qaz123

Has anyone stayed at this property? How was it? Is it worth the rather stepp tariff?

NYBanker

Hi Qaz - You'll probably get a lot more traffic on your query if you post in the Australia forum...

FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel&Dining: Destination >> The World > Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific

I get down to Oz quite often, though I've not been to this property. A number of Australian friends have said nice things about this property to me.

I'm not sure where you are from. If you're an American, there are a couple of things that I've found are consistent in finer Australian properties, that sometimes differ from US properties. From a careful review of the photos on their website, it looks to have a couple of hallmarks of higher end Australian properties.

• Very contemporary bathrooms (compared to many USA or European hotels).

• The furniture and finish in the main guestrooms and suites will be nice, but not anything that make you say wow.

• Restaurant with crisp lines and decor, serving food that will make you think a bit (in a good way).

This is just judging the book by the cover (or maybe flipping through the photos). Try the Oz forum, someone will have been there.

bhrubin

Has anyone recently stayed at The Louise? Would love some feedback!

Larkin

Yes, we liked it. Didn't love it! Very modern, stayed in higher end room. Food was good. I recommend, for that part of the world. We were a bit spoiled as stayed with friends' home who then left to go back to US for vacation. So maybe a bit of a let down as their place was great! We were there early January timeframe a couple of years ago. They did arrange some great tastings and I would recommend for that area. Better than staying in Adelaide.

bhrubin

Thanks, Larkin!

We are booked in their top accommodation 2 bedroom Estate Suite in May. There seems to be no question that it's the best accommodation in the region, so it is the place we want to stay for certain.

I arrange my winery visits on my own...since I now have my graduate winemaking certificate from UC Davis.

Larkin

You will enjoy! Much more casual than wine tasting in Napa Valley! A real familial vibe! Have a great time!

number_6

Some of the finest wineries to visit in the world, though there stocks of old wine are getting seriously depleted. Henschke is superb, so is d"Arenberg. Also try to eat at the Star of Greece (not quite Barossa, but 100km away so in the area) plus it gets you to the Adelaide Hills which is much under appreciated area so maybe right up your alley. Much more interesting than Napa.

DavidO

I stayed there this June for two nights. It's the best place from which to tour the Barossa Valley, and the hotel can set up wine tours for you.

The hotel is nice — I'd probably rate it a high 4* — and much more reasonably priced than comparable properties in Napa. Food in the restaurant was excellent.

bhrubin

Thanks DavidO! That's pretty high praise from you.

I'd never allow any hotel to help set up wine tours for us, whether it be in Australia, Napa/Sonoma, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, France, Italy, etc. I am a very serious wine guy: we have a cellar holding 3000 bottles, and I completed a winemaking certificate (just for fun!). I ALWAYS contact the wineries directly to arrange our visits. Too many hotels and wine tour companies like to visit "pretty" wineries. I only visit wineries that produce the highest caliber of wines that I enjoy--and other wineries that those same winemakers recommend when I'm setting up the visits. Besides, you also can arrange special barrel tastings, winemaker meetings, and vineyard visits outside the normal tours/tasting events when you contact wineries directly IME.