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Ambassador Thermal Motel

3.5 star property

Photo gallery for Ambassador Thermal Motel

Relax by the pool surrounded by a stone border and a paved walkway.
Secure gated entrance with designated parking area and waiting space.
Relax in this inviting room with a single bed, sofa, and dining table, offering a view of the outdoors through large windows.
Hotel features a striking black lizard sculpture and large windows, set amidst beautifully maintained gardens.
Enjoy cooking in this well-lit kitchen with a stainless steel sink and microwave.

Popular amenities

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Cnr Whakaue & Hinemaru Streets, Rotorua, 3040
  • Eat Street
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Tamaki Maori Village
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Polynesian Spa
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Rotorua (ROT-Rotorua Regional)
    ‪11 min drive‬

Room options

Basic Apartment, 1 Bedroom

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(7 reviews)
  • 66 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Basic Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 96 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Double Bed and 4 Twin Beds

Basic Studio, Multiple Beds

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(13 reviews)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Standard Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

  • 96 sq m
  • Sleeps 7
  • 2 Double Beds and 3 Twin Beds

View all photos for Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom

Standard Apartment, 1 Bedroom

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(17 reviews)
  • 66 sq m
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Double Bed and 3 Twin Beds

Economy Apartment, 1 Bedroom

7.6 out of 10
Good
(5 reviews)
  • 66 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Basic Studio, 1 Double Bed

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(8 reviews)
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

Economy Apartment, 2 Bedrooms

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(5 reviews)
  • 96 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Double Beds and 2 Twin Beds

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  • Free WiFi
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3.6 out of 5, Good, (1007)
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About the area

Rotorua

With a stay at Ambassador Thermal Motel, you'll be centrally located in Rotorua, a 2-minute drive from Polynesian Spa and 7 minutes from Skyline Rotorua. .This hotel is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Rotorua and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Government Gardens.

What's nearby

  • Eat Street - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Tamaki Maori Village - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Rotorua Night Market - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Polynesian Spa - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Skyline Rotorua - 6 min drive - 4.6 km

Getting around

  • Rotorua (ROT-Rotorua Regional) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pig & Whistle Historic Pub - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Lone Star - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Saigon '60S Vietnamese Cuisine - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Brew | Craft Beer Pub - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Lady Jane's Ice Cream Parlour - ‬5 min walk

About this property

Ambassador Thermal Motel

Hotel with 2 outdoor swimming pools, a short walk to Polynesian Spa
Ambassador Thermal Motel offers 19 accommodations with hair dryers and irons/ironing boards. Accommodations at this 3.5-star hotel have kitchens with refrigerators, stovetops, microwaves, and cookware/dishes/utensils.

Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries. This Rotorua hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Additionally, rooms include fans and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided daily.

2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with an indoor pool. Other recreational amenities include a children's pool.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Make yourself at home in one of the 19 guestrooms, featuring kitchens with refrigerators and stovetops. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include phones, as well as microwaves and electric kettles.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as an indoor pool, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and tour/ticket assistance.
Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free offsite parking within 5 metres
  • Street parking available
  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Indoor pool

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • In-room kitchen
  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Indoor pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Guidebooks
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Outdoor furniture

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • 2 buildings
  • 2 floors
  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch TV with cable/satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Kitchen
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Tea bags/instant coffee

More

  • Fan
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open Monday - Friday (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM) and Saturday - Sunday (9:00 AM - 8:00 PM)
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Renovations and closures

The following facilities are closed seasonally each year. They will be closed from March 16 to April 10:
  • One of the swimming pools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Breakage deposit: NZD 100 per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and cash

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

National rating

For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.

Property is also known as

Ambassador Thermal
Ambassador Thermal Motel
Ambassador Thermal Motel Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Hotel Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Motel Hotel
Ambassador Thermal Motel Rotorua
Ambassador Thermal Motel Hotel Rotorua

Ambassador Thermal Motel Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 218 out of 556 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 240 out of 556 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 67 out of 556 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 23 out of 556 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 556 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Rebecca

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Perfect location as you can walk to restaurants, the lake etc. Staff were friendly. The bathroom ceiling was covered in mould and the curtains ripped so if you’re wanting luxury, this is not the place to stay however you get what you pay for.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything in New Zealand is incredible
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Natalie

