The Lake House is a perfect place to stay if you’re looking for a gastronomical vacation! Perfect for food and wine lovers, this Australia hotel is also a well known environmentally friendly hotel.

If you have ever wondered what the recipe is to make the perfect gourmet retreat, then I have just found the answer. Begin with a lovely little luxury hotel in the idyllic town of Daylesford, then add the award winning cuisine from Alla Wolf-Tasker AM and one of Australia’s best young sommeliers, Winemaker Adam Foster, and your gourmet retreat recipe is ready.

Oh and for good measure add a spa and the picture is complete.

The Lake House luxury resort was founded by Alla and Allan Wolf-Tasker and celebrates this year as its 25th anniversary. Beginning life as a 40-seater weekend-only restaurant, they discovered diners loved it so much they had trouble getting them to leave. So, rather than call the police, they built a boutique hotel!

Over the years the Lake House has become the premier destination for food and wine lovers in addition to a superb location for weddings and as a conference venue. The elegant restaurant with sublime service overlooks the lake and epitomizes the country town of Daylesford.

The charming town is 1 1/2 hour’s drive north from Melbourne towards the Macedon Ranges. Here, birches and maples vie for the limelight with their splendid scarlet, tangerine and claret hues. Quince trees are laden with furry fruit and leaves of cadmium yellow, and signs are everywhere pushing breads, honeys, figs and organic produce.

Its neigboroughing town of Hepburn Springs is an historic village located in the middle of the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia. The springs are full of health-giving minerals that occur naturally in different formulations, giving every spring a distinctive taste.

The Victoria hotel has 33 rooms and suites that are spread over the six-acre grounds, all with enchanting lake views – something you can also enjoy from the mineral water treetop tubs of the new Salus Spa. Linger away in one of their rooms and suites; it is like you are a million miles away from everything.

The Guesthouse Rooms are part of the original homestead of the property and are all elegantly decorated. Enjoy a quiet read in the spacious lounge or on the terraces or be tempted by a myriad of bushwalking tracks meander from the property. Nearby are boating facilities, local wineries, excellent artist’s studios and galleries, places of historical interest, magnificent gardens and an 18-hole golf course complete with kangaroos.

For many years it has been cuisine that had led the way, complemented by excellent wine list. The wine list component has just taken another step up with the arrival of Winemaker Adam Foster to head up the skillful service team.

Adam, a well respected Chef in his own right, moved from the heat of the kitchens in London and Melbourne in 2002 to the front of house and began the journey into the world of wine. Adam worked as a cellar hand with a who’s who from Australia and France, including Chapoutier, Mitchelton, Domaine Ogier, Jasper Hill and Domaine Pierre Gaillard gradually honing his skills.

Adam’s first wine, Syrahmi Shiraz Viognier 2004 from Heathcote, was a big success with specialized wine stores and was quick to find its way in to leading restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney. The few wine writers who tasted Syrahmi gave the thumbs up.

The wine is an ideal food friendly wine; Adam explained, “Syrahmi combines the French words; Syrah and Amis meaning Shiraz and Friends, simply a wine to drink with friends”.

The region of Heathcote in Central Victoria is today recognized as one of Australia best cool climate Shiraz growing regions, and has many similarities with the Rhone Valley (often referred to as the home of Shiraz). The warm summers, cool winters and Cambrian soil offers the perfect conditions to produce great wine. Since its first release of 80 dozen, Adam has increased the production to 500 dozen to keep up with local and now foreign demand. The 2007 vintage named “the Don” pays tribute to Adam’s late Grandfather who encouraged Adam to become a Chef.

The wine cellar of Lake House boasts 600 plus labels from the surrounding wine regions and benchmark vineyards around the world. Adam has “designed the list to be accessible, affordable, diverse, interesting and special with an emphasis on local regional wines”. The icing on the cake is the “private cellar dinning room” where a hand crafted oak table seats up to 16 diners. They’re set to enjoy a gourmet experience like no other, all in all heaven for lovers of good living! Put yourself in their hands, with twenty-five years of service excellence you can be sure your next break is relaxing and indulgent!

