The Grand Hotel Wanganui

Would not wish this place on anyone, sure has gone to the pack,owner does not like spending money,we had no hot water for 2 days,was never asked if we would like a refund

We had been to the Grand 10 years and 20 years ago and Hotel was great. So wanted to stay again. We found rooms were dirty, no mattress protector and the top sheet on the mattress. The shower had not been cleaned and when you turn the lights on in the toilet, it sounded like a jet plane taking off. Carpets not cleaned. We got moved to another larger room, but no mattress protector and top sheet on mattress that didn't cover the mattress. Fridge was leaking and carpet wet. Had plates in upgrade but only 1 plate though a 4 slice toaster. When we were leaving putting suitcase into car, we could not get back into Hotel. Luckily customer was in foyer at 9.15am, no staff around.

This was a terrible experience I payed $100 for the night.the room was like a like a homeless shelter room.. there was no tea, coffee hot chocolate or sugar. The body wash pump in the shower was empty,, the soap pump above the basin is the toilet shower was empty. The shower head had a continuous drip was just tourher,, I thought I'd drown the drip nose out by turning on the tv,,, what a minute,, there was no tv. .must think I'm homeless and this was my last resort!!!

AVOID AT ALL COSTS !!!
Read previous reviews- and be warned! Permanent residents stay.
Cannot believe the Hotel,s own blog - unbelievable.

Jesus H Christ, where do I start? Arrived Friday evening, stayed for the night. Bed was comfy, slept well. That's the only good thing. Went to make a coffee, no kettle, asked for one, was told they'd deliver it to my room, yeah, never showed up. TV remote had obviously had enough and left, asked for a new one, was told it would be delivered, yeah, think it's with the kettle. I managed to get the TV going using my Amazon Fire Stick remote, oh yeah, it claims to have Internet, it technically does, but once you connect, it doesn't work. The room was tired and unclean, bedding was tired, no bedside lamps. The shower is way too small, no ventilation in the bathroom, the body wash in the shower was empty, used soap bar, with attached hair, left in the shower. The bar was pumping, you could hear it in the room, also could hear the cleaners cleaning the bar at one in the bloody morning! Oh I could also hear the occupants in the next room going to the toilet.
Apparently they've updated, I'd love to know what they had updated from!
Yeah, I'd avoid this place like the plague, unless you're a glutton for punishment and like to be tortured

Not so Grand, I suggest you don't waste your time booking there. First room we were given, we went up a few stairwells passing mattresses leaned up against the walls. The room hadn't been vacuumed, bathroom was not just old and tired but filthy, and the sheets had stains and long hair on them. We asked for another room, sheets looked better, but the jug was fill of smelly water with stuff floating in it, the spoon was dirty, there was long hair in the toilet, and not too clean. We asked for a new kettle, but upon opening the fridge and saw it was full of mould, we opted to leave and find alternative accommodation. We had booked through booking.com and paid on arrival, but the hotel said they couldn't give a refund as they had to go through booking.com and wanted us to leave our account details written down on a piece of paper. Wasn't happy to do that, and currently communicating with booking.com to request the refund. Sad really, as it was really nice about 10 years ago when we staying in the lovely character rooms. The rooms given to us and friends were in another part of the building - the layout, long corridors, stairs etc with mattresses in them, didn't make for a safe exit in the event of a fire.

From what friends have told me, this hotel used to be a nice grand old hotel. Boy, what a change with the new owners. A number of our camera club members booked into this hotel this weekend as I did, too. They had stayed here a few years ago. One of the members and her husband left the hotel as two rooms they were offered were very dirty. My room was very basic, with a number of things wrong, eg. One tea mug for two people, no hand towels in the bathroom, no bath mat, plugs by the bed didn't work, light above the single be didn't work. When one of my club colleagues checked in, she was given the electronic door key to my room and said this was her room. When I wanted to check out, there was nobody about, so I had to leave the key on the unmanned counter.

