Multi-generational travel remains a top luxury travel trend in 2019 – driven by family members who are living farther apart and the desire to spend more quality time together.
Grandparents, parents and young children are travelling together for once-in-a-lifetime adventures. In fact, 80% of Four Seasons guests say travel plays a vital role in how they raise their children.
A newer trend is “skip-generation travel,” where grandparents are taking their grandchildren on unforgettable holidays, leaving the parents behind. The focus is on spending more time together to create closer bonds, while at the same, ensuring that kids are stimulated and engaged.
At Four Seasons, we’re staying on top of family travel trends with inspiring ideas – whether a Miami beach vacation at The Surf Club, a ski holiday in the French Alps in Megève, urban exploring in Abu Dhabi, or an enlightening Thai adventure in Chiang Mai and Koh Samui.
One of the world’s most exclusive ski destinations – and a prime destination for families – the town of Megève is nestled in the north of the French Alps, just an hour’s drive from the Geneva airport.
The rise of Megève began in 1920 when Noémie de Rothschild – spouse of Baron Maurice de Rothschild – discovered the town and fell in love with its traditional chalets, breathtaking mountain views and brilliant Alpine sunshine. The traditions of the Rothschild family continue today with a wide array of outdoor activities and exceptional cuisine in two Four Seasons hotels.
Launched in 2017, Four Seasons Hotel Megève is a modern chalet featuring 55 guest rooms and suites, as well as three restaurants and lounges and complete facilities for winter fun.
Opening in December 2019 is a second Megève property, Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, Megève, A Four Seasons Hotel, with a history dating back to 1927. Designed in classic Alpine style, this intimate retreat features three chalets and 41 guest rooms and suites. One of the three buildings, Chalet Alice, may be privatized to provide an exclusive home base for up to 22 people – perfect for multi-gen families – including its own kitchen, dining room and lounge.
Together the two properties create a multi-faceted destination for family travel this winter – including festive season. There are so many ways to experience Megève!
The masterful Four Seasons team takes care of every member of the family – from children to seniors – giving each person a customized holiday, while helping everyone reconnect and create new memories together.
Carrying on the tradition of bringing families together in Florida, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is situated in the charming town of Surfside – a secluded slice of paradise in the northern Miami Beaches.
Opened as a hotel in 2017, The Surf Club has already received tremendous acclaim. In February 2019, US Travel News named The Surf Club one of the top three hotels across the country, as well as the #1 hotel in Miami Beach and the #1 hotel in Florida. In October 2019, The Surf Club won the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Award as the #1 Hotel in Florida and the #3 Hotel in the USA.
With an illustrious history dating back to 1930, The Surf Club has entertained countless celebrities, including Gary Cooper, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill – all captured in a series of classic vacation photographs.
Now Four Seasons guests can be part of the legend with a glamorous family photo shoot in classic style – even including the option of vintage clothing. The Iconic Moments package includes a two-night stay and a two-hour photo shoot with a professional photographer. Guests can pose in some of the hotel’s most iconic settings, such as Peacock Alley, the Champagne Bar and Cabana Row.
Blending the historic clubhouse with sleek modern accommodations, The Surf Club includes 77 guest rooms, as well as 26 suites that are part of the Four Seasons Private Retreats collection. The largest, most exclusive option is the Marybelle Penthouse Suite, designed on three levels – with three or four bedrooms, expansive living areas, a gourmet kitchen and a private rooftop pool and terrace. Discover the advantages of the Suite Indulgence Package.
For dining, The Surf Club also excels with six different venues, including Le Sirenuse Miami, a Michelin-starred restaurant concept from Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller, the Michelin-starred chef known for The French Laundry in Napa Valley. Complimentary meals are provided for children under five.
The Surf Club offers a wide range of amenities and activities to welcome multi-generational families:
With so many fun and original activities, The Surf Club promises the ideal family vacation in Florida this winter.
Create a once-in-a-lifetime Thai adventure for your clients at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui or Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai – or both! These resorts combine unforgettable cultural experiences with palatial residences that work perfectly for multi-gen families.
IN THAILAND’S CULTURAL CAPITAL OF CHIANG MAI
Guests can live life in balance at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, a must-see destination in Northern Thailand, nestled amid lush paddies and misty mountain tops. Families can learn the skills of rice planting while working alongside a farmer in the rice paddy. They can visit Doi Inthanon, home to Thailand’s highest mountain peak, or explore the country’s art and craft route with a personal guide. The Resort also offers a variety of enriching, fun and safe experiences for children, including a dedicated Kids for All Seasons program. For parents, there’s a legendary Spa and a Cooking Academy specializing in Thai and wellbeing menus.
To provide a home away from home, there’s a choice of ultra-luxurious Family Residences, Resort Residences and split-level Residence Villas. Including up to four bedrooms, these formal homes include living and dining areas, lavish gardens and private pools – creating multiple spaces where guests can share time together and enjoy private dining experiences.
The recently launched Private Retreats Weekly Stay offer includes a special rate for stays of seven nights or more, round-trip airport transfers, a live-in butler, evening canapes at the residence, buffet breakfast for two adults per room, a welcome bottle of wine, and 10 percent savings on laundry service.
IN THE EXOTIC ISLAND HIDEAWAY OF KOH SAMUI
Give your clients an unforgettable beach holiday at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, an island escape off Thailand’s east coast – just 45 minutes by air from Bangkok. This intimate all-villa Resort spills down a hillside of coconut palms to a private beach cove on the Gulf of Thailand. Guests can laze all day on a hammock or relax in the Spa – but there’s also so much to do! They can take a day trip to Anthong National Park for snorkelling and scuba diving, or choose from a series of well-designed activities for both teenagers and young children, including Thai kick boxing, a coral conservation project, and more.
For total comfort, the Resort offers a collection of Residence Villas – located just a few steps from the sea or perched in exclusive hillside locations. With one to five bedrooms, these are complete private homes with a kitchenette, extensive outdoor areas for living and dining, and a large infinity pool. Guests enjoy an enhanced level of Four Seasons care thanks to a live-in mae baan (housekeeper), discreetly tending to every need, while the Resort's team of chefs create personalized in-residence dining experiences.
Guests can enjoy an exclusive weekly rate with the Private Retreats Weekly Stay, when staying seven or more nights.
MORE OPTIONS IN THAILAND
To experience Thailand’s exotic bamboo jungles, Four Seasons Resort Golden Triangle offers all-inclusive two- or three-night adventures for active adults, covering every detail – from connecting with an elephant to riverside drinks in the stilt-top bar.
Scheduled to open later in 2019, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River will provide an urban sanctuary with dramatic gardens, cascading waterfalls and mirror pools. It’s a great spot to start or finish any trip to Thailand.
Inspire your clients to visit Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Just an hour from Dubai, the city has a calmer, more comfortable atmosphere. There’s a strong family focus throughout the city – and it’s evident at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island. Light, airy and modern, this chic water’s edge hotel offers an array of family-friendly services and amenities, as well as spacious guest rooms and suites – flexible for multiple generations.
Adults love the six options for dining and the Dahlia Spa, while children love the outdoor pool and the Kids For All Seasons program. The whole stay can be planned with a personalized itinerary from Guest Relations Manager Fabienne Krug. “I recommend a three- or four-day family trip,” says Fabienne. “That’s the perfect amount of time to see and do it all – from one of the world’s fastest roller coasters to breathtaking beach escapes.”
Here are Fabienne’s top five favourite spots for multi-gen families:
Four Seasons will ensure that a family vacation in Abu Dhabi is filled with laughter, smiles and learning.
