When you decide to start a family, the choice touches every corner of life. Priorities shift, responsibilities grow, sacrifices are made, and days begin to orbit around the children. Vacations change too, with self-indulgence and beach naps giving way to keeping children engaged and content. But not everything has to be a compromise, especially if you know where to go.
Asia offers thousands of resorts within a short flight of Saigon, many with family-friendly amenities, and you could do fine with most of them. Club Med stands out for its all-inclusive concept, refined over decades as the company marks its 75th anniversary this year. After previous visits to Club Meds in Hokkaido and Lijiang, Saigoneer recently visited Club Med Phuket in Thailand.
For first-timers, Club Med can reframe what a vacation means. Resorts are often judged by facilities, but here, the people are the foundation. It starts with the GOs, or Gentile Organizers. Drawn from Thailand and abroad, they are a Club Med signature. GOs do not just greet you around the grounds; they mingle, remember names, and fold themselves into your experience through genuine interactions. They are also the backbone of around-the-clock activities and performances for all ages that include: yoga, tennis, wall climbing, archery, snorkeling, circus school, arts, and Muay Thai, among others.
After the sun slips behind Kata Beach and dinner winds down, the resort’s theater comes alive. GOs switch into entertainers. Music and dance nod to Thai culture, while trapeze acts, mock Muay Thai bouts and beachside fire shows inspire awe. Daytime activities are grouped by age, but these evening performances appeal to everyone and lead into the night’s last festivities, when you and GOs can meet again for dance parties, cultural showcases, and games.
Family focus continues in the rooms. Couples and groups of friends stay on one side of the resort while families gravitate to the Family Oasis, where layouts are designed with parents and kids in mind. A curtain separates the beds to give both sides a measure of privacy and space. Thoughtful touches include children’s slippers, animal toothbrushes, and bathroom stools: details that kids notice from the moment they enter the room. The Family Oasis waterpark at the center seals the deal, with slides and splash zones that make fast friends out of strangers.
Connection is another quiet priority at Club Med. By the middle of our stay, we had befriended a Bangkok family with a daughter the same age as ours and began planning activities together. By the last day, the two girls were inseparable, and we have kept in touch, already talking about a reunion in Thailand or Vietnam.
Family relaxation and connection extend to the meals included at the resort’s restaurants which foster more time for memories. Most are served at The Mamuang, an international buffet with a menu that rotates across Western, Thai, Indian, Korean, and Japanese stations. Breakfast is a standout thanks to the pancake machine, where batter becomes fluffy disks while children watch with anticipation. For a quieter evening, you can book casual a la carte dining at The Chu-da and dress up a bit for the occasion.
Just because it’s a family experience doesn’t mean families need to spend all their time as a unit. Like all Club Meds, there are special places and activities planned for groups of kids and teenagers without their parents, providing them with some supervised freedom. This also presents parents with the opportunity to enjoy some relaxation at the resort’s jungle-wrapped spa.
At the end of our trip, I asked our seven-year-old, who has already stayed at dozens of hotels, to rate Club Med Phuket on a scale of 1 to 10. Her answer: “Ten thousand million.”
While her grasp on large numbers may be a bit fleeting, it clearly showed that she knew she wasn’t just along for the ride but that the resort offered an experience that prioritized her happiness in equal parts with her parents.
