Camper23189108961
April 13, 2024
The County Hotel is a beauty of Napier, a private hotel, supposedly 5 star, which is well suited to the hopeless desires of romantics and old-world aficionados, whilst its charms may wear thin on those who want more practical amenities. Are you used to big plaza-style joints with scores of rooms ? This one here has a grand total of eighteen rooms in a compact stately building. Strengths include a beautiful ornate style which graces both the exterior and interior, undeniably affording it a plush deluxe feel, enhanced by gracious service. But there is only one restaurant which is only open for dinner ; I do not think there is room service for food, and the central city location means that lounging and relaxation areas are limited - there is a nice aristocratic foyer but forget things like pools or gardens. The place was constructed in 1909 and survived the 1931 Napier earthquake that devastated the region while also spelling the end for many beautifully designed buildings of the era. The County Hotel survived the apocalypse, and that's all the more reason to celebrate its well preserved heritage. But it's desperately in need of funds - it was put on sale a few years ago, and my room's bathroom, while presentable on the surface, reinforced that predicament with some issues that are simply not on par with a highly regarded luxury hotel. The 5 star label here is touted as a rare accomplishment for a hotel in North Island that lies outside the loci of Auckland and Wellington - the staff here do well to maintain that level but the amenities do not stack up. I paid NZD $ 320 per night at peak season, the amount deducted at the time of booking. The building may not be enormous but in a city carefully designed as the Art Deco Capital of the South Pacific, with so many handsome buildings, The County Hotel stands out with its quietly magnificent architecture and tasteful choice of colours. A phone call on reaching the hotel and a lady comes out, leading you in, with hospitable demeanour, a smile and an overall polished charm that really made me happy as I settled in. The same lady showed me my room and explained the arrangements. The AC was already on to cool the room as it was peak summer. The high-ceilinged spacious room's best asset is its quietly elegant design - if you want modernity, this was the never the place to start with. The bed, with its polished-wood headboard in a subtle Edwardian style, and a light blue satin blanket which neatly sheaths the expanse from end to end, may give one a decent night's sleep, while being in no danger of winning awards for the most comfortable bed. Furniture has a nice classical design, the red carpet continues inside, and the curtains are swagged. The bathroom's best asset, ironically, are its natty slatted wooden doors. Parting them you see an elegantly presented white tile bathroom but the material is unsuited to the hotel - marble or polished stone would have been a far more appropriate luxe choice. White