Club Med....recommendations please...

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Dear all

Can anyone recommend a good but not vastly expensive Club Med please? Kids are 11, 9 and 7 and dh dying without a sunny holiday.....I want to book one early for next summer and also that way spread the cost. WE've been to Marrakech La Palmeraie and loved it (apart from the fact that the kids refused to join in with any of the clubs as they all spoke french.....strange that, in a french speaking country and french company!!!) Don't mind long haul if not too expensive. TIA xx

Sorry - bumping...

About 4 years ago we went to the one in Portugal. A bit hilly, but food was amazing.

Thanks Hermione...we found the food incredible too (and the mojitos, beer, wine....and then the sex afterwards which I think is the real reason that my dh wants to do another one!!!)

We went to Megaphone off season when dcs,were little, it was lovely for a break for me with a 3 and 5 year old but the language thing is a problem for older ones so I wouldn't do it now they are older.

Metaponto not megaphone! Blardy phone!

Thanks fedup - will investigate.

I just booked today for Napitia, great reviews on Trip Advisor. Does anyone have any good tips for what I should take? Kids are 12, 8 , 6 & 6. Or any general tips about pitfalls or how to make the most of it? I am without a DH.... I went to the skiing club med in Japan, but I imagine that is fairly atypical. Any help appreciated :)

KWB1 - do you mind me asking how much it was for all 5 of you?

KWB, book all activities as soon as you get there. Eat as much food as you like, I lost loads of weight because it's so healthy. Take books otherwise it can be quite boring. They are usually far away from anywhere so don't expect to see local culture unless you book a day trip.

Shush, go out of season unless you are loaded.

Thanks fedup - I was fed up until I booked my holiday, how grim is it at the mo? Shush, I am taking my au pair with me so 2 adults and 4 kids was 6,695. More than I would comfortably spend, but if I'd booked First Choice I would have paid up to £5k and for me I know this will be properly all incl without hidden extras and that the clubs will be great. Used lowcostholidays.com, but also got good quotes from unwind worldwide.com. They give you 5% off whatever CM is offering. CM puts out its special offers on Fridays. I hate their website, it's really cumbersome to do a wide search of multiple locations. The agents were really helpful. This is way more than I would usually contemplate spending, but after the two years I have had I felt I and the brood needed spoiling (and I got a small bonus a few months ago which I had not spent)

Wow, that's our holiday budget for several years, but it is better to spend a lot one year and nothing for several. You appreciate it more that way. We usually go camping, the occasional adventure. Club med only cost sixteen hundred for four when we went.

We went to Palmyie in Turkey this year and loved it, it is one of there biggest resorts but apart from the odd wait at the grilled meat counter in the restaurant it was great! We have also been to Beldi and Hammamet and would go back to any of them. If you have any questions just ask! x

Many thanks KWB1 and hollyround - I'm dreaming of endless lovely food and hot sun now....sitting in a torrential dorset having to go to a ball in a freezing cole, waterlogged marquee....great! Club Med here we come!

Agree about the budget fedup, I know next year will be a much cheaper affair because I am hooking up with another family and we will do something cheap and cheerful... I didn't have that option this year (it's a lot to expect another family to take on, a single mother and 4 noisy kids). I am horrified at what I have spent, but just felt desperate to treat us all. Knowing next year will be cheap swung it.
Bit worried I keep reading how French it all is - will be disastrous if children don't want to go to the clubs!

I think it might be cheaper to travel independently. But you have to organise your own transfer at the other end (which the resort helps with), and you have to find a resort close to the airport!

Shush, I was in a marquee in Dorset just yesterday!

KWB1 - fun wasn't it....mud between your toes every time you moved from the covered bits!!!