Uncommon Boston with Mommy Niri
Luxury is such a luxury. I mean seriously. Focusing on essential amenities, you would be totally forgiven for forgoing a Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts’ experience, considering it to be over the top.
Well, that is until you have actually stayed in one. Having been in the Boston area for over 12 years, I had never spent a night in the city. Ever! So while the snow covered our pathways, the girls rolled their pink suitcases out for an adventure at Four Seasons in Boston. Unlike regular vacations we got to our destination quickly, much before any “Are we there yet?” moans could reach our ears.
As we pulled up to the front of the hotel, the warmth that exuded from everyone from the valet to the doorman left me feeling like a celebrity. Oh, I don’t mean the saccharin-like welcome. My three-year-old girl totally learned a few methods to high-five (including with her tiny knuckles).
The front desk already had a surprise for the kids; this was courtesy of a program called VIK (Very Important Kids). Any place that values kids already gets the thumbs-up in my book. Backpacks loaded with treats, scavenger hunt books, toys and more – all with a local theme – were given to kids. They also got to choose plush animals from a wagon loaded with them. All this before we could even get to our room.
Did I say room? I meant suite, and, boy, was it a sweet suite. There were two bedrooms and a lounge between. This meant it was perfect when we wanted to bond but also gave us space so as not to get on anyone’s nerves (you mean that does not happen on your vacation?). Our bedroom was beautiful; my kids really wanted my bed (no way!).
The lounge had a welcome treat from the pastry chef to welcome us – snowmen made from cupcakes and tastier than I imagined. Then I spied my Mommy Niri logo printed on a bottle of artesian water. A beautiful sight to this blogger’s eyes, while my kids drowned in the view of the Boston Common.
As we peeked into the kids’ bedroom, there were two gigantic bears dressed in Red Sox t-shirts. Then I looked closer. One of the bears had a “cast” on its arm. You see, before Christmas my little girl fractured her arm, and we had to postpone our trip to Four Seasons as I wanted to wait for her cast to be removed (and it was the day before we left). The attention to detail and remembering these things must be why Four Seasons is so loved. In fact I tweeted that moment and was told by a follower that is exactly what you would expect from Four Seasons.
There was no time to linger as the girls were already getting ready for the pool. In Boston you get to experience the winter that wouldn’t go away, so a pool is like an oasis. In fact, part of the package for the VIK includes tickets to local museums or attractions, but we decided we wanted to just soak up the hotel while we were there, and the pool got several visits that weekend.
To see the girls splashing around, I could see how essential this was to dealing with the cabin fever colder weather brings. They thought I was missing out in the water, but I was excited to lie back on the pool chairs and have some me-time, another essential.
Getting them out of the pool would have been a huge fiasco, but there was no way they were going to miss heading to the cookie-making class with pastry chef Tim Fonseca (recipe). I mean that one event is laced with all sweet ideas. Forget formidable, this chef was totally jovial and someone who, in spite of having a huge talent in pastry making and more, was comfortable with letting the girls do it their way. Quickly donning the chef aprons and the cutest hats, they were rolling, cutting and decorating. Of course, as much as I was mesmerized with my little darlings, I would have been blind not to notice the huge array of sweet dishes the rest of the staff were concocting in the kitchen.
Divine and decadent are not enough to describe those creations. I got to personally find out as I got to my room to be greeted by a beautiful cake. Using the word cake seems unfair to describe such a masterpiece. This time it was to wish us a happy anniversary. We had just celebrated our ninth year of marriage a few days ago, and it was clear that nothing slips past Four Seasons in way of beautiful surprises. Dinner was not just elegant but relaxing, words seldom used together. Sure we were eating gourmet (heaven in my mouth is the best description), but our kids were still comfortable with kid choice food and crayons. Might I add that these guys went beyond the regular coloring pages to actual books for kids to work on? When you think it could not get any better, the ice cream man visits your room.
A relaxing night ending with kids snoozing later than expected and us eating that cake. Yes, it was dreamy, in bed, watching movies. For the first time in a long time we watched an entire movie in one day. Next day greeted us with a hot continental breakfast, which was a feast in itself and one last dip in the pool before we bid Four Seasons adieu! We were well rested and content. I guess luxury is not just an indulgence, but an essential.
The opinions presented in this post are unedited, entirely the bloggers own, and are not influenced in any way by compensation, monetary or otherwise. The experiences in this post were provided to the blogger free of charge by Four Seasons for the sole purpose of review.
