Crowne Plaza Christchurch, an IHG Hotel

Comfortable family room, great breakfast, good location

The hotel property is fabulous - the rooms were impeccable. What was absolutely abysmal was the Christmas buffet (for which they intensely solicited our attendance) and room service. For the Xmas day buffet: We were shown to a table with no utensils on the table. The buffet itself: outrageously priced, we were served dry lamb (even after I asked for a cut off the bone) and dry salty ham. I had to ask for utensils to cut the cheese selections. The accompaniments were blah (in contrast my family in Toronto sent me their Christmas morning selections of rare filet, eggs Benedict, etc, at a fraction of the cost). We had to walk to the bar for a drink (including soda); we cleared our own dishes because NOT ONCE did we see a server. After soliciting our business we were not seated in the main area; we were off in a conference room where we could not hear the organist. Desserts: mediocore. Room service: we ordered the first night. Sandwich arrived with burned toast. The second time: Sandwich arrived with no cheese and three layers of bread with dry fatty ham. Such incredible inconsistency. The other order was acceptable. First buffet breakfast - Christmas Day - service ended early but although the front desk gave us a letter they did not highlight this fact. We arrived 15 minutes before the end of the buffet (which ended 30 minutes early). Could not get cream/order at breakfast bar. Fresh fruit/cheese not replenished. Bad attitudes at coffee bar. Lousy.

PERFECT location. Our family loved being able to walk everywhere & enjoy the excellent New Regent street cafes as well as local restaurants.