Eric Christian Olsen on the Magic of Mini Family Vacations

There are two reasons my wife, Sarah Wright, will never forget Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. One: She was obsessed with the fresh guacamole, magically refilled by the staff. And two: After a beautiful dinner, three desserts and bottle of Bordeaux on the beach, I got down on one knee and proposed in the moonlight. That was seven years ago. It was our first Four Seasons experience, and we haven’t stayed elsewhere since.

Sarah and I both believe firmly in the fundamental philosophy that happiness is the journey, not the destination. The things that I remember most about my childhood are experiences like loading up the family station wagon for vacations in the Cascades, fishing in the Teton Mountains or bodysurfing with my dad for hours along the Oregon coast.

Sarah and I both believe firmly in the fundamental philosophy that happiness is the journey, not the destination.

We knew we wanted to recreate that with our kids. So, when I renegotiated my work contract, instead of asking for more money, I asked for four weeks off during production. This has allowed our family to take mini vacations throughout the year. We even created a vacation folder of all the places we want to explore next together.

We started planning family trips from the moment our son, Wyatt, was born. He travelled like a pro – toting a carry-on Gruffalo suitcase filled with books and Legos, wearing sandals to expedite security checks, and earning platinum airline status before he was 2 years old.

 

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And we soon discovered that while a lot of hotels shun kids, Four Seasons truly welcomes every member of the family. I honestly think the staff is specially trained to handle toddlers with jet lag. One night, we arrived really late at Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina. It was way past Wyatt’s bedtime when we sat down to a starlit dinner at the restaurant. The waitress could tell he was exhausted, so she asked him his favourite singer and he said, “John Denver!” (Totally my fault.) Suddenly, the restaurant musician started playing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The look on Wyatt’s face was pure joy.

Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina

When travelling with toddlers, you have to plan on things going sideways. But when we’ve stayed with Four Seasons, they go out of their way to pick up the slack. In London, my shuttle to MCM Comic Con never showed up. The Concierge at
Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge didn’t just drive me 16 kilometres through traffic in the house Maybach – he offered to do it every day.

 

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At Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, it started pouring rain just as my family finished breakfast. You could tell Wyatt was nervous about navigating this deluge until one of the Resort staff members appeared with a kid-sized umbrella. Wyatt took it and sprinted out into the rain, jumping through puddles the whole way back to our bungalow. That simple act of thoughtfulness became a teachable moment for him: We navigate those unexpected obstacles while embracing and finding happiness in the present.

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara

On a trip to Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, a Concierge team member scooped up Wyatt as soon as we stepped in and gave him a stuffed sea turtle. Wyatt’s favourite activity is swimming, and he learned to swim there in the Club Dauphin seawater pool overlooking the Mediterranean while that stuffed sea turtle watched supportively from the pool deck.

 

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When we ask Wyatt where he wants to go next, he consistently says Oahu. He will tell you about a hidden beach, down the road from the Resort, where he can swim with turtles and eat avocados (secretly provided by Chef John). He’s 5 years old now and already has developed such an emotional connection to the Oahu staff. The chefs there know that he is obsessed with the movie Ratatouille. After lunch during one recent visit, they gave him a chef’s jacket and hat – which he carried around for the next eight months – and invited him into the kitchen to make chocolate sea turtles. That was a life highlight for him.

 

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Experiences like this make me fall in love with Four Seasons time and again. It’s why I know we’ll continue to share milestones and once-in-a-lifetime moments on our travels. This journey of life is magical and fleeting, and we want to make sure we are taking stock of every experience we can.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Where will your next journey take you?

Waves lapping onto beach

7 Villas to Make Your Group Getaway

It used to be that bucket-list group vacations meant, at best, conjoined hotel rooms. That’s changed. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts offer scores of exclusive villas for your next escape. If it’s privacy, top-quality service and unparalleled access to the world’s most beautiful places you seek, consider your search officially over.

The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas

Private beach access? Check. Private chef? Check. Private infinity pool? Check. The three- and four-bedroom Beachfront Villa Residence is ideal for families seeking a seaside respite sans crowds.

A singularly indulgent retreat of exceptional space and tropical enchantment, the Beachfront Villa Residences are the pinnacle of resplendent island living with vaulted wood-panelled ceilings, gentle fans and hand-carved mahogany furnishings.

Accommodating up to eight people in the three-bedroom and ten people in the four-bedroom, including up to six children, the traditionally elegant villa includes indoor and outdoor living spaces and gardens filled with frangipani, bougainvillea and hibiscus. The 24-hour service team includes a butler and a personal chef who provide daily breakfast, snacks and evening canapés, with 24-hour in-villa dining available in either the expansive great room or the gated garden courtyard. The Villa Residences are also equipped with a chef’s kitchen and stocked bar.