Going green at the Lake House

Hotels have over the years come to terms with how they can do their part towards being environmentally friendly. The Lake House adopted a policy of ‘green procurement’ taking environmental factors into account in all purchasing aspects, sourcing regional produce where possible –reducing “food miles”.

Other efforts such as source produce that is organic and bio dynamic where possible and never knowingly use genetically modified ingredients. Taking every opportunity to reduce waste at the source, re-use waste components, recover and recycle where possible and dispose of final wastes by the most environmentally suitable means.

With South East Australia going through a 5-year drought the aim is reducing the amount of water used on the property and continuously capturing as much rain water as possible in tanks for use on site rather than sourcing from town supplies. A main focus is also adopting a practice of responsible energy management through reduced consumption and the encouragement of energy efficiency throughout the business.

During the 25 years the Lake House has become an important part of the community. In giving back to the community, the Wolf-Tasker family encourages staff to participate in local community projects such as the Daylesford Primary School Kitchen Garden, which aims to teach children from a young age the benefits of growing their own food and how to maintain and continuously rejuvenate their little plot throughout the years.

With these efforts in place there seems little doubt that we can look forward to another 25 years of harmony and balance between the environment and a luxury boutique hotel.

Hotel MaMaison le Regina is perfect if you want to go sightseeing or if you’re looking for a romantic hotel in Poland. We highly recommend this palace-like hotel.

Poland is one of the most interesting countries in Europe. Invaded countless times, chock-full of history from the world wars and the birthplace of the famous composer, Chopin, it is one of the best countries in Europe to visit if you’re a history buff. Warsaw is Poland’s capital and one of the more modern cities in the country.

When visiting Warsaw, we highly recommend staying at Hotel MaMaison le Regina.  This five star Poland hotel received an award from Forbes Traveler in 2006. Forbes applauded it as “the most prestigious hotel in Poland”, and they are right on the money with that one. This hotel is located on three levels of a historical building in Warsaw’s “old town” (right where you’ll want to be if you want to explore the city’s historical side).

You will notice that much of Warsaw has been rebuilt and modernized, so this building is a real treat for architecture types and history enthusiasts. It has been carefully restored to look like an eighteenth century palace with all of the modern amenities, of course. This elegant blend of old and new is what makes Hotel MaMaison one of the best hotels in Poland.

There are 61 rooms at this luxury hotel, each fitted with high end amenities with a clean cut and contemporary design. Rooms are spacious and unique with a pleasant décor (brown and vanilla colours). All rooms have great views of the gardens and monuments close by, or the hotel’s courtyard.

When visiting Warsaw, you’ll definitely want to check out some of the city’s fabulous sites. Many of the structures in this city were destroyed by the Nazis, but famous landmarks have been recreated and restored to celebrate Poland’s long and turbulent history.
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Young, fun and fabulous – that’s the best way to describe Grupo Habita’s hotels in Mexico. Best enjoyed for a week of sun loving, the modern, funky design of this hotel chain’s properties is a sight to be seen. They are perfect if you’re looking for stylish hotels that are great for nightlife.

Recently, we went down to Grupo Habita’s hotels to see what all the fuss was about.

Hotel Basico:

Hotel Basico’s industrial and vintage theme makes it the coolest hotel in Playa del Carmen. Given its funky and minimalist design, it’s certainly geared toward minimalist design lovers and the young and adventurous.

With unusual rooms, you can get a great view at this Mexico hotel.  Rooms have oversized glass sliders – great for letting in the breeze from the Ocean.

Our insider reported that her bed was in the middle of the room!

Being located in the heart of Playa del Carmen, guests can enjoy a quick walk to local shops and restaurants from Hotel Basico, as well as a quick walk to the beach.

Deseo Hotel and Lounge:

Deseo Hotel is also a trendy and funky hotel in Mexico. They utilize a boat/sailor theme, and manage to really pull it off with music pumping until the early hours of the morning. With only 15 rooms, this tiny hotel is perfect for a week of fun if you want to kick back and let loose in an intimate environment.

Guests can relax in the huge beds in their rooms or enjoy the lounge area (which is equipped with a pool and Jacuzzi) before partying at night. During the day, the lounge is perfect for tanning, but once the sun goes down and music gets turned up, it’s the place to hang out.

The InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa is a perfect spa hotel for those who want to kick back and relax in the Phoenix desert. This hotel’s spa has it’s very own signature scent!

My first impression of the InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa?  Absolutely breathtaking.  I’d seen the images, but there is nothing like seeing this resort in person. Nestled in the heart of Paradise Valley, this Phoenix hotel has a Moroccan / Spanish / Italian design, which is beautifully complimented by a stunning view of Scottsdale’s treasured Camelback Mountain. Where was I? I felt as though I had entered a small European city boasting intricate architecture and dancing waterfalls (one of which is likened to Spain’s Alhambra fountain – no kidding).

I had that excited feeling you get when you know there is so much more to explore and experience.

What else did Montelucia have in store for me? Plenty. Beautiful swimming pools, luscious gardens, and something I’m not used to seeing: orange trees! In fact I was delighted to find one just outside my window, perched between my large patio and perfect view of Camelback Mountain.

I immediately found time to stretch out on my over sized lounge chair to take in the scenery.

James, the incredibly knowledgeable gentleman who escorted me to my room, had also pointed out that Paradise Valley had strict lighting regulations that would guard against anything taking away from the views of the Mountain at night. He was right. As the sun went down, the mountain appeared to glow. Wow. Now the name Montelucia made sense. (more…)

The W Scottsdale is perfect if you’re looking for a hotel with great nightlife and excitement! Enjoy this gorgeous hotel during your next stay in Arizona.

The moment I learned I’d be staying at the new W Scottsdale, I was excited! As we all know, the W concept is hip, cool and full of energy. Although the W hotels have the same backbone, each provides a unique experience. I wondered what kind of experience I could expect from this luxury Arizona hotel?

Well, energy is an understatement at W Scottsdale! The hotel is incredibly stylish and clearly a popular hot spot. I definitely was not disappointed.

At the end of an exhausting day of meetings, I headed back to the hotel for one last meeting with Leon Young, the hip General Manager of W Scottsdale. Leon knows W well; he’s opened many of them. We met in what is known as “The Living Room”. This uber modern, tastefully eclectic lounge is situated in the lobby of the hotel.

As our meeting wrapped up, I looked around me, and a party had started around us. Clearly The Living Room is the place to be. Locals were filling in as the business travelers around me began to put aside their laptops, iPhones and Blackberrys to mingle. Everyone at the W was having a fabulous time (and it was only Wednesday).

W Scottsdale also boasts one of the sexiest poolside bars I’ve seen. “Shade” is something you have to see for yourself. The massive shades hovering over the pool are nothing short of stunning. Hungry? Attached to the W Scottsdale is the already famous Sushi Roku. I highly recommend the Spanish Mackerel, and the fresh horseradish is a must.

As I strolled up to my room at the end of the night, I stopped by the lobby gift shop. Instead of local souvenirs, I was delighted to find funky clothing, jewelry and unique gift items – all things you would actually want to buy! Okay there was a Cardinals hat in the mix, but it had a rugged style to it; not the typical souvenir item you’ve seen a million times.

My room at the W was a wonderful room to return to. Style, style, style.

I would return to the W in a heartbeat. In fact, while entertaining guests elsewhere in Scottsdale a week later, I did!

Silky Oaks Lodge is the perfect place if you’re looking for an adventure hotel or a fabulous spa hotel. It’s location in the Daintree Rainforest makes it ideal for both nature lovers and relaxation seekers.

If you’re in the mood to explore the sights and sounds of the tropical rainforest, head to the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. It’s one of the most beautiful and diverse areas of the world.

The Daintree Rainforest is a World Heritage Listed area. And, with 65% of Ausralia’s butterfly species calling the Daintree home, you won’t be sorry that you spent some time in this gorgeous place. Here, you can explore the largest range of rare plants and animals on earth in luxury with Voyages Silky Oaks Lodge.

This Queensland Hotel blends a casual and contemporary design with the tranquil sound of the Mossman River. Enjoy one of the 50 Treehouses and Riverhouses, which feature wide verandahs and spa baths.