After being born in South Africa and surviving everything from poverty to riots, Nirasha (known as Niri) shelved her desire for writing in a turbulent time to pursue a career in software engineering. While dusting off the remnants of Apartheid, Niri left for the shores of the USA to be a techno-geek by day while pursuing philanthropic interests by night. Fast forward to 12 years later. With a baby in tow, Niri traded the rat race for her rug rats and turned back to her passion of writing at MommyNiri.com. Niri has been featured on Boston.com, Syracuse.com and India New England; has worked on several charitable projects while harnessing the power of blogging to end teacher-funded classrooms; taken part in Rwanda Path2Peace; built playgrounds with Kaboom and the End Child Hunger campaign.
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March 4, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Hi Erika: We agree. Local vacations tend to be easier on kids – and therefore on parents! Thank you for sharing!
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March 4, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Parents sometimes forget that an overnight stay in a nearby hotel (esp. one as amazing as the Four Seasons) can be just as memorable as a weeklong camping trip. And a whole heck of a lot more comfortable! 
Thanks for a very engaging post.
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February 17, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Thank you, Lauren. We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay with us!
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February 16, 2011 at 4:16 pm
I agree – staying at other places pales in comparison!
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February 16, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Love the Four Seasons. We had a similarly blissful stay at their Jackson Hole property. Our five year old was ready to move in! The resort is beautiful, but the staff make it spectacular.
Four Seasons makes traveling with kids delightful-have had great experiences in Austin, Houston and Hawaii too. Just can’t go wrong!
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February 6, 2011 at 5:54 am
Fabulous post about the fabulous Four Seasons. I’ve stayed on other FS properties and the luxury and service is consistently top notch. Thanks for another great read and for allowing to spend an evening of luxury vicariously!
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January 21, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Thank you everyone for your compliments!
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January 21, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Hi Karen: We’re so pleased you’re considering staying with us! Did you know we have two locations in Chicago? Let our magazine help you plan your trip: http://magazine.fourseasons.com/destinations/americas/chicago/. We hope to meet you soon!
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January 21, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Hi Sarahviz: We’d be delighted to welcome your family!
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January 21, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Hi Kelly: We’re delighted that you enjoyed your stay with Four Seasons Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto. Please visit us again soon!
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January 21, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Hi Lisa: Perhaps this will help you to persuade your husband: http://magazine.fourseasons.com/destinations/americas/atlanta/. We hope to welcome you to Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta soon!
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January 21, 2011 at 6:57 pm
We agree with Niri too: “luxury is not just an indulgence, but an essential.” What a great quote!
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January 21, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Hi Maricris: We’re not in Charlotte, but you can find the perfect Four Seasons for your next trip here: http://www.fourseasons.com/find_a_hotel/. We hope to meet you soon!
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January 21, 2011 at 1:16 pm
ooohhh… we live in England and my Hubby has to go to Boston in July with work and my girls and I are invited… I think I’m going to have to talk to his boss and see if we can be booked in there, so whilst hubby is, my girls and I can have girlie time!! Thank you for a very well written article!
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January 20, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Wowzer, I would definitely stay there if I was visiting Boston. This is a very kid friendly place to stay.. I would give them 5 Stars. Thank you for sharing this unforgettable trip. I may talk the Hubs to taking a trip to the Chicago Location for a fun weekend.
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January 19, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I love the cast on the bear! That’s attention to detail. I’m glad you had a good time. I will check them out next time we go on vacation.
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January 19, 2011 at 5:52 pm
I love the cast in the bear! That’s attention to detail. I’m glad you had a good time. I will check them out next time we go on vacation.
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January 19, 2011 at 5:48 pm
What a lovely experience. Now I want to go to a Four Seasons!
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January 19, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Wow this is amazing, it’s like a dream seriously!! I would love for my girls to be treated like princesses somewhere other than home. I can’t even imagine, maybe someday we’ll be lucky enough to go to Four Seasons. Wow!! PS you have gorgeous daughters and it was so sweet of them to add the cast!
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January 19, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Sounds like you had an amazing time! I was treated to a stay at the Four Seasons in Palo Alto last year, and would have thought it was too expensive for our family trips, but having seen your experience and experienced first hand the luxury and amazing surroundings of a Four Seasons hotel I will definitely find a way to make it back to one with the whole family!
Just look at those smiles! That says it all.
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January 19, 2011 at 3:16 pm
I’m saving my money, because you just illustrated the point perfectly that “luxury is not just an indulgence, but an essential”. Cheers to Niri.
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January 19, 2011 at 6:03 am
What a wonderful experience Niri. I’m especially impressed with the way the kids were treated. I don’t think you ever get that from any other hotels that I know of. It would be nice to try out a Four Seasons in Charlotte if they have one.
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January 19, 2011 at 5:49 am
Hands down, the most fabulous hotel chain in the world!
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