Find Your Holiday Cheer at Four Seasons

An indoor winter wonderland designed by Jeff Leatham in Philadelphia, windows into magic worlds in Paris, a fiery display in Langkawi: The celebration of the season is in full swing at Four Seasons destinations worldwide. Here, we share some of the photo-worthy experiences and activities that will ensure this joyous time of year is merry and bright.

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Arctic artistry in Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love looks more like the North Pole at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, where Artistic Director Jeff Leatham has created a modern festive display. Flocked Christmas trees and festive florals are adorned with warm twinkling lights, while a life-size reflective reindeer keeps watch over the merrymaking. Don’t miss the most coveted ticket in town at the New Year’s Eve celebration. The iconic Hotel will play host to an extravagant event featuring ice sculptures, sumptuous food stations, passed hors d’oeuvres, awe-inspiring entertainment and live musical performances as well as a front-row seat for the city’s magnificent fireworks.

Holiday happenings in Philadelphia

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Dream by the fire in Langkawi

Hike through the jungle, cruise through the mangroves, explore the coastline by kayak. After a day of adventure in this island playground, a sunset picnic on the beach is a cozy way to unwind in the evening. Gather under a canopy of stars and raise a glass to your time together at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. The festive revelry really heats up on New Year’s Eve with a fireworks display and traditional Malaysian fire dancers, who put on a glowing performance as you enjoy a merry feast to welcome the new year.

Celebrate in Langkawi

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A special visitor in Costa Rica

Can you blame St. Nick for soaking up a little sun before making the trek back to the North Pole? This year, join the man in red himself – plus the jolliest bunch of elves and even a grinch – at Santa’s Annual Beach Party at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica. In addition to the unforgettable Christmas Day bash, the family-friendly Resort offers a variety of activities and events throughout the festive season. Experience the flavours of a Latin American asado at Nemare, or immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture while picking up gifts at the Papagayo Street Fair. Want to explore even further? Set out on a journey into the Nicoya Peninsula – Costa Rica’s famed blue zone, one of only five places in the world where residents live exceptionally long, healthy lives – and visit traditional villages to experience the country from a local perspective. Families will also find plenty of adventure close by, with zip-lining, surfing, night hikes, coral snorkelling and loads of water sports available in and around the Resort grounds.

Plan your visit to Costa Rica

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Holiday magic in Paris

The City of Lights exudes charm year round, but during the festive season it becomes even more enchanting. Make the most of this special time with help from the experts at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, where the concierge team can tailor an itinerary of unforgettable experiences. Glide across the ice at a skating rink overlooking landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Hotel de Ville, or stroll through picturesque Christmas markets. You’ll be dazzled by Parisian traditions like the fantastical scenes filling les vitrines de Noel – elaborately decorated windows at the city’s iconic department stores. Our favourite? The can’t-miss display at Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche. As for the Hotel itself, thanks to Artistic Director Jeff Leatham’s breathtaking holiday decorations, you’ll feel as though it’s been transformed into your own personal vitrine de Noel. Lose yourself in the vibrant hues and intricately crafted compositions adorning the Hotel’s common areas and celebrated Marble Courtyard. Take a seat for Executive Pastry Chef Michael Bartocetti’s Signature Tea Time at Le Cinq on December 17, or enjoy an immersive holiday dinner at one of the Hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurants. The entire month of December will be filled with glittering events combining some of the world’s finest gastronomy with all the magic of the season.

Spend the season in Paris

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Traditions with a twist in Boston

Many families celebrate the holidays with their own time-honoured traditions – a comforting meal, treasured decorations, special activities. Start a new family tradition at Four Seasons Hotel Boston, where the new Very Important Kid Package will delight young guests (and their parents) with an in-room enchanted tent setup, a personalized amenity and a Hotel scavenger hunt. In addition to the magical accommodations, you’ll find festive surprises throughout the Hotel, such as themed vaults and mystery closets for kids to explore, along with seasonal coffee specials at Sottovento that adults will love. Our favourite this year is the Boston Fog, a creamy tea latte made with a blend similar to the tea tossed into the Boston Harbor in 1773, served in honour of the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. Have the Coffee Concierge deliver it to your room in the morning before you head out to explore the city’s historic sites or do some holiday shopping.

Festive toasts in Boston

Panoramic View Of Old Town And Temple Of Tyn In Prague.

