Cooden accommodation from NZ$72

The Grand Hotel is a long-established, traditional hotel with a distinctly classic look and feel. The aesthetic is not quite my personal preference, but I had a good stay and was particularly impressed by the service. I emailed the hotel before arriving and received a prompt and helpful response. My room was spacious, with generous wardrobe space, a safe, a Nespresso machine with pods, two complimentary bottles of water and bespoke bathroom amenities. Service throughout my stay was excellent. Rita and Sylvia at reception were both extremely helpful, as was the valet team. Room service occasionally took a few attempts to reach, but once through, they were attentive and the food arrived promptly. I also overslept one morning and nearly missed breakfast. They kindly arranged a tray and brought it to my room. The food was consistently excellent. The hotel has a beautiful seafront setting, especially on a clear day and the lounge and afternoon tea are clearly popular with local guests. If you favour traditional grand hotels, classic interiors and attentive service, The Grand should suit you well. For me, the quality of the service was what made the stay.