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.

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.

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

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.

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.