Handcrafted gifts in Prague

In wintertime, it’s easy to see Prague’s hilltop castle, narrow cobbled streets and towering spires as a setting straight from a fairy tale. Experience the city’s old-world charm during a stay at Four Seasons Hotel Prague, where the attentive concierge team is eager to share local traditions, ensuring you don’t miss any hidden gems. Browse the traditional Christmas market stalls in nearby Old Town Square for handcrafted ceramics, jewellery, wooden toys, clothing and seasonal treats, then stay a little longer to hear choirs singing carols in the late afternoon. Grab a warm cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate from one of the stalls to make this outdoor shopping experience all the sweeter. Afterwards, climb the stairs of Old Town Bridge Tower and take in the twilight scene of twinkling lights – a picture-perfect holiday moment.

A winter wonderland in Prague

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Langkawi Beaches

Redefining Extraordinary

In a world increasingly filled with automated everything, what truly connects us isn’t technology – it’s a sense of belonging. To us, that’s true luxury, and it’s also what sets Four Seasons apart: making you feel welcome with authentic interactions and an abundance of heartfelt generosity. These moments shared by staff and guests are genuine and intentional, and since they’re tailored to individual tastes, they’re also the best-remembered souvenirs.

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Four Seasons team members have a passion for building genuine connections.

Where exceptional is the rule

Extraordinary isn’t just about what you do; it’s how you do it. And at Four Seasons, the extraordinary always begins with heart. That extends to the one-of-a-kind experiences that are designed to connect you with the most captivating people and places around the globe.

Starstruck in Cap-Ferrat

There may be no better place to stargaze than the dark, starry skies along the tip of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula in the French Riviera, and the Grand-Hôtel du-Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel makes this already magical experience even more extraordinary. Its Conversation With the Stars, customizable for either a couple or a family, brings the sparkling night sky closer with a night of stargazing and Michelin-star dining served under – you guessed it – the stars. You’ll join famed planetary scientist and astrophysicist Dr Patrick Michel, best known for his study of asteroids, for a talk about the stars and planets. Afterwards, you’ll be served an out-of-this-world dinner prepared by Executive Chef Yoric Tièche of Michelin-starred Le Cap. Seasonally and locally sourced and inspired, the menu may include dishes such as Mediterranean red mullet fillet with marinated squid and tomatoes with flavours of aioli; and chocolate soufflé, served cannoli-style, with vanilla olive oil.

Count the stars in Cap-Ferrat

Getting into the ring in Koh Samui

For challenging cultural immersion, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui invites you to step into the on-site Thai boxing ring with one of the country’s top pros to learn some of the key moves of a centuries-old martial arts form. Muay Thai kick-boxing is known as the “Art of Eight Limbs” for its physically demanding, full-body approach – which is why the second part of the Resort’s Muay Thai Adventure takes place at the Spa. The Muay Thai Recovery treatment soothes sore muscles with an herbal steam and cool-water leg message, followed by a full-body massage with black pepper, clove and essential oils. When you’re well rested, you’ll head to nearby Chaweng Boxing Stadium, where you’ll join your instructor to watch a professional Muay Thai match from the VIP section.

Learn Muay Thai in Koh Samui

Spontaneous and surprising

Sometimes the most extraordinary experiences aren’t originally part of the plan; rather, they’re arranged specifically for a guest when a staff member has paid close attention to their comments and interests. It’s all part of the Four Seasons heartfelt approach to making everyone feel at home.

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Four Seasons knows how to go big and how to bring it in close, with thoughtful activities for guests of all ages.

A butterfly surprise

When a guest relations officer at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay learned of three young guests’ fascination with butterflies, she knew exactly what to do – hold a butterfly hunt. She hand-folded more than 50 butterflies out of various colours of origami paper and scattered them around Sundara, the Resort’s seafood barbecue restaurant. The sisters – ages 3, 4 and 6 – were given baskets, butterfly-catching wings, wands and headbands, and then sent off on their hunt. Afterwards, everyone was all smiles. By paying attention to what the girls were interested in and bringing it to life in a creative way, the guest relations officer made a real connection with the whole family – and gave them a gift to remember for years to come.

Follow your joy in Bali

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The team at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is always looking for special ways to surprise guests.

A Concierge connection

Luis Medeiros, Concierge at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, is known for his warm and welcoming personality as well as being a keen listener. So when a VIP guest mentioned in passing that she’d once lived in Costa Rica on a coffee farm as an exchange student in the 1980s, he decided to find her host family as a surprise. Luckily, the Monteverde region is quite small, and it didn’t take much digging for Medeiros to connect the dots – and the people.

He shared the news with the guest, and then arranged the three-hour drive for the emotional reunion. She was thrilled that he had taken the initiative.

“Actively listening to our guests is the most important interaction we can have,” says Medeiros. “I like to read between the lines to truly understand the meaning of the messages that they are trying to convey.”

