Club Med - important informations

Club Med Holidays

You have the following booking options:

• only the stay in the club, of unlimited length (the stay includes full range of services e.g. sports, board, accommodation, attractions). The only exception are ski clubs that may be booked only for full week(s) starting from arrival day defined in the price list; depending on the club the arrival day is Saturday or Sunday. You reach the club on you own (see below).
• a package: air transportation, transfers and the stay of one or several weeks. Packages to ski clubs may include air transportation from Warsaw; packages to sun clubs may be purchased including departures from Vienna or Paris. Club Med offers its customers special rates for air transportation from Poland to these cities. The risk of reaching the particular airport from Poland lies entirely on passenger’s side so you are requested to allow sufficient time for such trip.

The price for "all inclusive" Club Med package includes the following:

• Accommodation of diverse standard
• full board (buffets famous of their affluence, unlimited wine, sometimes beer, and soft drinks served with meals)
• the offer of water and ground sports, high-class equipment and qualified instructors
• custody of the children over 4 years old and sports lessons (according to the description supplied by the club). Custody of the children below 4 is subject to additional charge.
• ski passes in ski clubs (except Méribel)
• other attractions like e.g. everyday evening performances (organized by G.O.s), night clubs, picnics, ship rides, classical music, libraries, games, evening cocktails, multimedia workshops. In some villages also folklore shows, music bands, singers etc.
• Insurance

Accommodation

Club Med offers accommodation of diverse level of comfort, marked with different number of allocated tridents. It is an internal Club Med classification system taking into account accommodation, attractiveness, location of the village and some services, not to be compared with other gradation systems.

• two tridents - modest rooms in bungalows or hotels, with shower, WC, telephone. No bath towels. Quality and quantity of services in relation to the price is unbeatable.
• three tridents - classic clubs; beautifully located, standard rooms with bathroom, telephone, TV; wide offer of sports, plays, entertainment. International customers. Bath towels (available upon placing a deposit).
• four tridents - the most beautiful clubs, comfortable rooms, often with artistic interior decoration, with balcony and bathroom, WC, telephone and TV. Meals served in the main restaurant and in the restaurant offering special dishes. Apart from evening performances, also piano bar or music band are available every evening. Villages attracting international customers.

Bungalows are 1-3 storey buildings constructed in the style characteristic for the country of location. Room size and furnishings depend on the number of tridents and are described in the presentation of each club.

Two beds are provided in majority of rooms, additional beds are available for children (standard or foldable bed, or a sofa). Some clubs offer family rooms for 3, 4 or 5 persons. Single guests may pay an extra charge for the single use of a double room or pay half the price of a double room to be shared with another person of the same sex..

Reservation of a particular room is not possible, rooms are allocated by the Planning office in the village. In some clubs it is possible to book a particular category of a room e.g. "family room", "4-person room in a bungalow (or in a hotel)", "a room with the sea view" etc.

Several clubs offer rooms for disabled persons.

Restaurants

In every village there is the main restaurant with buffet, and with dining tables sitting 8 persons. Majority of the clubs offer also several smaller restaurants with special dishes, serving a la carte dishes or also offering buffets. Tables may be booked for any number of persons. Breakfast - in the form of buffets with cold and hot dishes - is served till late hours before noon. Lunch offer includes a wide choice of salads, raw and cooked vegetables, meat, fish, pasta, cheese, fruits and light desserts. Dinners served in villages are always a special event. Each dinner features different cuisine e.g. French, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, fish specialities etc. Wines (white, rose and red), beer, juices and soft drinks are served with meals. Food and drinks are free and unlimited. The choice and number of dishes depend on club category.

Sports

Every village provides a wide choice between various sports disciplines, as well as equipment and qualified instructors, both for beginners and advanced. Details are provided in the description of each club. Instructors teach tennis, sailing, swimming, water skiing, snorkelling (diving with a mask), windsurfing, scuba diving (diving with a tank), golf, horse riding, archery, aerobics and other types of gymnastics.

