DESTINATIONS FAMILY HOLIDAYS | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC


CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Breakfast with a view; writer Deborah with her family; buffet restaurant Chula; the resort is set on a white-coral sand beach


E Look at the full range of family accommodation.


LONG-HAUL FAMILY TRIPS


Those with younger kids may prefer a suite rather than


interconnecting rooms, while a separate living area means parents can stay up past their children’s bedtime.


E Ask about extras such as baby baths or bottle warmers.


E Check if clients will want to send their children to clubs for kids or teens, and make sure the correct ages are


catered for, as many hotels have age restrictions,


especially for young babies. E Look for family-focused


deals: many hotels will offer free child places or include meals for kids under a certain age.


E Prioritise direct flights and look for hotels a short transfer from the airport, to keep the journey as simple as possible.


E Check if car seats can be included in transfers, so clients can take less luggage.


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King with impressive choreography and dialogue in three languages, and attending parties complete with blasting music, huge bouncy castles and all the snacks they could possibly crave. Another major perk of the renovation is Club Med’s


largest-ever water park, where we spend many hours whizzing down the dizzying slides. The kids’ club staff – or in Club Med lingo, ‘gentle


organisers’ or GOs – are indefatigable bundles of energy whom my children immediately adore (and still speak about at home, months later). There’s one activity after another in an endless stream of excitement: golf, trampolining, acrobatics, tennis and dance. Come evening, the GOs take to the stage to


perform nightly shows for the captivated kids in their charge, from impressive acrobatic displays to toe-tapping musical performances. Unexpectedly, the jet lag works in our favour: my kids, normally opposed to bedtime, fall asleep quickly every night, exhausted from the non-stop activity. While this is a kids’ paradise, there is also plenty to keep the grown-ups happy. There’s an entire adult-only area of the resort, the Zen Oasis, which is perfect for lazing around with a book. As well as dedicated suites, there’s an enormous lagoon pool and a bar serving drinks and snacks. For those with a sportier disposition, there’s a jam-packed schedule. In one day, guests can cram in tennis, golf, beach volleyball, Pilates and kayaking, as well as learning circus tricks on the


12 MARCH 2026


trapeze, strutting their stuff during a dance class, taking aim in an archery tournament and stretching their muscles during aqua yoga.


DANCE PARTY The energy of the cheerful GOs is so infectious, it will convince even the most buttoned-up introvert to break into a communal dance by the end of their stay (take it from a self-confessed awkward Brit who suddenly finds herself taking part in group dances and raucously singing along to the cheesiest of holiday anthems). After a few days, my daughter asks: “Can we move


here, mum? It’s so beautiful!” Surrounded by lush vegetation, swaying palm trees and a life-affirming azure sky, I find myself thinking of our usual grey city existence and wanting to say “yes”. On the drive back to the airport at the end of our stay,


my children are in tears asking when we’ll be back again. I can’t give them a precise answer, but the long-haul gamble has more than paid off, leaving me with hope that we’ll soon be back for more wholesome family fun, hair-raising waterslide adventures and perhaps even an encore of our entertaining group dance.


TW BOOK IT


Club Med offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at Club Med Punta Cana from £2,137 per person, based on four sharing a Family Superior Room, including transfers and flights from Gatwick departing May 23. clubmed.co.uk


travelweekly.co.uk


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PICTURE: Shutterstock/uchenik


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