Club Med Bali

Club Med Bali was our chosen destination to celebrate our 10^th Wedding Anniversary. This was our 3rd experience at Club Med (the 1^st one was Cherating and 2^nd was Phuket). We came here with some close friends and their daughter who is just 1 year older than ours.

Our jump of happiness

Our previous visits to Club Med were 4 days/3 nights stays, but this time we decided to book 5 days/4 nights. We arrived in Bali on our 9:30am Air Asia flight from Kuala Lumpur at about 12.30pm (there is no time difference) and took a big taxi for all six of us to Club Med.  This cost us 150k rupiah and took 30 minutes as Club Med is in Nusa Dua which is very close to the airport.  The trip was fairly pleasant, and the taxi driver was very friendly and chatty. 

On arrival at the entrance/guard house of Club Med there was tight security and they had to check our bookings with reception before we could head in. Once cleared, our taxi driver dropped us at the lobby where we were greeted by the reception GOs, who informed us that our rooms were ready and handed us our room cards. As is traditional at Club Med, we were served with ice tea and water, given a cold towel and ribbons as our identification. After a short briefing by the GO Ginny, another GO escorted us to our rooms and gave us an information pamphlet and other relevant information.

Our welcome drinks and wet towel

The best and the most unique thing about Club Med Bali is the extremely friendly people in the club. Everywhere you go, left right and centre, there will be GOs to greet you and wish you well. Not only the GOs, but the house-keeping and staff of the club also never failed to greet us and give us a big smile. We felt so welcome at the club and comfortable wherever we went. 

Below are the details of our stay:-

Room: Our room was a decent size and had a king sized bed with a functional bathroom that had a good shower but no bathtub.  The internet in the room was good, but disconnected each day and we had to login again. Our room was on the top (second) floor with a view of the beautiful garden, trapeze and beach. It was amazing to watch the sun rise over the ocean every day. Our room was not too far from the reception area. Toiletries like body lotion, shower gel and shampoo and conditioner were supplied. The resort also provided 2 bottles of water every day. As the weather was hot and humid, we loved the super powerful air-condition from the room.

When we booked our rooms, we booked for 4 adults and 2 children, with the intention of having 3 persons per room, but when we received our room keys we were confused that we were given three rooms for 2 persons in each.  They had given us two rooms with King sized beds for the adults and another room with 2 single beds for the children.  As the children were 3 and 4 and the rooms were not adjoining, it was not possible for the children to sleep on their own and we thought that was a bit of a strange.  Presumably they had run out of rooms for three people so we didn’t make a fuss and used the extra room as a spare.

Food & Beverages: We arrived at Club Med after lunch had ended and we were told that there was a late lunch being served at the Deck Restaurant. The food there was very yummy.  

At the main (Agung’s) restaurant it was supposed to be an international buffet, but somehow the food options were lacking and quality was not up to our expectations. We thought we could get some chicken/beef/mutton curries and sushi but those foods were not being served at all during our stay. Overall, the food was alright. Not complaining much, as long as it feeds my hungry tummy!  

Snacks were being served nearby the bar, and they were always making sure that the guests have something to eat.   

Free flow of drinks, including beer, cocktails and mocktails are available and the bar also has a mini counter with a staircase for kids to order their specialty drinks.

The bar where you get your drinks from

Mineral water stations are available at certain places to ensure that guests are properly hydrated.

Beach: The beach is simply beautiful and the sand is very fine with no sharp pebbles, friendly to your feet (other than the temperature). The sea is warm and fairly calm but even though it is a private beach, there  are many locals that try their best to sell you sports activities, e.g. para-sailing, jet-ski and banana boat. We did not ask for the price as we have tried all those sport activities before.  

Pool: The main pool is basic and caters for adults and kids and is covered. If your kids want to play with a water fountain, there is another kids pool located inside the Mini Club. There is a life guard on duty and you can obtain your towels at the nearby counter.

The main pool

Another pool is the Zen pool which we enjoyed the most. This pool is located away from the main pool and facing the beach. If you do not wish to swim, there are sufficient sofas for you to enjoy and relax with your drinks.

