Destinations: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

5 Secrets to Living La Dolce Vita

Posted on by Josephine McKenna

Wisps of mist float above a patchwork of vineyards while the early morning sun paints the sky a soft pink. From the medieval village on the ridge above, you hear the sound of church bells as your convertible zigzags past the vines. It may be early, but you’re already dreaming of fresh pasta al dente and a drop of Barolo for a lazy lunch on a sunny terrace.

For Italians, this is perfection. This is la dolce vita.


In The Good Italian II: The Prince Goes to Milan – a short film presented by the Italian menswear brand Caruso – the fictional Prince of Soragna embodies la dolce vita from the moment his Lancia Aurelia sports car pulls up at the entrance of Four Seasons Hotel Milano. Throughout the film and his stay at the Hotel, the prince (played masterfully by actor Giancarlo Giannini) seeks out and enjoys only the finest in food, entertainment, fashion, accommodations and service. He requests perfection in every bite, in every experience.

And he’s not alone. Italians from Florence to Milan have an appetite for only the finest cashmere, the most fragrant basil and the most handsome sports cars. Together, these are essential ingredients of la dolce vita, a unique recipe for life that locals have been perfecting for centuries.

Fortunately, they’re quick to share their secrets with anyone craving to live like an Italian.

“In Italy we always look to share happiness with another human being and try to make the most of that moment. The food, wine and the experience of living – it is only beautiful if you can share it with somebody.”
– Mauro Governato, Four Seasons Hotel Milano

1. “Liguria is to pasta what Naples is to pizza”

Italians are passionate about food. On the street, you’ll hear people sharing recipes and debating about where to find their favourite ingredients. Vito Mollica, Executive Chef at La Veranda and Il Palagio, is particularly proud of his linguine with pesto, a highlight in the film.


Fresh Basil Pesto

No one makes pesto like Italians from Liguria. Vito Mollica, Executive Chef at Four Seasons hotels in Milan and Florence, learned the secrets to making the perfect pesto in this rocky coastal region.

Photography Courtesy StockFood / Julia Cawley

He learned the art of making linguine in Liguria, the rugged coastal region in northern Italy where it originated. “Liguria is to pasta what Naples is to pizza. You won’t understand pasta unless you have been trained by a Ligurian,” the chef says with a smile.

The linguine is one of Mollica’s most popular dishes, and the chef loves to share his special recipe with guests, who can venture into the kitchen for a private class. And like the prince in the film, he is very particular when choosing the ingredients to go with his signature pasta.

“It’s important to use the freshest ingredients and the best technique so we produce something really amazing.”
– Vito Mollica, Executive Chef

“Liguria is a small, hilly region, so they made terraces on the hills to grow their vegetables,” he says. “They don’t produce a lot, but they produce the highest-quality artichokes, asparagus and basil.”

2. Spezzato is the key to great Italian style

Italians dress to impress, and competition is especially fierce on the streets of Milan, the country’s fashion capital. After all, this is the land of spezzato, a word created especially to describe the artful way Italian men mix and match jackets and trousers versus simply suiting up.


Florence fashion

Spezzato, a signature of classic and effortless Italian style, describes the way men and women put together jackets and trousers that complement each other but are not part of the same suit.

Photography Courtesy Tommy Ton / Trunk Archive

 

Here, style is more than just looking the part – you must live and breathe it through a commitment to top-tier fabrics and tailoring, worn with an air of unstudied, effortless elegance. The prince in the film is the picture of Italian swagger, from that first flip of the scarf as he takes off for the Hotel to the moment when he lovingly caresses the suit he knows is perfect for the occasion.

The best way to start crafting your own Italian style identity is to mimic the masters, and, thankfully, Four Seasons Milano is located in the heart of the city’s fashion district – with big-name designers like Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana and Tod’s only a short stroll away.

Four Seasons Hotel Milano

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Right next to the Hotel, Caruso has an elegant boutique displaying the finest apparel, worn by the prince as he listens to one of the operas of Italian legend Giuseppe Verdi.

At Caruso, hundreds of fine fabrics are available, including cashmere, wool blends, gabardine flannels, houndstooth and even camel’s hair from the Gobi Desert that is specially crafted for Caruso. Perfection can be subjective, so at Caruso, each suit is completely customised down to every last artistic detail, including individual patterns and hand-stitching.

“Italians are only happy with what they think is the best. You can trace la dolce vita back 2,500 years. The ancient Romans lived such a level of sophistication that it has not been matched. That is who we are, and we do it effortlessly.”
– Umberto Angeloni, Caruso President and CEO

3. Embrace la bella figura

Italians like to create a good impression wherever they go. You might call it showing off; they call it la bella figura. The prince in the film teaches us that the best way to arrive in style is behind the wheel of an Italian sports car – with the convertible top down, sunshine streaming in and opera playing on the radio.