Lessons are available 6 days a week. Quantity of available sports equipment depends on the size of the village e.g. kayaks, volleyball, basketball etc. are available for the whole day (to be used without instructor).

• sailing, windsurfing - for those who can swim, and are over 8 years old. Sailing boats and catamarans as well as windsurfing boards for beginners, medium-advanced and advanced are at guests’ disposal. In every club beginners have a chance to attend introduction courses, or to sail with an instructor, while advanced may sail by themselves. Usually regattas are held every week.
• scuba diving (diving with a tank) - for persons over 12. We offer various destinations - from Maldives to the Caribbean - to the fans of underwater world and, depending on the club, 6-day packages, a la carte diving, training courses for beginners and advanced. Detailed information on reefs is provided in the English language catalogue. The complete equipment (oxygen tanks, weight belts, pressure stimulator, masks, flippers, life belts) is available in the club. Diving suits may be hired locally. Some clubs provide also modern scuba diving computers. It is forbidden to descend under water unaccompanied. Except for Faro, descents are subject to additional charge. It is obligatory to produce medical certificate from the specialist doctor, issued not earlier than three months ago. Advanced divers are requested to bring their certificates and log books.
• golf - for persons over 8 years old. Golf may be played in many clubs. Club Med introduced a new and revolutionary way of teaching that combines golf technique with other sports like tennis, volleyball or judo. Training courses for beginners, intensive courses and playing outside the club are subject to additional charge. You need to take your handicap card and branded balls, gloves, shoes and caps. They may also be purchased in a boutique. Fr those interested in golf Club Med provides separate catalogue as well as detailed information in the English language catalogue.
• fitness - we have introduced new exercises to make you regain or improve your shape: step, muscle strengthening, cardiotraining, stretching, water or open air gymnastics, body pump or body combat. And the novelty - fitnesstrack - an easy run around the village, combined with exercises. Details are provided in the English language catalogue on pages 70-71.
• SPA - for beauty and health - in chosen clubs we offer various types of beautifying, cosmetic, health, relaxing and old Asian treatments harmonising your body and mind, as well as many others. Some clubs dispose of thalassotherapy centres, spas (beauty farms) and beauty institutes. All treatments are applied by specialists, physicians, dieticians, massage therapists or trainers. All treatments are subject to additional charge. Information is available in the English language catalogue and in the clubs.
• tennis - lessons are available for children over 6, rackets may be hired in the clubs. Balls are available only during lessons. Open tennis courts are usually lit and available all the time. Lessons are provided at every skills level. For 12 years some clubs offer intensive ATP individual lessons (subject to additional charge) and lessons with tennis stars - details may be found in the English language catalogue.
• circus school - you do not have to be an acrobat to find pleasure in learning to fly on a trapeze, juggle, walk the tightrope, ride a single-wheel bicycle etc. Our specially trained G.O.s will introduce you to the secrets of such fun.
• water skiing - for persons over 8 years old. Water skiing is one of the most magnificent and very expensive sports. The club offers you the opportunity not only to ski at will, but first of all to learn it from the basics. Our instructors will teach anyone! In some clubs beginners start learning at the bar attached to the boat, then on two skis on a short line, then on the ones on a long line. The persistent ones may try monoski or even wakeboard and learn wave jumping.
• skiing in winter - skiing, snowboard, cross-country skiing... Club Med offers the wide programme of winter sports, looking after quality and safety. Every club (except Méribel) offers free training courses for those who wish to learn white sports from the basics, or improve their style and technique; the courses last half a day or a day. You may join or leave the group at any time. As you please.

