Oaks Wellington Hotel - Review

Written By Daniel Kinnoch

On a recent work trip to Wellington, I decided to book a stay at the Oaks Wellington Hotel located right in the heart of the city.

This historic 9-storey hotel has undergone renovations, transforming the former Ford vehicle assembly plant into a modern accommodation.

With US$200 in GHA DISCOVERY rewards credits to use (NZ$343 at the time), the Oaks Wellington was the only participating hotel in the region.

Initial reviews of the hotel made me skeptical. A majority of the negative reviews targeted the internal rooms lacking windows.

However, with my Platinum status with GHA DISCOVERY, I anticipated an upgrade to an external room. I booked a 2-night stay for NZ$385, which thanks to my credits brought my out-of-pocket cost down to less than NZ$50.

Hotel Room City View

Upon check-in, I was pleased to receive a City View room on a high floor as an upgrade. The room itself was clean and modern, with contemporary furnishings like a white tiled bathroom and a comfortable king bed. I slept very well for two nights, finding both the bedding and pillows to be comfortable. The temperature in the room was also easily adjustable.

The lack of any welcome gift or amenity was disappointing given my GHA DISCOVERY Platinum status. Emailing the hotel about this went unanswered.

A contemporary hotel room layout showcasing a bathroom with a sliding frosted glass door, a white-tiled shower, and a view leading into the main room where there's a bed with white bedding, a chair, and a table. The room also includes overhead ambien
A modern hotel bedroom, showing a neatly made bed with white linens and dark blue accent pillows. Above the bed is a framed black and white photograph. To the right, there's a circular mirror, a floor-standing lamp, and a round table.

Working in the room proved difficult with uncomfortable furniture and no business centre access. The hotel's prime location did provide walking access to many cafes, but a better in-room workspace would have been preferred.

Spacious hotel room showcasing a large bed, wall-mounted TV displaying promotional content with QR code, round mirror, and a small seating area with table and chair by a draped window.

Standard tea and coffee facilities were present. But, those hoping for an espresso machine or complimentary bottled water might be disappointed.

A wooden wardrobe in a hotel room, featuring a shelf with a white teapot and cups, a kettle, a compartment with hangers, and a mini-fridge below. The side wall of the wardrobe shows an electrical outlet and a switch.

The bathroom's heavy sliding glass door and lack of a shower door were also inconvenient. The lack of a shower door allowed the bathroom to get overly humid and foggy after showering. The shower was large enough to include a door, so its omission felt more like a compromising design choice than a necessary constraint.

Modern hotel room interior at Wellington Oaks Hotel featuring a sliding frosted glass bathroom door, carpeted flooring, wooden bedside table with phone and lamp, and electronic key card entry.
A modern bathroom featuring a white sink with a black countertop, a circular mirror with ambient backlighting, white wall tiles, and a frosted glass partition separating the bathroom from the bedroom.

Other Facilities

While I didn't avail them, the hotel offers a gym and laundry service. They also house the Oak & Vine restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch daily, with dinner options from Tuesday to Saturday.

Summing Up

The biggest pro of my stay was the clean modern room and its proximity to everything I needed from Wellington. The comfortable king bed also led to great sleep. However, the lack of complete GHA DISCOVERY Platinum recognition was a shortfall. The room's impractical layout for working was another negative. While renovated and centrally located, the Oaks Wellington ultimately fell short of expectations. For a proper business trip, I would choose a hotel better suited for getting some desk work done during the day.

Daniel Kinnoch

Daniel can often be found in airport lounges when travelling with a coffee and something sweet.

https://www.loungepair.com
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