Cruise Lake Como on a Giulietta Spider

In the film, the prince makes an unforgettable entrance at Four Seasons Milano in this red Lancia Aurelia Spider B24. Photography courtesy Sofia Masini

Four Seasons Milano can arrange for guests to take a similar drive behind the wheel of a Giulietta Spider, an Italian classic that experts say is one of the best-kept secrets in the vintage car market.

Hop into the roadster and travel 55 miles (90 kilometres) out of the city, along picturesque, tree-lined lanes and quaint villages, to arrive at the deep-blue waters of Lake Como. Then spend the day zipping around the town’s spectacular pastel-coloured villas, stopping only to admire the views and dine at a lakefront restaurant.

“All you have to do is enjoy the car,” Hotel Concierge Gabriele Conte says of this outing. “We send a mechanic to follow you and to offer personal assistance like taking care of the parking. This is living la dolce vita.”

4. Every moment deserves amore

For Italians, a good meal is not solely about delectable dishes. Flavour goes hand in hand with amore and creating the right setting to indulge in both. After all, the prince wasn’t just after the perfect sprig of basil – he needed the perfect place to share the moment with his niece.


Four Seasons Hotel Firenze takes care of the meal, the magical setting and every detail in between during its Golden Dinner on the Ponte Vecchio experience. The Hotel has exclusive access to the city’s most famous bridge and its only open-air terrace, tucked above the famous jewellery boutique of Dante Cardini. Here, you can enjoy a romantic and private dinner for two.

“You can have a magic moment. We work on every detail so the experience is shared . . . in a perfect way.”
– Vito Mollica, Executive Chef

The crowded streets below are forgotten as soon as the intimate dinner begins with a glass of chilled Champagne. As the sun sets, enjoy a four-course gourmet meal, inspired by the many jewellery stores below, created especially for the occasion by Michelin-starred chef Vito Mollica.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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5. Everyone is famiglia

Ask any Italian: The best way to enjoy la dolce vita is with someone you treasure, be it family, friends or a soulmate. Yet Italians are also happy to open their doors and offer hospitality to people from faraway places. Everyone is welcome.

“[Life] is only beautiful if you can share it with somebody.”
– Mauro Governato, Four Seasons Hotel Milano


Young couple on roof of Duomo

Anyone can experience and share la dolce vita in Italy, where language is no barrier and everyone is family.

Photography courtesy David Burton / Alamy Stock Photo

For Paul Lydka, Concierge at Four Seasons Firenze, one of his favourite things about living la dolce vita is stopping in an unfamiliar village to order a bread roll with pecorino and prosciutto, along with a glass of Chianti. “It’s very special,” he says. “You’ll find Italians are very sociable. In the villages, they start a conversation even if you only say ‘buongiorno.’ Language is no barrier.”Angeloni echoes this sentiment: “Italians know how to live well – we know how to create pleasure, whether it’s a dish of pasta or a landscape. It is part of our identity, and it is something we have to share.”

Experience Italian culture and la dolce vita through the Florentine Lifestyle and Milano Lifestyle packages on offer at Four Seasons Firenze and Four Seasons Milano today. In the video below, get a taste of the only-in-Italy art, culture, fashion and dining experiences that await in both destinations.

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5 Unexpected Tea and Coffee Cocktails Around the World

Posted on by Amber Gibson

Encountering the unexpected during a journey is one of the many joys of travel. Imagine, for example, sitting in a rooftop bar in China – the country where tea drinking originated and remains a meaningful part of daily culture – and asking the bartender to recommend a local drink. Instead of offering something with tea leaves, as you might expect, you’re served a complex coffee-inspired cocktail with an equally enriching tie to Asian culture.

#CocktailQuarterly, the year-long initiative focused on cocktail trends, techniques and ingredients, turns its attention to tea and coffee cocktails. In celebration, mixologists at Four Seasons hotels and resorts around the world are shaking, stirring, steeping and serving drinks inspired by these classic brews – and working hard to eschew convention with their concoctions.

Here is a taste of the mixologists’ creativity.

Florence: Grog in Florence


Four Seasons Florence Grog Cocktail

The Grog in Florence cocktail is served in a teapot and topped with an edible flower for a beautifully elegant presentation.

 

Coffee is such an integral part of Italian culture that even the U.S. has adapted the Italian vocabulary for its favourite drinks. Whether it’s leisurely sipping cappuccino or a quick shot of espresso at the café before work, coffee is part of every true Italian’s morning ritual.

Excellent coffee is available in plenty at Atrium Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, but when creating his newest cocktail, Grog in Florence, Assistant Bar Manager Luca Angeli was inspired by the oriental flavours of lapsang souchong.

