Club Med revolutionized the travel world with its all-inclusive packages combining fun in the sun with a pre-paid plan. Mix a twist of matchmaking with a singles bar atmosphere, and a 1970s kitsch legend was born. It still lives today, but now the resorts are known for beautiful vacation sites for the entire family, romantic couples or singles looking to relax. With an eye toward the summer months, Club Med (tel. 888/WEB-CLUB; www.clubmed.com) just announced a special seven-day package for the price of its normal three-day weekend holiday. With a host of Club Med destinations being served up to the deal conscious traveler, this four day-free option might be hard to pass up.
The least expensive of these seven-day specials are stays at Club Med's Ixtapa, Mexico and Caravelle, Guadeloupe villages. The Guadeloupe club has been known for years as a top-family destination with activities for children four and up. With sailing, windsurfing, a flying trapeze and a host of other water sports that have been a hallmark of Club Med, the Guadeloupe experience combines the natural beauty of the French West Indies with plenty of activities. There are two restaurants and three bars on-site. Remember, as with all Club Med vacations, accommodations, all meals plus snacking and full open bar, most sports, and entertainment are included in the total price. Airfare is not included. The Ixtapa Club Med is also a recommended family destination. To keep the kids happy, the Ixtapa Club Med village offers a "Circus School" for the budding clown or tightrope walker.
For the more single-oriented or couples-friendly Club Med, the Turkoise in Turks and Caicos offers plenty of things to do, including almost every land and water sport known to man such as basketball, street-hockey, softball and some fabulous deep-sea diving. The seven-night trip to this village, again with all meals and drinks included, costs $750 without airfare. Loaded with a large swimming pool that becomes the center of this Club Med's social scene with a great pool bar and a great big shallow end for lounging around, the Turks and Caicos Club has an open-air nightclub for a little nighttime socializing. If you're interested, the Club also offers scuba lesson packages and off-site horseback riding and golf.
Other Club Med locations offering the seven-day for the price of three deals are Punta Cana, Dominican Republic ($690), Cancun, Mexico ($720), Sandpiper, Florida ($690), Columbus Isle, Bahamas ($840), and Bora Bora, French Polynesia ($765). The Columbus Isle, Bahamas resort offers extremely upscale interiors. Sandpiper, Florida is well known for its superior tennis program and child-care program for children and infants starting at four months old.
Travel for all these special seven-day deals is good from April 2 to October 28, 2005. See the site for details and to make reservations for your Club Med experience. Book quickly of you're interested. Availability is limited and dates are subject to change based on demand.
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