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about friars

about the authors

The Friars

The book is authored by husband and wife team John and Lois Allen. In conjunction with our publisher, Hachette Livre Ltd, we have a team of contractors, including, editor, typesetter and travel agent plus web master, web marketing consultants and a network of contacts, all co-operating to bring the book and web site together.

One of our goals is to also work with hosts in co-operative ways, so that we can bring the discerning traveller new services and features. Having travelled widely, we have a good basis for understanding the travel and accommodation market. Our research with both travellers and hosts has given us well considered insights into what the discerning traveller wants and hosts expect. And our complimentary skill sets make us a great combination for the tasks of completing the annual book and website processes, with the innovative work of developing new services. We are grateful for the support and welcoming nature of our hosts and acknowledge that our evaluation and photography trips could not be sustained without that support.

We wish you enjoyable travel in New Zealand and superlative experiences with Friar's hosts.

Lois and John Allen

April 2006

about Friars Guide

The Friars Guide is for the discerning traveller who shows good judgement and good taste when choosing their New Zealand accommodation. Published annually since 1994, the Friars Guide is used with confidence by travel professionals and independent travellers from around the world, as it is the only independent guide that is focussed on the best-of-the-best accommodation. For all host properties, the Friars Guide includes large-format images and descriptive text written in an objective style, free of marketing puffery and superlatives. Our recommendations are based on personal visits to every accommodation during which we evaluate the property against each of the four quality criteria below - if our minimum standards are not met in one aspect or a sufficient standard is not reached across all four aspects, then the property is not accepted for inclusion in the Guide.

quality criteria

  • Unique Location: Urban, rural, coastal or alpine, there is something exceptional and idyllic about the property's setting.
  • Distinctive Building: Heritage or contemporary, converted or purpose-built, all of our host's accommodations have character.
  • Excellent Services and Amenities: whether luxury lodge or boutique hotel, hosted B&B in city, country or beach stays, or self-contained cottage or apartment, each accommodation has amenities and service that are of 5-star quality.
  • Delightful Hosting: Generous, charming and sharing their way of life as well as their home, our hosts give of themselves to help travellers get the best of experiences.

Friars Guide to New Zealand Accommodation for the Discerning Traveller is published annually to ensure that the information given is up to date and reliable. In preparing this book, we personally visited over 400 luxury lodges, boutique hotels, B&Bs and self-contained cottages and apartments in cities and rural areas throughout New Zealand. From these, a select number are personally recommended as meeting the expectations of the discerning traveller. Whilst many of our hosts are star-rated under New Zealand Tourism's Qualmark system, we do not require this - they are all of a standard such that if they chose to, we believe they would qualify as 4 Star or greater.

application

While some properties are invited to apply for a listing in the Friars Guides, properties can also contact the Friars to request a listing. On application, the Friars will visit the property to ensure that it matches the high standard of the other properties listed in their guide. To find out more about being listed in the Friars Guides contact us (see below).

contact details

John and Lois Allen
email: JohnAndLois@Friars.co.nz
fax: +64-9-974 2321
Skype: FriarsGuides
mobile: +64-21-46 36 867
postal address: P O Box 1200
                            Pukekohe 2340,
                            New Zealand