“It’s a different way to serve afternoon tea in a cocktail style.”
–Luca Angeli

This bright, citrusy drink is poured from a classic teapot and sipped from teacups. Ginger-infused rum, 23-year Zacapa rum and Amaro Nonino form the boozy base, while cranberry and lime juice along with house-made lapsang souchong syrup lighten up the drink with fresh top notes.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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Beijing: Kopi Luwak Martini


The art of drinking tea originally developed in China during the Tang dynasty, and hundreds of varieties are produced and enjoyed in that vast country today. However, Opus Lounge, the rooftop bar at Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, is getting creative with another caffeinated beverage.

Bartender John Cheng’s Kopi Luwak Martini is mixed with a rare Indonesian coffee, made from coffee cherries eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet, a small mammal found in Southeast Asia. (Producers and connoisseurs claim that kopi luwak’s flavour is improved by the fermentation that occurs in the civet’s digestive tract.)

At Opus Lounge, bartenders use a Neapolitan coffee press filled with dry ice that diffuses the delicate coffee aroma while Kahlua and Malibu rum add the alcoholic element. The smoking cocktail is finished with an elegant dusting of espresso powder.

Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

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Mumbai: Madras Café


Four Seasons Mumbai Madras Café Cocktail

While you may think tea reigns supreme in India, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai is using South Indian coffee to create this unusually delicious drink.

Like China, India is a major tea producer, and Northeastern India is known for its large tea estates. Travel to the Southern region of the country, though, and you’ll find plenty of coffee. In Mumbai, business is often conducted over one of these brews, and each household has its own favourite blend or preparation of tea or coffee to start the day.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai embraces the city’s rich history of coffee drinking with the Madras Café. The cocktail, served at AER and San-Qi, combines South Indian–style coffee with curry leaf, passion fruit purée and pineapple juice to make a shaken drink that’s an unusual balance of sweet and bitter, spiked with Absolut vodka and served on the rocks.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

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Scottsdale: Two Birds With One Stone


U.S. Americans drink three times as much coffee as tea, but Assistant Manager Nick Padua at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North chose to create his latest concoction with organic tea. Inspired by the environmental extremes of the Sonoran Desert, Two Birds With One Stone is a drink that can warm you up on a cold desert night or leave you refreshed after a round of golf under the sun.

At Talavera and Onyx Bar & Lounge, the cocktail is served either hot or over ice, mirroring the desert’s hot days and chilly nights. The innovative drink pairs Rishi Tea’s organic loose-leaf camomile tea with Dewars White Label scotch, sweetened with local Sonoran honey and house-made orange marmalade. The tea-infused cocktail is brewed and served tableside with candied citrus rinds.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

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Maldives: Kuda Coffee


Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa Coffee

For an island treat in the Maldives, try the Kuda Coffee, which infuses both local and Asian ingredients.

While sai (a sweet tea) is a traditional beverage enjoyed by local Maldivians, Indonesian coffee and local ingredients are the staples for the Kuda Coffee cocktail at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. A kopi toraja variety of coffee from the Sulawesi island of Indonesia is combined with fresh Maldivian coconut, kopi leaf and Sri Langkan arak that add local flair.

In honour of the Resort’s sundowner happy hour tradition, these stirred drinks will be available on a buy-one-get-one basis between 5 and 7:30 pm each evening at Sunset Lounge. Ask Chinnappan for a cocktail class, and he’ll teach you how to make the drink from scratch.

Editor’s note: While some of these coffee and tea cocktails may no longer be listed on the menu, most can be made upon special request.

Read more about #CocktailQuarterly trends, like spicy margarita recipes and spring cocktails.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

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Historic Hotels: Rooms With a View to History

Posted on by Adam H. Graham

To celebrate European Heritage Days, take a grand tour of European Heritage by way of historic Four Seasons properties.

Want to sit in the historic ballroom where the League of Nations first assembled? Visit the estate where Henry VIII first set eyes on Catherine of Aragon? Or swim in a Côte d’Azur pool designed by an Italian spy? If you’re a lover of history and a guest of Four Seasons, there’s no need to leave these Four Seasons landmark properties to do so.

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel


Four Seasons Cap Ferrat Club Dauphin Pool

Taking a dip in the Cap-Ferrat Dauphin Pool is like dipping your toe into history. The pool was built by an Italian spy, and it stands today as a monument to World War II and the perseverance of architecture.

Photography courtesy Martin Morrell

The magnificent Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat was built in 1908 at the tip of the isolated Cap Ferrat peninsula in southeastern France. At the time, it was seen as incomplete by many, so it was immediately given additional amenities like a dining loggia and a large central rotunda designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel, who spent his winters in neighbouring Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

In the years leading up to World War II, the property was frequented by European princes, lords and baronets; prominent financiers; artists and writers like Jean Cocteau and Somerset Maugham; Hollywood stars; industry leaders; and heads of state. But none of them provided the property its most interesting story.

Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel

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That came from a simple Italian bricklayer, who surprised hotel management in 1939 by engineering and building the Hotel’s structurally complex waterfront pool in one day. Years later, during Italian occupation of the Côte d’Azur, the bricklayer again showed up at the Hotel, this time in a dashing military uniform and said to the manager, “Nice to see the pool held up.” Turns out he was as an Italian spy who used the Hotel’s prominent clients as a source of intelligence. The Club Dauphin pool is still a gem among the Hotel’s many amenities and is accessed via a private glass funicular.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze


Four Seasons Florence Royal Suite Della Gherardesca

The Royal Suite Della Gherardesca at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is the perfect place to relax in this convent-turned-hotel.

Convents turned hotels are a dime a dozen these days, but few can boast as rich and textured a history as Florence’s timeless Palazzo Scala Della Gherardesca. It was built during the golden age of Florence at the dawn of the Renaissance, and converted to a Four Seasons hotel in 2008. The estate, later the Suor Maria Riparatrice convent, was commissioned in 1473 by the humanitarian scribe Bartolomeo Scala, who also happened to be the chancellor to Florence’s legendary Lorenzo the Magnificent, the head of the influential Medici family long known for their patronage of the arts.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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The leafy palazzo was later home to Cardinal Alessandro de’ Medici, who reigned as Pope Leo XI for a mere month in 1605 before he died suddenly, earning him the nickname Papa Lampo (“The Lightning Pope”). The frescos that adorn the property’s walls are by the Renaissance painters Giovanni Stradano and Baldassarre Franceschini.

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire


Four Seasons Hampshire Gate to the Gardens

The charming gardens at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire were the meeting place of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, who would forever change the Tudor line and legacy.

Dogmersfield Park is the name of the estate on which this 18th-century Georgian Manor sits, but its origins date back to 1086 and the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by King William the Conqueror. The book describes “Doccemere feld, by the lake where the water lilies grow,” as a placid and peaceful place.

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire

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400 years after this description was penned, the bucolic field would play a pivotal role in the tumultuous Tudor history as the place where Catherine of Aragon met two of her future husbands—first Arthur, Prince of Wales, then, after Arthur died of “sweating disease,” his younger brother Henry the VIII, who was five years her junior.

Henry VIII, of course, went on to marry five other wives, throwing the Tudor dynasty into a tailspin that would eventually undo it. Guests who want to imagine the royal liaisons in more detail can still explore the 23 acres (9.3 hectares) of English Heritage gardens and more than 500 acres (200 hectares) of tamed parkland to help reconstruct the past.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet


Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet Gardener in Courtyard

Once an infamous prison, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet has become a luxury hotel now hosting voluntary guests.

The celebrity guests at this century-old, neoclassical property have included artists and political figures like communist leader Mihri Belli, novelist Orhan Kemal, and dissident poet Nâzım Hikmet. And they all have one thing in common: They never checked in. At least not willingly.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

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The charming property in the heart of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district was once the infamous Turkish prison Sultanahmet Cezaevi; the courtyard is the prison’s old exercise yard. Today, the accommodations are much more grand, but guests can still visit the corridors upstairs to see a few of the prison’s original support columns, which are marked by graffiti and the etchings of former inmates.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva


Four Seasons Geneva Salle des Nations Ballroom

The magnificent neoclassical Hotel des Bergues, built in 1834 and now a historic Swiss landmark, occupies a prominent position in the heart of Geneva on the shores of Lac Léman. The Hotel’s Salle des Nations ballroom boasts soaring ceilings and is festooned with crystal chandeliers and gigantic gilt mirrors; it remains a popular event space with visiting dignitaries today.

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva

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But in 1920 it was the site of the first assembly of the League of Nations, predecessor to the United Nations. The Hotel became the unofficial headquarters of the French delegation chaired by Prime Minister Aristide Briand; the son of innkeepers was rumoured to have been impressed by the meticulous 1917 renovations of the Hotel. Historians claim that Briand’s many meetings at the Salle des Nations had a greater influence on international relations than the formal sessions held in the Palais des Nations. Briand would receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926, and the property became a Four Seasons hotel in 2005.

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Four Seasons Hotel Bergues Geneva, Switzerland

Tips for Travelling With Teens

Posted on by Talon Windwalker

My teenaged son Stevie and I have been slowly travelling the world since 2011. We left the U.S. and adopted a nomadic lifestyle because I wanted to infuse more life into our everyday living. After working in health care for a few decades, I began to notice a common theme from people near the end of their lives—regret. I decided I didn’t want to live a life full of regrets, and it was important to me to instil this spirit in my child.

As any parent with kids over the age of 10 knows, there is a difference between travelling with a younger child and doing so with a teen. When they’re 9 years old, everything is magical and exciting. At 13, things that used to really interest my son, for example, elicit little more than a shoulder shrug.

Fortunately, over the last four-plus years spent travelling from Asia to South America and beyond, our relationship has become quite strong. We tend to function as a team, and my son rarely hears the typical (and sometimes ineffective) reasoning of “I’m the parent, that’s why,” when it comes to our travel decisions.

