtful touch for unexpected weather.