Club Med in the Caribbean

I must confess I am a bit of a Club Med fan. Generally I like to be a bit more individual when it comes to holidays (not always to the liking of my family), yet I am constantly surprised at how easily I slip into Club Med mode the minute I walk into the lobby.

 

Having been to a couple of their Greek resorts in the past, we decided to go all out and try one of Club Med's more exotic locations, to see if the experience was any different. I am glad to report it wasn't, just better, bigger and, being in the Dominican Republic, more beautiful than any we had experienced before.

 

The first thing that strikes you about this holiday is how smoothly organised everything is. From the transfer at the airport met by smiling GOs® (more about them later) to the comfort of the accommodation, you really start to relax the minute your feet hit the ground.

 

The location

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is just 10 minutes by coach from the airport. Situated on the Atlantic coast and fringed by palm trees facing the bluest of lagoons, it is picture-postcard perfect. And given that it's one of the largest of the Club Med resorts in this part of the world, with 519 rooms divided between one- and two-storey buildings, it is totally in keeping with the surroundings and has Caribbean charm by the bucket-load.

 

Our accommodation

Our family room consisted of a main bedroom and an annexe room with two decent-sized single beds, which could be separated off from the main bedroom, affording everyone a bit of much-needed privacy. The walk-in wardrobe had a large fridge for chilling the bottles of mineral water that were delivered daily. Air-conditioning is essential at any time of year here and our room became a cool haven from the humidity outside.

 

Once settled into your new environment you won't leave. It's not that you can't (there are organised trips to discover and experience other parts of the island), it's just that, in my experience, you won't. This is not a holiday for sightseeing, or for culture vultures. With Club Med the experience is always roughly the same. And the experience is, without doubt, very, very good.

 

The company

Club Med is a French company and at Punta Cana the clientele is around 80% French; the remainder are mostly American. The GOs® (Club Med staff) wear name badges with little flags denoting the languages spoken – and with so many American guests there is never a problem with language. As it is run along French lines, the standards are high – in terms of service, comfort, facilities and, most notably, catering.

 

The downside (which is not really a downside) is that the French seem to love being organised from the minute they get up to the minute they go to bed. And they love following strict rules. To be fair, the rules make total sense, so that everyone gets a chance to try everything, but it can go against the grain with your average Brit abroad. My advice is not to buck the system but to get swept along with it – your holiday will prove to be easier and more enjoyable by far!

 

So what makes a Club Med holiday special?

GOs® and GMs®
These are Gentil Organisateur (Kind Organiser) and Gentil Membre (Kind Member). Forget the image of the old-fashioned British Redcoats, these highly trained professionals are there to make sure that your holiday runs as smoothly as possible. When Club Med first opened in 1950 with their tents on the beach in the Balearics, the ideal was one of egalitarianism, with the staff mingling comfortably with guests. This ethos still exists, with staff and guests (or club members) enjoying time together on the beaches, at the sports and at mealtimes.

 

Staff all have their specialities – the GOs® on the circus training are trained circus performers and the scuba diving instructors likewise – but all have the same remit to be polite (they say 'Hi' every time you meet them), helpful (they will leap up to replace a dropped fork at the dinner table) and to have almost impossibly sunny dispositions.

 

The food
Second to none and is all-inclusive in the price of your holiday. At Punta Cana there are two restaurants – one open to the sea breezes and one air-conditioned. All meals are buffet style and the selection is impressive. Breakfasts range from fresh fruits, home-made breads and pastries to the fully cooked. Lunch is a buffet with fish, meat, pasta, pizza, fresh salads – wide ranging and catering for just about all tastes.

 

And it is at the evening meal that Club Med excels, with a theme or two every night (Tex Mex, Italian, Dominican specials, etc). Wines and beers are also available along with a range of soft drinks and juices. And it doesn't stop there, for those who take a more 'little and often' approach, there are snacks provided throughout the day from the beach snack bar.

 

Childcare for all ages
At Punta Cana, childcare is broken down into four main groups.

● Baby Club Med (bookable at extra cost, payable in advance) for babies from 4-23 months

● Mini Club Med for 4-10 years

● Petit Club Med from 11-13 years

● Club Med Passworld Teen access (11-17 years, available during school holidays) has The Ramp, a real 24/7 meeting place plus sports activities, tournaments, karaoke and disco-blading, among other pretty cool things.

 

In addition Club Med Baby Welcome offers you all the nursery equipment you need and a special dining area to help make your holiday as stress-free as possible.

 

Our favourite all-inclusive family-friendly features at Club Med

Stuff to do
Power walking, yoga, Bosu Boot Camp, beach volley, Katami Barre, water aerobics, pool games/beach games, sports tournaments, water aerobics, abs workout, smart bell workout, cardio Thai-boxing, football, stretching, basketball, archery, rollerblading and tennis (14 courts), Merengue dance lessons.

Watersports
Sailing and windsurfing.

Kids will love
Circus training on the high trapeze with safety harness, circus trick trampolining, walking the highwire.

Evening entertainment
Waterside barbecues and cocktails
Entertainment by the GOs® or outside entertainers

 

Find out more

For further information and inspiration on this and all other Club Med holidays throughout the world, from skiing to spa treatments and the best in family holidays, visit www.clubmed.co.uk or call 0871 424 4044 (calls cost 10p per minute).

 

Updated 2009

 

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