Here, I’ve gathered some of my best tips and tricks for pulling off an excellent vacation with teenagers and making the most of your time together. A family holiday helps ensure you’ll get quality time and make good memories, but it will take some extra effort. From itinerary planning to packing to using travel to train your teens for their independent future, here are some of the things I’ve learned as a globetrotting parent.

Involve your teen in trip planning

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (L); Pantheon Interior, Rome (R)

Involving your teen in trip planning is key. My son and I recently collaborated on mapping out a trip to Europe, during which we went to Paris for my birthday and then visited a place on his list: the Pantheon in Rome. Photography courtesy Eustaquio Santimano and Gary Ullah

Even though your son or daughter will likely respond with a casual “whatever,” it’s important to include them in the trip planning process. Just like adults, teens want to be heard. And the more they’re involved in the early stages, the more likely they will be engaged and the less likely they are to complain during the trip.

This is also a great opportunity for kids to learn about compromise. My son and I discuss locations, things to do, costs, methods of transportation and so on. In fact, he usually picks our next destination himself. If either one of us has a particular interest, then we pay attention to that as well during the planning phase. For instance, this year we celebrated my birthday in Paris, and when we were in Rome, we made a point of visiting the Pantheon because it had been featured in one of my son’s favourite video games.

Use packing to teach accountability

FS Guest’s Luggage

Let teens be in charge of packing their own bags; it teaches accountability and the importance of planning ahead.

So many parents pack for their teen in a panic: What if they forget their toothbrush, their underwear, their iPad? But part of growing up is learning accountability. Will the world really end if they have to buy a new toothbrush or, heaven forbid, endure a morning with bad breath? (I see the self-proclaimed control freaks wincing at this notion.)

On the other hand, my son has a tendency to forget important items, which often ends up causing both of us some frustration. Packing is a great time to teach your teen the value of planning and generating lists. Sit down with your kid and have him or her come up with a packing list. That way, things don’t get left behind and travel days are much less stressful.

When they want to pack too much, just remind them they are in control of their bag, which means they will be carrying it through the airport, lugging it to the car, and pulling it into the hotel. If you are flying, make sure they understand that bags need to be under a specific weight. If they need to make adjustments, it’s better to let them make those decisions. It’s all part of the growing up.

Plan for downtime

Downtime is crucial for teens, even on holiday. They may want to hang out in the room all day, which means you can make the most of hotel amenities, such as the contemporary Australian cuisine at Mode Kitchen & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.

Downtime is crucial for teens, even on holiday. They may want to hang out in the room all day, which means you can make the most of hotel amenities, such as contemporary Australian cuisine at Mode Kitchen & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.When travelling with teens to a new place, there is an incredibly strong temptation to rush about and not miss anything. However, a jam-packed day of sight-seeing just doesn’t work for teens.

Most teenagers sporadically get into hermit moods when they need their space. You may want to spend time together, but your child will be happier with some time alone during the journey—or at least time when they aren’t constantly on the move.

When my son and I have had an all-day excursion or a few days with a lot of movement, I make sure to follow that up with a lazy day. Sometimes this means he stays in the hotel to relax while I go out exploring on my own, and other times I hang in the room with him, or we spend some time at the pool. On some lazy days, I’ll even order delivery or room service. At Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, for example, I certainly didn’t mind spending a day relaxing by the pool and sampling the fresh flavours at Mode Kitchen & Bar.

Deal with screen time

Teenager on the phone

Fact: Teens are glued to their phones. Give a lesson in compromise by working with your teen to decide when and where screen time is appropriate while on vacation.

It can get frustrating always looking at your teenager’s face over some sort of electronic device. On holiday, some parents encourage their kids to leave their electronics at home. But I’ve found this is another opportunity to teach compromise.

Work out periods of time when screen time is acceptable. On the airplane, the train and long bus rides, why not let them disappear into their devices? It will make getting their attention much easier later on. For gamers, work with them to come up with times like these that are a win-win for everyone.

After all, it is their holiday as much as yours, and you’re never going to convince them to ditch the digital world entirely.

Photograph like a teen

Talon Windwalker scuba diving on vacation with his teenage son

I involve my son (pictured here diving with me) in all facets of travel. As a result, we tend to function as a team and have explored much of the world together. Photography courtesy Talon Windwalker

Your child may take 20 selfies in five minutes, but that doesn’t mean they will pose graciously for you when you want a family picture. Usually the first few times will be met with cooperation, but after that, expect “the look.”

If you have a surly teen, try to restrict the number of photos you take with them. Make sure they are really worthwhile shots, in worthwhile locations. Alternatively, you can invite them to join you in a selfie. This works better than other methods because they understand the value of selfies in social media, and generally are happy to lend their cool factor to your profile. It is even easier to capture a photo with your teen if you have them take the photo with their own device, allowing them to edit and post it on their own social channels.

Avoid repetition

Four Seasons Florence

On occasion, let your teen hang out at the hotel while you go out exploring. The rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, for example, are incredibly comfortable and can be a cultural experience all their own.

