PackJetRoam

The Mayfair is one of the newest hotels to be established in Christchurch. Located approximately 1km northwest of the CBD, it is conveniently located on the strip of commercial buildings where you can find some of Christchurch’s fine restaurants, and 500m away from the casino.

The bus stop is only a short walk from the hotel, whether you are taking it into the CBD or to the airport, the bus journey takes around 20 minutes to/from the airport which makes it a very convenient journey for travelers.

The check-in experience was efficient and fast, I was provided with a room key and a voucher for a free drink as a part of the package.

Upon entering the room, the left side was a cabinet with a luggage rack and safe and alongside it a full size mirror, inside was a closet space packed with ironing board, bath robes and slippers. Next to the closet was a mini bar area packed with snacks and drinks, although the prices are usually on the higher end which is not unusual.

Opposite the closet was the entrance to the bathroom. The design was luxurious and elegant, the shower is large although the only issue is the lack of prevention to stop water from leaking outside of the shower area. All amenities are from Byredo Bal D’Afrique, I’m not familiar with this brand but I assume it would be in the luxury section as the design of the bottles seems to suggest so.

Walking into the main bedroom space, a large size King size bed facing a 55″ TV with Chromecast. On one side of the nightstand is a tablet connected to the hotel’s app with plentiful information about the amenities within and activities around. The tablet also allows booking for selected nearby restaurants and the onsite one, or to order room service, although the cost is on the higher side plus a delivery fee which is odd to me given that the restaurant should have some sort of an agreement with the hotel if it’s a separate ownership to provide food for its guests, and it is already priced on the higher side so it is unexpected that there’s additional fees on top of it, although going to the restaurant is always an option to avoid the fee. One thing I do appreciate is the transparency of the fees added. They also deliver plates, bowls and/or cutleries if you decide to order through food delivery or take out, which is something I have not seen done by any hotels I’ve ever stayed in (excluding ones with kitchen or kitchenette) which I really appreciate and add a whole other level of personal comfort and personalisation.

The one feature I think should be done by all luxury brands is the personal amenities that a guest can request. I think this was done and implemented well by Mayfair, the list was extensive but the ones I have personally requested were hair spray, nail clipper, lip balm and hand sanitizer.

In the morning, I went to the on-site restaurant for the complimentary a la carte breakfast. The staff wasn’t trained well enough in my opinion as they didn’t seem to understand that my room had complimentary breakfast so they charged it into my room tab, although this was quickly resolved during check out and the cost got written off. When I asked what items on the menu were included or excluded I was told I could order anything which I can see why he might seem confused given that it was charged to my room instead of the complimentary breakfast, although I believe any items are included but only limited to 1 drink and meal as far as I’m aware, but I did not confirm with them. The second day my meal was charged to the complimentary breakfast as I saw the staff checking the list but I did not order the premium item which was the smoothie as the complimentary are usually for tea and coffee only.

The hotel also provides complimentary e-bike hire (at least for the package I’ve got), but I did not rent one as it was rather cold out and raining on and off. Umbrellas were also available for guests to use which were left by the entrance.

CONCLUSION

Overall I enjoyed my stay here at the Mayfair. The ease to access public transport and short distance between the airport and the CBD is a good option for people who may not have transportation option, while it may not be located in the heart of the city, it is not lacking in commercial activities nearby. The well designed and luxurious feel made it a top choice for anyone looking for a good property to stay in whether they are passing through or is visiting. As it is a new build, the perks are that it comes equipped with modern technology which is futuristic and convenient for guests, but the most exciting feature is the ability to request amenities, the ability to book restaurants or to request in room dining through the tablet which is a breeze and setting a whole new way of interaction, service and efficiency. The staff were friendly but the restaurant staff could do with some additional training to avoid the mistake I had experienced during one of my breakfasts. I do believe that it is priced on a higher side with the lack of some additional amenities such as a spa, sauna or pool, which could warrant a steeper price tag, but for what they are offering I do not think I would be getting a good value for the price they are charging for.

Rate my stay: