After a rewarding but intense week soaking in Egypt's 5,000 years, I was in need of some serious down time and a very different kind of immersion. Some Four Seasons spa experiences seemed just what I needed!
First, to Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, a desert palace on the Red Sea, where I opted for the Cleopatra Treatment. Soon I was submerged in the milky warm waters of the big-enough-for-two, terrazzo-tiled bath, to which honey and the essential oil of rosemary had been added to soothe and soften my skin. Basking in the glow of flickering candles and the fragrance of fresh rose petals, I dreamily contemplated the pleasures of living like a queen.
Entering Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, I was struck by its tranquil, unhurried feel, such a counterpoint to the city outside. The calm was reinforced as my Papyrus Wrap began. Following an ancient Egyptian purifying ritual, I was lightly covered from top to toe in a pleasurably warm, aromatic balm of mint and honey, then wrapped in papyrus. Body thus cosily cocooned, my mind drifted while I was given first a facial, then a head massage. After rinsing in soft water fragrant with lemon slices and rose petals, my therapist began a full-body massage. I floated away into reverie, the exotic essence of lotus capping all that had come before.
Across the Nile, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza is a lively city hotel yet surprisingly resort-like, especially the fifth level, where spa and fitness merge with a rooftop terrace of heated pools and private cabanas. I had booked a Pharaonic massage – perfect after my return, laden with the bounty of a morning's excursion to the bazaar. My therapist dipped an aromatic poultice filled with fresh chamomile and mint into warm essential oils, then firmly applied it to my overworked muscles. Soon I was ready for my Swedish massage. Afterwards, I lazed on a soft cotton daybed and gazed out to the Nile.
For my next Egyptian voyage, I'm looking forward to visiting the two-storey spa in Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, which has recently opened. I've learned that the treatments there have been inspired by the Mediterranean and there are both sunlit and candlelit treatment rooms. Can a spa inspire an entire journey? In my case -- most definitely!
Four information or reservations:
Call your travel consultant
Contact Four Seasons
Call the hotels directly
Visit the web site
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Near the manor born: eating "local" in the English countryside
"Eat local." It's a delicious idea and there's a bushel of reasons why: the food's fresher and more flavourful; you can give back to your community's economy; and you can be kind to the environment, since less energy is required to transport the food. But for on-the-go city dwellers, the reality of eating local often means grabbing a street dog between meetings or a pizza slice on the way home.
Imagine taking a holiday from processed food of unknown origin and truly living off the land. Now there is a place you could savour gooey cheeses, crisp salad leaves and tender pork sourced less than 50 miles from your plate. On the rolling estate of Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, just an hour from London, eating local is a culinary way of life.
In the village of Mapledurwell, just seven miles away, verdant watercress fills the fields — and eventually your bowl, in the Hotel's signature Watercress Soup. Double-cream butter is churned specially for Four Seasons a mere 46 miles away. And as for rich meats, beef and lamb are raised on the property itself; it doesn't get much more local than that.
The celebrated Seasons restaurant has even created a Farmers' Market Brunch to showcase the most delectable local produce. The meal's ingredients — from the eggs to the marmalade — have travelled a total of no more than 500 miles to reach the Hotel's kitchen, a short trip compared to the 35,000 miles logged by the average Sunday lunch in the UK.
So if you're salivating for a taste of what "home cooking" really means, take a peek at all that Seasons has to offer.
Seasons
Seasons offers inspired menu selections and a thoughtfully chosen wine list of popular vintages. This elegant restaurant features a French/European menu, executed with contemporary style and complemented by outstanding service. The interior design takes full advantage of the abundant natural daylight cascading through the French windows, which frame the beautiful grounds of Dogmersfield Park. An outdoor terrace is also available seasonally for breakfast and lunch. Seats 100.
Seasons benefits from an adjacent private dining room. Seasons Salon Privé is an ideal location for groups or parties of up to 24. Menus can be individually catered for each event, and à la carte restaurant menus are also available.
Imagine taking a holiday from processed food of unknown origin and truly living off the land. Now there is a place you could savour gooey cheeses, crisp salad leaves and tender pork sourced less than 50 miles from your plate. On the rolling estate of Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, just an hour from London, eating local is a culinary way of life.
In the village of Mapledurwell, just seven miles away, verdant watercress fills the fields — and eventually your bowl, in the Hotel's signature Watercress Soup. Double-cream butter is churned specially for Four Seasons a mere 46 miles away. And as for rich meats, beef and lamb are raised on the property itself; it doesn't get much more local than that.