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Over all not a bad stay at the Ambassador. Great location for walking to the water front, park, eat street dining, government gardens and spas. There are 4 pool options and they are all heated which was amazing. However a few things could certainly be improved. There is only enough parking for approximately 5 cars on site, and standard size cars at best. Everyone else must park on the street and thats luck of the draw during the day. The decor, beds and facilities could do with an update, but were clean and tidy. We stayed in a room downstairs which was next to the owners. They were nice people; however the noise level that came from their quarters was alot and we did have to comment at one point. My only other comment which isnt a major but became slightly annoying, we booked a 1 bedroom apartment for 4 people (2x adults, 5yr old and 2 yr old), which had 3 beds as one child is still in a portacot. The annoying part was there was only 3 of everything offered in the room, 3 towels, 3 cups, 3 plates, 3 chairs, 3 knifes and forks etc. So not a big deal but like i said became annoying.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dorothea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly welcome. Speedy checkin. Spacious, clean, well equipped, warm and comfortable unit. Outdoor deck with view of lake. Fabulous large spa pool and nice thermal pool. Great location. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very hard seating no couch to sit on
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

2/10 Terrible

Stacey

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Unfortunately very dissatisfied. We lasted about 10 minutes after arriving. The staff were absolutely lovely.. but we got the room right next to the office so everyone who walks past would stare into your room and it had an awful stench of smell in it I just couldn’t handle it. The spa was tiny and pretty much in the garden, not suitable for more than 2-3 people :( and you had to walk down a dark Cora door and duck under the stairs to get to the main pool area. The pool says heated but was very cold. Not a lot of privacy around the area at all. Quite run down and dark. Was very disappointed and unfortunately gave our key back and booked accommodation elsewhere.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Omair

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a really good property to stay at for one night
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Kataraina

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Nice stay - thank you
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

4/10 Poor

Aimee

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The property is very tired but pretty clean. There was no hot water for our stay and we were not informed about this. It was only after I asked that we were told there was a problem. Towels were clean but had lots of stains on them. The pool and spa were the best part of the accomodation.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Damon

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Excellent location near the waterfront. Walkable to everything in town, including Eat Street. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Caroline

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property manager was polite and friendly. Old motel, but rooms were clean and tidy. Big pool was closed unfortunately, must have been due to season change. The small outdoor spa and thermal pool was open.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Bradley, Buddina

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property might be aged but it was comfortable and everything worked ok in our room
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Carol

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

sheila

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruakiri

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Colin J

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Clean budget hotel

Nice budget hotel with everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

MICHAEL, Cardiff

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property was clean, functional and easy to get to.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lesley

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Convenient central location. Comfortable and well equipped.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Elaine, Sutton

Travelled with family
Liked: Amenities
Good location for everything
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Errin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
great position
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Melissa

Travelled with family, Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Check in process was good,was in town for work, however there were only 2 towels in the room when checked in and 3 of us were staying. When we asked for more towels the response was I had to wait till the morning at 9.30, we obviously had a shower the night we arrived as we had been traveling,and needed towels for the morning before I had to go to work at 8. I then waited in reception the next morning for about 10 mins pushing the bell and no one came, so I had to go back to the room and ring and was told again I had to wait till 9.30 until I told him I had to get to work. He did eventually give me towels but I had to go through all of that to get some towels. In the afternoon when I finished work, the room hadn’t been serviced, the dirty towels from the morning were still in the bathroom and the rubbish was still full, we had paid to stay another night but after all of that we packed up returned the key and I questioned why the room wasn’t serviced and he didn’t look at all bothered, I couldn’t be bothered dealing with him, so we left and checked in somewhere else. The service was extremely rude and unprofessional and unpleasant for a hospitality business. Also they have pools and spas there but don’t give extra towels, some people like to shower twice a day. I travel a lot and have stayed at many motels and this one would have to be one of the worst, I’ve never known any motel not to service rooms. The pics on the web are definitely not what it looks like now.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Katherine

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
perfect location and view，but abit hot without airconditioner，facility old. Service time different as show in office so better communicate and adjust time for your check out or want ask any question/disscusion，better think before arrive and ask all when u check in.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Gary

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
So as i walked in the room i noticed dirty curtins toilet sink was filthy dust everywere
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Samantha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025