- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- home style today articles
- home style today q&a
- traveling today articles
- traveling today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
A Slice of Heaven
Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
By Brad Keywell
Most people go for one-week trips to Club Med, often from Friday to Friday, Saturday to Saturday, or Sunday to Sunday. Club Med designs their activities assuming Saturday is a travel day, as the children's programs are closed on this day, and the grand finale nightly entertainment show is on Friday night.
Once you arrive, you can assume that within an hour or two you will be exploring your way right into becoming a Club Med veteran. There is so much happening at any one time that, upon arrival, you will be able to put your bags in your room, take a deep breath and just start wandering around and seeing all the fun that will fill your week.
One warning: Bring a snack or two, because the "set times" for meals are set on European, not American, time, and dinner does not start until 7 p.m. We arrived at 2 p.m. after a grueling plane ride with our two often-screaming daughters and found that the only food we could get was a bag of chips at the bar.
Club Med has seven resorts that feature their "Mini Club Med" offering, which includes Petit Club Med (for children newborn to age 3) and various levels of Mini Club Med. The Punta ana Club Med is one of these family resorts, and, from what I heard from the many fellow guests who we met, this is one of the best family destinations within the Club Med portfolio. Let me put it simply – Club Med is made for kids. To say that it is an ideal setup for a family vacation is an understatement.