We try out the fancy-pants part of a fancy-pants hotel, the InterContinental Auckland – the new club lounge where drinks are free and the vibes are hot.
In this cossie livs crisis, a little one-night staycation is a hell of a lot more doable for a lot of us than a big grand trip away. But money considerations or not, I’m a huge believer in a staycation, especially for couples. They’re a chance to get away from your normal – your house, the to-do list, pressures of everyday living, the mental load – and truly indulge in spending quality time together without interruptions.
A little hotel stay is one of me and my fiance’s favourite things to do to connect and enjoy each other’s company, and we’re always on the lookout for a good hotel deal that’ll give us 24-hours of hedonism, joy and relaxation (finding all three can be a tall order!).
What we’re really after when we say all of those things is value. For us privileged DINKS, we’d rather spend a little more on an amazing experience than less just simply for the sake of doing something and having an average time, especially if we’re carving out a weekend. Hell, we deserve nice things every now and then.
We’ve stayed at the InterContinental Auckland before – see this review – and we absolutely loved it, so much so we went back to try out their new Club InterContinental offering, to see if it’s worth you upgrading on your next visit.
What is a hotel ‘club’?
Put simply, some five-star hotels will have a room for its fancy guests – those in suites or designated club rooms, or those who are high up in their points system – to make their experience more exclusive, cohesive and luxurious. Basically it’s a Koru Lounge (I know they’re not called that anymore but I’m sorry, Air New Zealand Lounge just doesn’t have the same vibe) for the hotel.
So, what do you get? Access to the Club room is the main perk – it’s a gorgeous water-facing space with sweeping views towards the Waitematā Harbour, open for most of the day, where you can have breakfast, all-day dining, afternoon tea service and evening canapes and drinks – ALL included.
It’s a serene, relaxing room to chill out in – in fact we stayed for the entire afternoon simply reading the paper, playing Wordle (yes we’re still doing that, but I have to admit that Connections has my heart now) and sipping on endless drinks. It’s kind of a home-away-from-home feeling, where you can relax, work or meet up with fellow guests (if you have pals who don’t have access, they can buy a day pass).
Club InterContinental guests also get a few other extras and goodies – personalised check-in and check-out, dedicated concierge service, welcome drinks, an in-room amenity, turndown service and complimentary garment pressing.
Is Club InterContinental Worth It?
In our experience – HELL yes. From our workings out, a Club room is about $200 more expensive than a room without access, so based on an extra $100 per person, here are our takeaways and our answer to the question of value.
Over our time in the lounge, we enjoyed a full afternoon tea service with the little sandwiches, sweet bites and the most delicious scone I have ever had (it was orange flavoured and honestly, I’d go back and get a room just so I can have this scone again). Afternoon tea was accompanied by fancy tea which even my non-tea-loving partner was a fan of. So far, so good.
We chilled out for an hour or so between afternoon tea finishing and canapes arriving (yes we base our itineraries on food, why do you ask?) and enjoyed some more tea (this was the only time we had to purchase anything during our time in the lounge). It was nice to just simply sit and chat and stare out the windows at the ferries sailing back and forward (and some of the more colourful people in town).
From 5pm, the star of the show began – the canapes and drinks service. Here’s where the value portion of this review really kicks in: from 5-7pm, you’re treated to four gorgeous canapes each, as well as unlimited charcuterie from the help-yourself bar. You can also order whatever you like off the drink menu, including Champagne – Veuve Clicquot – wines, beers, spirits and cocktails. Yes, COCKTAILS – including a spicy marg and classic negroni. It’s a perfect pre-cursor to heading out on the town with your mates, or your romantic dinner date in the Viaduct with your beloved. Or, use it as dinner, I’m not going to judge you and hell, this story is all about value.
And then of course, to finish your experience, breakfast is also served in the club, saving you from fighting with the masses in the (admittedly stunning) hotel restaurant Advieh – order off the menu (try the mee goreng) or else help yourself to the breakfast bar.
So from all of these inclusions alone, then yes, an extra $100 each even just on a practical level is super-worth it, if food and beverage is an important part of a staycation experience for you. But I think the real value is in the *special-ness* of the experience where you’re treating yourself to an above-any-beyond experience that makes you feel, well, special.
And who doesn’t want to feel a little bit special?
