Spending a Four Seasons gift card—a perfect holiday gift—is a very easy thing for me to do. My family knows this which means that I receive them as gifts with regularity.

In addition to using a gift card to cover accommodations, spa treatments, fabulous dining, and other delights at hotels around the world, offsite itineraries booked through the concierge can often be billed to your room. This opens up a wide range of options that a gift card can potentially cover.

To give you some ideas regarding how to spend a Four Seasons gift card—since you might win one here—I’ve made a list of things I’ve done (and would like to repeat) at Four Seasons properties as well as a few that remain on my bucket list (ahem, the jet).

1. Book a Private Longjing Tea Tour

hangzhou longjing tea fields in mei jia wu

Go to Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake in the spring. Not only is the weather perfect—in between cold winters and humid summers—but the flowers are in bloom around the property’s stunning gardens. Book a private longjing tea tour through the concierge desk. They’ll take you into the fields and around the village to learn how this Rolls Royce of green tea is processed mostly by hand. I have a totally new appreciation for my cup of tea now.

2. Sip Champagne During a Private Seine Cruise

We drank champagne during our private Seine cruise with River Limousine in Paris. Extraordinary.

One of the highlights of our Paris family vacation was a private Seine cruise with River Limousines that was suggested and booked by the concierge at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris. There is nothing like seeing Paris from the comfort of a luxurious water taxi custom made for the Seine with champagne in-hand.

3. Dine in Hong Kong Like Chef Tak

Lung King Heen restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

While there are many ways I could spend a gift card at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong (the spa, the nail bar, many lychee martinis, and then some), I’m intrigued by their current Extraordinary Experience. Guests of the hotel can follow in the footsteps of Chan Yan Tak, Executive Chef of Lung King Heen which is the world’s first Cantonese 3-Michelin-star restaurant. The tour starts by watching dim sum preparation in the restaurant kitchen, proceeds to Kowloon to taste Cantonese favorites of Chef Tak and ends with a dim sum meal at Lung King Heen that is selected by Chef Tak himself.

4. Eat (Many) Donuts at Veranda

Newly-renovated Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas not only boasts beautiful art deco-inspired rooms but their Sunday brunch is one of my favorites. Grab a mini donut fresh off the in-house donut machine (!!!), have it dipped in the glaze of your choice and then dipped into a variety of topping options. We recently spent a weekend eating our way through the hotel.

5. See the Great Wall of China

Visit the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu with kids

We hired a private tour guide through Four Seasons Hotel Beijing that took us in a luxury sedan to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu (the best place to visit the Great Wall with kids, in my opinion). One of the many upshots of a private tour is that the only schedule you adhere to is your own. We could spend as much time tobogganing down the Wall as we wanted and leave when we wanted. I ordered an in-room dining picnic to take just in case we got hungry while driving around the city.

A return trip to Beijing is on the horizon for us and I would definitely book this itinerary again.

6. Sea Turtle Love

I would very much like to participate in a turtle release at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico (we’ve been but not during turtle release season… I was told November is the best month) or perhaps experience the sea turtle conservancy program at Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies.

7. Cooking School in Westlake Village

The cooking school at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village

A stay at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village can be a wellness retreat, if you like. I’ve stayed there with my daughter in tow (we are also headed there this weekend for the annual Let It Snow! event). However, I keep meaning to come back on my own to take cooking classes and tap the experts at the California Health and Longevity Institute onsite for fitness, life balance, and overall well-being advice.

8. Drink Veuve Clicquot in the Pool

I drank a glass of Veuve Cliquot in the Four Seasons Hotel Denver pool

I am sure that you can drink Veuve Clicquot (or any number of premium champagnes) in a number of Four Seasons pools, but I did it at Four Seasons Hotel Denver. You only live once so treat yourself.

And, if you haven’t been to Denver lately, put it on your list. Lots of the hip city’s best restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel (though you will want to splurge on Wagyu burger and brunch at Edge).

9. Up-Close with Elephants at Four Seasons Tented Camp

Breakfast at Four Seasons Tented Camp in Thailand

I’ve been patiently waiting for my daughter to turn 10 so that we can check Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle which elevates glamping to another stratosphere. The resort has its own happy rescued elephants and plenty of opportunities to get up-close with them.

Her 10th birthday is in less than 18 months so I’m already trying to figure out when exactly 2017 I’m checking in. Because I am checking in.

10. Four Seasons Jet

I’ve already informed my husband that we will fly one of these itineraries before my time on this Earth is up. Every single trip looks incredible but the one right now that piques my interest the most is the 19-day Cultural Escape covering London, Amman, Dubai, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Florence. Plus, Dom Perignon in the sky among other amenities on this luxe jet sounds heavenly.

In case you were wondering, Four Seasons gift cards can be given in very, very large amounts. The sky is literally (almost) the limit.

And, remember that a Four Seasons gift card makes a perfect holiday gift!