Other Attractions

It is not possible to be bored in Club Med. On the large area taken by the club you may always find a quiet and silent corner, a piece of a beach or a garden, if that is what you wish. If you look for entertainment then you may see that life in Club Med is just vibrating. Sports, plays, contests, performances, happenings form the rhythm of the day. Every day the program for the day is displayed on a table in the central site of the village, in front of the restaurant or reception. Apart from sports, G.O.s propose various other attractions e.g. picnics, ship rides, competitions, contests etc. In the late afternoon you may listen to classical music in the quiet corner of the club. And every day there is an evening performance. Only G.O.s play on the stage of our theatre (sometimes accompanied by G.M.s - club guests) and present revues, cabarets, parodies, fairy tales for children etc. You should remember they are not professional actors. Despite this fact performances gain high ratings from majority of guests from all the countries, and are considered very good and funny. After the show you are invited for crazy sings - singing during dancing together, and then for the disco. In many clubs there is a music band playing in the evening or piano bar is open, with more quiet atmosphere.

Children

You may travel with children of any age to every village, irrespective of the fact whether they offer children clubs. 8 violet clubs available only for persons over 18 and mountain clubs admitting infants over 4 months old, are the exception. Villages providing custody for children are marked in orange. The children make use of Mini Clubs (for age group 4-10) and Junior Clubs (for age group 11-17) without limitation and at no additional charge. Villages offering Baby Clubs (for infants over 4 months up to 2 years old) and Petit Clubs (for age group 2-9) make it possible for parents, who have no wish to make use of the services offered by custodians in the clubs, to travel with children below 4 upon payment of the small additional charge. If you wish to enrol your children (below 4) in Baby or Petit Clubs you should advise it upon booking and pay the extra charge for the custody. The number of admitted children aged from 4 months to 4 years is strictly limited. The charge covers 6 days and is non-refundable.

All clubs for children are open 6 days a week (except the main arrival day in the club). In villages that do not provide children clubs (marked in green), or in case of parents with children below 4 who did not order custody upon booking, the children stay in the custody of their parents.

The price list of every village contains information on discounts for children. The discount depends on the age of a child at the moment of starting the trip e.g. age group 6 - 11 includes children between their sixth and twelfth birthday.

Underage persons: children below 18 must be accompanied by an adult taking responsibility for them.

Baby Club Med: for children aged from 4 months up to full 2 years, open 6 days a week (except the main arrival day in the club) from 9 am till 5.30 pm in sun clubs, and from 8.30 am till 5 pm in ski clubs. In Baby Clubs the youngest guests are in the custody of the qualified team. Meals: - children have breakfasts with their parents, lunch with custodians (parents may accompany them then) and dinner at 6.30 pm together with their parents in Baby Club. To provide full comfort to the youngest villages offer special rooms with appliances like e.g. mixers, sterilizers, microwave ovens, refrigerators and bottle heaters to be used by the guests. Mineral water, fruits and cow’s milk are available all the time. Some baby articles are available in a boutique.

Exercises: pram rides, plays and games aimed at developing skills, meeting new toys: Clubber and Medy. The programme of the day is planned to suit the rhythm of the babies and to give their parents a chance to make use of the attractions offered by the club.

Petit Club Med: for children aged from 2 up to their forth birthday. Open 6 days a week (except the main arrival day in the club) from 8.30 am (in ski clubs) and from 9 am (in sun clubs) till 9 pm with a break from 5.30 pm till 6.30 pm. At 6.30 pm - dinner with parents. From 7 pm to 9 pm - an evening programme. Other meals: like in Baby Club.

Exercises include games, plays, walks, meeting Clubber and Medy, puppet theatre, clay modelling, face painting and performing on stage as well as after-lunch nap and tea.

Mini Club Med: for children aged from 4 to 11. Plays, exercises, integration and sports.

Club Med offers discovering new sports, arranges performances, artistic workshops as well as picnics, bicycle rides, dancing.

Junior Club Med: for children aged from 11 to 14. Club Med organizes additional exercises offering young people better opportunities to meet their peers. Sports, performances, excursions, evening plays. Our young guests dream of independence, colleagues and nice group of peers to do crazy things together.

Every village admitting children (marked in orange and green) offers the following: cots, chairs for the children in restaurants, bottle heaters and microwave ovens. Prams may be hired in every village with Baby and Petit Clubs. Articles for children are also available in a boutique.

