Ever wondered why so many people suggest Club Med when talking family holidays? Mum Central decided to find out for themselves as they review Club Med Bali – and almost didn’t come home!
Planning a family holiday is like a ball game where the goal posts keep moving and the rules can change at any moment!
Dad needs a break from his work schedule. Mum just needs to unwind. The toddlers are nuts wherever you take them and the older kids want to be busy, independent and entertained non-stop. Of course everyone wants to getaway to an amazing, international destination. As a couple you want to reconnect. As a family you want to experience other cultures and make new memories. But dad doesn’t want to fly too far. And Mum’s conscious of blowing the family budget.
It almost seems impossible… but is it?
That family holiday that ticks all the boxes is easier than you imagined! Mum Central’s great adventure to review Club Med Bali, Nusa Dua showed us just how fabulous, simple and budget-friendly a great getaway can be!
So what sets Club Med apart from the rest?
Firstly, Club Med is an international hotel group, it’s not just in Bali. So whatever your heart’s desire destination-wise there’s sure to be a Club Med nearby. The good news however is that the Club Med philosophy is super family-friendly and applies at all their locations world-wide.
1. Club Med ‘gets’ kids
Having begun their kids program over 40 years ago Club Med are the pioneers in creating fabulous, kid-friendly holidays.
2. Club Med is about unique and inspiring experiences for the whole family
Club Med offers over 60 different experiences worldwide including yoga, circus school, fitness clubs, horse riding, archery, scuba, sailing and more.
3. Club Med is an all-inclusive holiday…what does that mean?
The Club Med concept is a celebration of the all-inclusive holiday. Pay before you leave and never reach for your credit card again. This approach ensures you focus on relaxing, loving and laughing only, as money is the last thing on your mind!
Club Med’s all-inclusive packages include:
- Quality family-friendly accommodation
- 3 Gourmet meals per day and morning, afternoon and evening snacks
- Premium open bar including cocktails and spirits (YES!)
- Daily & Nightly Entertainment, including stage shows and nightclub
- Activities, water sports and sports within the resort
- a pretty awesome Kids Club
- travel insurance
Trying it all: Mum Central Explores Club Med Bali Nusa Dua
Our friends had recommended it. Bloggers everywhere raved about it. The website seemed to suit our needs perfectly. TripAdvisor gave it a Traveller’s Choice Award in 2016.
Could Club Med really be the ultimate family holiday?
We decided to ‘take one for the team’ and find out. Here’s what we’ve learned!
Club Med Bali is located in Nusa Dua. It’s located on a beautiful beachfront surrounded by traditional Balinese temples and lush green rice paddies.
On arrival, the air is warm, and you immediately surrender to the realisation that you have just landed in a literal paradise. Blonde sands, palm trees and wide-smiling locals greet you authentically and set the tone for a week that’s destined to be heaven on earth. The question, of course, is what exactly makes Club Med Nusa Dua such an idyllic destination for a family holiday?
There are 99 reasons we loved Club Med Bali, but here’s our top five!
1. Club Med Bali is stunning from whoa to go…
With modern design meeting traditional Balinese influences this is a destination with a true resort feel. As a Mum arriving somewhere that makes you think ‘Aaaaaah this is gorgeous’ is an immediate cue to unwind.
Designed by the world’s most inspired architects and designers, the rooms and suites in each Club Med Resort are unique, but they all have one thing in common: the comfort and well-being they offer.
The accommodation is spacious, comfortable and with plenty of attention to detail. For me, if it’s not more lovely than home, it’s not a holiday. Let’s just say Club Med Bali is so aesthetically perfect I had visions of staying forever!
FAMILY TIP: Interconnecting rooms make family-friendly accommodation a breeze. You get your own privacy and there’s plenty of space too.
2. Club Med Bali is actually kid-heaven
There are designated Kids Clubs for all age groups, and our two monkeys qualified to be members of Mini Club Med for children aged 4-10.
The activities were non-stop, and the kids simply couldn’t get enough! From sports to games, crafts to cooking, the kids didn’t have time to miss home – not that they gave it a second thought!
Club Med caters for kids from 4 months to 17 years and have separate groups accordingly to ensure your kids are entertained, stimulated and enjoy every moment (leaving you free to enjoy time to yourself without the mother guilt!)
