Cromwell's BEST-KEPT Secret: Central Gateway Motel!
Cromwell's BEST-KEPT Secret? Maybe Not Anymore: My Chaotic Confessions from the Central Gateway Motel!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your typical hotel review. This is a journey. A messy, slightly-obsessive, and utterly honest account of my stay at, well, Cromwell’s Central Gateway Motel. And let me tell you, after surviving this stay, I feel like I've earned some serious hotel review street cred.
First off, the name. "Central Gateway Motel." Doesn't exactly scream "luxury retreat," right? More like "convenient pit stop on your way to . . . wherever." And that pretty much sums it up. But hold on. Let’s dive in.
(Accessibility & Safety - The Good, the Confusing, and the Very, Very Helpful)
Right off the bat, let’s talk accessibility. From the get-go the place seemed to be Wheelchair accessible, which is a huge plus. I appreciate all the amenities and making sure to make things accessible, and the world needs more of it.
Now, safety. This is where things got interesting. They clearly tried to cover all the bases. CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguishers, Smoke alarms, and Security [24-hour]. But honestly? The "24-hour security" felt less like Fort Knox and more like a kindly, slightly bored night porter with a walkie-talkie and a fondness for daytime TV. I didn’t see anyone, but you knew they were there!
And then there's the COVID stuff… I’m not going to lie, it was a bit of a minefield navigating it. Anti-viral cleaning products were supposedly used, they had Hand sanitizer everywhere (which, yay!), and the staff were trained in safety protocols. But the Rooms sanitized between stays felt like wishful thinking, and the Shared stationery removed felt a little… incomplete. Like, they tried to sanitize the vibe, but some of the germs probably lingered. shivers
But here's a moment of truth: I got a really nasty cold while I was there. So, I will also say that I was grateful for the Doctor/nurse on call. Very comforting and helpful.
(Rooms: Air Conditioning and a Whole Lotta Stuff)
The room. Oh, the room. Let's start with the positives: Air conditioning? Check. Free Wi-Fi? Double check. Free bottled water? YES! (Especially appreciated after that cold, let me tell you.) Additional toilet? Not a bad idea.
But here's where the "motel" part truly shines. It felt like they tried to cram every single amenity into the space. Mini bar? Yep! Coffee/tea maker? Absolutely! Refrigerator? Of course! In-room safe box? Check!
The sheer volume of stuff was a little overwhelming. My brain kept saying: "Too much, too much!" My friend loved the Sofa , and found great comfort in the Seating area . I thought all of it was overwhelming, even with the Desk . I’m not saying it was bad but good lord, it felt like I was navigating a particularly cluttered IKEA showroom. And don't even get me started on the sheer amount of pillows.
Oh, and I have to mention the Blackout curtains. Lifesaver! I needed to sleep off my cold!
Oh wait! I forgot that I didn't even get to the Bathrobes, or the Additional toilet!. A good thought, but didn't get to explore it.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Mixed Bag of Buffets and Bar Bites)
The Breakfast [buffet]? A mixed bag. On the plus side, there was a buffet! I'm always happy with the classic breakfast-buffet. The Asian breakfast was a nice touch, even if I stuck to the more familiar Western breakfast. But the quality varied wildly from day to day. One morning, the eggs were fluffy and delicious. The next? Well, let’s just say they resembled rubber pucks.
The Bar was, well, a bar. Nothing fancy, but a safe place to grab a beer. They also had a Poolside bar, which I didn't get to explore due to my coldness.
(Things to do, and Ways to… Well, Mostly Just Be):
Okay, here's where the Central Gateway truly shines… or possibly doesn't.
- Swimming pool? Yep! Looked lovely, but alas, my cold kept me away.
- Gym/fitness? They had some equipment. I didn't feel like it.
- Spa/sauna/steamroom? Well, they said they had it. Looked around. They probably had it!
- Massage? They offered it, but I felt too groggy.
See? The idea was there. The potential was there. But my cold took over. I did enjoy the Terrace, and the Bar was great.
(Services and Conveniences: The Essentials and a Few Surprises)
They offered the basics: Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, and Dry cleaning. I'm a sucker for Air conditioning in public area! The Concierge was super helpful with finding things, and had good recommendations. They had a Convenience store, which was a lifesaver for snacks and cough drops.
(The Verdict: Do I Recommend? Maybe. With Caveats.)
Look, the Central Gateway Motel isn't going to win any awards for luxury. It's not a destination spa. It's not a five-star resort. But it is a practical, functional, and (in my case) surprisingly memorable place to stay.
Pros:
- Accessible
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
- Free bottled water
- Convenient location
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- The rooms are a little cramped and stuffed with stuff.
- Buffet quality can be hit or miss.
- The vibe is… well, it's a motel vibe!
Would I stay there again? Probably. Especially if I was on a budget, needed a place to crash, or was desperate for some free internet and a slightly above-average breakfast. And hey, the fact that I'm still talking about it weeks later says something, right?
**Four Points by Sheraton Seoul, Guro: Your Unbeatable Seoul Getaway!**
Cromwell, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love (Most of) the Central Otago… Even If It Involved a Questionable Motel Experience.
