Teens can be a picky and tricky age-group to please. Many resorts set up a "teen center" with videogames and foosball, and just hope for the best. Not Club Med.
Club Med was the original all inclusive resort brand, and now has resorts around the world. Many have outstanding kids' programs.
And Club Med is tackling teens like no one has before. Club Med Punta Cana, in the DR, has The Ramp; and 12 resorts worldwide are rolling out Passworld.
Features of Passworld:
cool space to hang out: we're talking purpose-built and high-style themed areas. Kids can hang out at Passworld even when no supervised activities are going on.
two separate age groups: 11 to 13, and 14 to 17
lots of supervised cool activities-- see below
What are G.O.'s? The best thing about Club Med for kids, but some background is needed to explain. Club Med started in the fifties as a tent-village on a Mediterranean beach. Much has changed as the brand grew world-scale and upscale, but from the start, and still today, Club Med villages have had G.M.'s and G.O.'s: G.M.'s are the guests (Gentil membres, "gracious members") ; and G.O.'s are the staff (gentils organisateurs, "gracious organizers.") G.O.'s eat meals alongside G.M.'s are can be seen at all hours around the resort -- kids love to see their kids' club G.O.'s around-and-about.
G.O.'s run all the kids and teen programs, and are an amazing breed of energetic extroverts -- exactly what a teen center needs.
Yes, there will be some videogames and movies; but that's just the wallpaper. Club Med has amazing programs for younger kids, so it's no surprise that teens get very cool things to do. Activities vary from village to village.
Theatre and Dance: Club Med resort all inclusive resorts have permanent theaters for nightly performances. One night a week, the different age groups in the kids' clubs perform-- with lights, costumes, sound effects-- songs and dances they're practiced all week. Hip-hop dance classes are a feature at many Club Med resorts; other types of singing, dancing, learning musical instruments are variously offered, too.
Sound Mixing: some kids will love the chance to play around with this equipment.
Film Production and Editing: for example, making a mini-video or music video
Arts & Crafts: jewelry-making, tattoos, fashion. (Some activities may have an extra charge for materials.)
Sports: trapeze is a signature feature of Club Med. Kids might also do: wall climbing, bungee jumping, sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing, beach volleyball, basketball, beach soccer.
Night-time: movie night on the beach, disco night, beach party, etc. Teens can also have a blast at "crazy signs": a signature Club Med activity; a GO leads a crowd (of all ages, GM's and GO's) in dancing to crazy moves.
Excursions: hiking, picnics, maybe overnight camping; adventure excursions (extra charge)
Passworlds Around the World
Each one has a theme...
Club Med Cancun Yucatan (Mexico): the Wash Station, with car-wash theme. Large space on a lagoon, next to a restaurant; equipment for sound-mixing and video production; lounge areas. This resort has the best location in Cancun, 22 acres on its own peninsula.
The Ramp, Club Med Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) - very cool structure: giant skateboard ramp, with lounge underneath, canopy above that doubles as a movie screen. This resort also has a giant kids' club area with large playgrounds and swimming pools.
- Le Manoir, Vittel le Parc (France-Vosges region)
- La Salle des Coffres, Peisey-Vallandry (French Alps)
- La Machinerie, Arcs Extreme (French Alps)
- Le Studio, Sestriere (Italian Alps)
- Il Cabaret, Kamarina (Sicily)
- The Souk, Djerba Méridiana (Tunisia)
- La Réserve, Yasmina (Morocco)
- Great Barrier Reef, Lindeman Isle (Australia)
- Fungi, Cherating Beach (Malaysia)
- La Piscine, Les Almadies (Senegal)
* Always check resort web site for updates!
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.