The celebrated Seasons restaurant has even created a Farmers' Market Brunch to showcase the most delectable local produce. The meal's ingredients — from the eggs to the marmalade — have travelled a total of no more than 500 miles to reach the Hotel's kitchen, a short trip compared to the 35,000 miles logged by the average Sunday lunch in the UK.
So if you're salivating for a taste of what "home cooking" really means, take a peek at all that Seasons has to offer.
Seasons
Seasons offers inspired menu selections and a thoughtfully chosen wine list of popular vintages. This elegant restaurant features a French/European menu, executed with contemporary style and complemented by outstanding service. The interior design takes full advantage of the abundant natural daylight cascading through the French windows, which frame the beautiful grounds of Dogmersfield Park. An outdoor terrace is also available seasonally for breakfast and lunch. Seats 100.
Seasons benefits from an adjacent private dining room. Seasons Salon Privé is an ideal location for groups or parties of up to 24. Menus can be individually catered for each event, and à la carte restaurant menus are also available.
Four new Four Season hotels invite you to explore the world
Four Seasons continues to bring you the world's most exceptional destinations with new hotels opening through 2008. These four new properties are now accepting reservations.
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
One of the world's truly legendary destinations - wrapped in Polynesian myth and South Seas allure - Bora Bora is home to a new Four Seasons on its own private motu (sandbar). Exotic over-water bungalows and beach front villas with private pools are surrounded by an azure lagoon. Explore one of the world's top snorkelling spots. Surrender to a pineapple and coconut body treatment. Or simply stroll a beach of powdery white sand. From lagoon-side fire dances to dining under velvet starry skies, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora introduces the magical touches of Four Seasons to French Polynesia.
Florence
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Italy
In the historic heart of Florence, a Medici-era palazzo meets contemporary Italian spirit within Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. A few minutes walk from Michelangelo's David, this carefully restored Tuscan residence combines warmth and tradition with stylish comforts, wrapped in the quiet of a centuries-old walled private garden. Original frescoes grace many guest suites, so it feels like one is staying in a beautiful Renaissance museum. Four Seasons is the perfect haven for an Italian getaway, whether focused on the art and beauty of Florence or the scenic and culinary pleasures of the Tuscan countryside.
Istanbul at the Bosphorus
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus
On the European bank of the Bosphorus, the second Four Seasons hotel in Istanbul opens to refreshing sea breezes and ever-changing waterfront vistas. Within a reinvented 19th-century Ottoman Palace, the Hotel is airy and fresh. Resort-like amenities include a quayside pool and a spa that honours Near East tradition, drawing inspiration from the Turkish hammam. There are separate men's and women's hammams and a skylit indoor pool.
A convenient 15-minute shuttle, by boat and taxi, connects the new Bosphorus hotel to Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, which is surrounded by the main sights in the city's historic core.
Together, the two hotels offer the perfect combination to experience Istanbul, backed with the service and knowledge of Four Seasons at the ready.
Mauritius at Anahita
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
A private natural sanctuary, blanketed in green and punctuated by mountains: that's the pristine island setting for Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita. A stylish retreat beside an incandescent blue lagoon, every moment there will inspire a sense of connection with nature – from verandah living in expansive guest villas to the panoramic ocean-front finish on the Ernie Els signature golf course. Then there's the hedonistic seclusion you'll experience in the beautiful over-water spa. It's no wonder this island was once called the inspiration for heaven!
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
One of the world's truly legendary destinations - wrapped in Polynesian myth and South Seas allure - Bora Bora is home to a new Four Seasons on its own private motu (sandbar). Exotic over-water bungalows and beach front villas with private pools are surrounded by an azure lagoon. Explore one of the world's top snorkelling spots. Surrender to a pineapple and coconut body treatment. Or simply stroll a beach of powdery white sand. From lagoon-side fire dances to dining under velvet starry skies, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora introduces the magical touches of Four Seasons to French Polynesia.
Florence
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Italy
In the historic heart of Florence, a Medici-era palazzo meets contemporary Italian spirit within Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. A few minutes walk from Michelangelo's David, this carefully restored Tuscan residence combines warmth and tradition with stylish comforts, wrapped in the quiet of a centuries-old walled private garden. Original frescoes grace many guest suites, so it feels like one is staying in a beautiful Renaissance museum. Four Seasons is the perfect haven for an Italian getaway, whether focused on the art and beauty of Florence or the scenic and culinary pleasures of the Tuscan countryside.