If you are a crackhead, you will fit right in. All day and night, they come. In the carpark they argue and smoke 🙄 the rooms are disgusting. The bathrooms are moldy, poo stains in the toilet. Please don't stay here if you have kids, this would be a nightmare to get out if there is a fire or anything. Proprietor allowed these people to come in and out. Had no care, my parents were next to us, TV wasn't working. After several rants they ended up bringing them a TV from another room. If I didn't have my kids I would've left and slept in my car. Everything is busted, defz emergency housing. JUST DON'T

Absolutely disgusting and I'll be seeking a refund. Very dirty. I don't even know where to start. Shower is filthy. No soap. No hand towel or bath mat. Glass in the outside door held up by nails. Just overall dirty. I complained and got nowhere.

Well, where do I start. Although this is a lovely old building, everything is old and tired, dirty, and lacking room necessities, such as bathroom needs. Coffee etc, only 2 tea bags? No Face cloths etc, the shower and toilet were so filthy, we did not use them, and showered elsewhere. The television was not installed onto the wall brackets, just left resting on a rickety old cabinet (if one could call it a cabinet) we had no remote to operate the television and asked reception 4 times for a remote, however this request fell on deaf ears and we never got one. We complained about the state of the room and asked to be given an upgrade which we were happy to pay for, however we were shown an even worse room.
This hotel is a bad joke and should be avoided at all costs. These people have no business operating a hotel. They have no idea on customer service and what is required to make ones stay a comfortable one.
This venue is a sad blight on Whanganui.
We were also told by locals that this place is used for emergency housing. Undesirables everywhere.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE GRAND. IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE DIVE.

Terrible.
It is a beautiful building and could be made really nice. We understood the managers have only just taken over in the last few months. We had booked but we had to show proof of the booking and then proof that we paid. The room was dingy and old. The pillow cases were thin and holes in them, the towels we sooo thin. Also the "Irish Pub" was hardly Irish with Indian music blaring over the speakers. The laundry was a room flooded with water and 3 machines pushed into the middle of it. Wouldn't recommend although it was cheap.

Very dirty and did not smell clean. Elevator out of action possibly for years based on other reviews. No staff around. Pity to see such a beautiful building falling into disrepair. Not good value for money.

Wir konnten das Zimmer nicht beziehen. Die Bettwäsche war gebraucht, das Badezimmer und das ganze Zimmer nicht geputzt. Der Teppichboden zerrissenen, mit dunklen Flecken überseht, die Fenster verschmiert, ....wie in einem Geisterschloss
Es wurde uns ein zweites Zimmer gezeigt, aber......Schrecklich!
Wir suchten uns ein neues Quartier und waren damit sehr zufrieden.

This is a lovely old hotel and the decor reflects that - full of charm and character. However, the age of the hotel means that the ensuites are a later addition and so are very small and basic. The room was clean and comfortable but the hall could have done with some vacuuming and the sliding door to the ensuite had come off its runners.

Sehr abgewohntes Hotel aus früheren Glanzzeiten. Renovierungsbedürftig, aber bei diesem Riesenhotel würde das Millionen kosten.

Will never stay here again. The room and bathroom were filthy! Cigarette burn mark on top of bedside table. Hallway carpets were torn and very dangerous in multiple places.

Was given a room which was filthy, had unflushed toliet, used tolietries and not the room i booked, after complaining, was then given the room i did book, which wasnt much better. Multi plug zapped and sparked. Fridge unplugged and milk was off. Rubbish bin was caked in mould in the bottom of it, the door to room was damaged and elevators werent working so had to climb four flights of stairs to the room. I dont expect luxury for the price of the room but expected better standards than this.

No lift as it is broken down, no tv only Utube available, had to ask for hand towel for bathroom.
Generally in very poor condition

It was unsafe we found broken glass all through the carpet of our room which we found because it went into my husband's foot. Although they gave us a different room when we discussed the issue of glass. The mattress was dirty and badly stained. The fridge was balancing on a block and made it unsteady. No bath mat which made showering a fall risk. A dirty jug that was peeling inside. A pillow made of broken foam. A broken door handle. And make sure u keep proof u paid for booking as they like to say u haven't and charge or try charging you again

Rubbish around outside area. No bath mat or soap in dispenser in shower. Shower not clean. Bed comfortable but needs a valance on it to cover the wear and tear on base! Stain in carpet could be removed I’m sure.