Sadie Beckman checks into The Boulcott Suites, Wellington.
Check-in experience: A friendly, efficient welcome in the bright modern lobby. Several large pop-art giraffe portraits dominate the decor along with some snazzy purple ottomans (ottomen?) The giraffes seemed to be a mascot as there was a soft toy version in the room too. It presumably relates to the height and relative narrowness of the building.
The room: A two-bedroom suite on the eighth floor, with a self-contained kitchen, two bathrooms (one an ensuite), a lounge, dining area and small balcony. The building is set back in the CBD but has good views over a couple of other buildings to the harbour. Huge picture windows in the bedrooms look across the city in the other direction. The decor was modern and functional, and just luxurious enough for a suite, although it did have a touch of that generic-hotel feel.
The bed: One room had a queen bed, while the other had two singles put together. They were comfortable, with good pillows and clean, crisp linen, and there was extra bedding in the cupboards for those who are cold of toe, like me.
Food and drink: There is no onsite food service, as the Boulcott Suites operate as serviced, self-contained apartments. However, they partner with several nearby cafes and restaurants and you can charge the bill back to your room from these by showing your room key. If you want to have breakfast in your room, Mulberry Gardens offer a breakfast delivery service from 8am for orders placed with Boulcott Suites' customer service the evening before.