The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas


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

Tucked away in the extensive private gardens beside the Hotel, the four-bedroom Villa Rose-Pierre provides unparalleled French Riviera living with expansive Mediterranean views and around-the-clock butler service. Linger over your morning coffee on a sea-view balcony – each bedroom has one – before heading to the heated, mosaic-laid infinity pool for a swim. Challenge yourself on the private synthetic-clay tennis court or in the fitness room, complete with two treadmills and strength-training equipment. Just don’t leave without taking an evening meal under the stars on the rooftop terrace or letting your dedicated butler arrange an unforgettable cruise on the Mediterranean Sea.

 

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

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Inspired by Northern Thailand’s Lanna architecture and surrounded by its own garden, the Four-Bedroom Residence Villa with Pool looks peacefully out on the Mae Rim valley.

After soaking up the sun on your private deck, take a dip in the large swimming pool, surrounded by lush tropical gardens. At day’s end, gather in the sitting room for cocktails and canapés, before enjoying a chef-cooked meal in the spacious dining room. Want to keep the party going? Retire to the adjoining wine room for an after-dinner drink and dessert, or sit before the fireplace.

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai


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Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

Offering views of the Atlas Mountains, the Royal Villa pampers guests with ample private terraces, a central salon with a fireplace, and common areas inside and out, all set around a lap-size pool. Each bedroom has a full marble bath en suite. With an eight-person whirlpool spa and private barbecue area, you can take a late-afternoon dip and then, under the stars, enjoy a meal prepared by your private chef.

Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney® World Resort

Take the idea of a penthouse suite to the next level by reserving the entire top floor here. Your 16th-floor domain of 21 sumptuous guest rooms features suitably top-level audiovisual integration – imagine a concealed media screen and projector that drops from the ceiling – and multiple terraces from which to view the stunning sunset over the Resort’s lakes and woodlands. Ask a host of complimentary butlers to unpack your bags, arrange theme park excursions, coordinate dinner parties with formal table service or organize kids’ activities.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort


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Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

Prieta Bay unfolds before you, whether you’re perched on the terrace or floating in the heated infinity pool, and stand-alone designs bring the outdoors in. The new three- to five-bedroom Prieta Bay Villas stand in an exclusive, secluded enclave in the peninsula, just a short walk from the Resort’s amenities. Enjoy full access to Prieta Beach Club, the private members’ club of Peninsula Papagayo, before returning home to relax in lavish living areas, gourmet kitchen and large outdoor terraces with built-in barbecues.

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Four Seasons Maldives Private Island at Voavah, Baa Atoll

Enchant your group with a stay at Four Seasons Maldives Private Island at Voavah, where the island is yours and every room is just steps from the Indian Ocean. Up to 20 people can make this paradise their own. Deepen your connection to the island with Voavah Summer,  the island’s own luxury yacht, and take in the unforgettable sights of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that surrounds you before watching the sun set over the turquoise paradise. When it’s time to tuck in for the evening, retreat to the master bedroom – three walls of sliding glass windows let the tropical breeze in. For some extra alone time, take your breakfast on the private deck just off the master’s sitting area. Not to worry – the other guests are coddled too. Their en-suite bathrooms are outfitted with outdoor garden showers.

Maldives Private Island Voavah at Baa Atoll

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Where will you and yours venture next?

Concierge

Escape to These 6 Otherworldly Pools

From a free-form infinity pool fronting the Pacific in Punta Mita to a lazy river in Orlando, these Four Seasons water features offer immersive bliss.

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

The 108-foot-long (33-metre) Club Dauphin pool – filled with seawater and heated to a constant 28 degrees C (82.4 F) – has been the centrepiece of this glamorous Côte d’Azur hotel since it was added in 1939. Want to streamline your stroke? Enlist the help of long-time staff swimming instructor Pierre Gruneberg, who counts the Kennedys, McCartneys and Depardieus among his clientele.


Pool at Four Seasons Hotel Dubai DIFC

Four Seasons Hotel Dubai DIFC

There’s never been a better reason to buy a swimsuit. More chic glass box than traditional swimming pool, this rooftop respite sits seven storeys above the Dubai International Financial Centre. After a dip, settle on the pool deck with a berry and wildflower-honey smoothie. Or postpone it until you’ve had an al fresco massage or private yoga session.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Soak in this free-form infinity pool for a while and you might witness a convoy of African elephants gathering at the watering hole below. A few steps up, the expansive pool deck offers plush chairs and couches, and drinks are served from sunrise to sunset. We recommend claiming a chaise lounge for watching the sun sink below the Serengeti horizon.


