Club Med Phuket

My boyfriend is there right now and he just wrote to say that the village is virtually empty, with only about 100 GMs. You all in the Asian zone should try to go and get it back to its good old rowdy scene! He said that there are only 3 people at most in the trapeze line and he would have put in 3-4 swings by 4:40. This is killing me!

-lioness

It's not that we don't want to go, but CM has not dropped the Phuket prices for the Asian zone sales offices to lure more GMs there after the tsunami. All other Phuket hotels and resorts have done that to shore up their room occupancy.
So, that's why many Asian tourists are going to Phuket but to the other hotels and resorts instead of CM and this has left CM virtually empty!!!

You right about the high prices - I got quotes from 5 star hotels in Phuket and they came in at much better rates than CM. CM is not 5 star standard - I am not knocking it, I love CM and what it stands for, but when you going as a family of 5 - and you shop around and get much better deals elsewhere - of course you cannot ignore it. CM should re-look at their sales and accomodate accordingly.

I'm off to Phuket end of this month. There's a special offer for a GM party - only 3D/2N, but it's more or less half price. I think it's to celebrate CM's xth (25th? 30th?) anniversary in Asia.

Maukitten

Hi Maukitten,

I am so happy to know that you are going to Phuket Club Med in the end of July 2005. It is because every time you go to Club Med, you have great time and also you share something interesting with us.

interesting about the prices. my boyfriend booked from the US, it wasn't any special deals or anything, but the land only rate was about $125 per person, which to me seems very reasonable for phuket!

-lioness

Oh Maukitten,
Is there an anniversary discount? They certainly aren't publicising this in their Singapore Sales Office as I recently enquired. Does it apply only when booked from M'sia?

Hmm ... actually I'm not sure about whether it's a Malaysian thing or otherwise. I was just told of it by the KL sales office. It's only for that weekend though (29th July), and only for 3D/2N. I think there's going to be a party of some sort so I just put my name down.

I'll come back with stories!

I'm sure the village feels a lot like it was during the SARS scare - nobody at circus. The guys were so bored! :-) That was fun!

Maukitten

Hong Kong Club Med Office also provides great offer to Phuket :

==========================
Normal Price for 5 days 4 nights, Superior room
03 May to 13 Jul, HKD 6100
14 Jul, HKD 6250
15 Jul, HKD 7100
16 Jul, HKD 7250
17 Jul to 24 Aug, HKD 7400
25 Aug, HKD 7250
26 Aug, HKD 7100
27 Aug, HKD 6950
28 Aug, HKD 6800
29 Aug to 26 Sep, HKD 6100
For extension night
17 Jul to 27 Aug, HKD 900 per night
28 Aug to 29 Sep, HKD 750 per night
=============================
Special price in Jul and Aug, 4 days 3 nights
HKD 4600 to HKD 5600 (depends on high season and low season, refer to normal price)
================================

Remark : 14 Jul to 31 Aug are Hong Kong school holidays, therefore higher price

Thanks MauK and Ric. Unfortunately, I'm making my booking from S'pore and there is no promotion. The sales office said the anniversary promotion is specific to Malaysia only.

hey everyone!
just came back from phuket yesterday. the village was virtually empty, but it didnt stop me form havin a gud time. a great time actually. GO team is amazin. there was no -one at trapeze, so that means we got heapsa turns each. it was 20 years club med phuket last thursday, so big celbration with champagne n all.
i had a fab holiday, so thanx to all the team. i miss it so much,
if anyone goes there soon, could u please say hi to dee, damian, indra n circus team from me? n that i miss them lots.

Maukitten: have an incredible time. There will be a lot of people there for the 20th anniversary. Look for my friends Jinjeen, Chris, Diane, Jasmine, Wana, Andrea and say hi to them from Sarah thanks! I miss Jinjeen so much! Did you know that she invited me to spend the day with her on her day off? It was great of her to do that! Luckily I got to spend A LOT of time with her becuase at the time I was there, there were less than 10 Korean GMs there(she's Korean PR). I was with her until about 2am every day. :)

shut_up_n_fly: i was just there recently as well. I was there 8-19th, and I met so many wonderful GOs! I miss Jinjeen the most, along with Chris, Cha Cha, Diane, Pearl(she's not there anymore), Andrea, Jasmine, Jaa, and Wana. I miss them so much! Who's your favorite?
After Phuket though I went to Club Med Cherating the 19-30th, and it was just as amazing...although the village was entirely full(600+). I met: Maki, Maria, Tika, Jenn, Nur, Yumyo, Gloria, Momoco, Vicky, and there were people there from last season: JOan, Rati, Rika(spa) and Alin!! It was great. I miss GOs so much! I am going to be a GO next summer I think!
How long were you in Phuket for? What other GOs did you meet? When are you going back?

