Living this far north means having to travel to Auckland occasionally and if you don't have rellies or friends to stay with there's a scramble to find somewhere to sleep and eat.
It's tempting to opt for what's perceived as cheap accommodation in the mistaken belief it's an economic decision but it's not necessarily so. The hotel industry, recognizing patronage falls off at a certain time of the week as business travelers return home, has reawakened the weekend deal. For just a few dollars more than an average motel, you can stay in the heart of Auckland in hotel comfort and, why would you not?
Take the Copthorne HarbourCity for example. It's terrifically well sited near the Viaduct, the CBD, within walking distance of theatres and cafes and over the road from ferries. The rooms are spacious, the beds are comfy, the bath and shower efficient and= the view over the harbour absorbing. Others certainly thought so. On a weekend in May hotel guests from Sweden, in the country to play table tennis at Vector Arena, were running late for the first game of the day because they'd been strolling along the wharf area over the road.
Along another road, Anzac Avenue in fact, is the Copthorne Auckland City which is handily placed for the university (and of course the Maidment Theatre and the beautiful Albert Park), the law courts, the Customs Street end of town, other entertainment venues and, as it happens, handily sited alongside a set of stairs that lead to Beach Road's exotic Asian grocery shops. This is a hotel with a homely atmosphere slightly away from downtown bustle but still close to just about everything in town.
Speaking of food, both hotels offer well-priced breakfasts with, it has to be noted, some of the best bacon in town. That's a novelty. When was the last time you had cracking bacon in a city hotel? In fact the lunch and dinner menus at both Copthorne Hotels are well-priced and the portions generous compared to some other city hotels. Indeed, if you're not going to Vector Arena or some other show, there's almost no need to venture outside.