FS Chiang Mai pool

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Surrounded on all sides by lush rice paddies, this terraced pool complex overlooks the pastoral Mae Rim Valley. Ringed by lounge chairs and sun-shielding umbrellas, an all-ages pool with a smooth tile floor overlooks an adults-only soaking spot that seems to emerge from the glades. Designed by cocktail master Javier de la Muelas, the Ratree Bar’s drinks menu redefines the poolside sipper. Need more to plunge into repose? Poolside foot massages are available upon request.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

There’s whale-watching, and then there’s ogling a band of humpbacks as you bask in a free-form infinity pool fronting the Pacific. Engage in the latter here, along with plenty of other opportunities for soaking and splashing, from an adults-only infinity-edge lap pool to a palm-shrouded lazy river that conveniently circles family rooms and suites.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney
World Resort

Baby-safe splash zones, a lazy river, two water slides and a zero-entry pool that hosts dive-in movies – these are encompassed by the 5-acre (20,2034-square-metre) Explorer Island water park. If you find yourself in Orlando without little ones, or are letting them live it up in the Kids For All Seasons program, beeline to the Oasis, an ultra-modern adults-only pool and jetted tub served by staffers who hand out frozen-fruit skewers and iced cappuccino shooters.

Your Journey Begins Here

Dive into your next trip.

Master Class: 5 New Obsessions to Pick Up on Vacation

Whether you’re vacationing in an exotic locale or somewhere closer to home, interactive experiences that provide a connection with the local culture and landscape are the ones you’ll remember best. We’ve rounded up our pick of hands-on activities designed to inspire, instruct and entertain – you may even discover your new favourite thing.

 

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Train with a Muay Thai pro in Koh Samui

At Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, a day-long immersion in the traditional art of Thai kick-boxing begins in the training ring. With  the instruction of a seasoned professional, you’ll learn new techniques or practise existing moves and skills. After your Muay Thai lesson, break for a muscle-easing spa treatment, and then head to the Chaweng Boxing Stadium, where you and your trainer will watch a pro match from VIP seats.

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

Improve your stroke with a swimming legend at Cap-Ferrat


A man and a woman sit on the edge of a pool overlooking the ocean

An icon of the Côte d’Azur since 1950, the swimming pool of Club Dauphin has seen an impressive list of celebrities – from Elizabeth Taylor to Elton John – learning how to master their swim at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat since 1950. Above the rocky coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the 37-metre heated infinity pool is the ideal place to practise breathing control and stroke technique that benefit both serious swimmers and visitors just hoping to feel more comfortable in the water.

 

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

Strum a new tune in music-loving Austin


Man in a wide-brim hat plays the guitar in a brown chair

The Texas capital of live music, Austin offers plenty of venues for listening to noteworthy bands. At Four Seasons Hotel Austin, your  guest room can be one of them. Through the complimentary Taylor Guitar Concierge program, you can host your own four-hour jam session. Beginners or guitar players looking for more practice can opt for a private lesson from a local musician. “Austin’s long musical heritage makes it the perfect place for guests to explore their creative talents and find inspiration in a new or improved skill,” says General Manager Rob Hagelberg.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Elevate your yoga practice in Bali


Aerial yoga

Learning to fly takes on new meaning at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, where AntiGravity® Yoga lures both novices and long-time yogis seeking an alternative to their standard practice. Supported by soft hammocks, students explore full-body movements designed to increase strength and flexibility. “Once you let go of your fears and trust the instructor – as well as the strength of the hammock – you feel such a sense of achievement,” says Yoga Master Putu Purnama. “This is the most rewarding thing about teaching AntiGravity Yoga: seeing the guests’ delight when they surprise themselves.”

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Fly falcons in the countryside of Hampshire

Take up a sport favoured by English kings with a falconry lesson at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. A hunting tradition with deep roots in Hampshire, falconry now showcases the strength and majesty of birds of prey while pointing towards ecology and education. “We go on Hawk Walks around the estate to demonstrate all the techniques and equipment used in falconry,” says Simon Wilson, a falconer at Four Seasons. “Falcons are experts at body language, so we teach guests body language techniques to get the birds to move.” After learning the basics, slip on a glove and try flying a falcon, hawk or owl.

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire

Learn to let go

Vacations are about breaking from the routine and enjoying a few restful days (or weeks!) with a fresh perspective. As you explore new activities, remember that one of the simplest lessons – and one of the hardest to learn – is to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Discover your latest obsession.

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita

15 Photographs That Capture the Best of Europe

JB Qorz has spent his career creating beautiful images, acting as a special-effects artist for international brands such as Saint Laurent and Renault, and stepping behind the camera lens for the likes of Coca-Cola and Sony. The French-born photographer and perennial traveller has also earned acclaim through his Instagram feed, where nearly half a million followers admire his dreamy, atmospheric images.

I do not want to capture one second, but rather timelessness. Back home, a photograph is all I have left, between fantasy and reality. – JB Qorz

He shoots without a filter and often in the early morning hours, capturing rays of sunlight breaking through a pine forest or a streak of pink sky illuminating city streets. His aesthetic transcends language; he rarely titles or captions his work in great detail, preferring that his images communicate the essence of the places he visits.