There’s plenty to do and see when staying here. You can go on a guided nature walk through the hotel grounds and adjoining rainforest, go canoeing, swimming or snorkeling in the Mossman River or, of course, relax by the resort’s pool. Also, there are half day and day trips out to the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation. The tour guides are experts in rainforest ecology, history ornithology and botany.

Particularly fun is the crocodile and wildlife spotting tour on the Daintree River.
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Whether you’re a lover of the outdoors or you’re a mobile business traveler, you’ll definitely want to spend some time in Vancouver, Canada. The Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is versatile in that it is both a perfect business hotel and a perfect hotel for relaxation.

Who doesn’t enjoy staying at a Shangri-La hotel? Finally, this hotel chain has arrived in North America, bringing with it its legendary standard of luxury service. You will find this hotel chain’s newest property in Vancouver, one of Canada’s most beautiful and interesting cities.

The Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is a 119 room luxury hotel conveniently located in Vancouver’s gorgeous downtown core. Close to great shopping, the business district and Stanley Park, guests can also easily access the beach from this Vancouver hotel.

But the nearby amenities and convenience of the Shangri La Vancouver is not the best feature of this luxury hotel. It has a stunning view of the snow-capped mountains and the Pacific Ocean because it occupies 15 floors of the city’s tallest building (which is 61 stories tall in total). We aren’t exaggerating when we say it’s one of the best hotels in Vancouver!

The rooms are contemporary with an Asian twist, and are also quite large. Some suites have balconies. We at Kiwi Collection know a great view when we see one, so trust us: you want to make sure you get one of those rooms.
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Habita Monterrey is a perfect business hotel because it’s located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, one of Mexico’s biggest corporate centers and Latin America’s most affluent suburb.

Business travelers who are heading to Mexico will likely stop in the bustling corporate center of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. More specifically, if you’re one of these lucky business jetsetters, you’ll be headed to San Pedro Garza Garcia (which is a part of Monterrey’s metropolitan area). Sitting in a valley and surrounded by mountains, San Pedro Garza Garcia is home to many important administration offices of large companies.

Because San Pedro Garza Garcia (also known as San Pedro for short) is one of the most modern and industrialized areas in Mexico, there’s no shortage of luxury accommodation in the town. In fact, you will find some of the best hotels in Mexico in this affluent area.

Kiwi Collection recommends staying at Habita Monterrey when visiting San Pedro. In the city where more is always, well, “more”, it’s nice to have a little less for a change. You’ll only find 39 rooms at this luxury boutique hotel, which keeps your experience here very personalized and relaxing.

Habita Monterrey is super modern. It is built out of cool concrete and boasts a rooftop pool bar that offers a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. With huge glass windows, a bright open concept lobby and contrasting black and white decorative elements, guests are sure to enjoy this sleek, interesting hotel.

After a long day in meetings, we recommend heading to Habita Monterrey’s restaurant which “mixes the traditional with the innovative”. San Pedro has a great fine dining scene, and the hotel’s restaurant certainly adds to the reputation.

After your meal, enjoy Habita Monterrey’s two bars and lounges, the terrace and the pool.

There is only one way to enjoy San Pedro, and that’s in style with Habita Monterrey.

The Chedi Muscat is perfect if you’re looking for an exotic honeymoon hotel or a romantic hotel. Enjoy historical Oman on your romantic getaway.

Where can you see mountains, desert, beach and ocean all on the same day? In beautiful and historical Oman, that’s where! Travelers to Oman are in for a real treat. This Middle Eastern country presents a fascinating mix of old and new in both its culture and architecture.

Kiwi Collection recommends staying at The Chedi Muscat when visiting Oman. Found in Muscat (the capital city), this luxury hotel is right on the Boushar Beachfront. Guests can enjoy a romantic walk along the hotel’s private section of the beach and enjoy the pristine waters of the Gulf of Oman on their feet, with the mountains in the background.

The hotel was built using characteristics of traditional Omani architecture. With 156 rooms and suites, each is stylishly designed, and most have great views of either the Gulf or the Haajjar Mountains. The hotel also has two turquoise pools lined with cabanas and a water garden.

