Every year we aim to go for a short family vacation to either Malaysia or Indonesia. It is something that we look forward to – some more than others, depending on the location chosen, especially after the PSLE revising grind. Once in a long while we get to go further like Perth, Australia in 2012. We are hoping to go again, next year after our next PSLE hurdle, God willing. Budget carriers have made air travel much more affordable. But accommodations, car rental and food consumption still add up when you are a large family.
Club Med Bintan, Indonesia
This year, we decided to go back to Club Med Bintan, Indonesia, mostly because of the food and the wide range of activities available at the resort. One could simply soak in the pool, play table tennis or try shooting some arrows at the archery range. The more adventurous could try trapeze swinging. The wide range of activities available is very helpful for our family since we need to cater to a wide range of ages: 5 to 16 this year and a wide range of preferences. We had toyed with just booking a villa at Bintan Lagoon Resort under SAFRA as it is much cheaper. But we finally decided on Club Med, Bintan because of the following :
- The kids had fun the last time we were there
- Everything, from food, accommodation, ferry and coach transfers and activities are ALL included in the package price. Certain activities, such as golf, will require a fee but almost all are included.
- ALL food is included in the package, 3 meals a day plus snacks plus drinks! Yes, this is a biggie for us, as you all know how much my children eat!
- Activities that the children like are included in the package
- They have a Teens Club for ages 11 to 17
Teens and Mini Club
Teens Club did not appeal to the older ones the last time we were there but this time around, they were more than happy to join in the activities and make friends with the other children. So that left the 3 younger girls with Henson and me. Club Med Bintan has a Mini Club but they were not keen to join so we didn’t push it. They were very happy to just soak in the pool and/or be at the beach the whole day. In a way, it was relaxing for Henson and me as we were “forced” to do nothing and be with them. Wifi connection was only available in the rooms and lobby area so no spacing out on kids with the iPhone! 🙂
Food
Ah, food! It was buffet spread after buffet spread for all three meals. And the food selection was always new at lunch and dinner. They had Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Western sections and always, a pizza, pasta, fries and chicken nugget selection for kids who seem to love that kind of food. The standard and selection of the food, however, seemed to have deteriorated from what we remembered the last time we were there though. But still, I am certainly not complaining as I did not have to cook or even think about what to eat. We just walked to the restaurant when it was mealtime and ate and ate and ate!
Art and craft activities
The 3 younger girls were looking forward to the tie-dye and Paf Paf t-shirt painting art and craft offered at the club. For this activity, we had to pay for the t-shirts – don’t ask how much they charge for a basic tee. Just take it as a memory maker 😀 They loved the t-shirts they made the last time and have worn it very often so I didn’t feel bad spending the money.
The girls had fun choosing the colours for their tie-dye t-shirts and the patterns (spiral and target) they wanted their t-shirts to have. At the Paf Paf t-shirt activity, they had even more fun deciding which stencil design they wanted on their t-shirts and where to place them.
Pool and beach fun
The older ones preferred playing at the beach than the pool, digging holes to bury themselves in and enjoying the waves. The waves were strong and it reminded the 7-year-old of the Wave Pool at Sentosa’s Adventure Cove. So she would alternate between the pool and the beach.
It was nice to just sit and watch the younger ones (aged 9, 7, 5), have fun at the pool and beach. Once in a while, they will come over and ask us to participate in their made-up games and stories but they were equally contented playing by themselves. The last time we came, they preferred playing at the kiddy pool at Club Med Mini which was located on the 4th floor, far away from the big kids/adult pool. But this time around, they were less intimidated by the big kids/adult pool as the 9 and 7-year-old have improved much over the past year in their swimming prowess 😉 The 5-year-old who has yet to learn how to swim was happy to just play on the steps of the pool.
The bar, situated next to the pools, which served mocktails and juices (and alcohol too) was really helpful as the sun was really super hot during the 4 days we were there. As I told a friend, a pity we don’t drink or the package would be super worthwhile as drinks, including alcohol, is free flow!
Sports activities
All the children, except the 5-year-old, had fun swinging from the trapeze, shooting at archery, playing table tennis and squash with each other and with daddy, and of course, playing in the pool and soaking in the sea. David went mountain biking with daddy and both survived 😀 One downside of travelling in October is that it is the start of the monsoon season and the sea is very choppy. This meant that kayaking, which the older 4 were so looking forward to was a non-event for 3 of them as it was only allowed for those 16 and above. Especially since the day before David went out to sea, a boy of 11 received 4 stitches when his kayak capsized and hit his head! Scary!
Is Club Med expensive compared to the other resorts?
Of course, it is! But for us, it is still a deal if for nothing else but the food spread in quantity and quality. 😀 The rooms are also clean and comfortable. Service is great and all in all, we have lovely memories of it.
You can see more photos of our vacation over at Henson’s blog post, Family Break At Club Med Bintan.
Will we return again? Probably not In the near future but who knows? It is just an hour away by ferry and a short 15-minute coach ride from the ferry terminal. It is relatively safe and the kids are familiar with the layout and all. I heard that there was a Korean family who has been there 20 times in the last 6 months! And since we are homeschooling we are able to travel during the off-peak periods which does reduce the cost. But I know the children are itching to go back to Perth too 😉
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