I am looking for a farm or ranch that offers luxury/5-star agrotourism
- anywhere on planet earth.

I would appreciate a list of opportunities to combine the experience
of a farm/ranch with the comfort of a luxury hotel.

Have a nice search! 

Best from Berlin

Raus

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Clarification of Question by thorstenrauser-ga on 24 Oct 2003 08:21 PDT

A quick clarification. I would prefer a place that has many (30 oder
more) rooms and other standard hotel/resort features. Thanks!!

Hello thorstenrauser-ga:

It was a pleasure to answer such an interesting question. I was very 
excited to answer this question because I myself worked in the travel 
industry. First of all, I will like to provide a list of best travel 
ranches (as evaluated) in France, United States and Germany. The lists 
are just the opinions of its authors and not in any way confirms the 
rankings of the Farms/Ranches. There might be more great farms. I will 
also provide you my list of best ranches in the United States that 
meet your criteria. Some of these Resorts/Ranches were hand picked by 
me from the list that I researched and some of them are the ranches 
that I know to be one of the greatest in United States.

Also, I will provide you resources country by country.

Please note that I consider South Africa to be one of the best places 
to experience farm life because it is 'two in one shot', Farm & Safari. 
I have also provided a website that will provide you information on 
endless number of famrs in South Africa so you may choose yourself.
Here is the first list for top Ranches in France, US and Germany

France's top six farmstays
(6 entries)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5681-681684,00.html

Top German Ranches
(10 entries)
http://www.landtourismus.de/lt01_wettbe02.html

America's Top Guest Ranches
17 entries (4 cateories)
http://gorptravel.away.com/dude_search_main.asp
______________________________________________________________________

Here are my favourites in USA

Hacienda del sol Guest Ranch Resort
Tanque Verda Ranch, Arizona, USA
http://www.tvgr.com

Rancho de los Caballeros, Arizona, USA
http://www.sunc.com

9 Quarter Circle Ranch, Montana, USA
http://www.ninequartercircle.com

Allisal Guest Ranch & Resort
http://www.alisal.com

Averills Flathead Lake Lodge, Montana, USA
http://www.averills.com

Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, Montana, USA
http://www.mtnsky.com

Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, Utha, USA
http://www.sorrelriver.com
___________________________________________________________________________

Here are the websites by individual country where you will find extensive 
information on farmstays. I call these 'offcial websites' because they have
such an extensive information about their country.

Denmark 
http://www.ecoholiday.dk/engelsk/index.html

South Africa
http://www.farmstay.co.za/

Austria 
http://www.farmholidays.com/f_homepage...2.html

Australlia Farm Stays
http://www.australianhomestay.com/

Germany
http://www.landtourismus.de

United Kingdom / Ireland
http://www.farmstayuk.co.uk/2003/home.html
** One of the most extensive list that I have ever seen. Refer to the database.
Farm House Accomodation UK
http://www.farmhouseaccommodation.co.uk/

Italy
http://www.holidayfarm.net/en/welcome.htm

France/Netherland/Luxemburg and Belgium
http://www.eceat.nl/

France
http://assoc.wanadoo.fr/agrisport-france2/lorraine.htm

Argentina 
http://www.alojargentina.com.ar/farms.html#laconcepcion

USA 

Ranch Web
http://www.ranchweb.com
------Luxury or Resort ranches
http://www.ranchweb.com/categorydisplay.htm?id=179
Ranch Seeker
http://www.ranchseeker.com/
Dude Ranhers Association
http://www.duderanch.org/
------Search for a Ranch
http://www.duderanch.org/ranches/results.php
_______________________________________________________________________

Here is the list by most fammous US Ranch States

Colorado Ranch Association
http://www.coloradoranch.com/
Search a ranch

Arizona Dude Ranch Association
http://www.azdra.com/
Compare Ranches
http://www.azdra.com/ranchcomparison/

Montana Dude Ranch Association
http://www.montanadra.com/
Side by Side Comparison
http://www.montanadra.com/comparisons.htm
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE BY STYLE (RESORT-WORKING-DUDE)

Wyoming Dude Ranch Association
http://www.wyomingdra.com/
_________________________________________________________________________

Other useful websites

Ranch America
http://www.ranchamerica.co.uk/price_list.htm

Best Ranch Vacations for women
http://www.roadandtravel.com/adventuretravel/duderanchdirectory.htm

BC Guest Ranch Association
http://www.bcguestranches.com/guestranches.htm

America's best Dude Ranches (Just an Article)
http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/dude.htm

America's Best Ranches
http://denver.lodging.com/auto/localview.cgi?name=America's+Best+Dude+Ranches

Ranches around the world
http://www.excite.fr/directory/Recreation/Travel/Lodging/Ranches
_________________________________________________________________________

Useful Search Criteria

'farmstays'
'farmstays country name'
'best dude ranches'
'top guest ranches'
'great farmstays'

I hope this helps. Please clarify, if you are not satisfied. I wish you a very 
good luck on your search for the ultimate resort of your dreams.

Sincerely,
leader-ga.

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Clarification of Answer by leader-ga on 25 Oct 2003 15:44 PDT

Sorry! The address for Hacienda del sol Guest Ranch Resort is:
http://www.haciendadelsol.com

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Clarification of Answer by leader-ga on 27 Oct 2003 06:31 PST

Thanks for your comments and the tip. Yes, the best thing to do is to
start the future communications by commenting on one of the questions.
But, there is even a better way, that is 'clarifying request' rather
than commenting. This way the researcher is immediately notified.

No, it doesn't interfere with the Google policy's.

I will be obliged to provide my services in the future.

Sincerely,
leader-ga.

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Clarification of Answer by leader-ga on 27 Oct 2003 06:41 PST

OH! I can try to do research in the German Language. Although, it is
difficult but I have done it in the past.

Vielen Dank von New York

leader-ga.

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Request for Answer Clarification by thorstenrauser-ga on 06 Nov 2003 07:39 PST

Hi Leader. I got a new one for you. 

Posted at http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=273156

---

Clarification of Answer by leader-ga on 06 Nov 2003 19:33 PST

Hello: 

Thanks, you will get an answer from me tomorrow Friday USA (EST).

Sincerely,
leader-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by thorstenrauser-ga on 23 Jan 2004 08:21 PST

Hi

got a new one: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=299343

and YES, it really is about how to create a hotel for these people

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Clarification of Answer by leader-ga on 23 Jan 2004 08:47 PST

Thanks Raus.

I have started working on the question.

Dear leader-ga

I could not have wished for a better answer to my question. There is a
possibility that I will ask you for additional work in the future and
hope, this does not interfere with answers.google's policies. When a
new research occurs, I could add a comment to this question to keep
you informed.

Liege ich in der Anname richtig, das ich dich auch für einen Research
in deutscher Sprache ansprechen kann? ;-)

Viele Grüße aus Berlin

Raus