Destinations: Europe

Whether settling in to work and learn remotely or disconnecting on a sabbatical, life fills with opportunity when you extend your stay at Four Seasons.

A long weekend or week-long vacation provides time to relax and renew. But stays of 30 or more days truly allow guests to make Four Seasons destinations their home away from home.

Effortlessly Zoom with the office while your children carry on with supervised school sessions. Then take advantage of unforgettable experiences you’ve always put off, like learning to freedive or mastering the French language. Work and play have never been easier to combine, now that you can extend your stay.

Channel your inner Jacques Cousteau in Costa Rica. This vibrant country is heralded for its lush, wildlife-rich rainforests, but its marine life is equally spectacular and diverse. You could view the sea through the lens of a snorkel, but the team at Four Seasons can teach you to experience it like a fish.

“Learning to freedive allows you to leave your comfort zone, literally, by immersing yourself in an unknown environment,” says Miguel Sanchez, Director of the Papagayo Explorers, the Resort’s in-house adventure centre. “You must start by first letting go of your fears and breathe through any discomfort. Once you learn to relax and be fully present, you will begin to enjoy this rich experience, and you will see your progression from one dive to the next. Our holistic approach is designed to be at one with nature.

“As you improve your skill, you will become addicted to the endless natural encounters in the Gulf of Papagayo, from the Catalina Islands to Santa Rosa National Park, diving alongside Pacific mantas, turtles, nurse sharks and some of the most stunning marine life imaginable.”

Guest Experience Supervisor Danielle Carp has worked with extended-stay clients towards achievements in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. But her favourite educational adventure? Ice climbing.

“I have assisted our guests in curating adventure-based programs that have allowed them the opportunity to overcome adversity and to put their trust in a team, guide or leader,” she says. “These experiences allow guests to improve their communication skills and build their confidence.

“Personally, I have an affinity for ice climbing. You are provided with an ice axe, a harness and crampons. Your guide places ice screws into an ice wall, you climb the wall while the guide is belaying you on your way up. It’s similar to a pulley system. The climber must fully trust their guide as they climb the ice wall. The views are extraordinary, and the overall experience is truly like nothing on earth.”

The new partnership between Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora and WiseOceans has been a hit with longer-stay guests. Travellers with less time can enjoy a complimentary snorkelling tour. When they have more flexibility, they can combine recreation with education and embark on a Private Lagoon Discovery Tour. This private, guided experience is an amazing way to learn about the marine environment while aboard a private chartered boat. Guests then join the Resort’s marine biologist, Louis Sabadel, under the surface.

“There’s a very special connection that guests and I share when we’re out on and under the water together,” says Sabadel. “We experience the magic of the marine environment as one, and we also become more aware of how we can each contribute to conservation efforts no matter where we are.”

Soak in the French culture with a long-term stay at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel. General Manager François-Régis Simon recommends booking the Villa Rose-Pierre as your home away from home. “Nestled within one hectare of lushly landscaped garden facing the Mediterranean Sea, our Villa Rose-Pierre offers the intimacy of a private villa with an easy and direct access to the Hotel facilities, including our restaurants, Spa, the Club Dauphin and all our Four Seasons services,” he says.

“The Villa’s dedicated private assistant can share some of the Côte d’Azur’s best-kept secrets and arrange personalized activities that make guests feel like a local.” For full French immersion, he can set up French lessons, arrange a tour of the local market with our chef, and give guests pétanque lessons on the villa’s bowling ground.”

The open oceanfront layout of the Resort make Hualalai the ideal environment for a long getaway. Guests in residence for an extended time are able to explore the Resort’s extraordinary Only at Hualalai experiences, providing exclusive access to the people and places on Hawaii Island.

“The ‘iliahi (sandalwood) tour encompasses the education and cultural immersion available during a longer stay at Hualalai,” General Manager Charlie Parker says. Guests who book the ‘iliahi tour are able to visit Háloa Áina’s native Hawaiian ‘iliahi forest on the slopes of Mauna Loa.

They’ll witness first-hand how sandalwood oil is extracted and learn about the healing properties of this native tree. After the forest tour, resident spa intuitive Maryanne Rose will lead a vibrational forest essence session, focusing on energy work with a sound bath, followed by an ‘iliahi body cocoon and sandalwood oil massage.

The team at Four Seasons Resort Whistler can customize long-term-stay experiences to fulfil guests’ dreams.

Possibilities include meeting with the chef to create a bespoke menu and arranging a personalized wellness journey with the spa team. When one family told Guest Experience Manager David Marissink they wanted to experience Whistler like true locals during their month-long stay, he made it happen.

“To create a mountain of memories you need to start on top of a mountain,” Marissink says. “We set up daily skiing lessons for both the parents and the kids with local ski guides, who truly know the hidden gems of our backyard.

These were followed by cultural and culinary itineraries all around town: the best places for a Canadian Caesar, the best cheese fondue, Crockpot customized dinners prepared by our kitchen team. Our team members also shared their local tips, and the family loved their insights. It was truly rewarding to watch these guests sharing interests and developing a bond that will last a lifetime.”