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your pristine, Instagram-filtered travel blog. This is real travel. The kind where you unpack your meticulously planned itinerary, then immediately throw it out the window because LIFE. And in this case, "life" involves a slightly depressing motel room in Cromwell, New Zealand, and an overwhelming desire for decent coffee. Let's dive in, shall we?
Day 1: Arrival, Sighs, and the Quest for Caffeine
- 2:00 PM: Arrived at Central Gateway Motel. The website promised "charming" – the reality was a beige box with a lingering smell of something vaguely industrial and a view of a car park. Charming? Hmm. Let's just say my inner critic did a full-body shudder. Side note: if anyone knows the secret to getting rid of that generic "motel smell," please tell me. Seriously, I'll mail you cookies.
- 2:30 PM: Unpacked. Found a packet of instant coffee in the room. Despair. The quest for a proper flat white began immediately.
- 3:00 PM: Hiked to the Cromwell Town Centre. Took a wrong turn. Ended up behind a laundromat. Realized I'd probably peaked. Found a coffee shop (thank the heavens!). The flat white? Close, but no cigar. My caffeine-deprived brain did a happy jig of sorts.
- 4:00 PM: Explored Old Cromwell Town. Cute, yes. Quaint, sure. But I was missing the proper "wow" factor of Cromwell. The whole Old Cromwell experience felt… a little too much like a theme park and very much like "you're in central Otago, aren't you?"
- 5:00 PM: Checked into the motel. Decided to nap. Woke up feeling a little bit better about the view from my window.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local pub. Fish and chips, the most predictable, but delicious choice.
- 8:30 PM: Watched TV. The motel's selection of channels was limited.
- 9:00 PM: Sleep. The industrial smell was fading, thankfully.
Day 2: Wine, Sunshine, and the Utter Beauty of the Bannockburn Hill
- 8:00 AM: Woke up. Instant coffee again. The industrial smell was back in force. Panic. Contemplated moving. Then I looked out the window and saw the sun blasting on the hills. Okay, Cromwell, you have my attention.
- 9:00 AM: Drove to the Bannockburn area. This is where things got GOOD. The landscape of Central Otago is, without a doubt, what makes the area. The rolling hills, the colours, the sheer grandeur of it… Wow. I mean, seriously.
- 9:30 AM: Visited the vineyards. Wine tasting. Honestly, I can’t tell you what I liked any more. I should have taken notes. I feel that might be the first time I've really understood the idea of "wine tasting".
- 11:00 AM: Went for a hike. Bannockburn Hill. This was the highlight. The climb was brutal, mostly because my fitness level resembles a sloth in a coma. But the view from the top? Spectacular. You could see for MILES. The perfect panorama of the hills! And it was hot. So hot. Worth it. Absolutely worth the sweaty trek.
- 12:30 PM: More wine and a quick lunch at a cafe.
- 1:30 PM: Driving around the area, I randomly stopped at a lavender farm. Okay, look, I’m not big on lavender. But the fields of purple were STUNNING. And the air smelt divine. I bought a candle. Don't judge.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the motel. Contemplated the room's flaws once more (the décor, the humming fridge). Decided to embrace the "rustic charm."
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Found a "fancy" restaurant. Had a meal. It was great. The chef had a sense of humour. Cromwell was winning me over big time.
- 7:30 PM: Walk around the Cromwell racecourse - a grand scale of a place!
- 9:00 PM: Sleep. Hopefully, the industrial smell would be gone by morning.
Day 3: The Water, Cherries, and a Farewell to Beige
- 8:00 AM: Instant coffee. The smell? Lingering. Sigh. This time, the sunlight was starting to look nice.
- 9:00 AM: Visited the Cromwell Heritage Precinct. This time It was pretty charming – well, to look at.
- 10:00 AM: Went to the lake. The water was crisp and blue. I sat on the edge, feeling the sun and the wind and enjoying the view.
- 11:00 AM: The essential Cherry Picking. I ate so many cherries I was beginning to feel sick. The plump, juicy fruit was the best part of the whole trip, even, I'd argue, better than the scenery.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch. Last chance for a coffee. Still searching for the perfect flat white.
- 1:30 PM: Farewell, Cromwell. A strange mix of relief and a little bit of sadness. At least I no longer had to worry about the motel smell. The place had grown on me, in the weirdest way.
Final Verdict:
Cromwell, you surprised me. The motel? Well, let's just say it has character. But the wine, the views, the cherries, the sun… that's what made this trip worth it. Would I return? Absolutely. Would I book the same motel room? Possibly not. But hey, who knows? Maybe the industrial smell will finally be gone by then.
**Four Points by Sheraton Seoul, Guro: Your Unbeatable Seoul Getaway!**
Cromwell's Central Gateway Motel: Secrets, Snags, and the Truth (Probably)
Is the Central Gateway Motel… actually *central*? Don't hype me up!
