The New Way to Staycation

After a year at home, many travellers are ready for a change of scenery. Get away without going far by checking into the nearest Four Seasons to recharge and reset. Focus on wellness in Westlake Village, sip tea in the garden in Hong Kong, or reconnect with family in Orlando: A staycation with Four Seasons offers a reminder of what’s important: being present in the moment.

Wellness is the centre of your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, where you have your pick of ways to refresh mind and body. Take a guided hike through the oaks and sycamores of Southern California’s Conejo Valley, or saddle up for a horseback ride along winding mountain trails that criss-cross the Santa Monica Mountains. After a day spent in the warm California sun, celebrate your setting with a meal at Coin & Candor, a California Brasserie, serving local ingredients from the region’s best farmers and purveyors.

“Education is the kindling of a flame,” Socrates wrote, “not the filling of a vessel.” Fan the flames of your own journey to discovery at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. The Hotel’s Moments of Artistry program – exclusively available to overnight guests – helps you explore your passions: Learn to prepare classic French dishes with an award-winning chef, broaden your knowledge of wine and discover surprising pairings with the sommelier, master dim sum and Cantonese cuisine, or learn wellness techniques to help balance mind and body. You’ll leave with new-found knowledge – and a few recipes or activities to try at home.

One of the best reasons to take a staycation is the chance to play with friends and loved ones. An ideal spot for an amusing afternoon? The 5-acre (2-hectare) water park at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort. Float along the Lazy River, race down water slides and splash in the Family Pool, then return to dry land for a game of beach volleyball or video games at The Hideout. Explorer Island offers hours of enjoyment for guests of all ages. End the day back in the pool for the Resort’s Starstruck Dive-In movie screening – and don’t forget the complimentary popcorn.

Starry-eyed couples staying at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel can enjoy a romantic evening under a twinkling night sky. One of the top spots in the French Riviera for gazing at constellations, the Hotel’s park offers an unspoiled vantage point on the wonders of the universe. Join a world-renowned scientist for a two-hour astronomy lesson, then enjoy a bespoke meal al fresco, courtesy of three terrestrial stars — the Michelin honours awarded to Chef Yoric Tièche, whose culinary creations are, without question, a taste of heaven.

The strumming of a guitar, the rapid-fire percussion of castanets, the quick tap of a dancer’s toes: In Madrid, flamenco strikes all the right notes. Inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity, the distinctive dance originated in the southernmost Spanish province of Andalusia, but you can easily enjoy it during your staycation at Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. Head to one of the nearby flamenco bars or tablaos to watch as skilled dancers stamp their feet and swirl their skirts alongside locals, then find your own rhythm during a private lesson with a professional dancer, arranged by the Hotel. As you learn the basic steps and fluid gestures associated with the dance, you’ll no doubt feel the pasiòn rising, just like a proud Madrileño.

Trade the hustle and bustle of the city for bracing country air with a stay at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, where 200 hectares (500 acres) of countryside offer plenty of room to play. Set out on a trusty steed for a gentle hack around the Dogmersfield Park Estate, or a trot around the Equestrian Centre’s outdoor arena. Children can learn the fundamentals of pony grooming, or take lessons in dressage and jumps from the Hotel’s instructor. For another creature connection, try a lesson in falconry and an introduction to the Hotel’s birds. Then gather with friends in The Library for afternoon tea.

If you consider Paris and Milan to be the pre-eminent bastions of café society, add another. Buenos Aires elevates coffee culture to an art form, demonstrated in its abundance of cafés, where you can order a café (espresso), cortado (espresso cut with cream) or cafeen jarrito (double espresso). Coffee aficionados will enjoy a lesson from a barista at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires: Using the Hotel’s exclusive blend of beans, learn the importance of coarse or fine grinds, water temperature, filtering and timing as you brew the perfect cup – and then create your own work of art in the crema atop your drink.