Club Med Punta Cana: A Fantastic Family Resort

Club Med Punta Cana is an all-inclusive resort located in a 74-acre village in Punta Cana on the Caribbean island of the Hispaniola. Hispaniola is made up of two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is located in the Dominican Republic. The resort and island offer so much to their guests. Punta Cana has a wealth of activities outside of it's resorts including tropical rain forests, river cruises, unique shopping, excellent dining and the city of Santo Domingo, called the "Oldest City in the New World". The beaches in Punta Cana are famous for the sugar-white sand and clear blue waters. The resort is located a short 5-minute ride from the Dominican Republic airport. Club Med was actually the first resort built on the island and they have the absolute BEST beach on the island.

Club Med also built the airport and they chose exactly where they wanted to place it. It's just far enough so that the noise and traffic won't bother you at all and yet close enough that you won't have grueling 2-hour bus rides a-la Jamaica. Knowing that this would be a family oriented village, they chose a part of the sea that was calm and shallow. In short, perfect for children to swim and play in. Located on a half-mile of this popular beach is the Club Med Punta Cana resort.

I was recently given the opportunity to visit Club Med's beautiful Punta Cana Village. This resort is truly a gem. I visited in April, a peak travel time and I was informed by our host that the hotel was at full capacity during my visit and to please keep that in mind during my stay. At first I thought it was a little odd that he would say that, but further into my stay I discovered why: With all 543 rooms filled, there was never a line in the restaurant, never a wait at the bar, never a crowded beach and I never had to wait for a beach chair. You would have never known that the hotel was full. I would recommend it to anyone traveling with a family, especially if the family has children of different ages. There are many activities available to all age groups. Punta Cana is a popular vacation spot for families, as it is not too far to fly from the US and the prices are usually quite reasonable.

Club Med Punta Cana offers so much to its visitors. The resort features 543 air-conditioned rooms, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, and 2 swimming pools.They have many water activities ranging from sailing and windsurfing to snorkeling and kayaking. Some sports that are available are roller-blading, crunch fitness classes, water fitness classes, the flying trapeze, organized volleyball games, Circus School, wake-boarding, snorkeling, water skiing, archery, tennis, bocce ball, basketball, morning power walks, a weight room and pool games. If relaxation is what you're looking for, why not just lounge by their free-form pool the size of a football field? I never had a problem finding a chair, whether I wanted to lounge in the sun or just relax with a book under and umbrella. Looking for nightly entertainment? You'll find that there too. There are nightly shows put on by the staff and kids and also a disco that stays open until the last person stops dancing. Some activities are not included in the price of your stay, but are still reasonably priced. These activities include the usage of their spa where you can have massages given to you in a private cabana right on the beach. Also, at certain times of the year, they offer whale watching tours for an additional fee.

Club Med has villages all over the world. They break their villages into several different categories. According to their website, www.clubmed.com, these categories are as follows:
1) Experience the Exceptional - "The finest of their resorts, created with your pleasure in mind"
2) The Joy of Reconnecting - "Where togetherness comes to life, these resorts offer something for every member of the family"
3) The Quest for Discovery - "Immerse in local cultures at some of the world's most captivating destinations"
4) The Celebration of Energy - "The ultimate in sports and activities both on land and in the water"
5) The Rejuvenation of Your Soul - "Reconnect with the inner soul through ancient therapies and contemporary treatments"
6) Live Life to the Fullest - "Lively social scenes highlight these celebratory resorts made exclusively for adults"

Their Punta Cana village is in the 'Joy of Reconnecting' category. This means that it is an ideal village for families. Club Med Punta Cana has many different children's programs available to kids of all ages. Petit Club Med is for children ages 2 and 3. They also have Mini Club Med for kids ages 4-10. Mini Club Med members have their own private pool and can sign up to perform recitals at the end of their stay. Space is limited, however, so it is encouraged that you make reservations in advance. The suites at Club Med Punta Cana have a separate room with kids' beds that double as sofas. The main pool has a shallow end ideal for young children and toddlers to swim in and there are playgrounds situated in different spots all throughout the property.

One of the things that makes the village so unique from other resorts in the area is that they have a specialized program for kids ages 11 to 17. This is very rare to find in the Caribbean. This is an age group that is often ignored and left to find entertainment on their own. They are too young to participate in the adult activities and too old to want to play kiddie games. The teenagers club is called Junior Club Med and they have their own assigned area of the resort called "The Ramp". Parents and other guests over the age of 17 are not allowed into "The Ramp" area unless they are workers who are running a program in the area. Even as a tour we were not allowed to go in but we could see into it from afar and all the kids seemed to be having a great time. They have their own mailbox system and each teen is assigned a box at the beginning of their stay. They can leave each other notes and small gifts if they want. I thought this idea was absolutely adorable and after speaking to a few kids that were staying there I learned that they also played games with notes back and forth in their mailboxes. Club Leaders, which are like camp counselors, organize group activities, special meals and even some excursions for the kids in their groups. The Junior Club Med is available all year round including school vacation weeks and does not cost extra to participate in.

Club Med is a wonderful chain of properties, but they are not for everyone. Something to keep in mind is that Club Med was started by a Frenchman and is primarily located in Europe, therefore, they do not cater largely to an American market. There are many many guests there that do not speak English. Most of the signs and menus are in French primarily and English secondary. The food is also something to think about. The selection is catered to a European market. So think lots of bread, fish and cheese dishes. You may not be able to get a hamburger when you feel like it and chicken nuggets are pretty much unheard of! I should mention here that all of the restaurants at Club Med Punta Cana are buffet style; there are no a la carte restaurants at this property. Another thing to keep in mind about this resort is that although the children's program is extensive, this property does not offer a Baby Club. Therefore if you have children under the age of 2, there are no clubs or programs for them. If you are traveling with small children, consider bringing a stroller with you as this property is quite large. It takes about 11-15 minutes to walk the entire length of the grounds. If you are looking for a small, intimate property than this is not the place for you.

If you're looking for an active all-inclusive resort to go to with your family, to experience something like you've never experienced before, please consider Club Med Punta Cana. The staff is friendly, the food is delicious and the price is very reasonable. If you're interested in checking out the resort further, please see the following links:

Club Med's Punta Cana Homepage

Trip Advisor.com Reviews

All Caribbean.com's Reviews