Shandelle Battersby checks in to the Rutherford Hotel in Nelson.
Location: It's hard to miss the Rutherford - situated in Nelson's cute CBD, it's one of the town's tallest buildings. Built in the 1970s, the hotel's functional exterior gives no clue to its elegant lobby, complete with sweeping staircase, classic Jaguar, fountain and chandeliers. This is the only fully-serviced hotel accommodation in Nelson, and is also home to one of the South Island's largest conference centres.
Check-in experience: We could drive right in to the porte cochere and the concierge took care of our bags and offered to park the car securely away in the underground carpark for us ($10 a day).
What's in the neighbourhood? Right next door is the iconic Christ Church Cathedral, and the main shops, cinemas and the Suter Gallery are within a few minutes' walk. Every Saturday from 8am to 1pm you'll find a market at nearby Montgomery Square.
Room: The hotel has several different room configurations, including a two-bedroom family room. I had a spacious Deluxe Suite, with a separate lounge area, dining table, desk and kitchen, complete with dishwasher. The bedroom also had plenty of room, and there were two tellies, with Sky channels. I could see the harbour from my window.
