Our Vacation Adventures

Punta Cana Club Med - Dominican Republic

August 15, 2006 – 6:11 pm

Recently I had the chance to talk with Kate Moeller, a spokesperson for Club Med about their Punta Cana Village in the Dominican Republic. We haven’t had the chance to stay at this property, but have spent some time in the Dominican Republic and found it to be a wonderful destination. This is the first in our Dream Destination Showcase series, styled in a 6 question interview format.

Here’s a little more info on this popular getaway.

I noticed that Club Med refers to their properties as a “village” instead of using the word “resort”. Why does Club Med use the word village instead of resort?

Gerard Blitz, a WWII resistance fighter and Olympic medalist, founded Club Med in the 1950s. He created a place where citizens of every nation could come together to heal the scars of war—and where social and economic class could be overcome. To this day our philosophy at Club Med is very different than a typical resort. Club Med staff members or G.O.s (Gracious Hosts) interact quite a bit with guests during work and non-work hours. Hence, this natural interaction produces friendly “village” feel and a very social atmosphere.

Can you give me a little history on the Punta Cana, Dominican Republic village?

Club Med Punta Cana was established in the early 1980s. As the first resort in the area, Club Med chose prime beachfront property than spans over 74 acres; guests are guaranteed to never feel part of a crowd. The resort was recently renovated and boasts world-class amenities including 519 spacious two-room suites, a variety of restaurants and bars, live nightly entertainment, and a host of sports and activities daily.

How does the Punta Cana village differ from other resorts in the area?

Club Med has captured the hardest market to please – teens aged 14-17 – with The Ramp, the ultimate teen lounge at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Designed by Rockwell Group, The Ramp represents an interactive and cool place for teens to socialize with peers in their own space – only guests between the ages of 14 to17 are allowed. Upon check-in to the resort, each 14- to 17-year-old receives his or her own welcome packet, including a combination for a personal mailbox located at The Ramp as well as tokens for The Ramp’s own photo booth. The mailbox system allows teens to get daily information on The Ramp activities and to communicate with their new friends. Each mailbox contains a clear front panel where teens can place a photo of themselves.

The two-story, open-air lounge serves as a multi-functional activity center where teens can roller blade, skateboard and play foosball. The top-floor deck houses a giant built-in hammock and three benches with telescopes for star- (or people) gazing, all covered by a giant sail.
Although The Ramp was created to allow spontaneity and the time to perfect the art of “hanging out,” Club Med organizes evening teen activities such as “Waterworld” in the pool, movie nights with the latest feature films displayed for viewing, themed dance parties with guest DJs and even “Club Night” which turns the disco into a teens-only dance party.

Prior to leaving the resort, teen guests have the opportunity to “Leave a Mark” on The Ramp’s door, which is always open — whether it’s a note, a graffiti “tag” or a name, they can create a memento on The Ramp.

Your Punta Cana Village appeals to families. What activities or services do you offer for children and parents while vacationing with you?

Beyond The Ramp’s teen-focused activities, the resort offers a comprehensive Mini Club Med program supervised by a qualified and energetic staff, with games, circus school, arts & crafts and other educational, multicultural and recreational activities for kids aged 2 to 13. Club Med Punta Cana also provides a Baby Welcome program with amenities for infants such as bottle warmers, baby food and high chairs.

Of course adults will enjoy the fine dining, the premium alcohols, the live entertainment, the nightclub and the excursions (I highly recommend the day-long catamaran trip to Saona Island!).

For budget conscious travelers, do you have any current specials or specific months you’d recommend for travel?

Club Med recently launched a late booking offer. The Friday Rendez-Vous with Club Med invites travelers to visit Club Med each Friday and view last minute deals. The deals, which offer unprecedented discounts, will only be available for booking on Mondays between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Destinations and length of stay will vary weekly.

“The Club Med Family Plan” offers a 7-night vacation from $1,999 for a family of four to Sandpiper, Ixtapa and Punta Cana.

We are also offering “half off your better half” which is pretty self explanatory, for couples, friends and family members to travel together.

For those not traveling with kids, we have a 7-night escape starting from $810. Available at Turkoise, Bora Bora, and Buccaneer’s Creek.

Call 1-800-ClubMed or log-on to Club Med to learn more about all our special offers.

6. Is there anything you’d like to mention that wasn’t specifically asked in this interview?

After twelve months and $24 million in renovations, a new Club Med Cancun Yucatan will emerge November 11, 2006. During the resort’s closure, Club Med revitalized not only the facilities, but also the philosophy behind Club Med Cancun Yucatan’s raison d’être. Changes include strong emphasis on the discovery of the Yucatan region, new programs for families, upscale amenities and even a concierge villa for luxury travelers.
No longer an adults-only resort, Club Med Cancun Yucatan invites families to discover the Yucatan Peninsula. The Discovery Center, located in the heart of the Cancun Yucatan resort, provides 17 excursion options for all ages, many of which promote ecotourism.

A Mini-Club Med, catering to children ages four to 10, will launch the last week of December 2006. The Club Med concept exclusively for teens and ‘tweens will launch November 18, 2006. For parents traveling with infants, Cancun Yucatan provides a Baby Welcome program with amenities such as bottle warmers, high chairs and baby-sitting in the room.

Cancun Yucatan is the next step in the evolution of Club Med’s upscale and family-oriented vacations. More information can be found at
http://cancunyucatan.clubmed.com