ClubMed, Sandpiper, anyone been since 1998?

[Rhiannon]

So excited, can't wait, all booked and keep checking the weather reports. It's 80 degrees and I have 18 days to go and counting. So please don't tell me it's awful. R

Rhiannon it's really nice. Good weather, great food, fab facilities etc. We went winter 99. My only complaint was the creche - I had one year old twins and they seemed underqualified and understaffed in the baby unit, so we didn't use it as much as I'd hoped. On the plus side I thought the older kids all seemed to be having a good time, though.

We've been to many club meds, mainly for the activities for the children. They've enjoyed them more recently as teenagers rather than as young children. For teenagers it's great, they are in a safe environment - no escping to bright lghts, pubs, etc, meet lots of other nationality teens, make loads of riends and don't have to see their parents!

Our two (14 and 15) came in after we'd gone to bed, and were still asleep whe we went out in the morning. They would casually saunter by about 12 ish to special teen breakfast to 'check in with the oldies'

My son adored the skateboarding half pipes, inline skating and scuba, daughter loved trapeze, hair plaiting, skin painting with henna, fashion shows.

The food is great as there is something to please everyone and plenty of it. It's impossible to get drunk on the wine.

Downside, accomodation is VERY basic, considering the cost, roundabout £1600 per head for 12's up, but hopefully you'll be by the pool most of the time!

Kids clubs vary from village to village, mine hated some of them when they were younger, the best was Sicily. Sandpiper has lots of Americans and Germans and is very large!

Have a great time, my children would always choose to go there, DH says its upmarket Butlins, suffers it for the children and me, as all I want to do is lie by a pool with 10 paperback books!

Alibubbles, knew you'd come up trumps! Have been to a couple in the Med before but never the US one. We've got interconneting rooms which should be OK and a fridge which is the most important thing for us. How is the local shopping? We've located the local Walmart so DS can buy new GameBoy games. R

Allibubbles, rooms have definitely been upgraded, we were really impressed more like 4 star than 3. We had a 6ft bed and the kids had a 4ft each in an interconnecting room. Lovely furnishings.

Kids both loved the clubs (wouldn't come out!) and the food was truly scrumptious. My DS age 6 performed in the Kung Fu show and DD 3 sang the ABC at the talent show it was so sweet.

Having a row with them about the price at the moment as the hotel was offering massive discounts to people driving up and we'd only booked a couple weeks before we went! R

Rhiannon, glad to hear that you had a great time. I know what you mean about the price difference, my parents always get some friends in the US to book it and send the details over, my parents arrange own flights and transfers, much much cheaper.

I've just come back from Switzerland and the family I used to work for went skiing with Club med, they can't believe the difference in the price they paid last Easter from here and the price they are paying this year, booking direct.

Club Med never discount their hols in Britain, even only a week before, they saya that's the price! Well they are french run...............!

How did you and Club deal with the time differences? Did the restaurants have different opening hours, staggering through the day for example?

Malmomum, don't understand the question? Do you mean you have a young baby that won't adjust to the 5 hour time difference? Breakfast was served over about 4 hours with the hot food being tailed off after a couple of hours. There is also a fridge in the room.

Why not try Club Med Ibiza it's only a one hour time difference and a nice resort right on the beach. R