Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

It’s the things we do together that seem to stay with us longest – exploring new cities, lazy days on a beach or adventuring outdoors. This summer, Four Seasons sets the stage for holidays that everyone can enjoy, with plenty of options to please every member of the family, from kids and teens to parents and grandparents – and why not bring along the cousins too?

Special offers* at participating Four Seasons hotels and resorts around the world this summer include complimentary nights, spending credits, and a host of other extras such as complimentary meals and spa treatments, tours, and toys for the kids. Bookings can be made beginning now for stays from June 15 to September 15, 2013.

What’s more, every Four Seasons offers family-friendly services and amenities to all guests. Kids for All Seasons is a supervised program for children at all Four Seasons resorts and select urban hotels, and many properties offer additional programming such as movie nights, kid-friendly tours and excursions, and professional babysitting services when the adults want some alone time. Many locations also have teen centres stocked with games and movies that host theme parties especially for younger guests. And, Four Seasons invites families to pack light, with baby gear including cribs and strollers loaned at no charge, along with special child-size robes to match Mom’s and Dad’s.

Connecting rooms are often available at a special price, and many resorts also offer residence rentals, giving families their own living spaces for private time spent together, along with multiple bedrooms to accommodate everyone.

Share Travel Experiences with Families Like Yours

Have Family Will Travel, the colourful blog created by Four Seasons, unveiled a fresh new look this spring to showcase real-life travel stories by popular family travel bloggers and Four Seasons staff. New features include the Kids’ Concierge, a tool that allows parents to search for stories, tips and destination guides by location, kids’ ages and favoured activities. There’s also a new function that invites families to upload their stories, tips, photos and videos from their own Four Seasons holidays; and the new, user-friendly Parents’ Insider Guides to Family Travel makes searching blog posts by destination a snap.

Also check out the Look Mom! Pinterest board, a collaboration between Four Seasons and top family bloggers. Follow and join in the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #FSFamily.

Inspiring Ideas from Around the World

• Own a Pony for the Day, Plus a Lovable Labrador and Really Fresh Eggs – The most popular staff member at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is Oliver, a lab who loves nothing more than to go for rambles around the estate and get his picture taken with guests, or even come along when kids head to the chicken coop to collect their own breakfast egg. For children and teens begging parents for a pony, the Hotel offers an experience that teaches young guests how to ride and care of one they can call their own for the day.
• Chill Out Hollywood-Style with “Larry” – The children’s book character (in plush toy form) welcomes kids to Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, inviting them to play along on his adventures in Los Angeles, and enjoy Larry-themed menus, poolside spa treatments and special treats.
• Explore Malaysian Mangroves – An on-staff naturalist leads a three-hour boat safari of the mangroves, chock full of wildlife wonders. The experience is sure to be a highlight of a family’s stay at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi.
• Dig for Family Roots in the Old Country – Many travellers to Four Seasons Hotel Prague are interested in finding their roots in Eastern Europe, so Hotel staff helps fill in the family tree by connecting guests to local genealogists.
• Explore the Famous Ten Scenes of West Lake – With a guide or using maps created by Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, families hop on bicycles and tour the region Marco Polo called “heaven on earth,” and see for themselves the historic “ten scenes” first identified during the Qing Dynasty.
• Get Up Close and Personal with Nature – With a wildlife biologist who also happens to be a professional photographer as their guide, families are invited to pile into a luxury SUV and head to the mountains around Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole to see moose, elk, bison, eagles and wolves in a day of adventure no one will forget.
• Now THIS is Room Service! At Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, the Ice Cream Man brings his trolley of treats to guest rooms for custom made sundaes and cones for the whole family. Over 21? They’ll send up the Martini Man too.
• When I Grow Up, I’m Going to Be an Elephant Researcher – In the jungles of northern Thailand at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, teens and adults can spend time with local mahouts, learning how to ride and care for rescued elephants and participate in research programs.
• In the Footsteps of Liszt and Bartok – On the banks of the Danube, children can join in classes conducted by local music teachers at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, who expose a new generation to the wonders of folk and classical music, and opera.
• Consider a Career in Hospitality – At Four Seasons Resorts Lanai, the Hotelier Apprentice Summer Camp gives children a behind-the-scenes look at resort operations and has them participating side-by-side with the team who make it all run smoothly.
• Follow the Adventures of Les Triplés au George V – In Paris, Nicole Lambert’s beloved cartoon characters take over Four Seasons Hotel George V in a series of antics depicted on dishes just for children. The family-friendly Hotel staff includes a recreation manager who devises fun things for kids to do in the Hotel and around the city.
• Answer the Call in Dublin – Four Seasons Hotel Dublin is celebrating The Gathering – Ireland 2013 with a special itinerary that allows families to get in touch with their inner Irish.
• Bust a Move in Mauritius – Whether it’s a one-on-one scuba lesson in the plunge pool or a private Creole cooking class, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius can bring just about anything directly to its Deluxe, Grand and Royal Villas. Great idea for families: teens host an en suite dance party while grandparents show off a few moves of their own – disco ball and LED dance floor included.
• Extend a Helping Hand to Other Kids and Families – Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica connects guests with community members in need via the popular Growing Together volunteer program. Guests can help out by providing local families with basic necessities, and bringing backpacks with supplies for schoolchildren. Active families can even lend a hand by painting a local school.
• Pampering and Inner Peace for All – At the Island Spa in at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, children and their parents come together for specially-created interactive rituals that help everyone feel better – physically and spiritually. For those looking for something really special, Four Seasons Explorer is available for private charters, offering the opportunity for a luxe tour of the Maldives for just one family group at a time – along with a full staff to take care of every need and whim.