The Zen Pool

Activities: We had so much fun. We just wanted to stay there as long as we could and did not want to go home. Below are the types of activities that we participated in at Club Med Bali:-

(a) Trapeze:

The highlight of my visit to Club Med will always be the trapeze and I spent 2 hours each day for 4 continuous days there. The circus team GOs consisted of Kerry (chief of circus) from Christchurch, Juan from the Dominican Republic, Nat from Sydney and Cheryl from Singapore. I did the Split Catch, Straddle Whip Catch, Reverse Single Knee Hang Catch and the Penny Roll Catch. The teaching of the tricks starts at 4pm everyday and after that, if you are ready, they will allow you to do the catch with them at 5:30pm.

I must say the circus team in Club Med Bali is the best. All of them are very friendly, patient and always providing us with their invaluable guidance to do the tricks and catches well.

Flying off to catch

Reverse single knee hang catch

The circus team - Cheryl, Juan, me, Stephen, Kerry and Nat

Cheryl, Juan, Me, Kerry and Nat

My bruises for doing trapeze. Cool right?

Cuts from doing the penny roll catch. 

Kerry – the most patient and funny GO I have ever met will teach and guide you with the tricks. If you are unable to do the catch, he will give you comforting words and say that “You will get the catch tomorrow”. I remembered the next day, which was also our last day at the club, he wore his pink army tights and he did the catches. The best thing is there were about 10 people doing the catch for that day and all of us did it successfully! That shows he’s the best. He said he’s leaving Club Med soon and will be returning home. It will be a loss to Club Med, if they let him go; a guy that has contributed so much and is so passionate in his work.

Juan – a soft-spoken guy and the coolest in the circus team. He is always ensuring that the transition of the tricks is done on time prior to the catch.

Me and Mr Cool

Nat & Cheryl – friendly and bubbly girls, will always talk to you and try to calm you when you are at the platform prior to taking off. They are very strong and energetic girls. Watch them perform on the hoop and silk and you will know. Girls on FIRE. 

Nat and Nat

Being an aerialist and performer myself, their performances are flawless. Watch them perform live and you will know what I mean.

(b) ABT classes: Vux, the ABT instructor from Durban, South Africa will make you sweat within 5 minutes. His regime of workout is so intense that you will feel the pain. I was unable to complete most of the exercises and the best thing, he encouraged me to reach my maximum limit, which is what I needed. A great guy with a great workout.

Me, Vux and Steve (after our workout)

(c) Wind Surfing: My friends were saying that there’s no wind, how to wind surf? My husband and I decided to sign up anyway and tried it out for the 1st time. Under the tutelage of Jaya, we had great fun learning how to pull up the sail and balancing. His instructions were very clear and the best thing was, I did not fall down at all and did not get my hair wet.

(d) Daily activities for Kids

There are activities in the afternoon everyday for kids. You need to check out the time-table to find out the details at the staircase leading to the Agung restaurant or opposite the lift going up to the said restaurant. There were dancing, face painting, baking pancakes and cookies.

(e) Theme Night Each night there will be a theme/colour dressing for dinner. On the first night, which was a Saturday, the theme was Balinese, Sunday night was Blue for boys and Pink for girls, Monday night was black and Tuesday night was black and white.

(f) Souvenir shop: This shop sells T-shirts, dresses, toys and small souvenirs like handicrafts from Bali, etc. On some days, you can get the Club Med T-shirts at half the price. One of the GO, Duanwisa from Thailand, whom I met at Club Med Phuket remembered me and we were chatting about the good old times during my stay at Phuket.

Duanwisa and me

(g) Party after 9.45 p.m.: The night is always young at Club Med. There will be party, music and dancing to entertain the guests and the guests can join in the dancing session with the GOs and do the crazy signs. 

There was a fire-eating demonstration, limbo competition and my favourite of all, Miss Bali, where the male GOs from different countries dressed up in female national costumes to do the catwalk, showing off their talent and entertaining the guests.

