The Spencer Hotel

Auckland -36.79087400, 174.77108200 , 9-17 Byron Avenue, Takapuna (Show on Map)
7.4
Good


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1 room2 guests 1 room, 2 guests
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Summary of reviewsThe Spencer Hotel in Takapuna is widely praised for its excellent location, making it an ideal spot for both leisure and business travelers. Guests enjoy its proximity to the beach, shops, cafes, restaurants and local attractions with many rooms offering picturesque views of the Waitemata Harbour, Rangitoto Island and Takapuna Bay. The combination of serene seaside surroundings and urban convenience stands out as a significant highlight.

Guests have complimented the hotel’s spacious, clean and well-maintained rooms. Many rooms come equipped with modern fittings, USB sockets, balconies, soundproofing and blackout drapes, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Despite some noting that the rooms appear a bit dated and could benefit from refurbishment, the overall spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort are well-regarded.

The Spencer Hotel's staff receive enthusiastic praise for being exceptionally friendly and helpful. The ease of check-in, accommodating and polite reception and their willingness to assist beyond basic needs contribute significantly to positive guest experiences. The staff’s dedication to maintaining high cleanliness standards and assisting with issues like IT problems further adds to the welcoming atmosphere.

The gym at The Spencer Hotel is highly regarded for its excellent facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. Guests appreciate the well-equipped and high-tech environment, enhancing their fitness experience. The pool and spa facilities are also key attractions, regularly described as lovely and a favorite feature among visitors. Despite occasional issues, such as a cold heated pool or cleanliness lapses, the pool area remains a beloved amenity.

However, there is notable criticism regarding food services. Many guests express disappointment over the hotel's current lack of breakfast options and the closure of the on-site restaurant and bar. The unavailability of morning meals, inconsistent service and closure of dining facilities have forced guests to seek alternatives for breakfast and dinner. Although some guests found the in-room dining options to be convenient, the general absence of a fully operational restaurant detracts from the overall experience.

Parking at The Spencer Hotel is another area where guest feedback is mixed. While some appreciated free parking offered by helpful staff, others found the charges excessive and availability limited. Despite these challenges, the hotel’s prime location and added amenities like a heated pool and in-room laundry facilities generally ensured a positive stay.

In summary, The Spencer Hotel excels in location, room comfort, cleanliness and staff friendliness. While it faces criticism regarding food services and some elements of room maintenance, the overall guest experience remains positive, underpinned by its strategic positioning and warm hospitality.
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  Heated Pool    Rooftop Pool    Panoramic View Pool  


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Room Types
Standard Studio Offering stylish and comfortable accommodation, with en suite bathroom.

Standard Suite Well appointed suites, which are both sophisticated and spacious. Enjoy open-plan living with full kitchen, laundry, lounge/dining area, and a separate bedroom with en suite bathroom. Ideal for families.

Studio with Balcony In the well-equipped kitchenette, guests will find a refrigerator, a microwave, a toaster and an electric kettle. This air-conditioned studio is comprised of a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a private bathroom as well as a balcony with sea views. The unit has 2 beds.

Suite with Balcony This spacious suite consists of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower and free toiletries. Guests can make meals in the kitchen that is equipped with a stovetop, a refrigerator, a dishwasher and kitchenware. The air-conditioned suite provides a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a washing machine, a seating area, a dining area as well as lake views. The unit offers 1 bed.

Superior Suite This spacious suite is comprised of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a bath and free toiletries. The well-equipped kitchen features a stovetop, a refrigerator, a dishwasher and kitchenware. The air-conditioned suite offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a washing machine, a seating area, a dining area as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.

Guest Reviews
7.4
Good
Location
The Spencer Hotel in Takapuna has garnered positive sentiments from guests, primarily for its excellent location. Guests appreciate how the hotel is conveniently close to the beach, shops, cafes and restaurants, making it ideal for both leisure and business travelers. The views from the rooms are often highlighted with many enjoying picturesque sights of the Waitemata Harbour, Rangitoto Island and Takapuna Bay.

Centrally positioned in downtown Takapuna, the hotel provides easy access to various local attractions and amenities, all within walking distance. This centrality is accentuated by the proximity to good food choices, shopping centers and even medical appointments. The convenience extends to those attending events at nearby venues like the Bruce Mason Centre.

The rooms themselves are noted for being spacious and well-equipped, adding to the overall positive experience. Free parking and helpful staff further complement the hotel's advantageous location. Overall, guests find The Spencer Hotel's setting to be perfect, balancing serene seaside views with bustling urban accessibility.

Breakfast
Guests have expressed notable disappointment regarding the breakfast offerings at The Spencer Hotel. Many reviews highlighted the absence of breakfast options, mentioning that the hotel no longer provides a buffet or any form of morning meal service, which had been available before. The lack of an on-site restaurant or bar has further compounded the issue, forcing guests to seek breakfast at nearby cafes.

The absence of room service in the morning, particularly for coffee, has also been a point of contention. While there is the mention of breakfast being available on certain days, the inconsistency and overall unavailability for most of the week have left many guests feeling let down. Overall, the feedback points to a significant decline in breakfast services at The Spencer Hotel, urging potential visitors to plan alternative arrangements for their morning meals.

Dinner
The reviews for dinner at The Spencer Hotel reveal a mixture of experiences. Many guests were disappointed by the closure of the hotel's bar and restaurant with some mentioning that they were not informed of this before their arrival. This was particularly frustrating for those expecting a full-service experience from a purported four-star hotel. There were mentions of the restaurant being closed for a lengthy period, potentially since before COVID-19. In its place, the hotel offered heat-and-eat meals, which received mixed feedback.

