Author: Caroline McCoy

9 Reasons to Vacation in
Overwater Bungalows

Posted on by Caroline McCoy

“Staying on the water” takes on a literal meaning for guests of Four Seasons resorts in Bora Bora and the Maldives, where hotel rooms come in the form of thatched-roof villas standing on stilts over placid seas. Step inside one of these iconic bungalows, and you’ll find breezy indoor-outdoor spaces, overwater hammocks, private plunge pools, floor windows for watching marine life and views that seem to go on forever.

What else makes a stay on the water so wondrous? We turned to a few of our guests, who documented the things they loved about their overwater-bungalow stays on Instagram, to find out.

 

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1. The walk to your room is stunning

No elevators or confusing corridors here. At Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, wooden boardwalks stretch into the Pacific Ocean, connecting white-sand beaches to the private one-, two- and three-bedroom Beachfront Villa Estates, many of which have private plunge pools. With the stunning backdrop of towering Mount Otemanu, it’s no wonder the walk inspires guests to capture its beauty.

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2. Exploring requires little more than a swimsuit

The best way to explore Bora Bora and the Maldives is by water, and overwater bungalows offer prime access at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru. Encounter wildlife while snorkelling, swimming, kayaking or paddleboarding in the restful waters around your villa. Surfers might prefer a stay in a Water Villa at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, where they’ll find excellent waves, while sailors and kitesurfers can search for perfect breezes.

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3. Your neighbours are always up for a visit

Bora Bora’s barrier reef and coral gardens make it one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet. Sea turtles, rays and colourful reef fish inhabit the waters that surround the bungalows at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora. Many of them make their way to the Resort’s Lagoon Sanctuary, which serves as a critical research and conservation point for marine biologists from WiseOceans, as well as a prime snorkelling spot for guests.

The UNESCO-protected waters of Baa Atoll, in the Maldives, are also ecologically diverse, with the largest known population of manta rays in the world and a significant coral reef system. This video from Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru offers a glimpse of the sights you’ll behold when accompanying one of our instructors on a snorkelling adventure.

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Four Seasons Maldives Private Island Voavah is the world’s first exclusive-use UNESCO retreat. Make yourself at home in a Two-Bedroom Water Villa, stilted over the fish-filled lagoon – you might spot hawksbill sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins and other marine animals swimming around your overwater villa.

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4. The view from your backyard is endless

Shades of blue stretch for miles in the Maldives, as @levi.levo discovered during his recent stay. Water villas at each of the three Maldivian Four Seasons properties offer technicolour views of the Indian Ocean, from sunrise to sunset. In Bora Bora, towering Mount Otemanu, turquoise waters and quiet lagoons are best appreciated from the deck or private plunge pool of an overwater bungalow.

 

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5. Your morning dip is steps away

Wake up. Jump in. When you’re living on some of the world’s most beautiful water, there’s no better way to start the day. Instagrammer @maximevelly captured a morning plunge into the lagoon in Bora Bora. The mood in his photo: Pure joy.

 

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6. Breakfast arrives by boat

Overwater bungalows in Bora Bora and the Maldives are accessed by wooden walkways, but occasionally visitors come by boat. Breakfast at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is delivered ceremoniously in a Polynesian canoe. While your table is set with fresh flowers, hop aboard for a short paddle around the lagoon.

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7. Clear, warm waters make for kid-friendly fun

Even the youngest travellers can enjoy the watery worlds of Bora Bora and the Maldives, thanks to the vibrant oceans and lagoons that surround each villa. In Bora Bora, overwater bungalows are equipped with glass floor panels for a glimpse of the marine life swimming below, and parents can take young kids into the Resort’s tranquil lagoon to get an even closer look. Older children can get more hands-on with their aquatic neighbours, through Kids For All Seasons programs and marine conservation projects.

 

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8. You can relax anytime, anywhere

Spending the day in your hotel room isn’t a travel faux pas when that hotel room is an overwater bungalow. Plunge pools, wide decks, overwater hammocks and steps that lead straight into the ocean are just a few of the features that make relaxing in your room an authentically local experience. Take in a day of sea breezes and water exploration, and get a front-row view of the sunset, all without leaving your villa.

9. Ultimate privacy comes with limitless views

Four Seasons Maldives Private Island at Voavah is all yours to discover. The seven-bedroom resort features water and beach villas, along with a private luxury yacht and your own personal staff. Spa services, sailing, boating, diving, surfing and snorkelling are all within easy reach, and the Indian Ocean views are exclusively yours to enjoy. What’s missing? Everyone else.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Overwater bungalows

7 Ways to See the World From the Sky

Posted on by Caroline McCoy

Thrill-seekers know the formula for an epic adventure: a little adrenaline, clear skies and the promise of awe-inspiring views. Few things compare with soaring over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter near Las Vegas or catapulting through the atmosphere during a skydiving expedition in Dubai. Of course, not all airborne experiences require nerves of steel. Board the Four Seasons Jet and you’ll see how relaxing a bird’s-eye view can be.

