Flag Inn/Choice/Bayview Wairakei Resort, Lake Taupo. A large complex with many amenities including two pools (one lap, the other “dipping”) a nice gym/spa facility, hot tubs, a range of room choices from standard hotel to “villas”, nicely laid out grounds with pleasant walks and plantings, a golf course, two restaurants, bars and pleasant public rooms. Conference facilities seem well laid out.

Our initial room was a Choice VIP room and was very reasonable, booked online through the Choice website. We attempted to extend our stay by two days, and the front desk staff did all they could to be accommodating, finding us a room for a third night, where we had to change rooms and putting us on a wait list for a fourth night, but no guarantee, as there was a large convention arriving.

Rooms look out into garden areas for the most part, and are quiet and removed from excessive road noise. Equipment is the standard tea/coffee with instant coffee, minibar, which, refreshingly, has room for our own stuff as well as the minibar offerings, desk/bureau with ample plugs, color tv , clock radio, and ample storage for baggage.

Rooms are clean and inviting, with pleasant low key pastel décor, but need some tlc to be fully up to grade with the rest of the facility. Bathroom, in particular, needs some work - tile grout is black in back corner of the tub. Wallpaper is scraped off along corner areas subject to luggage scrapes, and some fixtures are showing their age. Carpets are in pretty good shape, and upholstered pieces are in good shape. Drapes and bedspreads appear to be almost new.

Internet shows this property as a Flag Inn, and a Choice hotel. On arrival, it is a Bayview property (along with the Grand Chateau a few miles away in Tongariro) but still a Choice member property.

Beds are soft, but reasonably comfortable. There is a fair amount of noise from hallways and exterior walkways which can be disturbing to light sleepers.

Our changed room was a Standard King, which was a substantial upgrade from the Choice VIP double room. The cosmetic aspects that were shabby in that room, were all newer and more polished in the King room. It had a much larger more modernized bath which contained a separate shower and a double jetted tub, double sinks, and tile and marble details. Carpet, draperies and bedcoverings all appeared fresh and new.

On check out, we were charged almost double for the changed room. After some negotiation with the desk, as we had not been informed of the upgraded price, we split the difference.

Lake Taupo is a few miles away from the resort property. The Craters of the Moon thermal area is quite close, and there are thermal vents on the property itself.

I traveled here with family to visit our brother. We had three rooms and stayed over a week. One of us had a 1.5 year old. They had a suite, which had a kitchen and a washer & dryer. It made it very nice to cook breakfast and wash clothes. The rooms are decent size, clean (although the carpets could use some work), but the walls are thin and there is no temperature control (we stayed when it was "unusually" warm, but the room was really uncomfortable). The ammenities of the resort were good (two pools (although a little warm), a gym, and very good restaurants). The location is good (only 5 minutes to the lake). Having everything there is a real plus when you have kids to cater to.