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It's Time to Eat

As you would expect from a French company, dining well is essential. Of the two main restaurants, the open-air Hispaniola stands out for its location overlooking the ocean, but it's upstaged by Samana, next to the reception center. Loosely designed as a marketplace, Samana has concentric rings of food stations, many with chefs preparing dishes as needed, and specializing in a particular dish or international cuisine.

Kids gravitate to the pizza, pasta, burgers, chicken nuggets and hot dogs, while adults may opt for more sophisticated entrees like rack of lamb, lobster, sushi, or local fish with ginger. On any evening there are dozens of choices, including a vast array of salads, breads, and cheeses. Desserts, too, are abundant, though the one that drew the longest lines was the creperie. You can watch your crepe being made by a machine that spreads batter on a griddle and then choose the toppings or fillings you like, among them hot fudge and various fruit compotes. One mother told me this marketplace approach worked really well for her picky-eater kids, saying "They can see the food they're going to get and choose what looks good."

Down By the Sea

The beach is one of the glories of the Club. At almost 2,000-feet long and 165-feet wide, this boulevard of soft sand borders turquoise waters protected by an offshore reef. At its core stands Celeste, a casual restaurant/bar by day, and a nightclub after dark, along with a covered stage in a coconut grove for merengue, salsa, and yoga classes.

Platoons of lounge chairs extend in both directions. Part of the ocean has been roped off for swimming, while water sports launch from another. The far northern end of the beach, away from all this activity, tends to be less congested, luring adults (some of them topless) in search of a quieter spot to plop down on a lounge chair.

That tranquil, far northern end is also appropriately the location of the new spa, which sits slightly back and above the beach. It has a couple of outdoor palapas for individual and couples massages, as well as another eight treatment rooms inside, and a Zen-inspired open-air lounge with a plunge pool at one end. Traditional massages aside, you can also choose from aroma scrubs, mud treatments, pearl facials, and more.

To my regret, because my trip was short, I never found time for any of the excursions outside the club. One ventured into the countryside to visit a small village, a school, and a plantation, sampling tropical fruits and Dominican coffee along the way. Other choices were to view the wildlife and dolphin shows at Manati Park, or to make the trek into the historic capital city of Santo Domingo.  Next time... 

Editors Note: Starting July 1, Club Med Resorts will offer $99 Sale and Best Friend Getaway deals. The $99 Sale offers newly renovated accommodations, indigenous cuisine, and children’s programs starting at $99 per person per night. The Sale is available for booking July 1-Aug 31, 2009 for travel from July 4-April 24, 2010. The Best Friend Getaway fuses relaxation with friendship in this four-night package starting at $949 per person. Guests are treated to newly renovated suites, massage treatments, gourmet dining, and full open bar throughout the day. The package is available for booking July 1 for travel July 1-Dec 23, 2009.