Originally Posted by
JohnnyP
Thanks for this. As I'm planning my honeymoon in the South Island, this has been incredibly helpful. Perhaps this is a silly question ... but for the rates charged (upwards of NZ$1,000 for a couple per night), did you feel like you were getting your money's worth? That's about US$700/night, which puts these properties at much higher rates than even some of the top luxury hotels in the world. Even if you figure US$200-$300 for dinner (and it doesn't sound like the quality of the food is at that level), US$500/night for a room+breakfast seems quite steep for me.
The New Zealand luxury lodges are some of the most wonderful, luxurious accommodations you'll ever stay in. In addition, because they are small and intimate, the price point tends to be higher... but these prices do make sense when compared to top luxury hotels of the world. If you book through Virtuoso, you'll also get additional value-added amenities (that differ by property).