“For me, photography is sharing emotions or even ideas that words cannot express,” Qorz says. Despite his serious talent, Qorz doesn’t take himself too seriously. “Creation is about living the moment,” he says. “It is all about revealing [a feeling] rather than trying to intellectualize it.”

The artist recently returned from a 10-city tour of Europe, during which he captured quiet corners and iconic landmarks with the nuanced perspective that continues to draw fans. We asked him to share some of his favourite shots, from the banks of the Bosphorus to the narrow streets of Florence. Here, he reveals the best of Europe through his lens.

Starlight at sunrise in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France


The gardens at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel

“If hundreds of people walk through [a place],” Qorz says, “what would they have in common?” With this image, the photographer attempted to capture both the fantasy and the reality of a stroll through the gardens.

On a quiet peninsula between Nice and Monaco, the historic Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, fronts the Mediterranean Sea. Qorz captured this image of the Hotel’s fragrant gardens just before daybreak. “I can see both the sun and the stars!” he remembers.

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

Ancient meets modern in Istanbul


Ortaköy Mosque

At 160 years old, the Ortaköy Mosque is one of Istanbul’s newer landmarks. The ornate structure replaced the mosque that was destroyed during a civic uprising at the end of the Tulip Period in 1730.

The 19th-century Ortaköy Mosque stands at the water’s edge very near Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus. The photographer was compelled by the juxtaposition between the neo-Baroque architecture of the mosque and the modern bridge that stretches behind it. “Istanbul is a city of many contrasts,” he says. “Sports cars and carriages, ultramodern bridges and old streets and mosques . . . it is a rich blend.”

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

Streetcar scenes in Lisbon


Streetcar in Lisbon

Lisbon’s early streetcars were crafted in Philadelphia by J.G. Brill Company. Its newer cars maintain the Brill aesthetic, which you can still see today.

Lisbon’s streetcars are iconic. For Qorz, capturing one in motion required a quick eye and some daredevil collaboration. “Here’s the tip,” he says. “Travel with your partner. Once you have found the right angle . . . [your partner] crosses the street and drops an item in the road to block traffic. Then you only have to take the picture and check that your partner is all right!” Our tip: Snap your streetcar photos from the safety of a sidewalk.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Famed landmarks in London


London's Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster

“We cannot see the face of the character in the photo,” says Qorz. “I always try to make it possible for everyone to identify with the person featured in a picture.”

Qorz’s many fans admire his ability to find a new perspective on oft-photographed destinations. “My goal is not to achieve a completely realistic photo,” he says, “but rather to . . . amplify travel through [a sense of timelessness].” The layered perspective of this image lures the viewer into the scene, which is, of course, London’s famous Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Perspectives in Paris


Eiffel Tower

Qorz says he dealt with the prestige of the landmark by approaching it as he would a nondescript landscape.

Though he was not born in Paris, Qorz spends much of his time there. Seeing the city with the fresh eyes of an artist “is a very interesting exercise,” he says. “Being confronted with a well-known place is like being confronted with oneself.” To capture this image of the Eiffel Tower, he pretended he was seeing it for the first time.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

A view of Brunelleschi’s Duomo in Florence


The narrow streets of Florence

The narrow streets of Florence beckon travellers with Old World charm. Qorz urges the guest to set out on foot and wander.

Just a sliver of the city’s most iconic landmark, peeking from beyond a quintessentially Italian street, “illustrates very well the moment I first saw Brunelleschi’s Duomo,” says Qorz.

I love the feeling of seeing things that have been seen by thousands of people before me; it is a kind of communion.

This view invites a long look at the city’s quieter, more charming side, and conveys the experience of stumbling upon something magical while exploring a new destination.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Life on the Vltava in Prague


The Charles Bridge in Prague

The Charles Bridge, the oldest of the city’s bridges, was constructed in the 14th century, and was the only connection between Prague Castle and Old Town until 1841.

As much as the photographer enjoys the improvisation of his craft, many of his shots require careful research and a lot of walking. To capture this image, he climbed above the city and waited for the boat in the foreground to come into view. The series of bridges that stretch across Prague’s Vltava River emphasize the city’s beauty and historic significance as a trading route between Eastern and Western Europe.

Four Seasons Hotel Prague

Building a story in Budapest


The Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge, which extends from the entrance of Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city.

During his visit to Budapest in early December, Qorz came upon a father and son feeding a pair of gulls by the Chain Bridge at the bank of the Danube River. “In the morning I . . . discover what I did not see at our arrival by night. I hurry because I know it will be possible to capture the birds and the bridge at the same time. The bridge alone would not be enough. I have to build a story.”

Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Follow in Qorz’ footsteps and pick a destination to explore

pool at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon