Club Med and Cirque du Soleil have partnered to bring the ultimate in experiences to family vacations: the CREACTIVE playscape, where children and adults alike can learn Cirque skills, including trapeze, acro bungee, and juggling.
Think Club Med is still only for singles looking for fun? Think again. Club Med is making a name for itself in all-inclusive family vacations, with new attractions, various activities for all ages, and a kids club for when parents want some time to themselves.
The CREACTIVE playscape is made up of five main areas: the Grand Trapeze, the Big Top, the Acroplex, L’Atelier, and La Piste.
CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil
Club Med recently partnered with Cirque du Soleil to bring a new concept to experiential travel: CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil. This summer, Club Med Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, became the newest site of CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil—a completely unique experience. Visitors can learn how to do a variety of acrobatic and artistic activities that are typically featured in the popular and awe-inspiring Cirque du Soleil shows, including acrobatic bungee, flying trapeze, juggling, face painting, and high wall walking.
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From left: the CREACTIVE acrobatic bungee, Cirque du Soleil makeup lessons, and the CREACTIVE inspirational archway
Guests are immersed in a colorful Cirque-like atmosphere in which they can play, have fun, and challenge themselves mentally and physically. The best part of it all: No prior experience is necessary to fly and spin through the air. Cirque du Soleil trained staff teaches guests of all ages how to master all the skills in a friendly, fun, safe manner.
Worried you’ll be stepping on kids’ toes? Don’t be. There are dedicated times for kids and adults to enjoy the interactive playscape with their peers (Let’s be honest: We don’t want to see our fearless kids best us on the flying trapeze!)
The CREACTIVE teachers regularly put on a show to demonstrate all the Cirque skills you can learn.
Insider Tip: Just have fun. Don’t worry if you don’t master everything on the first try (I sure didn’t)—you’re not a trained Cirque performer!
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Water, Fitness, and Relaxing Activities
If flying through the air isn’t your cup of tea, or you just want to cross a few things off your bucket list, Club Med offers a variety of water (kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, and wind surfing), sports (basketball, soccer, volleyball, archery, bocce, and tennis), fitness, and relaxing activities—hello, Club Med Spa by L’Occitane!—to make the most of your experiential vacation.
Other new features at Club Med Punta Cana include the water sports activity center that offers a water activity for any kind of weather—windy, calm, etc.—as well as the renovated fitness center. The fitness center offers 45-minute classes, including BodyPump, Zumba, and cycling, as well as coaching and personal training Sunday-Friday.
The L’Occitane Spa at Club Med offers a full menu of spa services—the massage is not to be missed!
Another cool feature is the Happy Golf school at Club Med Punta Cana that offers putt and chip classes, learn to golf, and various golf packages. There are two large golf courses located within 5 minutes of the resort, and the club has access to five courses with gorgeous views of the Caribbean—La Cana, Corales, Punta Espada, Teeth of the Dog, and Dye Fore.
Insider Tip: It’s all about the bucket list here, folks. If you’ve always wanted to learn to sail like I did, sign up for it. If you’ve been dying to try your hand at Katniss’ expertise, sign up for archery. The sky’s the limit!
Kids’ Club
For those times your children want to hang with their peers, or you just want an hour or two to relax on the beach with a good book, Club Med has a kids’ club that’s separated into three groups: Baby Club Med for ages 4-23 months, Petit Club Med for ages 2-3, and Mini Club Med for ages 4-10. Passworld is also available for ages 11-17. A bonus feature is the Pyjama Club for ages 4 months to 10 years (an additional fee is required for this). Kids will stay in the club from 8pm-1am, so parents can have a date night.
Children can participate in all the activities the resort has to offer tailored to them, and groups return to the kids’ club home base every hour in case parents want to sign kids out for family activities.
The kids’ club home base has two pools (one for ages 4-7, one for 4 and younger—6 and younger are required to wear floaties), kid-sized tennis and basketball courts, and a room for each age group with toys. Parents are required to sign kids in and out of the club, and allergies are accounted for during meals (ages 8-10 go to the buffet, and there is a small kids’ menu for ages 8 and younger).
Insider Tip: With the variety of activities, snack times, and a quite time built into the daily schedule, plus a kids’ show after dinner, you’ll never hear your child claim they’re bored.
You won’t want to miss the sunrise in Punta Cana if you’re an early riser, or the sunsets!
Dining
There are two main restaurants currently on the campus: The Samana and L’Hispaniola. Both are buffet style, serving a variety of international cuisines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a rotating basis. Everyone can find something they like. Even this vegan found enough to eat at every meal (best pineapple of my life).
Le Céleste is currently undergoing renovations to expand and provide table service for adults only at dinnertime. During the day, though it will be an a la carte dining area for all guests. Le Céleste is slated to re-open in December.
Insider Tip: Always start with the white chocolate bread—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once you leave Club Med Punta Cana, you’ll miss the beach, but this will be a close second.
With direct flights available from the NYC area to the Dominican Republic, Club Med Punta Cana is truly a family destination. And with all the activity, relaxing, and dining options, everyone in your family will be able to tailor the trip to make it the Best. Family. Vacation. Ever.
Main photo: Club Med Punta Cana has cabanas across the property where you can enjoy the gorgeous views without being directly in the sun.
All photos by/courtesy Katelin Walling
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