Novotel Rotorua Lakeside

Great central location. Staff were friendly and professional, especially those servicing the rooms. Check-in and -out was smooth and our room was as advertised and serviced daily. The continental breakfast had a good variety of foods/drinks and it was great that they allowed guests 16-years and under to eat for free.

The pool was too small for the size of the hotel- it was always crowded at different times of the day/night, with no lounge chairs to relax by the pool. The buffet (cooked) breakfast was average and the restaurant may have been understaffed during our stay as tables weren’t cleaned/cleared from guests that dined earlier in the morning, limiting our seating options.

We came here as our holiday home accomadation we'd booked several months before let us down. Within moments of walking in the reception we knew we'd have a nice stay. The rooms were great, the reveptiom and house keeping staff went to great lengths to be welcoming and friendly. The Christmas decorations throughout were beautiful. The bar had a lovely ski lodge feel to it. The bar staff were also lovely. The free laundry was really helpful. A magical Christmas stay, and we would love to come back!

These are very minor things. The pool area could do with a refresh but was still nice. The breakfast could also have been better quality considering the price. We only tried it once, so perhaps it was just an off day.. A warning that the pillows contain feathers would also have been helpful. Although the beds were really comfortable.

The location was perfect for us especially going out and visiting the City. Loved the walks around the Lake as well. Best part was that I visited the newly develop tourist attraction 'Waiariki Spa' which was close nearby, awesome, awesome experience. I did enjoy our room, clean, all the things that I needed ie hairdryer, iron, extra blankets if needed. Loved the shampoo, conditioner and gel wash instead of having to open packets. Loved the concept of 'self sustaining' like looking after the environment using cotton handtowels to dry your hands in the toilets instead of paper.

Just a little disappointed when I went to go and have a shower and their was no soap in the soap dispenser and shampoo. I had just had a spa and thought that I would shower in the room. Luckily I was able to get just a tiny amount out for me to wash my body. I did tell the reception that morning and they saw to it straight away, I was also visited by the Supervisor and asked if it had been done. I really appreciated that it was seen straight away Also just for the staff to maybe know about some of the tourist attractions that are advertised in the hotel foyer. I did ask them about the Waiariki Spa and if we needed to take some towels. All 3 did not know anything even though it is only 5 - 8 minute walk from the Hotel. Just may be brush up on local knowledge.

My favourite aspects of the Novotel Rotorua are the location and breakfast. Both are ideal I think. The room is good - nothing unusually good for a nice hotel, but good. Everything was there, it all worked and it was clean and tidy.

The checking in process was terrible, BUT I believe this was due to Booking.com failing to pass the booking through to Novotel, even though I received a confirmation email. This greatly annoyed me and was enough to change my mind completely about the benefit of booking a nice hotel. I want to feel expected and welcome. This was the opposite. I didn't feel that Novotel did enough to compensate for the inconvenience whether it was their fault or not. The problem is I don't know who to blame. I probably won't use Booking.com again - but I'm not 100% sure what actually happened so not sure that's fair? It's ironic that Booking.com have asked me to review the hotel when I actually want to review Booking.com.

Everything

Super nice comfortable beds with nice cooling Air-conditioning for hot summer nights!

There were no milk for coffee in the room so we can't drink any coffee! Also we had a private SPA but the night front desk staff had a big sigh outside the door after he dropped the plate of fruit off! Me and my husband both heard the big sigh...not sure what was his problem with us? And the private SPA temperature was way too hot ... can't stay inside spa too long...Room was nice but the private SPA was bit disappointing!

The location is great and the rooms are lovely, the view was better this time. It's very mush similar to a resort holiday when we go there especially by adding breakfast to the deal. The close proximity to Eat street is a huge bonus. Towels are fantastin. Pool was good.

I find the beds to be a bit soft in the rooms I have stayed in here. The toilet seemed to be loose at the wall in the last room we were in. I seem to have been sent a fine of $65for parking in the carpark there on my last stay from Carpark compliance management limited.

We loved the location, easy walk to the restaurants. We loved the mineral pools and clean showers. The view of the lake! The breakfast with fresh juices! The bar with gorgeous large fireplace. The very comfy bed and pillows. The buffet dinner with whole salmon!! and island style raw fish was a treat. We really didn't want the holiday to end.

I thought that it was a bit unusual to have to pay for a machine made coffee at breakfast, eg a flat white. A gentleman in front of us ordered one and I think it was $6.

We had two rooms. The sheets and bed was very good and size of room was ok.

I notifed the reception about the lift button not working on the 1st floor but felt like it was being ignored and no way to record or document this at hotel. They require a "Feedback" form in the room that one can drop off at reception. The long wait for check in was not helpful as we had just driven 6 hours and even though we could get a our bags out of the car and stored for a the time we had no access to clean up to go out.

It was comfortable and warm. The room service was great.

The wait time to check in. A tour bus had come and were just everywhere and there was only² one person checking them all in who could hardly speak English. It was a nightmare. Waited nearly an hour to be served as the tourists were just everywhere with no line and luggage everywhere. It was loud and disturbing. I felt sorry for the staff member. Management needs to address this and ensure staff are better supported.