Please do not forget to take with you:

• for babies - bottles, nappies, milk powder, tissues, health card.
• for all children - a rucksack with a name on it, a sun cap, glasses, sandals, sport shoes, protection cream, a bathing suit. All items should be marked with the name. During the trip it is recommended to have with you a favourite toy, a bottle of water and candies (they are helpful in "plugging the ears" on board the aircraft).

We present a new "Made in Club Med" way of attracting the children of the above age groups to spend their free time. In 57 orange Club Med villages they have G.O. for their disposal, to assist them in organizing their time. Young guests may participate in such exercises like:

• sports (skiing, snowboard, in sun clubs - roller skating, BMX bicycle riding, flying on a trapeze, catamarans, wakeboard - oval water ski, climbing),
• preparation of and participation in performances,
• group excursions,
• evening entertainment.

Youth aged 11-17 are in the custody of G.O.s only during exercises; young people over 14 come to the exercises and leave them by themselves.

Sports for children

In Club Med children are pampered with many attractions and sport exercises. We would like them to try and learn as many new things as possible as they may stimulate their talents. The children may participate in all sports offered in the village provided they have reached a minimum (safe) age. Below we specify the minimum age of the children that may participate in exercises run by the club, in particular sport disciplines:

• starting at 4: water plays, circus school, pony riding, tennis, skiing school;
• starting at 6: swimming, courses for beginners in the following disciplines: tennis, water plays, judo, climbing the walls, archery, football, roller skating, riding children bicycles as well as diving in a swimming pool and catamaran rides;
• starting at 8: water skiing, golf, snorkelling, basketball, windsurfing, kayaks, BMX bicycles, sailing, kites, circus school and trapeze, climbing;
• starting at 10: horse riding;
• starting at 12: all sport disciplines on offer (e.g. snowboard). The ability to swim is an obligatory condition to allow children to participate in water sports like e.g. scuba diving. And apart from the above, other attractions like preparing picnics, performances, mountain climbing, bicycle rides etc., and dancing in the evening.

The above information refers only to villages offering clubs for children and particular sports disciplines. In green clubs and during the time spent outside Mini Clubs children may train sports only in the custody of their parents. Children over 8 may participate in exercises with adults, over 12 - in basketball, football, volleyball, gymnastics and scuba diving, over 16 - in a gym. The child may be admitted to the club only upon presentation of the medical certificate issued not earlier than 48 hours before starting the trip, as for obvious reasons we cannot admit sick children. A paediatrician may reside in a village providing the regulations of the admitting country allow for it. The task of the physician is to diagnose, provide consultation and first aid, however he or she may not replace local physicians who are authorised to issue prescriptions.

In case of a need to call for a doctor or stay in a hospital, the costs are borne by patient or insurance company (see "Insurance"). Only parents may administer medicine to the children taking it. G.O. is not allowed to give any medicine to children, except for emergency cases. Children that require special care are not admitted to Mini Club. They stay with their parents.

On the day of arrival parents or custodians should enrol the child into the proper age group and inform on its habits (concerning eating, sleeping, favourite toy) and give any other important information e.g. on allergies. Parents (together with other children of any age) may stay with the child in a mini-restaurant during meals. In case of children under 8, upon their admitting and leaving a parent has to sign the child registration book. Starting from this moment the children remain in full custody of G.O.s.

Babysitting - Club Med does not offer an option to hire a babysitter.

Pregnant women - pregnant women in the latest stages of pregnancy are requested not to book a trip. Our insurance does not cover them after the start of 8th month of their pregnancy.

Responsibility - Club Med is responsible for the quality of sports and other equipment as well as for using it for what it was intended. Club Med is not responsible for sports exercised outside the club or in the club but without our instructor.

Insurance

Club guests are covered by accident insurance of EURO-ASSISTANCE providing accident takes place during exercises run by G.O.s. We recommend all participants to purchase additional medical insurance. We recommend to purchase the policy of Warta Insurance Company.

