Feel bad about writing this as the hotel is in the CBD. Joined the Privilege Club for discounts in food and drinks but they don;t give them for breakfasts - doesn't everyone want breakfast!? Also expensive to use Wifi or broadband - why can't hotels let you use the Wifi for free if you only want to e-mail or check something.

We had gone a 12-day family vacation to New Zealand and spent two nights at Rydges Christchurch in two different rooms because they were totally sold out for the Regular City View Rooms, inspite of us having a valid booking receipt. On the first day we were alloted an executive room on the topmost Floor and the next day we were shifted to another room. When they had a valid booking, they should not have alloted the room to someone else. Un-packing & then again re-packing is a tedious affair.

The Reception was very unimpressive and looked like some make-shift arrangement. The staff were over-loaded with work pressure and hence they were less attentive and they ended-up handing over the room keys (cards) which would'nt open the doors to our rooms. I spent close to one and half hours to get the cards sorted out for both our rooms as they rooms alloted to us were both at the extreme ends of the same floor and not adjoining to each other.

The Hotel neither has a Gym, nor a swimming pool. They don't even give you car parking facilities. There is a car parking facility just next to the Hotel's building and you have to pay NZ Dollar 15 for 12 Hours. The Hotel Charges more for valet parking. The Indonesian Gentleman at the Concierge was courteous though and he helped us wih the luggage.

On the positive aspect was the location and the close proximity to the Cathedral which is just behind the Hotel and few minutes walk from the left hand side lane of the Hotel. The punting upon Avon is just across the road and the tram stops very close to the Hotel. Money Changers and Convenient Stores are all around on both the lanes beside the Hotel. The rooms are not quite spacious, though decently clean enough.The breakfast was sumptous.

Hotel Camelot Cathedral has the same locational advantage and is lighter on the pocket. Rydges Christchurch lacks the basic features and ammenities to justify the 5 Star status.

Larger business type hotel well located for the centre of Christchurch. Although the overall standard was acceptable, the hotel was let down by poor standards of housekeeping in the room where there was a thick layer of dust covering many of the furniture surfaces (suggesting that only linens and bathrooms were fully serviced by Housekeeping). In addition, the hotels suffers from very poor wireless internet access with many rooms apparently unable to receive access. Access seems only to be consistently available in the lobby area and then at an excessive charge. For a hotel seemingly targeting the business market, this is an unacceptable level of service provision.

Despite the above comments, front of house staff were helpful and friendly.

We stayed here in July 2009. Great location, right in Christchurch CBD. Lovely hotel, will definately stay here again. And Starbucks is just around the corner! Only gripe is paying for parking which is pricey.