Article and photos by Dylan Clements‍

Choosing a Four Seasons resort for teenagers is not as straightforward as many families expect. The best property for a five-year-old is often very different from the best choice for a sixteen-year-old.

At Clements Travel, this is one of the questions we're asked most often. As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we spend a lot of time helping families compare resorts, room layouts and destinations before they book. One family may be looking for surfing and snorkeling, while another wants a resort where their teenagers can meet other guests their own age.

I've also found that parents often focus on the wrong things. A larger suite is not always the best choice, and the resort with the longest activity list is not always the one teenagers enjoy the most. Privacy, independence and having somewhere to spend time away from younger children often become much more important.

This guide looks at the Four Seasons resorts I would recommend first for families with teenagers, explains where each property works well, where it falls short and highlights the room types and destinations I discuss most often with clients.

1. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World

When parents ask me which Four Seasons resort I recommend most often for teenagers, Four Seasons Orlando (opened 2014) Is usually near the top of the list. It is one of the easiest properties for families because there is plenty to do without leaving the resort, but it also gives teenagers enough independence that they do not feel like they are spending the entire vacation with younger children.

Explorer Island is the main family area and includes a lazy river, two waterslides, a family pool, basketball, table tennis, billiards and other games. Teenagers can spend hours there without running out of things to do, particularly if they make friends with other teens.

One of the biggest reasons I recommend Orlando is The Hideout. This is the resort's dedicated games room and teen hangout rather than a traditional kids' club. Teenagers can come and go during opening hours, play gaming consoles, try virtual reality, shoot pool or simply relax between activities.

The Hideout works because it gives teenagers a natural place to meet. It is much easier to strike up a conversation over a game of pool or while waiting for a VR headset than it is sitting beside someone at the swimming pool. During spring break, summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is common to see teenagers returning to meet the same group throughout their stay.

During busy vacation periods the resort also schedules teen evenings, dive-in movies, karaoke, scavenger hunts and other seasonal events. Feel free to ask for the activity calendar before booking because it changes throughout the year.

Of course, the location is another major advantage. Walt Disney World is on the doorstep and Universal Orlando is only a short drive away, so families can combine busy park days with quieter days enjoying the resort.

The downside is that many families underestimate how good the hotel is. Some spend all day inside the theme parks and hardly use the facilities they have paid for. If you are staying here, I would always recommend allowing a couple of resort days to enjoy Explorer Island, the pools and restaurants. I have had a lot of feedback from clients thanking me for this recommendation.

This is also one of the resorts where I frequently compare two connecting rooms against a suite. Families often assume they need a two-bedroom suite, but depending on the children's ages, connecting rooms can provide more privacy, two bathrooms and better overall value.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we also compare how the benefits work across different room types. Eligible bookings through Clements Travel include daily breakfast, hotel credit, upgrade priority when available, early check-in when available and late check-out when available, all at the same publicly available room rate.

Best for: Disney vacations, gamers, mixed-age families and teenagers who enjoy meeting other guests.

2. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

If your teenager enjoys meeting other people, Four Seasons Punta Mita is one of the first resorts I would look at. It has one of the best dedicated teen facilities anywhere in the Four Seasons collection and strikes a good balance between organized activities and giving older children some independence.

The teen lounge is called The Container because it was built using converted shipping containers. It feels much more like a modern games lounge than a children's club, which is one of the reasons it works so well with teenagers.

The space is reserved for guests aged 13 to 19 and includes gaming consoles, virtual reality, pool, air hockey, foosball, table tennis and comfortable seating areas. It is designed as somewhere teenagers can spend time together rather than simply passing through.

One thing I particularly like about The Container is that it gives teenagers a reason to keep coming back. They may meet someone on the first afternoon, play pool together the next day and arrange to meet again later in the week. Parents do not need to organize introductions because the space does it naturally.

Outside The Container there is no shortage of activities. Surfing is one of the biggest attractions, but there is also paddleboarding, tennis, pickleball, basketball, fishing, introductory scuba experiences and seasonal wildlife activities such as turtle releases and whale watching.