Teens don’t always share our penchant for history and culture. After spending a lot of time in South America with Stevie, I began to hear “More ruins?” in an exasperated tone. In Thailand, it was “Another temple?” After a few months in Europe—“I’m tired of churches and castles.”

Again, this is where compromise comes into play. If we spend a day doing mostly things I’m interested in, the next is all about him. While visiting Ecuador, we spent one day visiting cathedrals, churches, cemeteries and local markets—not exactly riveting attractions to a teen. The next day was his, and he opted for a lazy day, which meant we didn’t see the outside of our hotel room. At Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, he stayed at the historic hotel while I went out to see the sights. Other times, he will tag along and hang out outside the “boring” church/castle/temple while I go exploring.

Compromise with food

Paris Cuisine for Adult & Teen: Verjus Bar à Vins’ Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich topped with fresh cabbage salad (L); Frenchie to Go Hot Dog (R)

Don’t stress if your teen is not as eager to try new foods as you are. Even hamburgers and hot dogs can turn into memorable meals when ordered in other countries. Photography courtesy Verjus Bar à Vins (L); Photography Virginie Garnier (R)

For many adults, one of the joys of travelling is experiencing new food. Any time I’m heading to France, I dream of the fabulous wine, baguettes, cheese and crêpes. When looking at a menu with items such as tongue tacos, however, my son will sigh and tell people, “My dad will eat almost anything.”

Most of the time he can find something to satisfy his finicky appetite, but sometimes he just wants something that is familiar. While watching your teen eat macaroni and cheese in Thailand may make your inner foodie weep, give the kid a break and withhold that “but-you-can-get-that-at-home” plea on occasion.

It kills me when we’re in Paris, looking over a menu offering such tasty items as grilled stingray wing, and he picks a hamburger—but at least we can both enjoy the meal. Luckily, most places usually manage to add a local interpretation of even the simplest things, such as adding gourmet cheese or fresh bread to a hot dog.

Expect post-trip abandonment

Travelling with Teenagers

Teenagers may run off to spend time with their friends once you return home, but they’ll always cherish the times you spent travelling together. Photography courtesy Thinkstock

Don’t take it personally when you return home and your teen quickly puts distance between you—it doesn’t mean they didn’t enjoy the journey. At this age, their world revolves around their peers. It’s all part of stretching their wings as they prepare to leave the nest.

I’ve had plenty of lovely talks with college-age adults who reminisce about how they complained almost non-stop during family vacations, but add that those times remain some of their favourite family memories.

Someday your kids will thank you. It may not be until they’re 23, but it will happen.

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9 Family Vacations Recommended by Moms

Posted on by FourSeasonsMagazine.com

If the idea of taking your kids on vacation sounds daunting, consider that you have only a handful of holidays before your little ones become adults and start planning their own grand getaways. Make the most of family vacations by visiting destinations that will rejuvenate your love of travel, provide your family time to relax together and help you unplug from routine as you introduce your tiny travellers to the wider world.

We asked six savvy mothers to nominate destinations for the best family vacations based on real-world experiences with their kids. Here, these sojourning matriarchs offer insider tips and top picks for family-friendly holidays from Orlando to Hong Kong and kid-approved resorts from Hualalai to Sharm El Sheikh.

A hassle-free escape in Hualalai
Nominated by Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino


Hawaii Helicopter Tour

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Hawaii during a helicopter tour of the Big Island. Children will love watching an active volcano spill lava into the ocean, or weaving through jungle-filled valleys.

Photography courtesy Thinkstock

For a carefree vacation, I love Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu, where kids and parents alike can have the holiday of their dreams. Because the Resort is only 15 minutes from the airport, as soon as you arrive, you’re there—it’s logistic nirvana—and the programming at the Resort is so extensive you don’t have to ever leave the grounds. If you do venture out, try the full-island Hualalai helicopter tour—our son loved watching bubbling lava flow into the ocean. Hupuna State Park is nearby, with long sandy beaches and water that’s ideal for body-boarding.

At the end of the day, we found ourselves happily lingering on the grounds of the Resort. Our son enjoyed watching turtles nest along the beach, and playing near the shops as the sun set. He learned to snorkel without leaving the property and spent Kid’s Night Out watching movies on the lawn while my husband and I enjoyed date night. We learned hula and lei-making as a family at the Kaupulehu Cultural Center—the perfect way to expose our child to a new culture and spend quality time together.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

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Activities galore in Hong Kong
Nominated by Katie Dillon of La Jolla Mom


Four Seasons Hong Kong Pool

A family vacation in thriving Hong Kong combines thrilling visits to theme parks for the kids with cultural learning experiences, plus time to relax at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and take in the iconic skyline from the outdoor pool.