The price does not include:

Bar expenditures, excursions and additional services like e.g. massage, hairdressing, beauty packages (cosmetic treatments etc.). In majority of the clubs scuba diving, horse riding and intensive golf training courses are offered at additional charge. It is also possible to purchase additional insurance.

In the bars it is not allowed to pay with cash or credit card. Beads or bar pads are used in Club Med (Colliers bar - the only means of payment in the bars). Colliers bar may not be exchanged for cash but they are valid in all Club Med villages all over the world.

In the Village

Club Med is not an ordinary hotel. Club Med has 120 centres called villages, located on spacious, enclosed and protected terrains; apart from recreation and rest attractions and restaurants you may find there: a bank, a hairdresser, a boutique, a first-aid post (with a nurse available 24 hours a day), laundry, theatres and night clubs.

In every village there is the chef de village - the chief of the club and of G.O. team, responsible for the proper functioning of the village. Club employees are called G.O.s (i.e. Gentle Organizers). They are young and talented people from 80 countries all over the world and form a team of hosts responsible for wellbeing of the guests; they are also sports instructors, custodians of the children, office administrators and animators. They are not ordinary hotel employees: they are not uniformed, take meals together with the guests, do not accept tips, have unlimited working hours. G.O.s and the chef de village change the club every 6 or 12 months. Apart from G.O.s local staff, like e.g. waiters, gardeners, cleaners, technical service employees and guards, are employed in the club. The guests of the club are called G.M.s (i.e. Gentle Members) and come from many countries, ever more often also from Poland.

• towels - in every village towels are changed on a daily basis. Bedlinen is changed every week.
• bath towels may be hired after producing a white card or upon placing a deposit in the Bank in the club. In three- and four-trident clubs they may be exchanged for clean ones during the whole day.
• ironing - irons and ironing boards are available in every village.
• first-aid post may be found in almost every club and a nurse is at your disposal for 24 hours a day (free of charge). In many villages there is also a physician - an internist. His task is to render first-aid assistance. In case of accident it is necessary to obtain a "certificate" required by insurance company for payment of compensation. The same applies to theft and other categories of damage.
• environment protection - Club Med places the special emphasis on life in accordance with nature and environment protection requirements. Ecological products suitable for recycling are used in numerous villages. We also run own sewer treatment plants, segregate wastes, use washing powders without detergents etc.

Village Offices

Our offices: Bank, Traffic, Planning offices etc. have fixed working hours (detailed information on opening hours is supplied upon arrival). In our bank it is not possible to collect cash from credit card account or cash a cheque. Planning office: Rooms in the club are allocated by employees of the Planning office in the village.

Excursions

In every club there is the Excursion office offering visits to the most interesting sites and monuments in the region. Excursions are subject to additional charge and booked in the club; e.g. in Cancun we propose to visit Yukatan Peninsula with famous Maya monuments, in Morocco - the Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains, in Thailand - the famous temples or James Bond’s island.

Persons who enjoy exploring may stay in Club Med Villas. They are small traditional hotels with half or full board, located in the vicinity of the most interesting monuments in Mexico (Teotihuacan, Cholula, Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Coba), in Egypt, Tunisia and even New Caledonia. They do not provide sports offer or children custody.

Cruising . The largest sailing ship in the world sails under the Club Med flag. Club Med 2 - the luxurious 5-mast ship - sails around the islands in the Caribbean Sea in winter, and the coasts of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas in summer. The detailed description is available in the Austrian price list or in separate brochures available in licensed travel agencies.

We also organize the rides along the Nile aboard the small ship - a great way to discover monuments and treasures of ancient Egypt.

Club Boutiques

In our villages you will discover "made in Club Med" fashion. Our boutique offers clothing in a style typical for the particular country and made of local materials (like e.g. galabiyas on Djerba island, boubous in Senegal, sari on Mauritius) and a large number of club clothes. Bathing suits, sun glasses, cosmetics and articles for children, film rolls, postcards etc. are also available there. And in ski clubs - all skiing accessories. The choice of articles offered in boutiques varies depending on the village. Payment may be done by producing the white card, or with cash or credit card.

