Hotel Review Econolodge Auckland City Central 6,000 points reward stay

Yes, there is a Santa Claus Econolodge Auckland City Central at 6,000 Choice Privileges points per night in a great Auckland, New Zealand city center location for easy access to and from Auckland Airport SkyBus stop on Queen Street.

The central business district location of Econolodge City Central is adjacent to Crowne Plaza Auckland, so even if you have no interest in a cheap Choice Privileges property for Auckland, the location information in this post is relevant if you might be staying at Crowne Plaza.

Econolodge Auckland City Central is attached to Crowne Plaza Auckland building.

Econolodge Auckland City Central

The Lobby

Econolodge Auckland City Central lobby entrance foyer skylight

The lobby is kind of nice with a painted glass skylight in the entrance foyer and some couches. Past reception is a large room with tables for dining and a small bar and breakfast room.

Econolodge Auckland City Central breakfast room.

There are two computer stations in breakfast room.Â

An ice machine by the bar was useful for chilling some beer.

Econolodge Auckland City Central bar counter.

An ice machine right of bar counter. Hotel elevators for the 6 floors are located in front of stairs in background.

I purchased beer and hot chicken at Countdown Market on Victoria Street, a full-size grocery store about 5 to 7 minutes walk down Elliott St. from Econolodge.

Countdown Market, Victoria Street, Auckland

Econolodge Auckland City Central Room 504

I avoided staying at Econolodge Auckland City Central my first night in Auckland due to warnings about the hotelâ€™s small rooms on TripAdvisor (#44 of 68 Auckland Hotels). I could have booked this Econolodge for $60 USD the Sunday before when I stayed at Quality Hotel Parnell Auckland for $111. For my last night in New Zealand I had a reward night booked for 10,000 Choice Privileges points at the Quality Hotel Parnell, but realized I needed to catch the SkyBus around 6am for my 8:25am flight to Sydney. A two mile pre-dawn walk or taxi expense motivated me to move my hotel reservation to the Econolodge Auckland City Central for its location, 5 minutes walk from the Auckland Airport SkyBus Queen Street bus stop. Easy access to the SkyBus, plus numerous food venues and the Countdown market close by Econolodge make the location convenient for a visitor briefly staying in Auckland.

Admittedly, the room size at Econolodge Auckland is small.

To illustrate in words how small, I kept my suitcase on the bed until I went to bed and then placed my suitcase against the room door. There was no other floor space in the room that would not have blocked my movement between the bed and bathroom.

Econolodge Auckland Central City is a utilitarian room that satisfied me for a one night stay as a solo traveler. I would not book this hotel if traveling with my wife. The room size was only suitable for one person. At 6,000 points and a convenient Auckland location for my early morning airport transportation needs, this was a great value for me in Auckland. I estimate the points cost at $33 for the hotel room reward night based on my Choice Privileges points value analysis yesterday of $5.50 per 1,000 points for the 161,000 points I bought in 2016. The published room rate was about $90 USD for my date.

Choice Privileges points in New Zealand provided significant hotel rate discounts for me for 6 reward nights at Econolodge properties due to the November dates of my trip. Reward rates increase at most Choice Hotels in New Zealand for December 1 to April 15, 2017.

Econolodge Auckland Central City Choice Privileges reward night rates