When the restaurant was open, some guests found dinner to be excellent, praising both the food and the attentive staff. However, others experienced long waits and found the meals to be underwhelming or poorly prepared. Guest reviews regarding room service also varied with some dishes being described as poorly cooked or average.

Overall, while the hotel offered some convenient in-room dining options, the general absence of a fully operational restaurant and bar significantly affected guest satisfaction.

Rooms
The Spencer Hotel offers a variety of rooms with some notable positive attributes frequently mentioned by guests. The hotel boasts spacious, clean and tidy rooms, many offering excellent views of the city or the ocean. Comfy beds and well-appointed decor enhance the comfort level of the stay. The facilities and staff have received commendations, particularly for contributing to a positive experience.

The hotel's location is praised for its convenience to shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and the beach, making it a strategic spot for tourists who want to explore the North Shore. Rooms often come with modern fittings, USB sockets, balconies and efficient soundproofing with blackout drapes, promising a restful night's sleep.

However, some reviews pointed out that the rooms and overall hotel appear a bit dated and could benefit from a refurbishment, especially the bathrooms. Cleanliness is generally highlighted, although there are occasional lapses noted, such as un-vacuumed floors, stained upholstery and musty smells in some instances.

Despite its aged appearance, the positive aspects like spaciousness, views and cleanliness seem to outweigh the cons, making The Spencer Hotel a comfortable option for many travelers.

Beds
The beds at The Spencer Hotel elicited a mixed response from guests. While many found the beds to be comfortable with several mentions of very comfortable or comfy beds, there were also notable concerns about the need for upgrading. Some guests specifically praised the beds as being a good blend between soft and supportive and others appreciated the comfortable bed coupled with amenities like Sky TV. However, a portion of the reviews described the beds as extremely uncomfortable, too hard or tired. Instances of beds being two singles pushed together and lovely bedding not compensating for the lack of comfort were also noted. Overall, while the comfort of the beds received significant praise, there are consistent recommendations for improvements to enhance the sleeping experience further.

Cleanliness
The Spencer Hotel in Takapuna receives high praise for its cleanliness and excellent location. Guests consistently note that the rooms and property are very clean, tidy and well-maintained. The views, especially of the sea, are frequently highlighted as spectacular and lovely, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere. Many appreciate the friendly and pleasant staff as well, making for an overall positive experience.

Despite the consistent acclaim for cleanliness, a few issues were noted. Some guests encountered problems such as dirty bowls, coffee cups and towels and occasional mold in bathrooms. There were also mentions of smelly hallways and a general need for some areas to be refreshed.

However, most feedback highlights the cleanliness, comfort and convenience of the hotel's location with easy access to Takapuna Beach and local cafes. The rooms tend to be spacious, comfortable and well-soundproofed, providing a safe and pleasant place to stay. Overall, while there are areas for improvement, The Spencer Hotel stands out for its cleanliness and prime location.

Staff
The Spencer Hotel boasts an exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, contributing to a positive experience for many guests. The check-in process is noted for being easy and welcoming, while the staff at reception have been frequently described as accommodating and lovely. Many visitors have appreciated the polite and pleasant demeanor of the front desk employees and highlighted the efficient assistance they received, even late into the evening.

Despite a few instances where staff coordination could be improved, particularly with parking reservations, the overall impression is overwhelmingly positive. The personnel are consistently described as amazing, hardworking and always ready to lend a helping hand. Their efforts extend beyond the basics, as they assist with IT issues and ensure cleanliness standards are met.

The location of the hotel, close to shops, cafés and restaurants, along with excellent air conditioning, further enhances the comfort of the stay, demonstrating the staff's commitment to their guests' well-being. Overall, the Spencer Hotel's staff plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming and pleasant environment for its visitors.

Gym
The Spencer Hotel offers a highly praised gym experience for its guests. The gym is described as great with excellent facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. Visitors appreciate the high-tech equipment and well-equipped environment. The service from the staff at the gym receives commendations, adding to the overall positive experience. Additionally, the gym and pool area are noted as being very nice, enhancing the overall appeal of the hotel's fitness amenities.

Pool
The Spencer Hotel garners praise for its pool and spa facilities, often highlighted as key reasons for guest satisfaction and even return visits. Many reviews describe the pool as lovely, nice and awesome with guests expressing particular delight in the accompanying spa. Families and individuals alike enjoy the amenities, emphasizing the pool as a favorite feature.

However, some guests experienced issues, such as an unexpectedly cold heated pool due to a broken boiler and the pool being out of action on multiple occasions. Cleanliness was generally commended, though there were mentions of hair balls in the pool and a need for cleaner pool area decking. Moreover, while the pool area itself is attractive, a recurring suggestion is to provide more seating to accommodate guests.

Overall, despite some operational hiccups, the pool and spa at The Spencer Hotel remain a major draw for many visitors, contributing significantly to their overall positive experience.

Parking
The Spencer Hotel offers the convenience of available parking, yet guest feedback highlights various concerns regarding its cost and accessibility. While some appreciated the helpful front desk staff who allowed free parking in limited-time spots, others found the on-site parking charges, which can range up to $39 per day, to be excessively high. There were instances of parking being booked or full, even on weekdays and some guests experienced unexpected clamping. Despite these challenges, the hotel's great location near Takapuna Beach, shops and restaurants, along with additional amenities like a lovely heated pool and in-room laundry facilities, still delivered an overall positive stay experience.


Yes, The Spencer Hotel has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Heated Pool, Rooftop Pool, Panoramic View Pool.

No, a spa isn't available at The Spencer Hotel.

No, The Spencer Hotel doesn't allow dogs.

Yes, parking facilities are available at The Spencer Hotel.

Yes, The Spencer Hotel has a gym.

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