To satisfy all varieties of travellers, we’ve rounded up seven of the world’s most breathtaking destinations and the most exhilarating ways to see them from the sky. From Dubai to Whistler, follow our guide to taking flight.

Hot-air ballooning in the Serengeti



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Hop aboard a hot-air balloon to see the natural beauty of your surroundings from an ideal vantage point. This gentle hot-air balloon safari, arranged by Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, allows for the ultimate scenic view – an unobstructed 360-degree panorama – so it’s no wonder hot-air ballooning is a favourite pastime in other wilderness expanses as well, such as the American Southwest. The Serengeti, with its golden savannahs and rich wildlife, may be the world’s best destination to lift off and float the morning away.

Zip-lining in Costa Rica

Woman rides a zip-line over a lush jungle

The Witch’s Rock Canopy Tour sends you flying above the unique dry forests of Papagayo Peninsula, home to rare birds, animals and plants like toucans, monkeys and orchids.

Strap into a harness and sail through the jungle canopy of Guanacaste Province on a zip-line tour arranged by Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. Spot tropical birds, tree frogs and howler monkeys up close, and soar above gorgeous waterfalls as you glide from platform to towering platform. Witch’s Rock Canopy Tour, with its 24 platforms and three suspension bridges, offers some of the best views of Costa Rica’s landscape.

Skydiving in Dubai

Parachute in Dubai

Skydive Dubai offers tandem dives with expert instructors as well as a training program for those who wish to take the plunge solo.

Ranked a top drop zone, and the host of one of the world’s biggest skydiving championships, Dubai – home of Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah Beach and Four Seasons Dubai International Financial Centre – draws both experts and beginners with glimmering views of the city skyline and the Arabian Gulf. Flying above the fan-shaped archipelago of Palm Jumeirah is your photo-worthy moment.

Touring Maui by helicopter

A helicopter flies over green peaks in Maui

Soar above towering waterfalls and lush rainforests before peering into Haleakala, a dormant volcano that composes 75 percent of Maui.

Admire the island’s green peaks, plunging waterfalls and grand dormant volcano during a private helicopter tour with Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Touch down at ONO Organic Farms for a private tour and exotic fruit tasting led by the farm’s long-time owners. Afterwards, set out to explore the famed town of Hana before returning to the Resort for a personalized multi-course dinner featuring your favourite fruits from the ONO farm.

Soaring to natural wonders around Las Vegas



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Trade bright city lights for a sprawling desert landscape during an experience available exclusively to guests of Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. A private helicopter carries you to the Valley of Fire, Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, where you’ll see rare petroglyphs and sandstone rock formations. Next you’ll venture to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, following the bend of the Colorado River, and touch down for a private lunch beside one of the world’s seven wonders.

Seaplane surfing in the Maldives

Two surfers dive off of a seaplane into the ocean

Tropicsurf guides can help surfers of every skill level drop into world-class waves at Kuda Huraa, situated among the area’s most celebrated surf breaks.

Experience the Indian Ocean from sea and sky during a seaplane surfing excursion with Four Season Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. You and your surfing guide will board a seaplane and cruise the Maldivian atolls searching for prime waves. When the timing is right, you’ll touch down, dive into crystal blue waters and surf to your heart’s content.

Flying Over a Glacier in Whistler

A helicopter landing on a snowy mountaintop in Whistler

Accessible only by helicopter, Whistler’s remote thermal baths sit amid snowcapped mountains.

The Pemberton Backcountry, home to British Columbia’s largest ice field, is both your fly-by scenery and your destination during an exclusive Whistler helicopter tour with Four Seasons Resort Whistler. Touch down for an ice-cave tour, and then soar to the region’s remote hot springs for a private spa experience in dramatic, unlikely place. Follow us into the ice cave and see photos from inside this kingdom of cold >

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Master Class: 5 New Obsessions to Pick Up on Vacation

Posted on by Caroline McCoy

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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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

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Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita

15 Photographs That Capture the Best of Europe

Posted on by Caroline McCoy

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.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.

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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.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.”

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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.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.

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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.”

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.

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Perspectives in Paris


Eiffel Tower

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

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.

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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.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.

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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.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.

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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.

Photography courtesy of JB Qorz

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.”

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Explore more of Europe through Qorz’ eyes

In Budapest, Qorz photographed the Hungarian Parliament Building from a perch across the Danube at the Buda Castle.

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During a sunrise stroll on the grounds of Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, Qorz captured a young man preparing the famous pool for the day. “The pool and the Mediterranean Sea mix up,” says the photographer. “A beautiful memory.”

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Of the pool at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, Qorz says, “I have seen a lot of pools, [but] you cannot help but be impressed at the sight of this one.”

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Qorz snapped this perspective of Lisbon’s Bélem Tower during a photography tour, from the sidecar of a vintage motorcycle.

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An aerial view of Prague’s Old Town Square captures the city’s history and charm.

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“This couple in front of the Louvre embodies this popular imagery of Paris, the romantic city,” Qorz says.

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Follow in Qorz’ footsteps and pick a destination to explore

pool at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon