Take a Schoolcation with Four Seasons
With digital learning being a new normal for many families, Four Seasons has made it possible to engage in distance learning from the shores of Mexico…
Family fun in Punta Mita (photo credit: Four Seasons)
“Mi casa, su casa.”
That’s the simple ideology behind Four Seasons Punta Mita, a five-star casita-style resort on Mexico’s west coast, less than an hour from the airport in Puerto Vallarta. They like to say that you will arrive as a guest, leave as a friend, and return as family.
At the resort, you will find 173 beautifully appointed ocean-view guest rooms and 30 luxurious private villas. As an added bonus, most accommodations also come with a private plunge pool for a little extra relaxation without ever leaving your room.
Located on the Bahía de Banderas, one of the world’s largest natural bays, the resort is a water lover’s paradise. Enjoy some of the best snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and whale watching on the planet. It is also a gem for avid golfers with two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses. Fun fact: the Pacifico course has the world’s only natural island green! When you’re not golfing or splashing around, why not play tennis, ride horseback on the beach, or prepare your own tequila blend with the Cultural Concierge?
Schoolcations
As many schools have gone virtual this fall, Four Seasons Punta Mita has launched a new Knowledge for All Seasons Program, designed to make distance learning convenient and fun for parents and children in their home-away-from-home in Mexico. “Schoolcations” will support learning remotely with a new world-schooling program that features a tech hotline, study buddy program, art, culture and history classes and after-school sports to encourage educational learning through travel.
Some of the key elements include study cabanas (which you can rent for a daily rate) that are transformed into private work stations with ocean views and salty air stimulating the mind! Each study cabana is outfitted with Wi-Fi, a TV monitor, headphones, a portable charger, lap pad, and energizing snacks such as fresh fruits, smoothies, and popsicles. The cabanas are rented on a sunrise to sunset basis and are probably the most fun and scenic classroom you could ever hope for! Some other incredible services on offer include: Study Buddies (to help children with schoolwork and sit in on classes to provide additional learning supervision, paid as a daily rate), professional tutors (paid as a daily rate), IT support (complimentary), IT equipment if needed (with deposit), and Screen Doctors, who clean screens for you and provide lap pads should anyone want to study poolside (also complimentary).
There are also some incredible workshops, lectures, and educational adventures available for you to enroll your cultural explorers in, should you wish. These include:
Catrina Workshop: Decorating a ceramic “Catrina” doll while learning the meaning and origin of this Mexican icon.
Papalotl Kite Workshop: Make a beautiful Papalotl (butterfly) kite using your creativity. Take it to the beach and watch it soar.
Huichol Workshop: Create a piece of beaded Huichol art following the ancestral techniques used by the Huichol nation.
Dreamcatcher Workshop: Create a beautiful dreamcatcher, using materials inspired by Lakota traditions, and learn about this iconic Mexican symbol.
Dancing: Folkloric ballet lessons, zapateado lessons, and faldeado lessons.
Punta Mita History: Discover the incredible details of the history of Punta Mita from the time before the conquest.
Spanish Class: Take advantage of your time in Mexico to learn some basis Spanish phrases!
Huichol Lecture: Huichols are known as the witness of time and have remained unaltered through the years. Learn their language, religion, government, and traditions.
Xocolatl Workshop: Kids create custom Mexican chocolate bars using local ingredients decorated with sprinkles, sugar balls, and gummies.
Sea Turtle Release: Give new meaning to the phrase, “If you love something, set it free,” as you release Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings into the sea. These tiny Banderas Bay natives will make you proud as they embark on their lifelong adventure.
Sea Foraging: A culinary ocean adventure experience where guests can sea-forage in the Bay of Banderas for kelp, other sea vegetables, and mollusks, followed by a hands-on cooking class where you will learn to cook and prepare your sea fare.
And of course everyone’s favorite part of a school day has to be recess, something your little learners may be missing out on while learning from home. At Four Seasons Punta Mita, however, children can partake in recess in the form of yoga, tennis, a beach bootcamp, and a golf clinic, ensuring they keep up with plenty of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation.
Leading with Care
Four Seasons is considered by many to be the world’s leading hospitality company, so perhaps it is unsurprising that they are leading the way with how best to be COVID safe while maintaining their incredibly high standards of service for their clients that they are known for. Right off the bat, Four Seasons set up a partnership with Johns Hopkins Medicine International to inform Four Seasons on how best to equip their hotels for safety during these times. Grounded in the principles of care, trust and service, the Lead With Care program is being implemented by dedicated teams at Four Seasons properties around the world, including Four Seasons Punta Mita. Four Seasons also has a COVID-19 Advisory Board set up to keep all the properties up-to-date on the latest and best procedures to ensure your stay is safe and still just as luxurious as you’d expect.
Four Seasons Punta Mita recommends downloading their app prior to arrival, where you can chat with staff, which will of course reduce face-to-face interactions but still provides that wonderful level of service you will know and love if you’ve ever stayed at a Four Seasons property.
Poe Perks
Best of all, since Poe is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we can offer the following Poe Perks during your stay at Four Seasons Punta Mita:
Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom
$100 USD meals credit (applicable in all outlets), applicable once per stay per bedroom
VIP welcome amenity
If you would like to go away to Four Seasons Punta Mita (or anywhere in the world!), simply contact us, and we will set you on your way.