Just returned a few weeks ago from my trip to Club Med Punta Cana. As usual, it didn’t disappoint. I am a platinum member and received a lovely welcome drink when I arrived at the Zen Bar.
I stayed in a Terrace Room in the adults only Zen area – which has a beautiful patio with a daybed. So private and relaxing – just the place to have a morning coffee while doing a crossword puzzle! The room was maintained beautifully by housekeeping (sorry, I forget the housekeeper’s name, but she was wonderful). And I loved the new beach bag given to me as my Platinum gift.
A big shout-out to Lauranne’s Zen team -- they were responsive and so easy to work with. I visited CM in November and I felt like I was returning to a group of friends. Sebastiane, Yves Junior and Gaetan had all reached out to me beforehand to make sure everything was in order. I had requested milk for my coffee and orange juice; both were in my minibar within an hour of my arrival. With the addition of the snack bar, I didn’t feel the need to leave the pool area for lunch. There are sandwiches, wraps, salads and other goodies available all day. So convenient if you just want to relax by the pool or get a quick coffee, drink or snack.
I really enjoyed the yoga class with Jackie in the Zen pool. She was there as a visiting instructor, but I really hope CM keeps the Zen Yoga activity permanently. The class was so relaxing and fun and I hope there will be a new instructor when I next return.
I am an avid golfer and, as usual, took private lessons from Agustin. He is so patient and knowledgeable and has really helped improve my game without trying to change everything. I took a playing lesson at La Cana, which is absolutely beautiful. You can also play at other courses in D.R., including the Barcelo Lake Course, which is very challenging. And the putting competitions we had with golf instructor Jorge were hilarious and very competitive. Jorge keeps himself very busy giving group lessons to three levels of golfers every day. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the game if you are a beginner. Jorge is very patient and really takes the time with each student.
Thanks to Chef de Village Abdel and his wonderful team who make guests feel like family. It was really good to see him again upon his return from Cancun. Abdel is very client focused, and really does a wonderful job getting to know everyone, making rounds of the resort a few times a day. Club Med is still recovering from the fire last September, but other than having one less restaurant on premises you wouldn’t notice any difference. The beach bar next to Indigo was great addition; just the place to enjoy a cocktail and music before dinner. I’m told that construction will end in September and I look forward to seeing the ‘New Club Med’ when I return for my annual Thanksgiving trip.
And now my favorite place to eat – Indigo! I’m really not a buffet lover, so I try to eat at Indigo each night. After all these years, Chef Mario and I have become good friends and he really went all out this year with a special paella for the table. Youness and Juan Pablo keep an eye on everything to make sure guests have a special dining experience.
Lastly – a big shoutout to the morning crew at Indigo. Breakfast at Indigo is my little bit of sunshine every morning, thanks to my BFFs Leonela and Leidy, who welcome me back each time I visit with big hugs, kisses and an iced latte with whipped cream the moment I sit down! I really missed Leonela, who had a medical emergency this year, but I am looking forward to seeing her in November. We still “WhatsApp” once a week to check in with each other and I’m happy she is on the mend.
I am so happy to be able to call Club Med Punta Cana my home away from home!