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With amazing Ritz-Carlton service, the perfect San Francisco location, wonderful wine at the JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset Tasting Lounge, the splendid Spa L’OCCITANE, and delicious culinary experiences courtesy of Parallel 37, this stately five-star hotel is an urban oasis in the heart of San Francisco. Continue reading
Stay Like a Rock Star at Famed Seattle Edgewater Hotel’s New Pearl Jam Suite
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The Vintners’ Vision : The Burbank Ranch Estate Vineyard and Winery
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Endless Summer at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
Travel Timepieces
Most elite travelers take a great deal of care when planning vacations, from exclusive itineraries that elevate the experience to elegant modes of travel like yachts and private jets that afford the ultimate in luxury and privacy. The same amount of care should be taken when choosing a timepiece to accompany you on your journey. Continue reading
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Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, California
For many an Angelino, a quick trip away from the hustle and bustle of the city usually means hitting the beach. But for those in the know, a historic property 35 miles south of Santa Barbara is the perfect spot for a pleasing respite. Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California, has long been the go-to vacation spot for the Hollywood elite, from Clark Gable to Renée Zellwegger.
The expansive property sits at the base of the TopaTopa Mountains. One can’t help but admire the profusion of lavender and other fragrant wildflowers. It makes you feel as if you’re in the Mediterranean. The Spanish-style main building houses 308 rooms and suites, all with large, carpeted sleeping and sitting areas and stone-floored, salmon-colored bathrooms, some with tubs that open onto the bedroom. Step out onto the patio and you immediately get a sense of peace just by breathing in the clean air.
The grounds are at once immaculate and wild. The par-70 golf course is admittedly well manicured but the greens use the natural undulating hills to challenging affect. The herb garden pergola is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or just relax with a great book. The resort has a number of areas at which to rest.
If you do decide to do something more strenuous, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa has a number of activity options. The two pools offer exercise and dining al fresco. Opt for the Herb Garden Pool. The adult-only spot features covered cabanas and hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Rent a bike and head to town on the paved bike path. The tennis facilities are exemplary and if you need a hitting partner, the staff pro will happily comply.
But let’s face it, you’ve come here for the spa and it doesn’t disappoint. Choose from an array of body treatments, water therapies, facials and innovative massages, all performed with expertise and a smile. The spa has a sizable aqua lounge with a sauna, steam room and hot tub. You may never want to leave.
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Inside Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Christopher Parr: In my recent interview with Isadore Sharp (Founder and Chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts), he called out Orlando as one of the most exciting new Four Seasons properties. How is this destination unique to Orlando and the Disney experience?
Thomas Steinhauer: Four Seasons is in a gated residential community called Golden Oak. While it’s on Disney property, it’s also situated in a unique location that, while close to it all, it’s far enough away to escape. We are surrounded by trees and lakes, and most of our guestroom floors offer amazing views. Our location offers the best of both worlds—convenience to all of the Disney parks, and also, the feeling that you are away from it all. We offer a Disney experience by having our Disney Planning Center on site in the lobby, and also, a character breakfast in our restaurant, Ravello. We have the luxury of giving guests as much or as little Disney experiences as they would like.
CP: On the size of scale, how big of a property is it — and how many rooms?
TS: We are on 23-acres (not including the golf course). Four Seasons Resort Orlando is a 17-story building, with 444 guestrooms (323 king beds/ 121 double beds/ 68 suites).
Concept: Four Seasons Orlando Walt Disney World Resort
CP: Let’s talk amenities. For guests staying at the resort, what does the resort offer onsite?
TS: Our guestrooms are the largest in Orlando. They all offer spacious furnished balconies, and every one of our King guestrooms has a queen-size sleeper sofa bed. Amenities in our rooms include flat-screen television, charging station, iPads in our suites, full coffee/tea setup, in-room safe, and bathrooms that include a double vanity, deep soaking tub, separate shower and in-mirror television with in-ceiling Bose surround sound.
TS: For recreational pursuits and activities, our offerings will be unparalleled. We have a new Tom Fazio designed golf course, a Certified Audubon Sanctuary, unique to our region for its rolling hills. We’ll have three Har-Tru tennis courts; a 24-hour lakeside fitness center; and a 5-acre Explorer Island waterpark, which includes a lazy river, climbing wall, waterslides, splash pad, and more. There’s volleyball, basketball, an outdoor gaming center, bocce ball—you name it. We have amazing offerings for recreation that truly sets us apart. Adults are going to appreciate our 21+ adult pool and our 18-room Spa, which offers men’s and women’s private outdoor lounges. For kids, and for parents, a highlight is our Kids For All Seasons program, which is always complimentary, and available for children ages 5-12 daily from approximately 9am to 5 pm. A complimentary children’s program is a unique offering in this market.