Reconnect in Costa Rica

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Experience the extraordinary with us.

Bali at Jimbaran Bay

A Day in the Life: Living in Costa Rica with Four Seasons

What makes a place feel like home? For many, it’s a sense of ease, comfort and joy. At Four Seasons Private Residences Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, it’s David Mendez’s job to make sure every resident feels that from the moment they arrive. We asked Mendez to give us a glimpse into this unique homeownership experience from his insider’s point of view.

As the Director of Residences, what is a typical day like for you?

It’s all about connection. My day starts by connecting with the team to talk about who is arriving that day, reviewing the itineraries of the residents who are already on property to see what they might need and, of course, making sure that every home is kept in tip-top shape. And then the most important part is connecting with our residents. Whether it’s arranging the room towels in a fun shape for families arriving with kids or preparing a cake, flowers and balloons for someone who is here celebrating a birthday, we want every single resident to feel love and recognition as soon as they arrive.

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Tell us about the relationship you and your team have with your residents.

Most of our owners come to the property in vacation mode, so we really begin cultivating each relationship during the pre-arrival process, where we talk about everything about their upcoming stay and how we can make it special for them. We always remember any preference or detail they’ve shared during previous visits so we can make sure they feel at home. It’s truly a joy to have them back, and we want them to know and feel that.

Our owners do like to be seen and recognized in public areas, so we never miss the chance to say hello. Some of our owners have been around long enough to see our team members grow within the organization and, in turn, some team members have watched our owners’ children grow up, so there are often close, long-lasting relationships that are built over the years. There’s a strong sense of community here on Peninsula Papagayo that can be felt everywhere.

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Four Seasons is known for its exceptional and intuitive service. What does that look and feel like for homeowners, and how does it differ from your typical luxury real estate experience?

At Four Seasons, it feels like family. Like the comfort and trust of returning to a place that knows who you are, knows your family members and knows your preferences. It’s being greeted by a familiar face, with the feeling that you are living in a community that genuinely wants you to have a great time. We always aim to go above and beyond.

For example, we had one owner who was very excited about his grandson’s first visit. Before he arrived, we had a child’s bathrobe embroidered with the baby’s name on it. We also included a welcome amenity with a note saying ‘Welcome to the world, and your new house.’ Sometimes it’s more intimate gestures like this, but other times, we like to go big. My team is often seen driving down the street with colourful balloons flying from the golf cart to lead a special birthday parade.

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What makes this Costa Rica property so unique?

For starters, our location in Prieta Bay on Peninsula Papagayo is simply mesmerizing, with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, magical sunsets and an unparalleled closeness to nature. But beyond the beautiful landscape, it’s the community of people that really make this place unique. Costa Rica was recognized a few years ago as the happiest country in the world – this ties back to a phrase we have here: pura vida [the happy life]. My team and I are proud ambassadors of the pura vida lifestyle, which for us, means we genuinely care about the well-being of our residents and do everything we can to make sure they feel that.

Given the location on Costa Rica’s idyllic Peninsula Papagayo, how does Four Seasons incorporate sustainability into both the residences themselves and the lifestyle that owners are buying into?

We also give residents the ability to join activities that support social responsibility, like supporting local schools and adopting families through the Creciendo Juntos outreach program, or other initiatives where our residents can help with coral gardening. Overall, our residents love the proximity to nature and wildlife. Some of the owners have really invested their time learning about the local wildlife and get really excited about it!

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What do you think is the biggest draw for residents, and what do they find most valuable about living here?

Our homeowners love the proximity to nature, but what they truly value most is the carefree ownership, the overall access to services from the Resort, the feeling of not having to worry about the day-to-day details of your home and the certainty that there is a team of professionals tending your needs while you’re here. They also value being part of an exclusive community that is supporting and taking care of all aspects of their home, allowing them to fully embody the pura vida lifestyle.

See what it means to live with Four Seasons

Inspired Design: Go Inside Our Reimagined Costa Rica Resort

Set on the stunning north Pacific coast, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo has become a magnet for nature lovers who like their pura vida with a side of architectural finesse. For 2018, the contemporary oceanfront property has been refreshed from top to bottom with interiors from renowned design studio Meyer Davis. We spoke to the company’s Co-Principal Will Meyer on creating the property’s luxurious yet dressed-down ambience.

Explore the images below to uncover all the behind-the-scenes details.

“It’s very important to send the message to guests that it’s OK to hang your hat, to not wear shoes here, to relax,” says Meyer. “We wanted the design to convey the notion of comfort with a casual and natural sensibility.” The result: an integration of the Resort’s signature indoor-outdoor spaces with the peninsula’s vibrant tropical landscape.  

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