Get Connected to Four Seasons

Families who love Four Seasons are joining the conversations and sharing their stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and Weibo. In addition, most Four Seasons hotels and resorts and many Four Seasons restaurants host their own social media pages – visit individual properties on fourseasons.com for links.

^{*Offers valid on bookings for stays from June 15 to September 15, 2013. Many offers also extend beyond this period – full package terms, conditions and dates are available online.}

Abercrombie & Kent

Nothing can prepare you for the grandeur and diversity of Africa, and there is no better way to explore all the continent has to offer than by private jet. For those who want to do and experience more, Abercrombie & Kent’s private jet safari travels the length of Africa (March 2-20, 2014),  seamlessly combining illuminating cultural experiences with extraordinary wildlife in remote destinations, difficult to reach in comfort by any other means. Geoffrey Kent will personally host the group during a three-night Tanzania safari experience.

Join an intimate group of 40 privileged guests on a privately chartered jet, visiting seven countries in 19 days to discover Africa at its most authentic. Come face to face with rare mountain gorillas in Uganda and marvel at the Great Migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti alongside A&K founder Geoffrey Kent. Experience Zambia’s extraordinary beauty from your private tree house on the Zambezi River at Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma camp. Take the “flight of the angels” helicopter tour over Victoria Falls and marvel at the 700-foot dunes along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.  Celebrate the end of your African adventure with the epicurean delights of the Cape Winelands in South Africa.

“Travelling by private jet allows guests to experience Africa at its most rewarding, to spend days immersed in the wonders of the continent, rather than in transit,” explains Geoffrey Kent. “Arriving and departing when it makes the most sense, instead of on an airline’s schedule, allows us to devote more time to natural and man-made wonders, meet some extraordinary people, and stay at camps and lodges in remote wilderness areas.”

The carefully crafted Africa: Across A Continent by Private Jet itinerary incorporates the following must-see destinations in Africa:

Ethiopia | Ancient Churches (2 nights)

Explore the remarkable rock-carved churches of Lalibela where a local priest shares the history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Learn about the discovery and archaeological significance of “Lucy,” one of the world’s most important early human fossils. Meet local dignitaries at a private cocktail reception.

Uganda | Mountain Gorillas (3 nights)

Set out with an experienced forest guide in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of a gorilla family. Watch them forage, play and interact in their natural Ugandan habitat. Meet the local Batwa people for a chance to talk, hike and engage in a mock hunt with these traditional hunter/gatherers. Visit a local hospital supported by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy which has reduced infant mortality by 50%.

Tanzania | On Safari with Geoffrey Kent (3 nights)

Experience the Great Migration in the Serengeti in the company of A&K founder Geoffrey Kent. Hear stories of his life growing up in East Africa over gourmet bush dinners at a private tented camp. Witness a Maasai tribal dance. Meet researchers helping to conserve cheetahs and lions.

 

Zambia | Victoria Falls (3 nights)

View Victoria Falls by helicopter, the best way to appreciate the staggering scale. Walk hand-in-trunk with an elephant during an once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Meet with locals in Nakatindi Village to learn firsthand about their day-to-day life. Relax during a sunset safari cruise on the Zambezi.

Botswana | Wildlife Along the River (3 nights)

Search for wildlife on guided game drives in Africa’s most elephant-rich park on an unforgettable Botswana safari. Cap each evening with a tranquil cruise down the Chobe River.

Namibia | Desert Dunes (2 nights)

Cruise Walvis Bay on a private boat, keeping watch for birds, seals and dolphins. Explore the desert dunes, the setting for a feast of a lifetime, complete with sparkling wine delivered by parachute and a performance by local musicians and fire spinners.

South Africa | The Finale (1 night)

Take in panoramic views of Cape Town from atop Table Mountain. Enjoy a performance by the Cape Minstrels during sundowners on scenic Signal Hill. Gather for a gala farewell dinner on a private island.

Over the last five decades, Abercrombie & Kent has perfected the art of delivering unexpected luxury while travelling in the most remote places. Deep roots and long-established relationships — as well as 11 permanent, full-time offices in Africa — allow A&K to offer unique encounters and inspiring experiences to is travellers that are not available to others. Because of this privileged access, Abercrombie & Kent is voted “Best Africa Tour Operator” year after year by travel professionals at the World Travel Awards. 