Okay, buckle up buttercup. Central? *Mostly*! It's not like you're stranded in the boonies. It's on the main drag. Like… *the* main drag. You can practically stumble to the bakery, which is a huge win, especially after a long drive and an almost-argument with your travel companion about the correct radio station (story for another time…). Look, it's central enough. You're not going to be hiking for an hour to get a decent coffee. And trust me, after the drive from Queenstown... central is a damn blessing.
But... and there's always a but, isn't there? It's *slightly* on the edge of things. Walking *everywhere*? Probably not. But a short drive to the heart of Cromwell? Definitely. Embrace the car; it's the New Zealand way, baby!
The website promised a “rustic charm.” What does that even mean in motel-speak these days?!
Ah, "rustic charm." My absolute FAVORITE motel euphemism. Look, think… well-loved. Think… like, *really* well-loved. It's not gonna be the Hilton, okay? Expect… character. And by character, I mean maybe a slight dip in the shower floor. Maybe a few… *interesting* paint choices. Maybe a lingering scent of… well, let’s just say "history" that hangs a bit in the air. I stayed there last summer, and I *swear* the curtains had seen more action than me (and I spent the last year working from home... *cough*). But! It’s clean. Mostly. And the beds are comfy enough to collapse in after a long day of wine-tasting. Consider the "rustic charm" as a character-building exercise. Embrace the quirks!
Just bring your own favorite pillow. Trust me.
Are the rooms actually clean? That's my biggest fear. I'm a germaphobe.
Okay, germaphobes, listen up. This is a tough one. I’m not going to lie and tell you it's surgical-suite clean. It's not. But it's *generally* clean. Like, the sheets *felt* clean. The bathroom was… passable. I wouldn't eat off the floor (and neither should you!), but it wasn’t actively trying to kill me. Now, the corners? Those *might* have a tiny bit of dust that had settled over the years. But, again, it's not like you're sleeping in a pigsty. I'm a bit of a clean freak myself, so I get it. Bring some antibacterial wipes. Wipe down the surfaces. You'll be fine! And breathe. It's a motel, not a hazmat zone.
Pro tip: check the air vents. They're usually a good indicator of how much effort is put in. Just saying.
What about the amenities? Seriously, is there even Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi? Yes, there's Wi-Fi. Probably. It's… let's just say it’s not the priority. It’s the kind of Wi-Fi you might get in a rural village with one satellite and everyone streaming Netflix at the same time. Expect… interruptions. Expect… that agonizing buffering circle of doom. Expect… to just give up and read a book. Which, you know, isn't the worst thing in the world. Bring a book. Or download all the episodes before you go. You've been warned.
And the pool? Yeah, there’s a pool. It *looked* inviting. I mean, if you like a slightly green hue of inviting. I didn't swim. (I’m… not a pool person, okay?). The kids seemed to enjoy it. So, take that for what it's worth. And the complimentary tea and coffee? Standard motel fare. Don't expect Nespresso. Expect instant. Adjust your expectations accordingly. It’s Cromwell, not the Ritz.
"Family friendly?" My toddler is a tiny tornado. Will we survive?
Family-friendly... hmmm. Let's break this down. The rooms are a decent size. (Unless you get the one near the road, then it looks like a postage stamp. Ask for one away from the road. *Trust me.*) There's space for a travel cot (bring your own). The kids will probably love the pool (see previous rant). There's a park nearby. So, in theory… yes. It *can* be family-friendly.
But. And this is a BIG but. The walls are… thin. Like, *really* thin. So, if your tiny tornado has a meltdown at 3 AM (and let's be honest, toddlers *always* have meltdowns at 3 AM), everyone in the surrounding rooms will know. And they *will* judge you. Pack earplugs for everyone involved. And maybe some wine for yourself. You’ll need it.
Also, I once witnessed a toddler *defacing* a perfectly innocent couch with a crayon. So... yeah. Tread carefully. May the odds be ever in your favor.
The best part of ANY motel is the breakfast. What's the score here?
Breakfast… Oh, breakfast. That's where the Central Gateway Motel truly shines, in its own… *unique* way. Okay, so the website says “Continental Breakfast Included.” That's technically true. Technically. You're looking at a selection that will, most likely, include: Instant coffee (again, see above), a variety of shrink-wrapped muffins (possibly older than your youngest child), individually wrapped packets of… whatever mystery spread they're calling "butter." And, if you are *very* lucky, maybe, possibly, a small bowl of… *generic* cereal.
But get this: my last trip… the toaster *caught fire*. I'm not exaggerating. Smoke billowing, the whole works! I nearly choked on a rogue muffin crumb from the terror! The poor woman at the front desk… bless her heart… she just looked at me with that weary "been there, done that" expression. She quickly solved the fiery conflagration, which, surprisingly, was much faster than the Wi-Fi. If I could give one tip for food it's. Get your own breakfast. Get it down the road. Get it anywhere but here. The toaster incident traumatized me. And this coming from someone who regularly orders from a gas station.
My advice? Stock up on supplies. Go to the bakery. Find a cafe! Or, you know, just embrace the muffin chaos. It's all part of the experience, right? (No. It's not.)
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