Recommend September 2013 - (Page 58)

But the real success, we think, comes not from the brand being able to offer all-inclusive family vacations around the world—those components Mitchell refers to—but with the attention to detail offered at the micro-level, in the resorts themselves. And it starts with the accommodations. let’s call it home Club Med Punta Cana offers 553 guestrooms and family suites divided into several categories including Club Family Rooms, Deluxe Family Rooms, and Oceanview Family Suites. It’s the TIARA enclave—the 5 Trident Luxury Space within the resort—that’s the way to go for your family bookings. It offers family suites with two bedrooms (the kids' room is off the foyer so there’s lots of privacy for the parents) and 753 sq. ft. of space, all at the ocean’s doorstep—in fact, the accommodation’s chaise longues are on the sand right in front of the suite’s oceanview terrace, and clients are literally just a few steps from the shoreline. It’s all done up with a modern ﬂair and it’s open and airy, so guests won’t feel like they are knocking each other over. You can also book the next-door family suite so that the whole family—perhaps aunt and uncle, and their children—can all be in the same general space. TIARA guests also have access to a private inﬁnity pool and a lounge with beverages, treats and concierge service, as well as dedicated bar service at the pool, breakfast room service, and complimentary Internet access. 'wait for me…' That’s what the kids will be saying as their newfound group of friends hop from one activity to another. Really the main reason to send your clients to Club Med Punta Cana, or any Club Med, for that matter, is because the barrage of activities will ﬁll their day and make for happy kids (and parents, too). There truly is something to keep everyone busy the entire length of their stay. As we mentioned before, there is, of course, Circus School, where guests can learn to do trapeze, The new Club Med Belek offers guestrooms and villas. as well as archery (there are separate areas for children and adults), and beach volleyball, basketball, tennis, sports tournaments, ﬁtness classes such as body sculpting, stretching, and Pilates, as well as numerous watersports such as snorkeling (starting at age 8 accompanied by an adult), windsurﬁng, kayaking, and sailing. Beach parties, theater shows and poker fun? They’ve got that as well. Evening turndown includes a list of the next day’s daily activities, from early morning to late night, so families can plan ahead. Of course, there’s also a long stretch of beach that makes for an ideal meeting place. Tell clients to claim their spot in the sand early and then as everyone is running around the resort doing their own thing—hula hoop classes, anyone?—they can always come back to the meeting point for some family time together. There are also ﬁve pools, including the aforementioned inﬁnity pool exclusively for the use of TIARA (5 Trident Luxury Space) guests and two exclusively for Mini Club Med. Oh, and did we mention there are also excursions to choose from? Options include a lobster cruise, a tour to Santo Domingo, a Saona Island tour by catamaran, a sunset cruise, and a Wild Ranch Adventure-Eco Tourism Excursion, among others. kids take center stage There are kids’ clubs and then there are Club Med’s kids’ clubs. First, use of the kids’ clubs are included in the all-inclusive pricing—that’s one of the factors that makes it so successful. If it’s included in the rate, then there’s a good chance a lot more kids are going to participate, and if there are more kids participating, then that adds up to more fun and more newfound friends. They are also carefully divided by age group: 12-year-olds will not be playing with 4-year-olds or 17-year-olds, for that matter. It’s not just a kids’ club program, it’s a kids’ club program on steroids. Every child we passed that was participating in a kids’ club activity had a smile from ear to ear. new club med opens along turkish riviera Club Med Belek, the brand’s newest 4-Trident property, has opened its doors offering 433 rooms, each with balcony or terrace, and 16 twobedroom villas complete with both an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna and butler service. Additionally, the resort features eight outdoor pools, four restaurants and bars, the Club Med Spa by CARITA with Turkish baths, the Lykia Links golf course—ranked No. 1 in Turkey by Golf World in 2012—a waterpark with waterslides and a bowling alley, as well as all the usual Club Med offerings. 58 september 2013 56-61 CB ClubMed.indd 58 recommend.com 8/22/13 8:40 AM ISM183 http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aston Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Learning Journeys
Norwegian Breakaway
Family-Friendly Cruise Options
Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort
Top Family Resorts
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Panama Travel Planner
Adventures by Disney's Scotland: A Brave Adventure
Club Med Punta Cana
Top Family Resorts
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom
Globus Bridges Generation Gap With Exciting China Tours
Far-Flung, Family-Friendly Destinations

Recommend September 2013