Istanbul at the Bosphorus
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus
On the European bank of the Bosphorus, the second Four Seasons hotel in Istanbul opens to refreshing sea breezes and ever-changing waterfront vistas. Within a reinvented 19th-century Ottoman Palace, the Hotel is airy and fresh. Resort-like amenities include a quayside pool and a spa that honours Near East tradition, drawing inspiration from the Turkish hammam. There are separate men's and women's hammams and a skylit indoor pool.
A convenient 15-minute shuttle, by boat and taxi, connects the new Bosphorus hotel to Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, which is surrounded by the main sights in the city's historic core.
Together, the two hotels offer the perfect combination to experience Istanbul, backed with the service and knowledge of Four Seasons at the ready.
Mauritius at Anahita
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
A private natural sanctuary, blanketed in green and punctuated by mountains: that's the pristine island setting for Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita. A stylish retreat beside an incandescent blue lagoon, every moment there will inspire a sense of connection with nature – from verandah living in expansive guest villas to the panoramic ocean-front finish on the Ernie Els signature golf course. Then there's the hedonistic seclusion you'll experience in the beautiful over-water spa. It's no wonder this island was once called the inspiration for heaven!
Four Seasons Hotels Now Open: St. Louis & Mumbai
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
On the banks of the Mississippi, the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis rises 19 storeys above one of the Midwest's most vibrant entertainment districts. Defined by a ribbon of light wrapped around the building, the strikingly modern Hotel is well located near the central business district.
From your room, you will enjoy 180-degree views of the iconic Gateway Arch, the skyline, and the Mississippi River. The Hotel's business centre offers 24-hour service and the spa is bright and large, with the city's most comprehensive menu of treatments.
For reservations or more information:
Call your travel consultant
Contact Four Seasons
Call the Hotel directly at 1 (314) 881-5800
Visit the Hotel's web site
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Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
Four Seasons first in India, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai invites you to experience this Indian capital in a way not previously possible. From your extra-large guest room, you'll have a bird's-eye view of the Arabian Sea or the fascinating city skyline. Following a Bellini aperitif or glass of Prosecco at the bar, savour modern Italian dishes at Prato. Escape to the spa, where traditional Indian philosophies of wellness have been combined with Western rituals of healing and rejuvenation.
From the moment you are met at the airport by the sleek Four Seasons limousine, you can expect the exceptional comfort and thoughtful service of Four Seasons to elevate your Mumbai experience.
For reservations or more information:
Call your travel consultant
Contact Four Seasons
Call the Hotel directly at +91 (22) 2281 8000
Visit the Hotel's web site
On the banks of the Mississippi, the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis rises 19 storeys above one of the Midwest's most vibrant entertainment districts. Defined by a ribbon of light wrapped around the building, the strikingly modern Hotel is well located near the central business district.
From your room, you will enjoy 180-degree views of the iconic Gateway Arch, the skyline, and the Mississippi River. The Hotel's business centre offers 24-hour service and the spa is bright and large, with the city's most comprehensive menu of treatments.
For reservations or more information:
Call your travel consultant
Contact Four Seasons
Call the Hotel directly at 1 (314) 881-5800
Visit the Hotel's web site
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Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
Four Seasons first in India, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai invites you to experience this Indian capital in a way not previously possible. From your extra-large guest room, you'll have a bird's-eye view of the Arabian Sea or the fascinating city skyline. Following a Bellini aperitif or glass of Prosecco at the bar, savour modern Italian dishes at Prato. Escape to the spa, where traditional Indian philosophies of wellness have been combined with Western rituals of healing and rejuvenation.
From the moment you are met at the airport by the sleek Four Seasons limousine, you can expect the exceptional comfort and thoughtful service of Four Seasons to elevate your Mumbai experience.
For reservations or more information:
Call your travel consultant
Contact Four Seasons
Call the Hotel directly at +91 (22) 2281 8000
Visit the Hotel's web site
Tee off by the Indian Ocean
Although Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita won't open until midyear, you can already hit the links at the new championship Four Seasons Golf Course on the Indian Ocean island.
