Albany Rosedale Motel

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what struck me first about the Albany Rosedale Motel? It’s one of those places that actually delivers on being a proper 4-star without all the pretentious nonsense you get closer to the city center. I mean, when you’re driving up Rosedale Road – and honestly, it’s a pretty straightforward drive from the motorway – you’re not expecting much from the exterior, but once you’re inside, there’s this surprisingly polished feel to everything.

The thing about staying in Albany is you’re getting the best of both worlds, really. You’re far enough from Auckland’s chaos that you can actually sleep at night (no random sirens or late-night foot traffic), but close enough that hopping on the Northern Busway gets you into town in maybe 20 minutes. The staff here seem to get that most people are either heading to or from somewhere else, so check-in is refreshingly quick – none of that drawn-out spiel about facilities you can figure out yourself. What I actually appreciated was how they mentioned the decent coffee places within walking distance, because let’s be honest, hotel coffee is still hotel coffee even at a 4-star place.

The rooms themselves are… well, they’re solid. Nothing Instagram-worthy, but everything works properly, which is more than I can say for some flashier places I’ve stayed. The beds are genuinely comfortable – that’s not just me being polite – and the bathrooms have good water pressure, which matters more than people admit. You can hear a bit of road noise from Rosedale Road during the day, but it dies down completely after about 9 PM, so if you’re a light sleeper, it’s not going to ruin your night. I also noticed they’ve clearly put thought into the little things: proper reading lights, enough power outlets, and – this might sound weird – but the curtains actually block out light properly. You’d be surprised how many places get that wrong. The 7.6 rating makes sense when you think about it as a reliable, no-drama stay rather than some luxury experience. It’s the kind of place where business travelers probably make up half the guests, and families passing through make up the other half, which creates this nice, quiet atmosphere. Parking’s easy and free, which saves you the headache of street parking or those ridiculous city hotel fees. If you’re planning to explore the North Shore beaches or you’ve got something happening at the Albany mall area, the location actually works out perfectly.