The resort is also compact enough that older teenagers can comfortably move between the beach, restaurants, pools and The Container without feeling restricted.

The main limitation is that Punta Mita is very much a resort destination. Families looking for shopping, nightlife or somewhere teenagers can wander independently outside the resort may prefer somewhere like Maui. Here, the vacations revolves around the resort itself.

When planning family trips to Punta Mita, I usually compare connecting rooms before looking at larger suites. For families of four, they often provide a better layout, while larger families may benefit from one of the resort's villas or private residences.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we also review which room categories provide the best overall value once the included breakfast, hotel credit and upgrade priority are taken into account. Depending on the room type, that can make a noticeable difference over a five or seven-night stay.

Best for: Social teenagers, surfing, gaming and one of the best family beach vacations in Mexico.

3. Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

If your teenager would rather spend the day surfing, hiking or spotting wildlife than sitting in a games room, Four Seasons Costa Rica is one of my favorite recommendations.

The resort has a dedicated teen center called Tuanis, giving older children somewhere to spend time between activities. The wider program includes surfing, mountain biking, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, tennis and guided nature walks around the peninsula.

Papagayo Park expands the options even further with pickleball, padel, basketball, cycling trails and other outdoor activities. Depending on the season, there may also be ziplining, sailing or rainforest excursions.

One of the biggest attractions is the wildlife. It is common to see monkeys, iguanas and tropical birds around the resort, giving the destination a very different feel from a traditional beach vacation.

When families ask me to compare Punta Mita and Costa Rica, the decision usually comes down to personality. Punta Mita is stronger for teenagers who enjoy gaming and making friends, while Costa Rica is the better option for families who want adventure and outdoor activities.

The resort is spread across a large peninsula, so some accommodation is closer to the beach and restaurants than others. It is something we discuss before booking because room location can have a noticeable impact on the overall stay.

Families planning a longer vacation may also want to compare the multi-bedroom residences, although for many groups, connecting rooms remain the better value.

Best for: Adventure, wildlife, surfing and teenagers who prefer being outdoors.

4. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Four Seasons Maui is one of the resorts I recommend most often for older teenagers because there is so much to do beyond the hotel itself.

The resort offers direct beach access, a family pool, games room and a wide range of water sports including surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving. Families can also arrange whale watching during the season, drive the Road to Hāna or spend a day exploring Haleakalā National Park. There is a few fantastic waterfalls along the road to Hana that are very popular with family clients.

Wailea is another reason Maui works so well. The beachfront path links several resorts, beaches and restaurants, giving older teenagers a little more independence while remaining in a safe resort area.

Unlike Orlando or Punta Mita, Maui is not built around a dedicated teen lounge. I recommend it for teenagers who enjoy getting out and exploring rather than spending the week inside one resort.

The only drawback is that many of the island's highlights require a rental car or organized excursion. Families wanting a vacation where everything happens within walking distance of the hotel may find Punta Mita or Orlando more convenient.

When comparing accommodation, I nearly always look at connecting rooms alongside the suites. For many families, they provide the better balance of privacy, comfort and value.

Best for: Older teenagers, Hawaii first-timers, surfing and families who want to explore the island.

5. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

If your teenager loves the ocean, Four Seasons Hualālai deserves to be high on the shortlist.

King's Pond is unlike anything found at most luxury resorts. It is a swimmable aquarium filled with tropical fish where guests can snorkel and learn from the resort's marine biology team.

The resort also has Hale Kula, a games and activity center that gives teenagers somewhere to spend time away from the pool during the day.

Beyond that there are several swimming pools, tennis, pickleball, canoeing, paddleboarding, golf and excursions including manta ray snorkeling and volcano tours.

The resort is spread across a large area, which many older teenagers enjoy because they can move around independently between the beach, pools and sports facilities. It is worth choosing the room location carefully, however, as some categories involve considerably more walking than others.

Compared with Maui, Hualālai is quieter and more focused on the resort itself. Teenagers looking for shopping or nightlife may find Maui the stronger choice, while those interested in marine life and outdoor activities often prefer Hualālai.