Designed by Ernie Els, one of the world's top players, the 18-hole, par-72 course is set against green mountains and a crystal-clear turquoise lagoon, concluding with six oceanside holes. The finish is among the most beautiful of any course on the Indian Ocean.
"You have spectacular rocky outcroppings, large native trees and jaw-dropping views of the mountains and ocean," Els said.
The course's wide fairways and five sets of tees make it inviting to golfers of all skill levels.
Four Seasons Golf Academy, which is connected to the course, can help you improve all aspects of your game, and a studio makes detailed video and computer swing analysis possible.
You also can warm up in the practice areas which include a large driving range and chipping greens.
Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius at Anahita
Designed by Ernie Els, Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius at Anahita is a 7,580-yard, 18-hole, par-72 championship course with large fairways and five sets of tees. Six stunning oceanfront holes culminate in a final shot that is among the most spectacular in the world.
Built to USGA standards, it is the first of its kind in Mauritius. Carefully woven into the tropical sanctuary, the course is set against lush mountains and fringed by the vast crystal-clear lagoon.
The Golf Academy offers instruction and private lessons, and the Clubhouse is equipped to enhance any golfer's game. The club also features a driving range, putting green and Pro Shop. Tee times are from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm daily. One-hour golf clinics are offered daily on a complimentary basis to Resort guests.
Four Seasons Magic Macau
There's an intoxicating mix of colour, texture, and taste throughout Macau, the tiny former Portuguese colony, which has been a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China since 1999.
Along the noisy, narrow cobblestone streets of the old town, shop owners call out to you to sample their offerings of barbecued pork, peanut candy and flaky flour biscuits filled with bean paste. Street stalls hawk everything from clothes to fruits to local snacks. Modern boutiques and antique shops sit cheek by jowl with incense-filled temples and 19th-century churches.
In 2005, The Historic Centre of Macau was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Charming examples of colonial Macanese architecture, in fairytale colours of pink, blue, green and yellow, trimmed in white, can be found in many places. Portuguese street names, uttered in Cantonese accents, delight the ear.
The cuisine is a delicious blend of traditional Portuguese and Chinese, centering on fresh seafood. The legendary egg tarts are a must - crisp, custardy and warm from the oven - making it impossible to stop at just one.
Macau also has an up-to-date, stylish side. Reclaimed from the sea between the two islands of Colôane and Taipa, the Cotai Strip is quickly becoming the Las Vegas of the East. A kaleidoscope of hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues, it will be one of the world's great playgrounds in the future.
In the midst of this, forming the perfect complement, lies the intimate Four Seasons Hotel Macao at The Cotai Strip, set to open in mid-2008, dressed in discreet neoclassical elegance. The Hotel offers guests easy access to the best of the Cotai Strip: upscale shopping, gaming, dining and entertainment, yet quiet and removed. Once inside, you can unwind at the Hotel's spa or take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool. Then, perhaps, visit Bar Azul for a glass of wine before dinner and an evening in your stylish room.
Along the noisy, narrow cobblestone streets of the old town, shop owners call out to you to sample their offerings of barbecued pork, peanut candy and flaky flour biscuits filled with bean paste. Street stalls hawk everything from clothes to fruits to local snacks. Modern boutiques and antique shops sit cheek by jowl with incense-filled temples and 19th-century churches.
In 2005, The Historic Centre of Macau was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Charming examples of colonial Macanese architecture, in fairytale colours of pink, blue, green and yellow, trimmed in white, can be found in many places. Portuguese street names, uttered in Cantonese accents, delight the ear.
The cuisine is a delicious blend of traditional Portuguese and Chinese, centering on fresh seafood. The legendary egg tarts are a must - crisp, custardy and warm from the oven - making it impossible to stop at just one.
Macau also has an up-to-date, stylish side. Reclaimed from the sea between the two islands of Colôane and Taipa, the Cotai Strip is quickly becoming the Las Vegas of the East. A kaleidoscope of hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues, it will be one of the world's great playgrounds in the future.
In the midst of this, forming the perfect complement, lies the intimate Four Seasons Hotel Macao at The Cotai Strip, set to open in mid-2008, dressed in discreet neoclassical elegance. The Hotel offers guests easy access to the best of the Cotai Strip: upscale shopping, gaming, dining and entertainment, yet quiet and removed. Once inside, you can unwind at the Hotel's spa or take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool. Then, perhaps, visit Bar Azul for a glass of wine before dinner and an evening in your stylish room.
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