Club Med holidays - opinions sought

[CharlieAlpha66]

Have just started looking into a holiday for the Summer - for my g/f, her 14yr old and myself.

In order to keep the boy happy, I figured a Club Med style holiday would be in order - total all inclusive option, so activities from dawn until dusk + all he can eat & drink without pestering his Mum & I constantly for ££.

Just wondered if anyone here had a) used Club Med previously and b) had specifically visited their Nabeul resort in Tunisia or their Napita resort in Italy?

Any input that anyone can offer re. their experiences would be warmly received.

Cheers!

[blueski]

I worked as a Sailing Instructor for Mark Warner in Greece last Summer... all inclusive sailing, windsurfing and tennis, with tuition etc. Decent kids/teenager clubs, with activities dawn to dusk (and sometimes evenings too).

So far as I remember, there were 3 meals included per day, and as much wine as you could drink over dinner.

They have a couple of new resorts which may be worth a look... though I'd also have a look at Sunsail, who do all the above, though the tennis isn't as good.

HTH

>> Edited by blueski on Thursday 3rd February 11:37

[Hugh1]

If you are into sailing/windsurfing/kitesurfing and cycling then Neilson have a resort at Mar Menor. We went there 2 years ago and it absolutely fantastic, one of the best holidays I've been on. We were there for 2 weeks and there was plenty to do. Tuition is all included etc etc but food / drinks aren't.

editted to say: MarMenor = Spain

>> Edited by Hugh1 on Thursday 3rd February 11:37

[Hugh1]

sorry to hijack the thread; Blueski what did you think of working for Mark Warner? Im a dinghy instructor and am tempted to go and work in the med. for the summer. I need to come away with some money for uni next year though, I've heard that in general with these sorts of things you will spend what you earn out there, is this the case?

Thanks

Hugh

[CharlieAlpha66]

Thanks guys - I've got brochures for all of these.. Mark Warner, Neilson, Club Med and Sunsail.

Club Med seem the least expensive of them all - AND they offer the total all inclusive thing for £69 a week (this is all drinks & snacks on top of 3 meals a day). Bargain methinks.

Sailing/Windsurfing is definately required for me, tennis/golf less so. The lad will do everything and anything, he's very active! His Mum will be happy lying on the beach getting pi$$ed on pre-paid drinks!!

Complications booking the holiday are:
- school holidays (=max. prices)
- taking the g/f's 14 yr. old (sleeping arrangements to consider

So this limits us in terms of resorts - which is why I have come up with the 2 Club Med places I listed above......

[blueski]

Hugh1 said:

sorry to hijack the thread; Blueski what did you think of working for Mark Warner? Im a dinghy instructor and am tempted to go and work in the med. for the summer. I need to come away with some money for uni next year though, I've heard that in general with these sorts of things you will spend what you earn out there, is this the case?

Mark Warner are ok to work for, though I'd pick a resort that's close to a major town (e.g. Bodrum, in Turkey). I was stuck out in the sticks and mostly confined to the resort 6 days a week - though we could hire a car on our day off and go explore.

The money was £50/week, plus a £30 retainer/week - which was only paid if you stayed till the end of the season. All your flights, food, uniform (well, t-shirt and shorts), etc are paid for, so it's basically money to spend at the bar... where you'll get half price drinks. Still, with a few days out, you'll be lucky to have anything left over, and I know plenty of staff who came back with less money than they started with.

I'd also look at working for Sunsail, who are more serious about sailing, and less so about tennis. The staff morale is generally higher, you get to eat with the guests (rather than the staff canteen) and don't get treated like kids.

They have a better rep among sailing instructors, so the jobs tend to go earlier - get your name down quickly if you want to work this Summer. Mark Warner have a more lax approach to recruitment... I had an relaxed interview late May, and got called on Friday night to be told I was flying out Sunday morning(!).

Be warned, it may sound like fun, and it is - but you'll have to be very into your sailing/windsurfing to avoid getting bored with the monotony and rarely having to use your brain.

On the plus side, there's tons of gorgeous sun-tanned girls wanting to sleep with a sailing instructor... and you're getting paid. Can't be bad.

>> Edited by blueski on Thursday 3rd February 11:50

[nel]

Been forced by the wife on a couple of Club Med holidays - it will not be repeated.

Bloody karaoke, let's all do the Club Med dance around the pool, plastic smiles, too many peasants, etc. I'M NOT A NUMBER, I'M A FREE HOLIDAYMAKER FFS!!

Upsides, I enjoyed the diving, tennis, archery, sailing. Youngsters generally have a good time, though tots don't always want to go to the mini-club.

But then I'm a grumpy old bear....

[blueski]

nel said:

Bloody karaoke, let's all do the Club Med dance around the pool, plastic smiles, too many peasants, etc. I'M NOT A NUMBER, I'M A FREE HOLIDAYMAKER FFS!!

Yeah, there was an element of that at Mark Warner, and it was bloody awful... I think it tends to happen more at the big resorts, so would always choose a smaller one if possible. They also tend to be more sociable (everyone eats together, etc).

I haven't worked at Sunsail (only done family holidays there), but the standard "package holiday" sh1t is conspicuous by its absence. Which can only be a good thing.

[CVP]

[redacted]