Villa Maria Petit Hotel in Kerikeri, New Zealand, offers three separate Mediterranean-style villas named after and decorated in themes of hostesses Mieke and Catharina Van Dyck's favorite artists: Salvador Dali, Paul Gauguin, and Toulouse Lautrec. Each villa is situated so that it has complete privacy from the other two.
They each have queen and twin bedrooms, a private bathroom, a living/dining area, a kitchen stocked with coffee and teas, and covered outdoor terraces overlooking the Kerikeri Inlet. The bathroom has a heated towel rack, hanging in the bedrooms are comfortable robes to wear, and on the dining table is a fresh floral arrangement -- Naked Lilies during my visit. These beautiful flowers grow wild all over the area and get their name from the fact they have no leaves on their stems.
Another interesting fact I learned was that the insulation used in the villas is sheep's wool(!), a common commodity in New Zealand. The Van Dycks are expanding Villa Maria by renovating a studio. They have decided to call it Hippocampe (seahorse) and are using that theme to guide the decor and color scheme (sea green, blue, yellow and white). The four-poster bed arrived just after we left and the bathroom renovation should be underway soon.
I stayed in the Salvador Dali Villa. As one might expect, there were Dali prints decorating the walls. However, the real surprise was the large mural painted on the back wall of the carport. Mieke and Catharina hired a local artist to do the work and, while it took quite a while to finish, the result is terrific.
A delicious, organic, and hearty breakfast was included with our stay each morning. Lots of fresh fruit, juice, coffee and hot selections. Villa Maria is a large property and has its own small orchard that produces a variety of citrus fruit including Uglies (a type of orange). The sisters also raise goats. There is a salt water swimming pool, a sauna (soon to be upgraded), and in-room massage (which I took advantage of!).
Julie also asked several questions to the innkeepers.
When did you first stay at a lodging similar to Villa Maria?
In several "Paradores" (state castles) in Spain.
What do you remember most about your first stay at such an accommodation?
We could not find a fault. There was perfection and attention to every detail.
When did you first consider becoming lodging hostesses?
History can be funny. We bought our property not to run it as a hotel but as a private residence for the whole family who were going to come and live in New Zealand. Health reasons stopped our parents from joining us and the rest got cold feet!
How long did you debate whether to become lodging hostesses?
It was not a question of debating but a must. We didn't enjoy the way property was run before for various reasons, so in order to enjoy our property we just simply attacked and changed and rebuilt the whole complex.
What were some of the factors you considered, pro and con?
There was no time for consideration -- it was a fait accompli.
How did you decide where to open your lodging?
We bought the property because of its splendid location (in the middle of the wop-wops according to the locals, that means in normal language: in the middle of nowhere)! We saw the potential and fell in love with it. We still are.
We found it as a ruin hidden in the jungle and it is now a fine jewel in paradise.
What do you remember most about your first month as hostesses?
Fawlty Towers can come to our place for more scenarios!
Is hosting tougher or easier than you expected?
Tougher then any previous business, mainly due to the lack of privacy.
What's your favorite part about being hostesses?
Interacting with some very interesting people with all different occupations and backgrounds.
What's your least favorite part?
Settling guests in our beautifully appointed villas and reentering 10 minutes later with a welcome drink to be greeted to a war zone.
Which is your personal favorite room at Villa Maria?
The Salvador Dali villa, because of my admiration of this artist not so much as a person but more for his painting skills.
How do you make a stay at Villa Maria special?
Welcoming guests with a broad smile and trying to make them really feel at ease and at home, and then of course catering for all their needs.
What are some of the unique features of the area in which you are located?
First of all the sub-tropical climate with its abundance of lush vegetation and fruits. Secondly, the Bay of Islands is unbelievably beautiful if you like sparkling water and beaches, and outdoor activities. And thirdly, it is the cradle of the nation with Waitangi Treaty House and many more historic sites.
Julie Register is About.com's former Spas Guide. She visited New Zealand in 2001 to see their spas and other attractions on a tour arranged by Home at First.
NOTE: As of April 2008, it appears that Villa Maria has closed.
