Join the club in Cherating
Club Med has long been synonymous with romance, but now a growing number of young families are discovering the brand and are welcoming this value-packed style of holiday. Jessica Zoiti reports.
For the Australian market, Club Med Cherating in Malaysia is a sure-fire winner.
Nestled among 200 acres of lush tropical gardens on Malaysia’s central east coast, the resort literally offers an escape to paradise, with dense jungle on one side and a four kilometre stretch of white sand lapped by the South China Sea on the other.
But it is more than a stunning beach and sparkling green water that draws people to Cherating.
Like all Club Meds, the resort package includes all food and beverages, most activities, entertainment, flights and accommodation. However unlike the Club Med of old, which reeked of pina coladas and prawn cocktails, today’s Club Med is about promoting a stress-free atmosphere where you are free to do as little, or as much as you like.
It’s about being pampered, not pestered.
The all-inclusive philosophy of Club Med has a fabulous fit with families. Guests wear coloured wristbands indicating age – those above the legal drinking age are allocated one colour, and all those below, another. So teens who like to think they’re 20, can only indulge in legal activities in mum and dad’s absence.
And when it comes to taking on teenagers, no one does it quite as well as Club Med Cherating.
Behind this claim lies two unique features. The first is the Gentile Organisers, better known as GOs, who are masters at getting guests involved in resort activities. GOs are hand-picked for their energy and extroverted attitudes and are expert at interacting with guests of any age.
The second key is Passworld; a new interactive zone that’s unique to Cherating, and designed especially for people aged 11 to 17. While organised sports and excursions are planned at Passworld, kids are welcome to simply hang out there during the day if they choose.
A sound mixing studio, band set-up, film production and editing suite, video games and free Internet are all on hand as part of Passworld’s cool teen-only attractions.
Younger kids are also well looked after, with Petit Club Med for children aged two or three, and Mini Club Med catering to children aged four to 10. In addition, there is the ever-popular circus school, where kids can experience the flying trapeze and tightrope walking. Both clubs are run by qualified GOs and operate from 9am to 9pm daily.
For families who prefer to play together on vacation, there are plenty of activities that are well suited to the young and young at heart.
Land-based sports include tennis, golf, squash, rock climbing, rollerblading, trapeze and the bungy bounce (a trampoline and harness set-up that allows kids to jump metres into the air).
Alternatively, water babies can sail, kayak or head to the central village to enjoy Cherating’s blissfully warm weather, and muck about in the resort’s massive swimming pool.
Most activities are complimentary and those that aren’t, such as quad biking and sailing, can be booked for a reasonable fee through the excursions office.
Then there are the night-time antics. After dark, Club Med Cherating transforms into entertainment central. Most famous for its incredible circus performance, the resort also presents a high-octane Jungle Show which sports a different theme each night.
More often than not, children take centre stage and together with their GOs, perform adorable dances and skits rehearsed throughout the day.
Turtle Time
Between May and September, Cherating Beach morphs into a nature lover’s haven as hundreds of sea turtles lumber onto the sand to hatch their young.
To take advantage of this annual special occasion, the local Marine and Fisheries Department established a turtle hatchery and research centre at Club Med Cherating’s main entrance.
During the season, the centre conducts early morning turtle watching tours, which can also be booked through the resort’s excursions office.
For those who miss the hatching season, be sure to pop into the centre to learn a little about these fascinating creatures and witness turtle eggs hatch in the warm incubated sand.
Staying there
Club Med Cherating’s 349 rooms are located in 15 adjoining wings that sit high on stilts and spider out from the central village, creating the longest wooded structure in the world - according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
For families, suites sleep two adults and one child, any many rooms interconnect to accommodate up to six guests. Deluxe rooms also interconnect to cater to families.
GETTING THERE
Malaysia Airlines flies directly to Kuala Lumpur from all Australian capital cities, with direct connections to Kuantan, a two-hour flight north-east. Club Med greets all guests at Kuantan Airport and manages the 45-minute transfer to Cherating Beach.