Baby Club Med (4-23 months) – A gentle haven for little ones, safe in the experienced hands of their dedicated G.Os. Focus on early learning activities and motor skills. From 8.30 am to 5 pm, every day (extra cost)
Petit Club Med® (2 to 3 years) – Fun and spacious premises with plenty of outdoor space. Your toddlers will have a great time with their friends, and explore a wide range of activities designed to introduce them to new experiences: From 8.30 am to 5 pm and from 6.45 pm to 8.30 pm, every day (included)
Mini Club Med® (4 to 10 years) – They‘ve thought of everything possible to ensure your children have a unique, adventure-packed holiday, with discovery, sports and activities for each age group: From 8.30 am to 5 pm and from 6.45 pm to 8.30 pm, every day (included)
Juniors’ Club Med® (11 to 17 years) – Teenagers can meet up and take part in the activities that interest them most, in the company of their G.O. From 9.30 am to 7 pm and from 7 pm to 8.30 pm, every day (included)
For Mum and Dad peace of mind comes with knowing that the Kids Club is run by diploma-level qualified staff. The confidence of knowing that the children were in safe hands (and more so that they wanted to be in the Kids Club every minute of the day) allowed us to grab some adult time and appreciate the grown up facilities!
FAMILY TIP: Be sure to check out the whole range of activities on offer when you arrive as they tend to have a different event each night so work your night time routine around what’s on – it’ll be worth it to see the looks on your kids’ faces.
Don’t just take it from us, check out our highlights reel below!
Don’t just take it from us, check out our highlights reel below!3. Club Med is the stuff that big people dream of…
So the kids were nowhere to be seen and we couldn’t believe the options we had available to us. From the amazing wellness centre to surfing lessons, golf, gourmet food and more, the hardest part was deciding how we’d like to spend our days.
With the weather so beautiful and the pool so inviting, we took the opportunity to truly unwind. Deck chairs, cocktails and a beach bar certainly aided us in letting go of busy city lives and reconnecting with one another tropical-style.
4. Club Med is a mecca of delicious food (for even the fussiest eaters)
As a Mum there are two things I want to know about our family holiday dining. The first is that I’m not required to cook anything. The second is that there’s a vast enough array of food that everyone will be satisfied. Club Med Bali ticks the boxes with both fine and casual dining and local and international cuisines.
The food was truly art-inspired by world-class chefs, and best of all knowing we were on an all-inclusive package meant never for one minute worrying about what we were spending day-to-day! Funny how this makes everything taste a little more delicious somehow!
FAMILY TIP: The food was really family friendly, and the choices were endless, especially helpful for those with fussy eaters! By far it was one of the highlights of our stay, and we actually looked forward to every meal onsite
5. Club Med is the workplace of the world’s most friendly people
Nothing makes or breaks a holiday experience more than the staff. I don’t know what’s in the water at Club Med Bali but the team there are the most friendly, helpful, delightful people you could hope to deal with.
They genuinely love what they do – and they genuinely want to see their guests have an awesome holiday. The location may be idyllic; the food amazing, the facilities second-to-none but it’s the staff that makes Club Med Bali next level.
Even when our kids were being less than their best behaviour, okay make that completely foul, the staff showed us nothing but support and assistance. Club Med is a resort, but there’s no snooty vibe to be found!
FAMILY TIP: This is unlike any resort culture you’ve seen before. Be prepared for kid-friendly staff who make you feel like one of the family.
6. Club Med is a place to make beautiful family memories
If there was ever a place more designed for strengthening family bonds and making new memories, Club Med Bali is it! From the incredible circus school to the kids splashing in the pool, from local cultural experiences to incredible fresh seafood, this was a holiday that delivered show-stopping moment after moment.
If you are seeking a destination that will rejoice in family life, indulge couples and truly offer you the best of both worlds Club Med Bali is definitely first choice.
We especially loved all the poolside fun, especially being able to relax knowing the kids were safe in the shallow kids pool complete with their own pool guard. Safety first!
This is not goodbye…
There was only one moment of disappointment at Club Med Bali and that was as we packed our bags to go home! For a second, we all wondered if we could stay in paradise forever.
The best thing, however, about leaving was that we knew we were heading home as a more connected couple and truly stronger family. It’s actually amazing what seven days in paradise can do!
When we departed Australia we expected a holiday offering good food, great weather, friendly locals and sun, surf and sand. We never understood that experiencing this amazing resort could set us on a journey that celebrated family life and allowed us to pause, re-evaluate and appreciate our many blessings.
So long for now, Club Med Bali! Be sure, however, this is not goodbye – the Jennings’ family will be back real soon…
FAMILY TIP: Be prepared to slow down, switch off and clear your diary as you soak up life Club Med style. It really was the incredible balance between recharging your batteries and keeping the kids amused all the time. Bravo!
Mum Central stayed at Club Med Bali as guests of Club Med. All opinions are our own.