In my opinion, Phuket even at a hundredth of the price is still way too expensive to risk one's life !!!

It will take many years until they design a safe tsunami advance-warning system and until they re-design the coasts (no more hotel along beaches, a sea wall and vegetation behind beaches (to stop/slow down the waves), etc).

No thanks, not before a good ten years at least !!! In fact, even if they PAID me, I wouldn't go...
My opinion...

Mamzelle_101

Mamzelle,

[quote]Originally posted by Mamzelle_101

In my opinion, Phuket even at a hundredth of the price is still way too expensive to risk one's life !!!

- It's fine if the price does not agree with some people, you have a
prerogative on the money you spend for a vacation.

It will take many years until they design a safe tsunami advance-warning system and until they re-design the coasts (no more hotel along beaches, a sea wall and vegetation behind beaches (to stop/slow down the waves), etc).

-No offense, but if you have kept up-to-date on the developments which have been published, you would know that in Asia, they now have warning systems which, in some areas are fully functioning and in others, very well in progress.

No thanks, not before a good ten years at least !!! In fact, even if they PAID me, I wouldn't go...
My opinion...

- Again, no offense, but it is the opinions of people like you that affect the livelihood of the very people you relied on before to ensure that you had a good vacation. Being well-informed and making choices based on your knowledge is one thing, but taking the "herd mentality" and making assumptions based on rumours are another. It's like saying I will not visit California or Tokyo because one had floods and another had earthquakes and I am afraid that it will happen when I was there!

For your info, the next tsunami predicted is about 150years away and the chances that it would happen in the next 10years is close to nil.

Places like Hawaii, Florida, even, Spain and I am sure Belgium have many developments by the coast. The way the world is going now, who is to say that a tsunami will not happen in any of these places.

All I am trying to say is that you should keep an open mind and examine the facts and not rely too much on the opinions of others - which might very well be wrong. I recently visited some friends in Phuket and the isalnd is doing fine - even if business is a bit slow. But what irks me is the fact that there are people like you who are keeping away from the place - or worse, discouraging other people from going - based on (maybe) unfounded fear of the unknown. And this affects the local people because they depend on people like you and me to send their kids to school and put food on the table.
Just my thoughts....


All in good time

Gingerbr: Good that you enjoyed yourself at Phuket. You lucky PIG! Most of us get only one CM per visit and you get two!! Can't wait for your pictures! Did you meet the circus team at both the villages? Do you know who they are?
I think I would know some of them.


All in good time

Oh well, I guess short of not running into a burning building, I'm not sure if there's anything that anyone can do to avoid death. So, live and let live.

Phuket Island itself is great at the moment - fewer tourists, so better bargains. The tourist industry is slowly recovering, and I'd definitely be going back there for vacations. There is a new shopping centre near Tesco's called Central Festival, and it's really nice. Check out the food at the food court - it's really fabulous. Yum-yum.

As to Club Med Phuket itself, I wouldn't go back until the team and CDV changes. I've been to a lot of CM vacations, and this was my 5th trip to Phuket CM. And the indifference of the team is very clear. Even comparing last year's team under the same CDV and this year's team - polar opposites. There were a few GOs who were v nice and who went out of their way to make us feel welcomed - Damian (CDS), Reiko (Japanese PR), Florian (Circus - yes, Flo is back in CM) and Made at the bar. But they were by far the minority. The rest of the GOs would just group among themselves and not have any GM contact.

Even the 25th anniversary thing was a washout. The highlight of the trip was supposed to be the gala night on Saturday, to celebrate CM's 25th anniversary in Asia Pacific and Malaysia (Cherating was CM's 1st Asian village). But what a washout. All CM organised was a cake and some free cocktails. The "show" was just a single can-can dance performance with 6 GOs performing. Instead of a proper show, they had Casino Night instead. 8-10 gaming tables and 400 GMs, averaging 40-50 GMs per table - what a disaster! I remember in other villages, Casino Night was always the 2nd show (ie the entertainment event AFTER the main show, and NEVER in lieu of the main show). This I think showed the indifference of the team and the Leisure Manager - one of the few weekends that the village is actually full, and they can't even be bothered to make a special effort.

Oh well, definitely I'd go back to Phuket, but it won't be to CM till changes are made to the team!

Yrs truly
Maukitten

Maukitten: did you meet Jinjeen, Chris, and Cha Cha while you were there? I am friends with them, VERY GOOD friends with Jinjeen. You know she even invited me to be with her on her day off. That's very unusual for GOs isn't it? It just shows that some GOs are great at what they do. Jinjeen is a great friend, and I would go back to PHuket just to see her. What other GOs did you meet? I was there july 8-19th...it was empty while I was there: 150 Gms! No complaint though. Got to spend as much time with the GOs as I wanted! And i did...everyday until 2am :)

Hi Ginger

Yes, I did meet them, but didn't really hang out with them.

