Club Med All-Inclusive Resorts Make Great Family Vacations

The Club Med Baby Welcome initiative was implemented a few years back for families traveling with children ... club-med-GO-kidssports MorethansixdecadesafteritsfoundingbyGerardBlitzintheBalearicIslesoffSpain,theFrench-ownedClubMediterraneeistreatingitsguests—especiallyfamilies—betterthanever.Cateringfirsttoathletesandtheyoung,thentosingles,honeymooners,couplesandfamiliesovertheyears,ClubMed's80innovativeresort"villages"in36countriesaretodayamongthebestvacationdestinationsforalltravelers. TheflagshipClubMedSandpiperBay(renovatedandrefreshedin2011)reflectsthecompany'sevolution sinceintroducingtheall-inclusiveresortconcepttotheworld. ThecentralFloridaresortisashowcaseforstylishdecor,expandedrecreationfacilitiesandlargefamilysuites.Thefriendly,welltrained,energeticandveryinternationalClubMedstaffarestillreferredtoasG.O.s(translatedfromtheFrenchasGraciousOrganizers)andguestsarestillcalledG.M.sorGraciousMembers.There'salwaysaFrenchentreeandwineavailableatmealtime,withfreshcroissantsandcafeaulaitatbreakfast.Mostimportanttothefamilywhopursuesahealthylifestyle,SandpiperBayhasbecomethefirstClubMedPremierSportsresortforgolf,tennis,circusandfitnessprograms. Fitness&WellnessEmphasizedatAllClubMeds InaninterviewatSandpiperBay'sMarch2011opening,PresidentandCEOClubMedNorthAmerica,XavierMufraggispokeofregainingthecompany'splaceintheresortmarketbyfocusingonitsoriginalmission: thepromotionofsports,wellnessandhelpingguestsachieveanactive,healthylifestyle. ClubMedhasalwaysofferedaplethoraofsports,fromarcherytotennistotrapeze,waterskiingandrollerblading,aspartofitsall-inclusiveactivityprograms. What'snewisthatenhancedfacilitieshaveallowedtheSandpipertoopentheClubMedGolfAcademyandClubMedTennisAcademyforyoungprofessionals.AfterthesuccessfullaunchofthePremierSportvillageconceptatSandpiperBay,ClubMedmanagementarediscussingexpandingittoOpioinFrance,avillageinChinaandpossiblyoneinBrazil. ClubMedhasTerrificChildren'sProgramsforBabiesthroughTeens ClubMedcontinuestostayontopofourlistforfavoritefamilybrandswithitsall-inclusivepackages,award-winningKid'sClubs(andyoushouldallknow,familyTravelForumhasgiventhemplentyofawards),idyllicsettings,widerangeofactivities,sports,finedining,spasandentertainment. ChildcarebyG.O.strainedininfantCPRandFirstAidbeginsatage4monthsandcontinuestotheageof17,withage-appropriateprogrammingforeachgroupatleastsixdaysperweek. TheClubMedBabyWelcomeinitiativewasimplementedafewyearsbackforfamiliestravelingwithchildrenages3andunder. It'sallincludedinyouroneup-frontprice,unlikethesupervisedprogramsforthe4-monthsto23-monthsgroup,anditreallyisawelcomeamenity.Askbeforearrivalandyourroomwillbestockedwithacriborbabybed,babybath,changingtable,highchair(onrequest),abottlewarmer,sometoysandyourownstroller.Thereisababycorneravailableinthemainrestaurantwithtastybabyfood,andalltheequipmentparentsneedtopreparemeals. MostresortshaveaplaygroundandmanyhavethenewBabyGymstockedwithclimbinggearandplaytoysdesignedtoenhancebaby'slargemotorskills.BabysittingservicesorSiestabreaksareavailableatanextrachargeandrununtilapproximately1amdependingontheresort. BabyClubMedforages4-monthsto23-monthsprovidesexpertchildcareforafeeforthetiniesttravelers,inlargeandspotlessplayrooms,nurseriesstockedwithcribs,andnewBabyGymsthatintroduceinfantsandtoddlerstoactiveplay. Toddlersaged2-to4-yearsenjoytheirveryownvacationwithPetitClubMed,forafee. Openalldaysixdaysaweek,thisclubisnormallyapaid-serviceforparentstorelaxwithalittlepeaceandquiet. Ahappygymforplaying,games,face-painting,puppetshows,arts&crafts,pajamaparties,funscape,dollhouses,trains,slidesandkid-onlypoolskeepschildrenbusyandhappy. AtClubMedSandpiperBay,whereafuzzybluemascotroamsthegroundsandposesforpictures,CEOMufraggitalkedaboutthethinkingbehindintroducingcharactersfrom"Raggs"aPBStvshow,tothetoddlerG.M.s.RaguzziacknowledgedthatClubMedpropertieswerealreadyverywellknownfortheirexcellentchildren'sprograms;however,thecolorfulRaggscharacters,includingoneinawheelchair,gavetheG.O.snewopportunitiestoteachtheiryoungwards.PetitChef,anothernewprogram,showstoddlershowtomakehealthysushiandpizzaaspartofanefforttogivethemskillstotakebackhome,bothtoremembertheirexperienceandtogrowfromit. ClubMedknowskidsarecuriousifnotoutrightadventurousandvillageshaveplentyofactivitiestosatisfytheirinterests. MiniClubMedentertains4-to10-year-oldswithaflyingtrapeze,games,in-lineskating,soccer,minitennis,circusschool,mini-scientistandmorefunactivities.Rehearsingfortheregularlyscheduledkids'eveningshowsisahighlightoftheprogram,becausesomekidswillsinganddanceandsomewillfocusoncircusartsandgymnastics.AspartoftheirnewFitnessprograms,thisagegroupalsohastheirownZumbalessons(imagineacrossbetweenlinedancingandaerobics.) Kidsloveplayingintheirownkids'onlypoolandoutdoorfunscapewithdolls,toys,trains,andslide. Hoursvarydependingonresort. ThePyjamasClub(opennightlyforanadditionalfeeatmostresorts)isopentoages3-to10-yearsandprovidesaNightOutforparentswhilekidsdinetogetherwiththeirG.O.s,playandenjoyamovie. Teenagers(guestsage11andolder)lookingtogetawayfromtheirparents,oryoungersiblings,canhang-outintheirownClubMedPassworldor,inthecaseofSandpiperBay,theLatitude27Club. There'sacraftsarea,withacool,aquaticstylebackdropandopportunityforself-expression. Activitiesincludehiphopanddanceclasses,videoproduction,soundmixing,andmoviewatching.Atresortswithaspa,thereareoftenavarietyofteenbeautytreatmentsavailableforanadditionalfee.ThisClubencouragesdoingwhatteenagerslovedoingbest: Whatevertheywant,whenevertheywant. Hoursvarydependingonresort. FamilyGuestrooms&FamilyValuesatClubMedVillages SandpiperBay'snewroomsareanenhancementofroomingblocksthathavebeenredoneinthepastfiveyearsatmostofClubMed'sCaribbeanandMexicovillages.Thenewroomcategoriesareaboontolargerfamilieswhohavelongaskedforroomsatall-inclusiveresortsthatcanaccommodatethreechildren. ThesmallestareClubRooms,idealforthosewithayoungchildorinfant.Sizesrangeuptoroomsthatsleepfour(withaprivatealcovewithtwobunkbeds),andtwo-bedroomsuites. EnlargedroomssleepingfourwithsomeprivacyhavebeenintroducedinrecentyearstoClubMedIxtapainMexico,ClubMedPuntaCanaintheDominicanRepublicandtheClubMedCancunYucatan.Sincepricingattheseall-inclusiveresortsisperperson,dependingonageofguest,ratherthanonroomtype,there'snoreasonforfamiliestobecrampedontheirvacation. Thevarietyofactiviiesisjustpriceless.Picturewatchingyourkidsplayingoutdoors,engagedinanewsport.Imaginebowlsofapplesandgranolabarssittingoncountersinthekids'clubs.Capturetheirsmilesaskidsdoflipsonthetrapezeorlapsinthepool. Knowingthatthepriceofallmeals,activities,kids'clubs(exceptBabyandPetitClubs),entertainment,watersports,drinksandmoreisincludedinanupfrontpaymentmakestheClubMedexperiencerelaxingaswellasrewarding. 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