When helping families book Hualālai, we compare everything from room location and connecting-room availability through to villas and residences. As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we also ensure eligible bookings receive the available Preferred Partner benefits while helping families choose the room category that offers the best overall value.

Best for: Marine life, snorkeling, active teenagers and families who want a classic Hawaiian resort experience.

6. Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Parents often ask me when the right age is for an African safari. My answer is usually the teenage years. By this stage, children are old enough to appreciate longer game drives, understand what they are seeing and cope much better with the journey to East Africa. It also becomes the sort of vacation they are likely to remember for the rest of their lives.

That is why Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti deserves a place on this list. While it could not be more different from Orlando or Punta Mita, it offers something many teenagers value even more than another beach vacation: genuine adventure.

Game drives take guests deep into the Serengeti National Park in search of lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and countless other species. Every drive is different, and there is a real sense of excitement that is difficult to replicate anywhere else. With a good safari guide half day game drives are suffiicent as you can see a lot of animals in that amount of time and then the rest of the time back at the resort, next to the pool or even spending time in the discovery center is a good use of the day.

Back at the lodge, one of the highlights is the infinity pool overlooking a natural watering hole. It is not unusual to watch elephants wander in for a drink while you are relaxing by the pool, creating moments that most teenagers will remember long after the vacation has finished.

The lodge also offers educational experiences with resident naturalists, visits to local communities, hot air balloon safaris and guided wildlife walks in designated areas. Teenagers with an interest in photography or wildlife conservation often find themselves far more engaged here than at a traditional beach resort.

Unlike many of the other resorts on this list, the focus is not on teen clubs or organized games. Families generally spend much of the day together exploring the Serengeti, making this an excellent choice for those looking to share a true bucket-list experience.

When helping clients plan a safari, I usually recommend combining the Serengeti with another destination rather than flying all the way to Tanzania for only a few nights. Zanzibar pairs particularly well for a beach extension, while Kenya or South Africa can create an outstanding two-week itinerary.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we also help clients compare safari itineraries, internal flights, room categories and the best time of year to visit, with eligible bookings receiving Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits where available. Compared to many other travel agencies who plan safaris, we break all costs down so you can see how much you are spending on the lodge, internal flights, game drives and so on.

Best for: Teenagers aged 13+, wildlife lovers, photography enthusiasts and once-in-a-lifetime family vacations.

7. Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo

Four Seasons Tamarindo is one of the newest resorts (opening in 2022) in the collection and one that I think many families overlook. It is not built around organized entertainment or busy kids' clubs. Instead, it appeals to teenagers who enjoy nature, outdoor activities and having plenty of space to explore.

Set within a 3,000-acre private nature reserve on Mexico's Pacific coast, only a small percentage of the land has been developed. That gives the resort a peaceful feel and means wildlife is never far away.

Activities include surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, mountain biking and guided nature experiences. Teenagers who enjoy being outdoors will usually get far more from Tamarindo than from spending another week beside a crowded pool.

The beaches are naturally beautiful and remain relatively quiet, while the surrounding cliffs and coastal trails provide excellent viewpoints and opportunities for photography.

One thing I particularly like is that Tamarindo does not try to keep guests busy every minute of the day. It encourages families to slow down, spend time together and appreciate the natural surroundings.

Because the resort is relatively remote, I usually recommend staying at least four or five nights to justify the journey. It also combines well with Punta Mita for families wanting to experience two very different sides of Mexico's Pacific coast.

When planning Tamarindo vacations, we often compare room locations carefully because some offer easier access to the beach while others provide more privacy and dramatic ocean views.

Best for: Nature lovers, surfing, hiking and teenagers who enjoy outdoor adventure.

8. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

For families wanting something beyond a traditional beach vacation, Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay is one of my favorite recommendations.

The resort introduces teenagers to Balinese culture alongside the usual water sports and beach activities. Families can learn traditional cooking, visit local temples, take surfing lessons, explore nearby markets or spend time discovering Bali's famous rice terraces and waterfalls.

