Club Med Punta Cana Family Activities

Punta Cana is known for its beautiful, calm beaches, ideal for swimming; and Club Med's beach is no exception. It is large, private, and has a gentle slope with clear, shallow water where kids can dip their toes, windsurf or sail. The beach has plenty of lounge chairs, as well a bar with outdoor seating and light fare like wraps and salads' great for snacks or a quick lunch if you don’t want to head up to the main dining rooms.

The property has three swimming pools, including one dedicated to the children's clubs, which has a small water park area with slides and sprayers. Outdoor activities at the resort abound; you'll find basketball, beach volleyball, bocce ball, football, tennis, kayaking, water polo, snorkeling, scuba, and sailing, among others. There are beginning group lessons in sailing and windsurfing, as well as group lessons at all levels for aqua aerobics, archery and tennis. There is also a weight room, and a super-cool skating ramp for kids ages 11 and older.

Club Med Punta Cana offers supervised kids' clubs for children ages 4 months to 17 years, including the Baby Club (4 to 23 months), Petit Club (2 to 3 years) Mini Club (4 to 10 years) and Passworld (11 to 17 years). While the Mini and Passworld clubs are complimentary, the Baby and Petit clubs are available for an additional cost, and are not included in the all-inclusive rate.

The kids' clubs are absolutely top-notch. The GOs are warm, competent, fun, and always wear a smile. I'm not sure where they find these people; but I'm willing to bet they lose a certain percentage of them each year to families who take them home as nannies. As a parent, you can come and go as you please; they welcome you to pop in and visit. Kids may go to the beach to take part in various water sports, attend tennis clinics, swim in the kids' pool and use the waterslide, hike the property, visit the flying trapeze and do art and crafts. Teens can hang out at a village called "The Lab at the Ramp" where they take part in fun activities including dance lessons, video editing, mixing, and theatre lessons.

A large percentage of Club Med G.O.s and guests are French. While a vast majority of them also speak English, this is not always the case for the children. Don't be surprised if your child is put into a group when French is spoken along with English, and be sure to discuss this with your child beforehand. My son loved the learning a few new words and did not have trouble communicating with anyone.

The Circus School offers kids (and grownups) trapeze lessons, as well as lessons on how to juggle, tightrope walk, and even unicycle. The instructors are patient and encouraging, and didn't make my son feel badly when he climbed the ladder preparing to trapeze, but got spooked and backed out at the last minute.

The huge playground is a treat for young kids and parents with little ones will enjoy the Baby Gym and classes. Six days a week, you and your baby (beginning at four months old) or toddler can take part in classes that allow them to climb, crawl, slide, and interact with other babies in fun, bright environment. With an emphasis on development of social skills, this program is geared towards exploration of movement.

Don't miss the Wellness Centre, a secluded spa oasis on the far edge of the beach, away from the pitter patter of little feet. My 30-minute Swedish massage was divine.

For parents of children ages 4 and up, there is a weekly stage show, which they prepare for during their time in the kids' club. This was a highlight of the trip for my son, as well as for me; he was so proud to get up and perform in the small outdoor theater with his new friends. The GOs who run this event are saints, truly, encouraging and patient with the kids -- and they put on a great show!

Babysitting can be arranged until 1 a.m. in the morning, and there is a variety of nightly entertainment for mom and dad.