Comfort In the Air

Travelling by private jet brings an entirely new level of comfort and convenience to an African journey. Abercrombie & Kent’s privately chartered Boeing 737 provides an elegant onboard experience. Roomy, comfortable business-class seats allow us the opportunity to stretch out and relax between destinations. A bar stocked with premium brands, along with a well-chosen wine list, provides the finishing touch. As you cross the African continent, your flight crew travels with you, learning your preferences and helping to make your aircraft a familiar and inviting space, every time you take to the air.

Unrivalled Experience On the Ground 

A journey is only as successful as its guide. Leading this expedition is a Tour Director chosen from the top ranks of A&K’s international coterie of professionals, who oversees everything from start to finish, relying on a lifetime’s worth of knowledge to show guests the Africa only locals know. A Tour Manager assists the Tour Director in providing seamless service, while local guides join your party throughout the journey to lend additional insight. A&K’s Travelling Bell Boy^® collects your luggage when you leave each hotel and ensures it is waiting in your room when you arrive at your next destination.

Accommodations in each travel destination are always the best available, selected to reflect the given location’s spirit and style.  They may be elegant lodges, lavish resorts or remote bush camps, but all offer a distinctive sense of place, gracious hospitality and inspiring views. This is enhanced by the exclusive use of most properties, including Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma in Zambia, with its unique tree house villas; A&K’s mobile tented camps and Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero in Botswana. With a typical stay of three nights in each destination, there is time to relax and appreciate the pristine beauty of the surroundings.

Meals are more than just a chance to dine at the end of the day — they are a complete feast for the senses, with local entertainment and stunning natural backdrops that turn every meal into an event. Dine in the Tanzanian bush accompanied by a troop of Maasai tribal dancers. Catch your first glimpse of astonishing Victoria Falls at a private picnic on a ridge overlooking the waters, with a local choir providing the accompaniment.

Abercrombie & Kent is one of the most experienced luxury travel companies in the private jet business, having designed and operated dozens of private jet programs on a variety of luxury aircraft to destinations around the world, as well as custom-designed jet itineraries for families and private groups.  

To learn more about Africa: Across A Continent by Private Jet (19 days, from $79,995 per person, double occupancy). For further details, please visit online or call 800 554 7094 to speak to a Travel Consultant.

ET African Journeys

African safari and tour provider ET African Journeys has partnered with Mama Hope, a non-profit organization that invests in projects that bring food, security, clean water, education and health care to African communities in need, to offer the Mama Hope Kilimanjaro Expedition, a hike to benefit Moshi, Tanzania’s St. Timothy’s School.  Departing on Monday, February 18, 2013, this one-of-a-kind trek up Africa’s highest mountain boasts an amenity that no other tour provider offers: a gourmet feast prepared by world-renowned African Chef Pierre Thiam at the world’s highest-altitude pop-up restaurant.  Chef Thiam will open the temporary restaurant at a base camp at 12,500 feet above sea level exclusively to celebrate the fund-raising climb.  After summiting Mount Kilimanjaro via the scenic Machame route, climbers will descend to the base camp restaurant to dine on Chef Thiam’s specially-prepared African regional cuisine, while enjoying views of the surrounding forests and grasslands.

Following the hike, travelers will spend two days volunteering at St. Timothy’s School, a school and children’s home built by Mama Hope and partnering organization, The Tanzania Children Concern, to educate Tanzanian orphans.  Mama Hope’s community-centered development approach enabled St. Timothy’s to employ over 600 workers from the local community in the construction of the school.

“We are now focused on funding the construction of a boarding house on the St. Timothy’s compound, which will give the region’s orphans a home as well as an education,” said Mama Hope founder Nyla Rodgers.  “This trip is a wonderful way to get Americans to come to Africa and get involved with a very worthy cause.”

“Adventurers who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro don’t typically need much enticing, but this trip offers so much more than the satisfaction of the climb,” added ET African Journeys Vice President of Business Development Gilad Goren, who conceived of the trip concept with Rodgers.  “It’s a chance to raise funds for a great cause, volunteer at a school and meet the children they are helping and, as an added perk, enjoy possibly the most unique dining experience of their lives, forgoing trail mix for a gourmet meal prepared by Chef Thiam.”

The Mama Hope Kilimanjaro Expedition departs from Washington DC on Monday, February 18, 2013 and is available for $5,400, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting St. Timothy’s School.  Price includes airfare, lodging, Kilimanjaro climb and gourmet meal. For more information, please call 800-662-5406 or visit http://www.etafricanjourneys.com/mamahope. 

US Citizens require a passport valid for six months beyond travel dates and a Tanzania Visa. If purchasing the Ethiopia post-optional package visa will be required.