Booking - Choosing the Club

An employee of travel agency will advise you which club to choose, taking into consideration your expectations concerning the country, sports disciplines, age of your children, type of the club (for families, pairs, singles), standard and price. Please be aware of the fact that in peak season holidays in Club Med should be booked a few weeks or even months in advance (e.g. New Year). At the last moment there may be no vacancies or preferred room configuration (e.g. for families with children) is not available any more.

• Length of stay. In case when the first and/or the last day of your stay in the club is not a full day due to the timing of arrival or departure of your flight, you are not entitled to any compensation.
• Option. Up to 30 days before departure you may place the option for the stay (without any cancellation fee). The option may last 1-3 days depending on departure date and it is not possible to extend it. After placing the option for your stay you have time to think about your departure and match your flights. If there are less than 30 days left to departure date, it is not possible to place the option, you may only make a confirmed booking.
• Waiting list. You should not loose hope in case of no vacancies in the village or period of your choice. You are then placed on a waiting list and in case of any cancellation your booking will be confirmed. It is the so called booking "on request" and in case of its confirmation it is binding for both parties (including possible cancellation fees).
• Vaccinations. Please check 3 weeks before departure to exotic countries whether any vaccinations are required.

Arrival / Departure

The guests arriving on their own are usually expected to arrive in the village between 2 and 8 pm. On departure day the rooms have to be vacated till 9.00 am or in accordance with the guidelines of the village administration. Arrival and departure dates are binding. If you arrive to the village ahead of schedule or wish to extend your stay, the charge for the extra days has to be settled in local currency and it may be higher than the price in the catalogue. In ski clubs the stay starts at 3.00 pm. Arrival to the club before the scheduled time may mean that your rooms are not available yet and you have to pay for extra meal.

In some clubs sports activities are not available and Mini Clubs are closed on the main arrival day.

What arrangements should be done on the day of arrival to the village? You are requested to hand over the duly filled out registration card, vouchers (or copies received by fax) and air tickets for confirming your departure, to the employee of the Planning office. Valuables may be deposited in the safe of the Bank. Majority of the clubs offer personal safes in the rooms - please read the conditions of using them. We are not responsible for valuable items left without surveillance and stolen from your room. In Club Med Bank you receive a white card after leaving the imprint of your credit card (AMEX, VISA, MASTER CARD) or placing a deposit. You may use the white card to cover any expenditures in the club. It is sufficient to sign all invoices and settle them a day before departure. Payment may be done with cash, cheque or credit card.

Before departure: In the Bank you should settle payments done with the white card, and return bath towels. Air tickets are to be collected from the Traffic office. Information stating the time of departure of your flight is displayed there one day in advance, along with the time of your departure from the village (if you purchased the complete package). Luggage. Your luggage, marked with a coloured Club Med. luggage tag and stating the city of your destination, should be left with the "Luggage point". It will be transferred to the site of departure of the bus or a taxi. Luggage allowance on charter flights is 20 kg per person plus 1 piece of hand luggage.

Weather

Club Med is not responsible for unfavourable weather and offers no compensation for the lost attractions. When the sun is not shining our G.O. team will organize alternative exercises and attractions for you.

Documents

The traveller is responsible for the validity of his/her passport, visas and payment of airport fees (in some countries). He/she is also obliged to follow the rules abiding in a particular country e.g. dispose of sufficient financial means, vaccinations, visas, return ticket etc. Regulations are subject to change so you are requested to check them carefully before departure (e.g. in the travel agency or consulate).

Tips

They are contrary to the character of Club Med villages. Please do not give any tips to G.O.s and staff.

Pets

Pets are not accepted in the clubs.

Summary

All our villages have 3 features in common: beautiful location, "all inclusive" formula and G.O. team creating an exceptional atmosphere of friendship and holidays without stress, with diverse attractions and sports offer.