Club Med Phuket

The sociable spirit at Club Med Phuket is very infectious, thanks to its very enthusiastic staff and guests. You could be set on lounging on a deck chair by the pool and finishing your holiday novel, but the draw of an in-pool kayak race or water "golf' tournament might get you on your feet. There's no pressure to perform - the point is just to have fun.

Throughout the day, from 8am to 10pm, there are always activities going on somewhere on the Club Med grounds. These are posted on notice boards, and there's no need to make reservations. Some of the activities are for adults only, others are for the entire family (such as golf and archery), while yet others are solely for the kids.

FOR KIDS 0NLY

The kids have a brand-new facility to themselves – KidsVillage. This 1,000 sq m space, located away from the main activity hub, is where those aged two to 17 can have endless fun and makes friends from around the world. It houses outdoor and indoor playgrounds, a swimming pool and a wading pool. Twenty specially-trained "gracious organisers" (GOs for short) from over 22 nationalities do all sort of activities with the kids.

The kids are grouped by age into Petit Club Med (two- to three-year olds),

Mini Club Med (four- to 10- year-olds) and Juniors' Club Med(up to 17-year-olds), with the youngest group having a higher GO-child ratio. Many of the GOs have child care experience and all are trained in first aid and CPR for infants and children. Though it is a drop-off programme, parents can pick up their kid anytime to have a meal or head to the beach.

The kids also get a space where they can feel at home. For instance, the

Petit Club Med room is a wonderful sun-drenched space with pedal cars, a puppet theatre and padded baby gym equipment. The little charges here also get a nap room and snack room. With clear blue skies and sunshine most of the time, their activities certainly aren't confined to the indoors. GOs also take the kids out for nature walks, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf or to the beach.

BABIES MOST WELCOMED

You'll be pleased to know you don't need to pack a ton of baby gear with the help of the Club Med Baby Welcome programme, which is available at no extra cost. If you have a baby aged below two years, you will have access to the baby centre that has jarred baby food, toys, cots and strollers. Book in advance when making your Club Med booking.

The centre takes a maximum of 20 babies. You can also request for baby gear in your room, such as a baby bathtub, changing mat, high chair, bottle warmer, cot or child's bed.

WELL FED, ROUND THE CL0CK  

With three buffets a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to a new Bar & Snacking offering, there are no hungry tummies at Club Med. With Bar & Snacking (which is built into the package price), all guests can snack and drink when they like, as much as they like. This is especially useful when the weather is sweltering or when the kids are peckish after an afternoon at the beach. Drinks include juices, milkshakes, cocktails and cocktails, beer, coffee and tea. The buffet spreads cater to all taste buds. You'll find Japanese, Chinese, Thai (where chilli is severely toned down), French and American cuisine at all three meals. Babies can also enjoy sampling healthy morsels like yogurt, sugar-free jams, breads and mashed cauliflower or carrot.

ABOUT THE RESORT

Club Med Phuket is nestled in the bay of Kata and is completely secure. Older kids can roam around without their parents, while younger children can check into the KidsVillage for a day of supervised activities. Resort guests are known by the grand-sounding title of GM, which is short for "gracious member". All GMs are given a blue plastic wristband to wear (like a hospital band) throughout their stay. This identifies them as a guest or staff, and anyone without a band is prohibited from entering the grounds. At Club Med, the GOs are not your usual hotel staff who merely carry out tasks and serve. GOs mingle with guests freely, play and even dine together. They come from all over the world and are typically single, friendly and sporty.

Club Med Phuket has 297 rooms in low-rise longhouses furnished in teak and marble. Other facilities include a spa, two bars, restaurant, swimming pool, gym, flying trapeze, bungee bounce and a nine-hole pitching and putting golf green.

ELSEWHERE IN PHUKET

The soft white sands of KataBeach are just a hop across the street. The crossing is manned by a security guard. GMs enjoy designated Club Med deck chairs and beach umbrellas. There are also hawker’s aplenty peddling rental of floats and body boards, sandwiches, cold drinks, massages and manicures. It is quite common for Caucasian beach -goers to sunbathe topless here, so be prepared for your child's curiosity!

If you're looking to do some shopping, you can head to Phuket town or Patong Beach Road, both of which are about a 30-minute ride away. You can find the same clothes, bags, trinkets, slippers and souvenirs sold all over, so take your time to hunt down the shop that can offer you the best price. For some respite from the sun, head to DinoPark at KaronBeach (tel: 66 7633-0625, www.dinopark.com) for 18 holes of miniature golf set in a prehistoric world. Play among replicas of dinosaurs, a lava cave, an erupting volcano and a 12m-high waterfall, all with sound effects. There is also a dino-themed restaurant and bar.