Photography courtesy Katie Dillon

Hong Kong is a surprisingly easy family travel destination. Public transportation is efficient, the airport is easy to navigate, and everything a family needs can be purchased within steps of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. While much of Hong Kong is a bustling city, there are plenty of opportunities to hike, enjoy the beach or spend time on the sea, so you can choose a pleasant mix of urban and outdoor activities for an active family. Two of the most popular family destinations are Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, where kids can be kids and parents can score major cool points. If you prefer to skip the packed parks, head up to Big Buddha on a glass-bottom cable car, or take a ride on the new waterfront observation wheel at twilight to watch the city sparkle.

While many parents worry about the food options in Hong Kong, this shouldn’t dissuade those with even the pickiest of eaters. Kids love the petite dim sum, and if all else fails, pizza and burgers are available all over the city. We used many of the Hotel’s family amenities, including the outdoor pool deck, where complimentary popsicles and treats are passed around periodically. If the siren call of the watering holes at Lan Kwai Fong beckons, book a nanny through the Concierge. Otherwise, stay back in your Harbour View Room and watch the Symphony of Lights laser show over the water. Word to those still strollering: The city’s uneven pavement and unavoidable stairs make pushing your tiny tots a tiny hassle.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

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A resort hideaway in Sharm El Sheikh
Nominated by: Heather Greenwood Davis of Globetrotting Mama


Beaches of Sharm El Sheikh

Egypt’s most underrated attraction might be the stunning white-sand beaches of Sharm El Sheikh, which disappear into the turquoise waters of the Red Sea.

Photography courtesy the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

You don’t often hear the words “Egypt” and “children” spoken together in the travel sphere. Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh is an exception. From the moment we arrived at the Resort, we all felt at home. We spent most of our time at the property, which is large but well contained. Rooms feel like mini-cottages (with plunge pools in some!), and it only took a few hours for all of us to get to know the lay of the land.

Whether at the pool or on the beach, we enjoyed great views and attentive service, and the restaurants excelled at offering something for every palate. Mealtimes included options our children were familiar with as well as the chance to try new things, like the delicious Merguez sausage and hummus.

And the Resort’s Kids for All Seasons Club is small, but it makes up for its size with fun cultural activities, like learning to write your own name in hieroglyphics. The kids had to be pried away each day, and the talent show at the end of our stay had us all laughing. An unexpected perk of being at a Resort where there are many international travellers was that we made lasting friendships with other families.

Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh

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Food and fun in Austin
Nominated by: Heather Greenwood Davis of Globetrotting Mama


Barbeque taco from Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ food truck in Austin, Texas

Make a trip to South Congress to try Austin’s amazing food trucks, so everyone in the family can try something they want—from freshly made doughnuts to Tex-Mex tacos.

Photography courtesy Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ

Nominated by: Lori Lange of Recipe Girl

Austin is a terrific destination for active families. By far, the highlight of our trip was kayaking on Lady Bird Lake behind Four Seasons Hotel Austin. We loved cruising along together, and it was really cool to go under the bridge and hear the bats squeaking. If your children are a bit older, the Segway tour of Texas’ state capital is a great way to enjoy the city while keeping your child occupied and interested. (Be sure to check age restrictions.) And because the Hotel has so many amenities and fun things for the kids to do—they took part in the treasure hunt, played in the pool and watched bats at dusk—we were able to relax and soak in the sun.

Austin can be explored by your taste buds as well. One of the best ways to do this with kids is to try the food trucks of nearby South Congress. Children have fun running between options and trying unfamiliar cuisine, and you might even get them to fall in love with something new. The city also offers delicious tacos: Try the breakfast tacos at El Primo, or chow down at lunchtime on a Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ taco (both are food trucks), followed by one of Austin’s famous doughnuts. A personal favourite is Gourdough’s Donuts, where you can make a whole meal with variations on the tasty treats.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

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Interactive exploration in Lisbon


Algarve, Portugal

Renting a car is a great way to get out of Lisbon’s crowds and explore the Algarve, one of Portugal’s stunning natural wonders and a fun place for the kids to run along the sandy beaches or swim in the gentle surf.

Photography courtesy Chris Ford

Upon arrival, we did a motorcycle and sidecar tour of Lisbon, which offered a fun, interactive way to see the city and to get a sense of the history and soul of the place. Next, we explored on foot. Keep in mind the amount of walking you’ll do in the city: There are plenty of hills to climb and cobblestone walks to hike down, but if you stay at Four Seasons Hotel Lisbon a massage at the luxurious Spa will quickly loosen tired muscles after a long day on your feet.

The Hotel offers a great breakfast buffet, the perfect, hassle-free way to start each morning before exploring the city anew. Mix it up with trolley or taxi rides when the kids get tired, or rent a car. We explored coastal Algarve by car, taking in the deep turquoise waters with twisted rocks jutting out peacefully towards Africa, as well as exploring the nearby towns at Europe’s end. Car rentals offer the opportunity to get out of Lisbon and into the history and culture of Portugal’s more rural areas. And if all else fails, our kids loved to play in the warm sand or run laughing through the gentle surf on one of Portugal’s beautiful beaches.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

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A museum haven in Washington, DC
Nominated by: Liz Borod of Travelogged


Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

A full day of exploration in Washington, DC—from introducing your child to the wonders of the world at a Smithsonian museum to taking in historical monuments—is best ended by relaxing in the comfort of your room at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC.

