Distinction Palmerston North Hotel & Conference Centre

Hotels
7.8 (575 reviews)
175 Cuba Street , Palmerston North , NZ

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Business center
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Good breakfast
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Poor food quality
High price

Categories

Cleanliness
7.01
Cleanliness was an issue with yellow stains on blankets and overall cleanliness being described as poor.
Service
9.48
Overall positive comments on staff, with specific praise for their helpfulness and friendliness, particularly from the receptionist.
Location
8.52
Good location noted in multiple reviews, convenient for events and conferences.
Room Quality
7.97
Rooms described as large and comfy but dated, leading to mixed feelings.
Amenities
8.5
Amenities mentioned positively in terms of breakfast and event hosting facilities.
Value for Money
6.46
Certain reviews indicated feeling that the hotel was overpriced for the level of service.
Food and Beverage
6.01
Food quality, especially in the restaurant, received negative feedback with some guests finding it inedible.
Overall Experience
8.48
Mixed overall experience, with positive and negative sentiments reflected in the reviews.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 00:59

Property Description

Historic Building with Modern Amenities
Distinction Palmerston North Hotel & Conference Centre, located just 200 metres from the city centre, offers a charming stay in a historic building. The rooms are spacious, featuring en suite bathrooms and air conditioning, blending historic charm with modern comfort.

Convenient On-Site Facilities
Enjoy the convenience of an on-site restaurant and bar at Nosh, offering a Pacific-area à la carte dinner menu and a delectable buffet breakfast. Stay connected with free unlimited WiFi access and take advantage of free on-site parking during your stay.

Ideal Location for Business and Leisure
With The Square just a short stroll away, guests can explore the city's central park and its serene surroundings. The hotel's large conference centre is perfect for hosting various functions and events, catering to all your business needs.

Book your stay at Distinction Palmerston North Hotel & Conference Centre now for a perfect blend of history, comfort, and convenience.

Important information:

Please note parking is limited and is based on availability on arrival. Free offsite parking is available as an alternative.

Please note that all credit card transactions incur the following processing fees: 2%.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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: WLG

Location

Guest Reviews

7.8
Based on 575 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.01
Service: 9.48
Location: 8.52
Room Quality: 7.97
Amenities: 8.5
Value for Money: 6.46
Food and Beverage: 6.01
Overall Experience: 8.48
J
James • solo_traveller • nz
4
Won't be going back there.
Pros:

The breakfast was nice and the guy in the restaurant was extremely friendly and helpful.

Cons:

The guy that checked me in on reception was completely unhelpful, kind of rude and all he wanted was my credit card for the deposit. When I asked him if he could recommend somewhere to eat, he mumbled that it depended on what I wanted and said "walk that way and you'll probably find something." As someone new in town, I just ended going for a wander (which I wasn't too keen on having to do after a very early start and then a six hour drive) and found a restaurant and 2 takeaways around the corner about 150 metres away in the opposite direction from where he directed me. He gave me no information about when and where breakfast was or where to find my room (the hotel is in two parts). Honestly, the guy couldn't have cared less! Time for a new career I reckon. The room was very small, the bed was very soft, the bathroom was tired and the carpet had endless stains. The photo shows a part that was indicative of the rest of it.

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
C
craig • extended_group • au
10
Pros:

Staff

Cons:

Nothing

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
D
Darren • solo_traveller • nz
8
Nice room woo
Pros:

The pillows were comfortable. The bed was a nice size. The TV had great channels.

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
R
Roslyn • solo_traveller • nz
6
Happy with the breakfast options. Hotel is rather dated but friendly staff
Pros:

Central location, easy from the airport

Cons:

Not much light in my room, room very dated and bed was rather hard

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
C
Curtis • solo_traveller • nz
8
I had a really enjoyable stay.
Pros:

I stayed in one of your newly renovated rooms and it was lovely. The décor was very stylish, and room layout was great with the bench seat couch against the wall. The bathroom was also very sleek & modern.

Cons:

The foyer of the hotel could do with an update.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
B
Belinda • solo_traveller • nz
10
2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
D
Damon & Angie • solo_traveller • nz
10
Pros:

Excellent loved our stay

Cons:

Nice hotel close to everything easy walking

2026-08-30 • via Nuitee
A
Amanda • solo_traveller • nz
10
2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
T
Todd • couple • nz
7
2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
D
Donna • extended_group • nz
9
A great place to be able to stay with colleagues - our stay went smoothly
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • solo_traveller • nz
8
2026-07-23 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • extended_group • nz
8
2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
M
Melissa • family_with_children • nz
7
Great location and great breakfast.
Pros:

Room was nice and clean and very central to everything we needed. Loved that it included a buffet breakfast - was a hit with the whole family!

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
E
Ethan • solo_traveller • nz
7
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
D
Denise • solo_traveller • nz
10
Superb Service and Staggeringly Good Food. Can't rate highly enough.
Pros:

I foolishly didnt check the room was not a shower over bath as my Husband is disabled and can't balance. The lady at the desk moved mountains in a 3 way swap to get us a disabled room with grace and efficiency. The bar staff were delightful. The chef cooked me the best pork belly I've ever eaten in my life and my hubby's burger got a 10/10.
Everyone looked after us so well, helping hubby while I had to pop upstairs, check out was a breeze (same guy who helped open the room to make it easier for hubby to get in straight away). I'd forgotten to take my pills with the yummy breakfast so he gave me a take away box for a pastry so I could take them in the car. Thoughtfulness and service was just off the charts.

Cons:

Nothing. Couldn't fault it.

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
D
david • couple • nz
2
Very disappointing stay, not a 4 star hotel more like a 2 star
Pros:

The location was good and the fact it had undercover secure parking was good.

Cons:

We stayed in the older part and the room was very disappointing, uncomfortable bed and pillows, very noisey heater on wall, no sound proofing and curtains hanging off the rails. I would rate it a 2 star.

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
R
Rebecca • solo_traveller • nz
6
Pros:

Location was excellent, nice and central with easy parking. Staff were friendly.

Cons:

The heating didn't work and we were supplied a tiny oil heater to warm the room, which wasn't sufficient.. The bathroom was dated, which isn't an issue, but most certainly didn't reflect the price that we paid. I don't know if it was just because it was a crazy busy weekend in Palmerston North or if we paid standard pricing, but we didn't get value for our money.

2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
S
sara • solo_traveller • gb
3
Pros:

Location

Cons:

We were freezing, heating didn't work and we were given a heater which also didn't do anything, no parking available so had to park on street and were told pot etially not secure, so much noise early in the morning but we're told renovations wernt happening on the weekend!

2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
R
Rodneyf • solo_traveller • nz
8
Pleasant stay, suited my purpose well.
Pros:

A heritage building so came with some inherent 'aging', but overall very pleasant. Very handy location to key stadia, which was the purpose of my visit, and quick walk to 'downtown'.

Cons:

Excellent breakfast, but gave up trying to understand the coffee machine lol.

2026-06-02 • via Nuitee
G
Gems • solo_traveller • nz
7
Overall good stay
Pros:

Easy to get to things in the city
Great breakfast

Cons:

Door was very difficult to open, had to swipe quite a few times.
Feeling like it needs a little decor update.
Car parks are quite difficult to get into with big vechicle

2026-05-31 • via Nuitee