- My family of four recently returned from a Club Med vacation at Sandpiper Bay.
- It is the only all-inclusive home in the United States and was renovated 12 years ago.
- The resort felt run down but we would go back immediately for the childcare.
A week ago, my wife and my family came back from vacation. Mind you, it’s not a trip, it’s a vacation.
The difference is simple. Traveling is a wonderful experience: you take your kids on an adventure and have fun. We recently took a family trip to Virginia with beaches, zoo, aquarium, water park and more. Every day is something new and interesting.The kids had a great time and by the end of that trip my wife and I needed a vacation. We are exhausted. On top of the normal adventures and the energy of being a stay-at-home parent, traveling requires a lot of extra energy. Unfortunately, hotel coffee is usually terrible. We came back from travel ready to sleep for a solid week. However, our two alarm clocks – one is 6 and the other is 3 – think differently.
So, my wife and I were looking for vacation.
We Found America’s Only All-Inclusive Home
We look for some type of experience where we can all have fun, but that includes childcare. We want to relax, but we also want the kids to have fun. We want the whole family to have fun: a nursery for everyone. Add in the difficulty of a 3-year-old needing vegetarian options and childcare, and the list of possibilities is small.
Club Med Sandpiper Bay is known as “The only all-inclusive resort“In the US, and the only Club Med. Resort refurbished 12 years ago And has a great reputation for its childcare services. We are very excited.
until we get there.
Resort feels run down
The resort immediately felt like an upscale motel. The room has a view of what can only be described as a junkyard – an area of sand, weeds, some rubbish and some pipes. The room itself feels like it hasn’t been touched since the 1980s. Peeling paint, cracked fixtures and a table that looked like it was designed by a high school troupe.
The whole resort felt run down, or, as one guest we met earlier put it, “tired”. Broken golf clubs and crumbling miniature golf courses, nothing to do indoors, music playing until midnight in a resort full of kids. The spa was very rude and fully booked despite telling our travel agent that it was not necessary to book in advance. The front desk is not much better.
Courtesy of Christopher Manino
In the kid’s craft area, there is a giant wooden four-player game. It’s the perfect metaphor for the place. From a distance, it’s fun, but up close, it’s broken, and there are nails on the side.It all took me away from a 2 star review on Tripadvisor.
we will go again
However, we had a great time and will be going back soon.
They have a great kids program: our two kids had a great time there. We gave them the option of a few days and they begged to go back with their new friends. They do crafts, spend time in the pool, dance, make pizza, and even try trapeze. Their leaders are extraordinary.
Food was great despite the rest of the resort.
Courtesy of Christopher Manino
We didn’t live in luxury, but that was okay. We have a vacation. In fact, we were able to enjoy delicious food and quiet tropical weather at lunchtime. We almost forgot what that sounded like.
We met a family from London who only traveled between 71 Club Med resorts. In my father’s words, “Snipe Bay is the worst Club Med, but the only one we come back to every year.” An amazing statement, but one I understand.
Holidays are necessary, and childcare makes all the difference.
Christopher Mannino is a stay-at-home dad, authorand fFreelance writer. He writes fantasy books for children and adults and lives in Delaware.