Washington, DC, is like an educational version of Disney World because there are so many great attractions and things to see and do with kids. Visiting the Smithsonian Museums is a must: Our 3-year-old enjoyed the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum, and it was fun for us as parents to revisit those old favourites, too.

But the real highlight was the impressive Newseum, which looks at recent history through the lens of the media. Of course, after all of that museum-hopping, a trip or two around on the carousel at the National Mall is a perfect reward for good behaviour. After a busy day of sight-seeing, we were happy to go back and relax in our room at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, which is located in my favourite neighbourhood—Georgetown. Full of well-preserved Federalist architecture, Georgetown also has the best shopping and dining in the city. We managed to find time to stroll around the cobblestone streets, but my son had more fun back in the Hotel, enjoying the kid-friendly amenities.

Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

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A cultural introduction in Florence
Nominated by Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino


Four Seasons Hotel Firenze Park

Home to the largest private garden in Florence, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze offers an oasis in an otherwise crowded city: Admire architecture in the morning, and then spend the afternoon watching your children play outdoors back at the Hotel.

Florence is a busy metropolis, and the crowds and noise can be overwhelming. Luckily, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze has the largest private garden in the city—one of our favourite secluded hideaways, especially in summer. The oasis offers a pool; the vast garden itself, where the kids run; and a slice of calm and quiet without compromising proximity to Florence’s top sites.

From the Hotel, everything is walkable. My son loved climbing to the top of the Duomo and counting the 463 steps of the dark, ancient stairwell. The summit offers stunning panoramic views of Florence that are worth the climb, and gave our family one of our all-time favourite travel memories.

Although Florence is a city of Renaissance art and architecture, visiting with children offers the opportunity to see more of the parks, eat more delicious gelato and chow down on pizzas while experiencing the city’s attractions in an active, fun way. My son loved playing in the Santa Croce Piazza while we enjoyed superb people-watching in the shadow of the magnificent façade.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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Endless excitement in Orlando
Nominated by: Colleen Padilla of Classy Mommy


Fun in Orlando

Orlando is not exactly a stranger to family fun. Earn a stream of smiles from your little ones at a theme park, or soak up the sun at the Resort pool, designed to be fun for both the young and the young at heart.

Orlando is a place worth visiting over and over again so that you can experience the many attractions while still allowing time to relax poolside at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort. Easy transfers from the airport to the Resort make travelling to this destination logistical bliss with children.

My best advice for experiencing Orlando and Walt Disney World® Resort is not to try to do it all in one visit. You’ll exhaust yourself and the kids will be cranky. Instead, prioritise a few activities each day so that you feel accomplished rather than overwhelmed. And because the Resort has a private luxury bus to take your group to and from the Disney Theme Parks, you can schedule half-day visits to ensure there’s time left over to enjoy the Resort pool.

If you’re tired of lines, take your tots to the Resort’s Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals, where you can get pictures with all the characters they love as well as score a nutritious meal. Once you’ve experienced everything there is to see and do at Walt Disney World®—Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, to name only a few of the must-see attractions—retreat back to Four Seasons and enjoy Explorer Island, a 5-acre (2-hectare) family playground. Complete with fountain-equipped splash zone, lakefront family pool, meandering lazy river for tubing, gaming arena, and courts for beach volleyball and basketball, Explorer Island has something for everyone.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort

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Something for everyone in Los Angeles
Nominated by: Katie Dillon of La Jolla Mom


Natural History Museum of Los Angles

Encourage your child’s love of learning with a visit to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where the Dinosaur Hall’s massive fossils will impress children of all ages.

Photography courtesy the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

LA has ample attractions to make for a lively family vacation: With Disneyland only an hour away, the La Brea Tar Pits not far afield, and some of the world’s prettiest beaches and Santa Monica Pier nearby, there is no shortage of ways to entertain children of all ages. For an all-out family vacation, hit the Los Angeles Zoo, Universal Studios and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, where your kids can learn as well as play. For more of a local perspective, try the American Girl Place at The Grove for lunch in the café before doing a bit of shopping on Rodeo and Robertson. The LACMA children’s gallery offers interactive art and a fun way to get creative with your children.

LA has the widest range of cultural activities in Southern California, and I’m always a fan of widening my daughter’s scope of interest and knowledge by exposing her to new things. Food in LA is easy for the young, who never seem to tire of the city’s creative kid’s menus. Or dine in at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills: The menu at Culina presents a vast number of choices, but if your child can’t find anything appealing, the Hotel can make something to suit his or her palate.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

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