Explorer Island, a five-acre playground allows you to experience the warm sunshine at a 7,590-square-foot family pool with a lazy river.
CP: For guests enjoying the Disney Theme Parks, are there any VIP treatments or unique experiences?
TS: We will offer luxury transportation to the parks, in motor coaches with plush seating and TVs. The transportation will run every half hour to Magic Kingdom and every hour for the other Disney parks. For those who don’t want to wait, we’ll have Lincoln MKX cars available for rent on-site. Our concierge and Disney Planning Center team is happy to assist with VIP experiences, such as, the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom, which is a semi-private 3-hour guided safari.
CP: How does the Four Seasons property integrate with Disney’s offerings and technology? From early park entry, their MagicBands and FastPass, can guests of the Four Seasons Orlando enjoy these services and benefits?
TS: We are able to offer Disney perks such as special theme amenities in the guestroom, and access to the Disney Events Group, which is amazing for our group guests who are seeking to integrate their meeting or event with a Disney theme. The Disney Events Group can do it all, from custom theme décor to an on-site event in Epcot, complete with character appearances. Through our Disney Planning Center, guests will be able to make their dining reservations, purchase their tickets to the parks, and more, all in our lobby. We will have MagicBands available to our guests. We’re also excited to offer a character breakfast, twice weekly on Thursday and Saturday, in our restaurant Ravello.
CP: The Four Seasons Orlando certainly competes with the Grand Floridian, Disney’s flagship property. How will the experience at the Four Seasons Orlando be different than the Floridian?
TS: The Grand Floridian is a beautiful, established property. We are complementing the Grand Floridian, giving guests a new option to experience. Four Seasons offers a tranquil setting, with the option of Disney integration, but it is not as themed as the Grand Floridian. It’s a choice between a Disney property or a Four Seasons property, with a Disney advantage. Four Seasons is a smaller size property, enabling our team to deliver the personalized service our guests know and love.
CP: Who was the designer and what is the design philosophy at the property?
TS: The interior designer is Anderson Miller out of Michigan. The restaurant designer is Puccini Group out of San Francisco. The main design was to reflect the Spanish Revival architecture of Florida’s golden age. The property features terracotta tiled rooftops, square towers, arched windows and colonnades. Terraces with classical balustrades overlook the golf course and beautiful gardens. The interior design is very fresh and relevant to today’s modern traveler.
CP: Share with us information about the dining and bar destinations at the property. Will there be a taste of Orlando at the restaurants?
TS: We have several dining options. A highlight will be Capa, our rooftop restaurant option for dinner, which is a contemporary Spanish steakhouse. Capa offers indoor and outdoor dining, and views of the nightly fireworks. Ravello, on our first floor, offers modern Italian, including wood-grilled pizzas and a pasta bar. A character breakfast will be offered at Ravello every Thursday and Saturday. PB&G is our pool bar and grill, with a Southern smokehouse concept. Plancha is our golf clubhouse Cuban American restaurant. Lickety-Split offers grab-and-go snacks, lattes, smoothies and more. Stephen Wancha is our Director of Food & Beverage, and Fabrizio Schenardi is our Executive Chef. Both Stephen and Fabrizio join us from Four Seasons St. Louis.
Capa restaurant will be a contemporary Spanish steakhouse on the 17th floor.
Lickety-Split offers grab-and-go snacks, lattes, smoothies and more.
CP: The property has just started to accept reservations — what’s been the reaction and when will the resort open?
TS: We are accepting reservations for August 3, 2014 and beyond. Our initial response has been tremendous. We are so thrilled to welcome our first guests this summer!
CP: Luxury and Disney doesn’t normally go hand in hand. For the affluent traveler visiting Four Seasons Orlando, how will they be surprised by the destination?
TS: Definitely, the scope of offerings available on-site at our Resort is a differentiator. Our recreational offerings, from golf, tennis, the water park, and more, plus our location to all the parks, is truly amazing. We provide an oasis-like setting—close to everything, yet away from it all. I think guests will also be surprised that Orlando has much more to offer then theme parks. There are eco-safaris, water skiing, airboat rides, swamp tours, fishing, shopping, museums, nightlife, and much more. Our guests are going to love discovering all that Orlando has to offer.
The Royal Suite sits on the 16th floor and can be transformed into nine-bedrooms when the three separate living rooms are configured.
This article was originally published on Pursuitist and has been republished by GoodLife Report by permission of Pursuitist