Distinction Hotel Rotorua

Hotels
8 (705 reviews)
390 Fenton Street , Rotorua , nz

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great breakfast
Friendly staff
Good amenities
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Room maintenance concerns

Categories

Cleanliness
7.25
Several reviews indicated issues with cleanliness, including dirty pool and old bathrooms.
Service
8.25
General sentiment showed friendly and helpful staff, despite issues with check-in.
Location
7.75
Mixed feedback; good location overall but not perfect as per a few reviews.
Room Quality
7.25
Comments about rooms being old and maintained poorly, though some were satisfied.
Amenities
8.25
Positive mentions about the facilities, especially the pool and breakfast.
Value for Money
8.25
Guests felt they received good value for the overall amenities provided.
Food and Beverage
8.75
Consistent praise for the breakfast quality and restaurant services.
Overall Experience
8.25
Overall positive sentiments encourage guests to recommend and return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 18:53

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Situated just 500 meters from the renowned Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, The Distinction Hotel in Rotorua offers modern rooms and suites with en suite bathrooms, satellite TV, and broadband internet. Many rooms feature private balconies with picturesque views of the golf course, pool, or forest.

Diverse Dining Options
Guests can indulge in a culinary journey at the hotel's three restaurants, including a Japanese sake restaurant, a bar, and a classic à la carte dining experience. Whether craving authentic Japanese flavors or international cuisine, there is something to satisfy every palate.

Convenient Location
Conveniently located next to Arikikapakapa Golf Course and a short drive from Rotorua International Stadium, the hotel is also just minutes away from the Polynesian Spa, city center, and Lake Rotorua. With complimentary car parking, free Wi-Fi, and access to nearby attractions, The Distinction Hotel ensures a memorable stay.

Ready to experience luxury and convenience at The Distinction Hotel Rotorua? Book your stay now and elevate your travel experience.

Important information:

Please note that Distinction Hotel Rotorua requires a NZD $1 credit card pre-authorization or NZD $50 cash deposit upon check in to cover any incidental charges.

Please note that there is a 2% transaction fee when you pay with a credit card or a Visa or MasterCard debit card.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: ROT

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 4 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 12 years old to 16 years old stay for NZD 50 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 705 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.25
Service: 8.25
Location: 7.75
Room Quality: 7.25
Amenities: 8.25
Value for Money: 8.25
Food and Beverage: 8.75
Overall Experience: 8.25
R
Ryan • extended_group • au
8
lovely staff and lovely food
Pros:

the staff were lovely

Cons:

some rooms unfortunately do not have air conditioning :(

2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
G
Graeme • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-01-29 • via Nuitee
P
Plimmer • extended_group • nz
8
Quiet comfortable adequate
Pros:

Great breakfast. Comfortable bed. Friendly staff. Nice room

Cons:

No shampoo or soap. And a bit stingy on
the milk. A little expensive

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
H
hannah • family_with_children • au
6
2026-01-24 • via Nuitee
G
Genie • couple • nz
9
Relaxing and great… will come back again!!!
Pros:

Nice and clean property… tried all the restaurants in the property and my kids loved them
The staff at the reception were lovely and easy to deal with… my kids weren’t initially added in my booking but sorted it quickly when checking in…

Cons:

No direct entry from the parking lot at night from the hotel but relatively safe as a family (might be scarier when alone) to walk from our car out the gated parking lot and through entrance of the hotel…

2026-01-20 • via Nuitee
N
Natasha • family_with_children • nz
10
Definitely recommend for families
Pros:

Very impressed with the facilities available kids absolutely loved the outside heated pool and the fact the pool and spas didn’t close till 10am made it even more exciting for the kids

Cons:

There were no information booklets in the bedroom so didn’t know what food was available to order for room service or what number to dial to reception

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
P
Param • family_with_children • nz
9
Pros:

Heated pool and spa

Cons:

Exhaust fan not working in the bathroom

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
A
Ani • family_with_children • nz
8
Awsome
Pros:

Breakfast n comfy bed

Cons:

Room fridge didn’t work.
Shower head needs fixing.
Bath tub also needs repairing

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
T
Tiriana • family_with_children • nz
8
2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
P
Philip • family_with_children • au
1
Overpriced tourist trap that took away from the amazing Rotorua. Avoid.
Pros:

I liked seeing the distinction hotel in my rearview mirror as I drove away from there.

Cons:

I am sure that this was a great hotel back in the day, however for $375 per night! This is a joke, there are NO redeeming features to this hotel, and it is atrocious that they believe they can command this price. the rooms are dark, old and smelly! The curtains were dirty and ripped and if you are unfortunate enough to stay here do yourself a favor, just have a look under the bed and guess how long it has been since the carpet was vacuumed. The marketing photos do not represent the actual state of the establishment. The breakfast was average at best, AND the staff were completely un-interested unhelpful and as to the features of the area! In fact, they had no idea at all! NB: You work in a tourist area! perhaps just a little script to follow? Just to be clear, I stay in a lot of places for work and have worked in the hotel industry, and this is the first review I have ever been compelled to write.

2026-01-11 • via Nuitee
K
kenan • family_with_children • nz
10
Very good
Pros:

Nice yummy 😋

2026-01-09 • via Nuitee
B
Brodie • couple • nz
3
Will not be staying here again.
Cons:

Very disappointed with our stay. After travelling five hours with two children, we were sent to a room that smelled strongly of bleach. The carpet was old, musty, and extremely dusty. There was also a random internal door in the room that led to another room. The neighbouring guests had children who repeatedly tried to open this door, which made us feel unsafe and uncomfortable.
The food experience was equally poor and concerning. We ordered a plain pizza with basil. Nowhere on the menu did it state that the basil would be in pesto form. We have a severe nut allergy in our family, and we were later told that not only were there nuts in the basil pesto, but also nuts in the pizza base sauce. This is a serious allergy risk and was not clearly communicated.
We would have left immediately due to these issues, but the booking was non-refundable, leaving us with no option. Overall, this stay fell well below expectations in terms of cleanliness, safety, and food allergen transparency.

2026-01-07 • via Nuitee
A
Andom • couple • nz
10
2026-01-06 • via Nuitee
L
Louise • family_with_children • nz
8
Lovely, would stay again. A little dated but pool and buffet were great
Pros:

The staff are very friendly and accomodating. The buffet breakfast was great and it was nice having the pool too.

Cons:

The hotel could do with some maintenance, just more cleaning around the pool area and umbrellas. The rooms are dated and could do with a paint

2026-01-05 • via Nuitee
N
Naveen • family_with_children • nz
9
Pros:

the swimming pool and the spa and jacuzzi

Cons:

the swimming pool had leaves and branches in it

2026-01-04 • via Nuitee
W
Wang • family_with_children • nz
9
不错
Pros:

整体不错

Cons:

没有空调

2026-01-04 • via Nuitee
E
Elaine • solo_traveller • nz
7
Pleasant.
Pros:

Very comfy beds and room was clean but no distractor fan in bathroom and toilet seat was in need of securing. Very nice staff.

Cons:

Pool area needed weeding and spa needed the leaves raking out and concrete steps leading to pool needed cleaning The hotel itself is dark and dingy. Hotel is in need of refurbishment. Some sofas were filthy.

2026-01-04 • via Nuitee
H
Hunter • family_with_children • nz
8
We loved this place
Pros:

Great breakfast, large room

Cons:

Location not perfect

2026-01-03 • via Nuitee
S
Sean • couple • nz
7
2026-01-03 • via Nuitee
K
Kent • family_with_children • nz
6
Cons:

Pool was dirty

2026-01-02 • via Nuitee