During the pageant

The newly crowned Miss Bali

The bar closes at 12a.m. but the party continues at the beach and can last until 2am.

The human train to the beach party

Performances: I always look forward to show time by the circus team from 9.15-10pm as they will put up amazing and spectacular aerial shows with their hoop, silk and trapeze. Before the show starts at 9.15pm, the GOs will entertain the guests with crazy signs and dance on the spot. 

On the 1^st night of our arrival at Club Med Bali, there was the Sports Awards for guests that participated in trapeze, water sports, tennis and golf. After the Sports Awards, we were entertained by Balinese traditional dances. It was slow at first with live traditional musical instruments being played by the side. By the 4^th and 5^th dances, it was more of an upbeat music with traditional dances. The costumes were colourful and beautiful.

On the 2^nd night, the circus team performed dancing, pole dancing and aerial shows to the theme Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy discovers adventures along her way. Thereafter, there were numerous and different kind of somersaults. 

On the 3^rd night, we were entertained to the African theme Pridelands. Vux, the fitness instructor was amazing portraying the beauty of safaris of Africa. Kerry did perform a trapeze act in this show and he was the monkey, swinging on the trapeze.

Kerry as the Monkey

Love this act

On our last night, we were entertained by Burlesque performances and aerial performances. The circus team was great and electrifying. Nat was on the hoop and Cheryl performed the silk with many drops to awe the guests.

Baby, Petite and Mini Club: The price for Petite Club is Indonesian rupiah 725,000 for full day from 8.30a.m. till 5.00 p.m. The best thing about Club Med Bali is the guests can hire a nanny instead. You can book nanny services from the reception. The cost for a nanny was Indonesian rupiah 115,000 (entrance fee) for the nanny to enter Club Med and thereafter rupiah 40,000 per hour.

We were very fortunate to have a nanny by the name of “Kui” for my little girl. She was very good with my little girl. Her eyes were on my girl all the time, ensuring that she’s always hydrated, puts on her cap and follow her very closely and best thing, ensuring my little girl is always entertained at the mini club with all their fun-filled activities. She’s very experienced lady and I really recommend her to all parents. She told us she has been working for 14 years at Club Med.  

1st day with Nanny Kui

2nd day with Nanny Kui

What’s not included in your booking fee?

Almost everything is included in your booking fee, apart from the Baby Club and Petite Club, excursions outside the resort, premium alcohol, spa treatments and photographs taken by the professional photographers.

Verdict

Club Med Bali GOs and staff were phenomenal. The exuberant GOs played a big part to entertain you and to make sure your family has a fabulous holiday.

During our stay, I remembered these 2 GOs - Ara from South Korea and Vincent, the management GOs, as they were constantly circulating around the village chatting, making sure that the guests were enjoying their stay. I saw them working after 12am checking the village and they are up again before 9am and making their rounds to supervise the sports and activities carried out at the club. Everybody loves Ara, a funny guy that makes you laugh all the time and forget your worries.

This is Vincent

Ara and me

My husband and I also had a pleasant chat and dinner with Fajar and Salim (friendly bartenders) from Indonesia. Both of them very amusing and told us so much information about Club Med.

The GOs, working 6 days a week, spend their days running the activities and kids club, in the afternoon with non-stop entertaining the guests at the pool, evenings they turn into Broadway musical stars and aerialist and continue to party with the guests till late or early mornings. Seriously, where did they get all the energy from?

I must say Eric Lejeune, the chief of village has done a tremendous job and to his team. You can always see him at the front entrance of the Agung restaurant, never stop greeting his guest during breakfast, lunch and dinner and the best thing about Eric, HE REMEMBERS HIS GUESTS very well.

Kudos to Eric and the GOs of Club Med Bali for a fantastic job! We had a great time at Club Med Bali and will definitely be returning to Club Med Bali again. What can I say, I’m addicted to Club Med. The family vacation that gives you the 110% satisfaction and happiness throughout your stay. 

The pictures below show how happy we were at Club Med Bali.

Salaree having fun with Buddha

Sunset yoga 

Beach pole at Nusa Dua