Aside from the natural beauty and diversity of the area, The Chedi is located in Oman’s most interesting city. This historical place is where the Sultan’s palace can be found, and where all of the old city walls are. Muscat offers travelers a good look at Oman’s rich past and history. Take a trip to Mutrah (the trading and residential area of Muscat) or Ruwi (the city’s commercial district) for shopping, exploring and getting a glimpse of everyday life in Oman.
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Geoffrey Grier is an American financier based in Hong Kong and Macau.  Mr. Grier has lived in the Orient for over fifteen years and enjoys visiting far-flung and exotic locales throughout South East Asia.  Grier is part of our Kiwi Insiders that travels the globe visiting properties in the Kiwi Collection, sharing his experiences.

Lana and I just returned from an exquisite Western New Year holiday to Beijing, China where we stayed at the Aman Summer Palace at Beijing.  Quite a few of you responded rather skeptically, and with raised eyebrows, to the news of our plan to travel to northern China in the dead of winter.  No doubt, the minus-ten to minus-fifteen degree frigid temperatures tend to dissuade most travelers from visiting Beijing at this time of year.  However, Lana and I have found over the years that traveling contrary to the high-season flows and avoiding the pitfalls of mass tourist migrations yields far better results and satisfaction.  Our recent trip to Beijing was a prime case in point.

Having just been to Beijing for the Olympics last August, I was really looking foward to returning there with Lana.  This was probably somewhere in the neighbourhood of my 15th or so visit to the Chinese capital during my fifteen-plus years in Asia, and the pace of development and progress continues unabated – noticeable to the casual observer even in the middle of the winter holiday season.  A couple of good friends – Philippe Kjellgren and Mark Swinton – played a large role in ensuring that we had the most delightful of holidays in Beijing – thank you both so very much.

I suppose I should be honoured, but Philippe refers to me as an Aman Resorts junkie – I imagine there are worse things to which one could find oneself addicted.  Aman is simply the FINAL WORD in luxury accomodation – they have resorts in only the most far-flung, exotic locales (for instance, Bhutan, Siem Reap, Sri Lanka, India, Java, Bali, Tahiti, Pulo, Phuket) and I’ve been hooked for more than a decade.
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The Hazelton Hotel is perfect if you’re looking for a business hotel or a sightseeing hotel when visiting Toronto.

If you’re heading to Canada on business or even for pleasure, chances are you’ll have no choice but to spend a few days in Toronto, the biggest city in the country. Home of the CN Tower and the Maple Leafs, Toronto is a “must visit” when traveling to Canada.

During your time in this multicultural hot bed, we recommend staying at The Hazelton Hotel, one of the best hotels in Toronto. This five-star gem is located in Toronto’s prestigious Yorkville neighbourhood, which is surrounded by world class shopping, high end boutiques, some of Toronto’s finest restaurants, the University of Toronto’s gorgeous campus and the Museum.

This Toronto luxury hotel has 62 rooms and 15 suites. They are spacious, averaging 620 square feet with 9 foot ceilings. The design evokes a sense of grandeur, with a bit of inspiration from Hollywood in the 1940’s. Everything about this hotel spells class.

If you’re feeling like you’re in the mood to splurge, try to stay at the Hazelton’s Suite 502. This three bedroom four bathroom suite is Canada’s most exclusive hotel room. It’s interior design and furnishings were put together by world renowned Brian Gluckstein (who designed some of the finest homes in Toronto’s nicest areas).
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Vigilius Mountain Resort is a hotel in Trentino, Italy. Visit this resort for a fantastic vacation in the  mountains.

If you enjoy winter sports, it’s worth getting out to the mountains to get in some quality time in the snow before Spring arrives.

If you’re planning a winter vacation, Kiwi Collection recommends traveling to Trentino, South Tyrol. Here, you will find one of the most brilliant hotels in Italy: vigilius mountain resort.

Located 1,500 meters above “everyday life”, you can’t get farther away from stress then this fabulous resort. A white blanket of snow awaits you, as you climb up the mountain to vigilius. At this resort, you won’t hear any traffic. There are no arrivals or departures by car. Instead, you leave your car at the station in the valley, and take a 7 minute cable car ride up the mountain.
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