5-Star Hotels in Canterbury, New Zealand

I was a bit disappointed. I was expecting this to be a 5 star place, but there were a lot of things that were definitely not 5 stars. The robes were grey and didn't cover bigger people. One of them had pilling all over it, I didn't want to even wear it. The bathroom door squeaked loudly, so if one person got up to the toilet in the middle of the night, it woke the other person up. There were instructions on how to use the spa bath, but not on how to put the plug in. It didn't just plug in normally. We weren't able to use it on our first night which was very frustrating as it was one of our main attractions. I rang housekeeping the next day. Someone came and had a look and said that you had to turn a know on the side of the spa, how would anyone know that? The lock on the door to outside was broken and a small slide lock had been put on. Why not fix the main lock? I used the toilets to the side of the library and when I washed my hands, the tap was all loose and wobbled round. All these things are little but show that the lodge needs to have things fixed or updated. For $300 per night, you expect the best. The worse thing was on our last morning, we got to breakfast about 8:45, the restaurant closes at 9:30 am. There was continental and scrambled eggs and bacon. At about 9:00 am they stopped bringing out anymore bread to toast. No more croissants, eggs or bacon were brought out. There were about 6 tables with guests and everyone kept going up and checking, but they didn't refill. People were saying, they must have run out of food! But for some reason the waiter kept lifting the lids to the egg and bacon to see what was in there, but of course there was nothing as he hadn't refilled it and he was the only waiter!! I was really disappointed and wouldn't recommend it, unless you are getting a really good discount.

Every single front desk staff member was lovely! ^_^ You'll need a credit card deposit or NZD 100 cash deposit at check-in (remember to retrieve it at check-out). A heads-up: the standard suite I booked doesn't have air conditioning. If you get hot easily, you'll need to book a deluxe room for AC. However, no worries in winter, as there are plenty of heaters, and the room was very warm. If you do get hot, you can ask the front desk for an electric fan, or simply enjoy the breeze on the balcony – that was enough for me. There's a kitchen with pots, pans, and all the cooking utensils you'd need. It's a two-bedroom suite (no windows in the bedrooms), with one bathroom accessible from both sides (and lockable) shared between the rooms. The hotel location is also quite convenient; there are supermarkets, restaurants, and shops within a 10-15 minute walk. P.S. There's a family playground nearby with a free zipline, slides, and climbing frames – definitely go check it out, it's great fun! All in all, this place is really good!!

A beautiful villa resort, very spacious and comfortable with stunning views from the balcony. There are also lovely hiking trails nearby. The only odd thing was that the duvet didn't have a cover. Lunch and dinner were excellent – not expensive but very high-quality. The service was great, and the room even had a washer and dryer.

The small shop is in the picturesque scenery and enjoys it very much. The dinner and breakfast included are also quite exquisite and delicious, which is highly recommended. Have the opportunity to go to Mt cook again is still my first choice.

1. **Unbeatable Location** The hotel is right next to the waterfront promenade. Step out and you're at the beach in 50 meters. Cross the road and you're at the cruise terminal for whale watching and swimming with dolphins, so no need to rush for early morning whale tours. A 5-minute walk takes you to the town's supermarket and restaurants. In the evening, a stroll along the coast offers stunning sunset views of snow-capped mountains meeting the sea. 2. **Incredible View Rooms** If you book a sea view room, definitely choose one with floor-to-ceiling windows. You can enjoy the direct view of the azure bay from your bed, with the Southern Alps stretching in the distance. The sunrise over the sea streams directly into your room in the morning, and at night, you can hear the gentle sound of the waves. The guest rooms are spacious, with separate wet and dry areas in the bathroom. The bedding is soft and comfortable, and the whole room has a modern, minimalist design. Since it's a relatively new hotel, the facilities are brand new with no signs of age or unpleasant odors. The soundproofing throughout the room is excellent, completely blocking out road noise. 3. **Comprehensive and Thoughtful Amenities** The hotel features an outdoor heated swimming pool, perfect for relaxing after water activities. There's also a small gym, convenient for a quick workout during a road trip. The daily buffet breakfast offers a rich variety of options, including local New Zealand sausages, fresh fruit, and made-to-order eggs – all delicious. The 24-hour front desk service is gentle and accommodating, and they even give a complimentary teddy bear souvenir to guests with children, a truly heartwarming detail. The hotel has its own free parking, so self-driving guests have no worries about parking. The Wi-Fi signal in public areas is stable. 4. **Pleasant Dining Atmosphere** The restaurant and bar, with their floor-to-ceiling windows, offer direct sea views. Enjoy a glass of local wine in the evening while watching the sunset; the ambiance is absolutely perfect.

This was our favourite accommodation on our family trip from Christchurch to Wellington.  We had spent the first few days in hotels and the change to a self contained 2 bedroom unit for us and the kids was a welcome relief. We were so impressed with the Settlers and we wouldn’t hesitate to return or to recommend it to friends. Brett and Sue have clearly out a lot of thought and effort into the facilities and the experience. The units were immaculately clean, with nice bedding and furniture. Well stocked kitchen and thoughtful additions like the laundry and towels you could take to the water park. On top of that we were always made to few very welcome. Thanks for a wonderful time

The place is nice and cosy, we have a great nice stay, the bed is nice the room.is clean and equipped with microwave and culteries. Overall a pleasant stay here

Staying at The Mayfair Hotel Christchurch was a really pleasant experience overall. It's definitely a boutique luxury hotel, with very new decor and a room design that feels more refined than a traditional five-star. The location is great – not far from the Botanic Gardens and the city center, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby. The bedding and soundproofing were excellent; it was very quiet at night, perfect for a good rest during your travels. However, it leans more towards a boutique hotel rather than a large resort, so the public facilities aren't super extensive. The breakfast quality was good, but the selection wasn't huge, and it could get quite busy during peak hours. The service was excellent overall, with a very enthusiastic front desk, which really added to the positive experience. All in all, it's a hotel in Christchurch that's strong on aesthetics and comfort, ideal for couples or a relaxed getaway. P.S. Didn't really take many photos of the hotel, haha.

Christchurch truly lives up to its reputation as a garden city; the hotel's location is excellent, within walking distance of all attractions and close to entertainment venues. The only downside was that it was the first hotel I encountered that handed me an invoice at 2 AM! 🫨

The room was quite small; with a 28-30 inch suitcase in the aisle, there was barely any space to walk. The bathroom was also tiny and the facilities felt a bit outdated. The main plus point is definitely the excellent location, with many people taking photos right outside the hotel entrance.