*FS Jet, Westlake Village Kitchen and Tented Camp photos are used courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Katie Dillon is the managing editor of La Jolla Mom. She helps readers plan San Diego vacations through her hotel expertise (that stems from living in a Four Seasons hotel) and local connections. Readers have access to exclusive discounts on theme park tickets (like Disneyland and San Diego Zoo) and perks at luxury hotels worldwide through her. She also shares insider tips for visiting major cities worldwide, like Hong Kong, London, Paris, and Shanghai, that her family has either lived in or visits regularly (or both).

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55 Comments

  1. I would do have a staycation at Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego — perhaps a spa at the Driftwood massage, an in-villa Private Signature Chef Dinner … it may end up being a permanent staycation. :o)

  2. We loved Washington, DC so much – we’d LOVE to go back for a family cultural getaway, Four Seasons style!

  3. I’d take hubby to the Four Seasons Maui and dine at the Spago by Wolfgang Puck there! We had our honeymoon there and would love to visit!

  4. Talk about travel inspiration! I’m a big Four Seasons fan and I’ve had the pleasure of being a guest in several of their hotels. If I win the giveaway, I’ll think I’ll make good use of it in Maui.

  5. This is a duplicate, since I left my comment before signing in. I want to make I’m entered! 🙂

    Talk about travel inspiration! I’m a big Four Seasons fan and I’ve had the pleasure of being a guest in several of their hotels. If I win the giveaway, I’ll think I’ll make good use of it in Maui.

  6. These all sound so amazing! I’d love to see the elephants and I can’t wait to read about your visit in 2017! I also would love to see where tea comes from. We are headed to Singapore next year and I read that Four Seasons has some unique island excursions, so I think that is what I would love to try.

  7. I would spend it on a poke class in Lanai because I love poke, and it would be nice to learn how to make it. Plus, I’ve not been to Lanai yet.

  8. Some really great ideas here, I think though that I’d have to use mine for an ultimate dinner at the FS Washington

  9. I LOVE following all of your adventures! You have seen some amazing things and visited some dream destinations! I’d love to have dinner on the Seine! Or, see the Great Wall. Oh, I’d be happy with any of them! 🙂

  10. Spend time at Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole and travel into Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

  11. In lieu of buying gifts for each other this year, my sister and I just booked a day at the spa at the Four Seasons in DC. I’m really looking forward to it!

  12. I would use it for a weekend getaway with my husband, we love to lounge a the pool and try out different restaurants.

  13. Wow! There are so many amazing opportunities and places to visit with a Four Seasons gift card, which I plan to take full advantage of someday. I am having a baby in February and live many miles from family so I think my plan would be to use the gift card for a relaxing overnight date with my husband the next time we have family in town visiting.

  14. I would spend it at a cabana at the serenity pool at the four seasons maui!! I would order their tuna poke and blueberry mojitos!

  15. I would use the gift card towards a holistic spa treatment at The Four Seasons in Bora Bora! It seems amazing!

  16. I would love to have a mini staycation with my man in LA-the FS Beverly Hills! I’ve never stayed at a Four Seasons establishment, so this would be a lovely, new experience!

  17. I would love to take you up on #6- the sea turtle in Nevis! We went to St. Kitts and took an absolutely amazing island tour but did not have time to see her sister island. I would love to go back to the area to explore!

  18. I would love to try the Four Seasons Las Vegas. I’ve stayed in almost every other 5 star hotels in Vegas but not the Four Seasons.

  19. Next year is our 20th wedding anniversary and we are planning a bunch of fun things. One thing we love is going to Las Vegas with our friends and this would be a “celebrate 20 trip!” I’d use the GC to stay at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas.

    1. I have only stayed at Four Sessions a few times, but I was deeply impressed with the quality of the staff, as well as the accommodations. I would spend the gift card wherever my darling wife would like to do so, and enjoy every minute of it with her!

  20. I’ve never had the money to stay at a Four Seasons, so I have no idea how I’d spend a gift card! Maybe I’d go downtown in Chicago or Minneapolis and do some Christmas shopping!

  21. wow all your suggestions are fabulous, I would love to try out all of them, but I guess that doesn’t work with just one voucher:)

  22. Always wanted to stay at the Four Seasons! It looks so lovely! My birthday is coming up in February and staying at this luxuries place would be awesome! I’m thinking Punta Mita in Mexico or Maui!

  23. I would love to go on a trip to the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole via a luxurious helicopter to West Yellowstone and a tour of the Yellowstone National park via SUV. This would be a great opportunity for me to capture stunning photographs of the natural landscape and wildlife.

  24. My best friend is getting married. The last 7 years we both have gone through so many battles including an unfaithful mate ending in divorce, parents battling cancer and even facing deaths of our loved ones. It’s definitely been rough but we have worked hard to keep each other seeing the hope that soon all these trials won’t be here and keeping faith in the promise of a brighter future soon to come. My best friend has never been married and I am so happy that this day of happiness have finally come for her, even though my marriage ended I want only the best for hers. I would love to use this gift card to take her to the spa for the day at Four Seasons , and getaway together for one last day before she walks down the aisle. I love her so much and she deserves it!

  25. I would definitely love to spend it drinking Veuve Clicquot in the pool and maybe getting a spa treatment after that! 😀

  26. Cooking School in Italy sounds amazing. The education that I would get there would benefit me my whole entire life.