By Mpho Maboi
Travel is a big part of my life. When an opportunity to explore a different country and get my passport stamped comes along, I jump at the chance. I recently took a week off Siz the World and found myself travelling for 20 hours, to land at one of the most picturesque spots in the world.
Sitting prominently in Kata Bay is the Club Med Village on the island of Phuket in Thailand. An all-inclusive resort catering to couples, those travelling as a family, and solo travellers alike. All-inclusive in this case, means that all your meals, drinks and most activities at the resort, are part of the price you pay. Only excursions, Scuba Diving and Champagne are excluded.
Once you set foot at Club Med Phuket, you are greeted with warm smiles, a cool face towel and welcome drinks, before being escorted to your air-conditioned room. Phuket is HOT and VERY humid!! So the air conditioning is much needed.
Club Med Phuket recently underwent a renovation process, where some of their rooms were modernised. Boy are they beautiful.
Overall, you have the option of the Deluxe room which accommodates 3 people, the Superior rooms, for 2 or up to 6 people when interconnected and the Suites which accommodate up to 5 people. The resort is located along the beachfront, making the morning walk a breeze.
When it comes to other activities at the resort, there is something for everyone, both young and old. You can jump into the ring for a Thai boxing lesson, or put on your chef’s hat and learn the art of Thai cuisine. Spend a cherished family holiday exploring Buddhist temples, or watch as traditional Thai dancers perform.
Travelling parents need not worry about not having enough time to enjoy themselves. The resort has Baby Club Med for 0-2-year-olds, Petit for 2-3-year-olds, Mini for 4-10year olds and Chill Pass for the older kids. There are plenty of activities at these clubs to keep the little humans occupied while you enjoy all that is on offer to you, including the adult-only Zen Bar.
The food served at the resort is a representation of different cultures since they host people from around the world. So you get to taste Asian cuisine from Thai to Japanese and Chinese, with a dollop of food from other cultures.
The evening parties, which are normally themed, bring about a family spirit and the ability to network and have fun with other residents. I enjoyed dressing up as we had an all-white party, an Asian theme night, a neon night and dinner at the Chuda Speciality restaurant over our week-long stay.
There was also a foam party for the kids during one of the days. Overall, the nice thing about Club Med, especially from a financial perspective, is that you never have to leave the resort, to feel like you’ve had a full holiday. Although we did take time out to go explore Buddhist temples, bargain hunt and enjoy some street food and unusual fruit at the fruit market that reminded me of being in Thohoyandou in Venda, Limpopo.
The staff, at Club Med Phuket, who come from all corners of the world, are friendly and give exceptional service, which plays a significant role in crafting memorable stays for travellers. I think they’re part of the reason why Thailand is called the “Land of a Thousand Smiles.”
I can’t wait to go back… Thank you for having me Club Med South Africa.
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