Alice Hampson booked in for a night at the Cordis Auckland with her family and while it might have been just a little staycation, it felt like they could have been on holiday anywhere in the world – especially getting to have a pool-based getaway (in the depths of winter in Auckland!!)
I think I may have made a mistake.
Tuesday mornings are my time off each week, one-on-one with my youngest who is three – and for the third Tuesday in a row, when I’ve asked him what he’d like to do for the morning, he’s said:
“Ummm… go to the pool hotel?”
He’s referring to the Cordis Auckland, one of my fave hotels in the central city, that just happens to have a rooftop pool, which is heated for all year-round swimming.
We took our two boys for a little one-night staycation as winter came to a close, and they both fell in love with the place. So much so, I haven’t really heard the end of it, with it being a big topic of conversation (and pleading that we go back) many weeks later.
For them, yes, the rooftop is their favourite part. It’s a little sanctuary in the middle of the city, where really, you could be anywhere in the world (perfect for a mini break without breaking the bank on airfares!). There’s a main pool that’s open from 6am until 9.30pm every night and it’s the perfect balmy temperature, making a night swim in winter somehow still possible (just!). Thankfully, next to it is a huge spa pool for warming yourself right up, and relaxing.
And if relaxing is what you’re there for, even with two kids, it’s entirely possible. Hotel guests also have access to the award-winning Chuan Spa facilities – a snail shower, ice experience, sauna and herbal steam room. My husband and I tagged in and out of playing in the pools with the kids, while the other soaked in some tranquility in the steam room.
Come the summer months, the pool area is perfect for relaxing out on a sun lounger and ordering a drink from the rooftop bar.
But besides the rooftop drawcard, there’s so much more that makes the Cordis a very family-friendly getaway.
At check-in, the kids were both given little red panda covered (Cody and Coco the red pandas are the Cordis Kids programme mascots) drawstring bags (perfect for popping in wet togs later on), with panda slippers, stickers, and a voucher for free ice-cream anywhere in the hotel.
THE FOOD
We opted for an early room-service dinner, while we laid out on the plush beds watching telly. There’s plenty of options for little ones (they both got a burger with chips, but was a tight toss-up between that and the spaghetti, fish and chips, crumbed chicken or a ham and cheese toastie).
They’re also very allergy friendly – I’m gluten and dairy-free and had a truly surprisingly delicious plant based Hemp burger, with a side of fries. The menu allows you to choose how you’d like them (steak fries for me, shoe string for my husband). My husband opted for a classic BLT which was ginormous (and I had serious food-envy over).
We ordered the whole thing through the handy online system, and it was with us in 30 minutes, leaving us seriously full for $88 all up (and needing a lie-down before heading to the pool for a night swim).
When we returned to the room, we dialled up room service and they sent up our free kids ice-creams within minutes.
The next morning we dined at the Cordis’ signature restaurant: Eight. It’s known for its lavish international buffet, where it features eight international kitchens. But, I think its breakfasts are what the fuss should be all about.
As I mentioned, I’m gluten and dairy-free, which normally means I avoid hotel buffet breakfasts – or just accept that there might just be a piece of fruit and a black coffee for me to enjoy.
Not so at Eight. I’d say this is honestly the best buffet breakfast in Auckland if you’re gluten-free. There’s a pancake/waffle station where you can order gluten-free items, a dedicated gluten-free zone with breads (and a separate toaster), cereals, cakes and pastries. There’s an egg zone, where you can get GF eggs any way you like. Plus, all the other food is clearly labeled with allergens, and there are so many options.
I could barely believe that my GF plate was stacked with toast, hashbrowns, grilled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms and poached eggs.
The kids too were going back for seconds and thirds, and made sure they kept a little room in their tummies for the breakfast dessert zone. There’s icecreams/sorbets (with crunchy waffle cones available and plenty of toppings!) plus two multi-tiered chocolate fountains. The 10-year-old compared it to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
It’s not cheap, but definitely cheaper than many other buffets in town at $45 for adults, while kids aged five to 12 are half the adult price and kids four and under are free. It made for a fairly pricey breakfast at $112.50, but we definitely got our money’s worth (I didn’t eat again until dinner!).
THE ROOM
We stayed in a premier twin doubles room in the newest part of the hotel, the pinnacle tower. It’s slightly bigger than some of the rooms at 41.9m, featuring two double beds (the delicious Signature Dream beds), a huge bathroom with a separate bath and rain shower, a small table and chairs, fridge, coffee maker and a large 55” TV for watching a family movie together on (there’s device casting capability).
We had a slight hiccup in our room when a banging sound started up in the service room across the hall from us (not ideal for relaxing or sleeping) but the team swiftly moved us to a new, identical (minus the noise!) room.
THE VERDICT
I’d stay here again with the kids in a heartbeat. In fact, I already have it booked. Yes, full disclosure, Cordis kindly picked up the tab for this stay, but I’ve already booked my full price room for next time. For one night while my husband is away, I’ve promised to take the kids back for multiple swims, room service, a movie night and the buffet breakfast. And even though I won’t make it into the steam room this time, seeing as I’m on my own – I’m still bloody looking forward to it too.