Yrs truly
Maukitten

Maukitten: I guess it all boils down to the management. Indifference in GOs are usually apparent when the village has been quiet for quite some time. They get "habitue" with lounging around and chatting amongst themselves. But of course, if the CDV leads by example, you would not have that porblem.
I have also heard many things about the GO teams nowadays. That they are more reserved (well Asian zone anyway), more aloof, but also more porfessional and sophisticated. I wonder if that is because the villages are more upmarket now.



All in good time

Dear Maukitten,

I am sorry to hear your experience in Phuket. May be there were too many GMs, or may be ...
Sorry, I don't know.

Hope, you will have great time in your next trip.

I was supposed to go to Phuket in March but had to cancel because my son had an accident. I was going to rebook but the prices were far too high so went to Fiji instead. I now want to go to Phuket. Can someone tell me the best time to go weatherwise and if you think they will do any specials. Also how can I find out about which rooms are best etc

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lorraine

I was supposed to go to Phuket in March but had to cancel because my son had an accident. I was going to rebook but the prices were far too high so went to Fiji instead. I now want to go to Phuket. Can someone tell me the best time to go weatherwise and if you think they will do any specials. Also how can I find out about which rooms are best etc

---

So sorry bout your son! Hope it was not too serious??
The best time to go to Phuket is usually Sept - June. Right now it is still monsoon, but a friend who was there recently said that the weather was good. Occasional showers only. They have just renoveted a lot of the rooms and I am not sure what kinds there are now. But generally, the rooms are all really good.

The village stretches out long, so a lot of the rooms are facing the sea. I think the Club MEd office will be able to help you with the plan opf the village. Block A is the nearest to the mini golf course. Generally Europeans (if I am not mistaken) like rooms in Block G or H as they are not too close or too far from the main area. Block J to Block U stretches out on the other side of the main area, Block U being the nearest to the sailing station.

As for special deals and packages, you can either log on club med australia or check with your local CM office. I am sorry I am not too usre on the website add. How old is your son? I heard that CM might be having special packages for kids this summer. Sorry I can't tell you anymore. I am not too sure of the details etc..

Hope this helps. I have been to Phuket several times (both as GO and GM) and it is one of my favourite villages in Asia.




All in good time

Thanks for that. My son's 18 and coped it straight between the legs on a motorbike - he's okay now -no permanent damage and he definitely won't go on hols with his parents. I was thinking of going in about Feb/March next year. Do you know if you can email direct to CM Phuket and ask them questions or do you need to go thru Australia? I found when the tsanami hit Australia couldn't tell me much and I got more info thru this site

I am planning to go there with my 3 year old.

Will they accept a kid that young at the kids club ? I couldnt find a petit club listed there.

when will the CDV and GO team change ? if the reception is luke warm, i think the banyan tree is a better deal. They're offering a 3d/2n package for below $500 .

Vinz: The CDV/GO team changes in November.
Yes, the petit club accepts kids 2 and older.
Hope you have a great time in Phuket. Its fabulous.

Larraine: I am not sure of the email address. However I do have one of the GO's name card, maybe that will help. But I don't have it on me right now, so please be patient till tomorrow... if that's not too late?? I have their phone number should u need it as well. I will PM u tomrrow

Vince:
The petit club is for kids 2-3 years. However, when I was there years ago, there is usually an additional charge if you decide to leave your kid with them. It might have changed now.

The Mini Club is usually for kids 4-7 years of age. They SOMETIMES make allowances for kids big or mature for their age. YOu can check with the Chief of the Mini Club or the CDV. They are, most of the times reluctant to mix the age groups as the activities vary.
If you would like to check with the Club directly, u can PM me for the number and I will send it to you when I send it to Lorraine. Hope this helps!


All in good time

Vince: I am sorry, I just remembered that they had closed the petit club down a couple of years back. Though, I am not sure about now.
So, u can either A) ask a club med office in your home country, or PM me for contacts direct to the village.


All in good time

You should definitely check out CLub Med Phuket, its worth going there. Perhaps if you know someone at reception(like I did...my friend worked for reception when I went), they can get you a good price.

Thanks all.

I was last in phuket cm in 1992 as a single !

It was great then but with the recent postings about the attitude of some GO - it sounds disheartening.

My child & I had a great time in Bintan CM last year and Bali CM in April this year.

I have just looked into going to Phuket in January and couldn't believe how expensive it is - it's AUD$3,000 more for me and hubby to go to CM than a hotel in Patong No wonder people aren't going there. I know food is included and it is a CM experience but $3,000 is a lot. Sadly I think I'll be giving CM a miss this time around