We are originally from Auckland (now living O/S) and were back visiting family - so thought we would have a few days in Ponsonby (our old haunt) hanging out with friends on the long weekend before staying with family....So Quest seemed to fit the bill- I still had a car in NZ so I my mom picked us up from the airport after a dreadful red eye flight in it and after dropping her home and showing her our pictures on my brand new computer we drove to the Quest and checked in.. and parked my car in the 'secure' gated basement carpark not realizing in my jet lagged state I had left my computer (in a nondescript bag) and another formal handbag in the boot section of my VW golf (out of view) - stupid yes - I know !
After explaining to the reception that I was very jet lagged we still got a firm knock on the door from house keeping at 7.30am! telling them to go away until 9 am we went down stairs and discovered that my car (along with 3 others) had had a window smashed in and my belongings stolen... stupid to leave such things in the car I know but what really upset me was the total lack of sympathy or concern on the part of the management.. we had actually paid $10 a night for a gated secure carpark when actually it seems anybody could easily break into the cars and access the hotel at any time (as you can gain lift access with out a key one through the carpark area-) when I asked to see if anything had been caught on camera I was informed there wasn't any ! this is not a safe area of town so I fear for any women driving into this carpark at night as there is no one around at all no one! after 7pm or 5pm on Sat !
Anyway I spent the rest of the morning organizing new glass (which I had to wait until after the w/end for as my car was an import) We came back to the room at 5pm to find it unserviced and no fresh towels and also a note that the rooms are not serviced on Sundays and because of the long weekend would not be serviced on Monday either!!! I was beyond upset!! (the rooms are ok a funky retro theme - but I suggest staying in the studios as the one bedrooms have no TV in the bedroom and are very sparse feeling) The most unbelievable thing about the hideous stay was there was never any condolences made to me or the fact that I had to come back to an unmade room after my traumatic day and they had the audacity to try and charge us for the use of the carpark for the time of our stay!!!
The hotel is also right next to a vinegar factory so you get some interesting smells like someone is eating a giant bag of crisps in the next room! some of the rooms look onto the Chemical vats with Haz chem signs! about 5 metres away from the balcony and window (I believe this factory is due for demolition soon ...)
anyway... I won't be back!