Surfing is one of the biggest attractions, with beaches suitable for beginners and more experienced surfers within easy reach of the resort.

Unlike destinations where everything happens inside the hotel, Bali rewards families who get out and explore. That is one reason I tend to recommend it for older teenagers rather than younger children.

The villas also work particularly well for families, giving everyone more space and privacy than a standard hotel room.

The only drawback is the traffic. Journeys that look short on a map can take much longer than expected, so I always encourage families to avoid trying to see too much in a single day.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we regularly help families combine Jimbaran Bay with Four Seasons Sayan in Ubud, creating one of the most rewarding twin-center vacations in Asia.

Best for: Culture, surfing, older teenagers and families wanting to explore Bali.

9. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Few resorts create the same first impression as Four Seasons Bora Bora. Arriving by boat and seeing the overwater bungalows surrounded by turquoise water is something most teenagers will never forget.

While many people think of Bora Bora as a honeymoon destination, I also think it works surprisingly well for families with older teenagers.

The lagoon offers exceptional snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking and jet skiing, while boat excursions give families the chance to swim with reef sharks and stingrays. Older teenagers can also enjoy scuba diving, fishing and hiking on the island.

One of the biggest advantages is that teenagers are old enough to appreciate staying in an overwater bungalow. Younger children often spend little time enjoying the accommodation itself, but teenagers usually love the experience of swimming directly from their deck and watching marine life beneath the glass floor panels.

Bora Bora is not somewhere I would recommend for families looking for busy nightlife or organized teen clubs. The appeal is spending time together in one of the world's most spectacular natural settings.

When helping families plan French Polynesia vacations, I usually recommend combining Bora Bora with another island such as Moorea or Tahiti to experience more than one side of the destination.

Best for: Overwater bungalows, snorkeling, marine life and unforgettable family vacations.

10. Four Seasons Resort Langkawi

Four Seasons Langkawi is probably the most underrated resort on this list.

Located within a UNESCO Global Geopark, it offers a very different experience from the Maldives or Bora Bora. Instead of coral reefs and white sand islands, families discover mangrove forests, limestone cliffs, caves and abundant wildlife.

Teenagers can join guided mangrove safaris, kayak through the wetlands, spot eagles and monkeys, hike nearby trails or enjoy sailing and water sports along the Andaman Sea.

One thing I particularly like about Langkawi is how educational the destination can be without feeling like a classroom. Many teenagers leave with a genuine appreciation for the island's unique ecosystem.

The resort itself is spread across a beautiful beachfront with plenty of space to relax after a day exploring the island.

The biggest drawback is that Langkawi is often overlooked in favor of destinations such as Bali or Phuket. In my opinion, that is exactly what makes it so appealing. It feels quieter, more authentic and less commercial than many of Asia's better-known beach destinations.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, we often recommend Langkawi to families looking for something a little different while still enjoying the service and consistency Four Seasons is known for.

Best for: Wildlife, kayaking, nature, photography and families looking beyond the usual beach destinations.

Why Book Through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner?

Choosing the right Four Seasons resort is only part of planning a successful family vacation. We also help families compare room categories, connecting rooms, suite layouts, resort locations and the best destinations for different ages and interests.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, eligible bookings made through Clements Travel include the same publicly available rates available directly from Four Seasons, along with added benefits such as daily breakfast, hotel credit, upgrade priority when available, early check-in when available and late check-out when available.

For many families, we also help build a complete itinerary, whether that's combining Serengeti with Zanzibar, Bali with Ubud, or Bora Bora with another island in French Polynesia.

Ready to Plan Your Four Seasons Family Vacation?

Whether you're traveling with toddlers, teenagers or three generations together, we'll help you choose the Four Seasons resort that best fits your family. We'll explain the differences between each property, recommend the right room or villa, and secure any eligible Preferred Partner benefits at the same public rate.

Contact us to start planning your Four Seasons family vacation, or request a personalized recommendation based on your children's ages, travel style and budget.