Glynis Traill-Nash does a solo stint at Auckland's Crowne Plaza and finds it's a breath of fresh air.

When travelling on business, there are certain things you look for in a hotel. You need a room - with internet access - that is conducive to work. You need fast-turnaround services, such as clothes pressing, for when your time is better spent in boardrooms than behind ironing boards. You want a quiet breakfast spot away from the hoards of screaming children and honeymoon couples with all news access at your fingertips - papers, television, internet if necessary. Plus a business centre with all those office-away-from-office requirements.

Auckland's Crowne Plaza delivers on all these needs and more. It's not an especially remarkable or chic hotel, but when travelling for work, that's not necessarily foremost in your mind. And what it lacks in the swank factor it makes up for on the service front.

The hotel is in the centre of the city on a small hill which means the view from the top really does make you feel on top of the world. Levels 27 and 28 are dedicated to business travellers in the hotel's Club Rooms and Suites and heading up in the lifts gives you a view that takes in the water of the harbour.

The Club Rooms are quite spacious, with a good-sized desk. Beware of the internet fees, however, as they do rack up. And, joy of joys, the windows open to let in the fresh New Zealand air; nothing irritates me more than being sealed into an air-conditioned sarcophagus.

The breakfast room is on level 28, and perhaps it was the fact that a major international news story was breaking in Auckland at the time (that of abandoned child, Pumpkin), but you really did feel like you had all media right at your fingertips. Much more exciting (for food lovers, at any rate) was the inclusion of fresh honeycomb to spread on hand-cut wholemeal toast. I've never seen that in a hotel breakfast buffet before, and I certainly took advantage of the situation during my stay.

But you've got to hope that there's a little downtime while you're in town, and the hotel's proximity to the city centre is a real bonus. A five-minute walk down the hill from the hotel and you'll find yourself in Auckland's central shopping precinct. Quite aside from all the great designer stores - Karen Walker, World and Zambesi just to name a few - there are quaint little spots worth it for the ambience alone. If you have time to visit one locale only, it must be Vulcan Lane. This pedestrian pocket is home to gorgeous shops and cool cafes, and it feels distinctly European.

The city centre at night is another matter, and while there are great restaurants dotted about, if you're travelling solo they may seem a bit daunting. And it was difficult to find tiny little places nearby early in the week for a quick feed. All of which meant it was back to the hotel to channel surf and order room service, which had lots of great, hearty dishes on offer.

Heading back to the hotel one Thursday night, the lobby was an interesting cross-section of people: flight attendants in uniform heading off to the airport; businessmen in suits enjoying a drink at the bar; a group of teenagers in their formal finery; and some happy holidayers loaded up from another shopping trip. It was an intriguing melting pot, and one that would add colour to a straightforward work trip. And, goodness knows, they usually need as much colouring in as possible.

The writer was a guest of the Auckland Crowne Plaza.

TRIP NOTES

Getting there: Virgin Blue flies from Sydney to Auckland starting from $299 one way. See http://www.virginblue.com. The Auckland Crowne Plaza is 23 kilometres from the airport. A taxi to the hotel costs about $NZ50 ($44).The hotel is 1.5 kilometres from Central train station.

Staying there: Auckland Crowne Plaza, 128 Albert Street, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone +6493021111, email res1@crowneplazaauckland.co.nz or visit http://www.crowneplazaauckland.co.nz. Room and breakfast packages start from $210 including GST.

More information: The hotel is in the centre of Auckland's business district, above the Atrium on Elliott shopping complex and a short walk from Sky City and Queen Street's golden mile. At Sky City, there is the opportunity to do the SkyWalk, New Zealand's version of BridgeClimb, on a 192-metre ledge. SkyWalk costs $NZ115 and there are group and student discounts available. Visit http://www.skywalk.co.nz.The hotel is also close to The Edge Entertainment Centre. Events showing at the centre in March include a series of concerts by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra; and Green Fire Islands, a concert weaving traditional Irish music with traditional New Zealand music from the Maori culture. For bookings and details visit www.the-edge.co.nz.