Originally Posted by
MacMyDay
Thank you for your Australia and New Zealand reviews. As mentioned before, we are doing an eerily similar trip in March, so it's great to read about it prior.
It pains me to say it, but I completely agree with bhrubin. We are staying at Cape Kidnappers in March and this simple behaviour really puts me off. We will be traveling with just carry-on luggage for 6 weeks, so I will not be taking a jacket and do not look forward to borrowing one each night of being here. I have never eaten in The Ritz London due to their dress code requirements, nor will I return to places like 2 * Le Gavroche where you must wear a jacket, so it is enough to make me reconsider.
I agree the jacket requirement us a big negative. In fact if my husband had known he likely would have not gone ti these lodges. I would say that the most casual of the two by far was Cape Kidnappers. The owner was in resudenc at Kauri Cliffs so that might have made a difference there. He is a great guy, but I am sure he is the one insisting on the dress code.
We also travel fairly lightly although we have two carry ones and a duffel ( for sailing/boating gear). I snuck the jacket in the duffel which is pretty funny as that is primarily my husband's stuff.
we lived in London for 3 years and never ate at the Ritz for precisely your comment. However we did make an exception to Gavroche and I must admit every year we go back we go there as we love the food and they do take care of us. Again, I have to sneak the jacket in our luggage....oh well!
i do think Vape Kidnappers and Kauri worth the jacket. Both excellent properties but my husband would not have gone if he knew in adavance!
We are currently on our last leg of a 4 week trip - Helena Bay. When I get home I'll write this up. You might want to consider but I need to finish our stay to determine my thoughts and recommendations as we are just here,
Feel free to PM me if you have questions!