Club Med Cherating Beach

Hi everyone.

I might want to plan a trip to Cherating in february-march 2007. I've been there 3 times BEFORE the renovation and loved it!

Could people who have been to Cherating and villages such as Bintan, Phuket and Bali please give me their thoughts and comparisons (by the way, i didn't really like bali, the animation, sports, pool and restaurant were all pretty bad. Then again, i went after the bombings so everything was pretty dead!)

Please give me info on the GO team (especially circus, sports and animation), the restaurant, facilities, entertainment, rooms and weather around that time of the year.

Thanks so much!

Mermaid wtites:

"by the way, i didn't really like bali, the animation, sports, pool and restaurant were all pretty bad. "

Interesting. I have been to Phuket (twice) and Bali (once). I only thing that I disliked about Bali, outside of the fact that it is a long way from Chicago, is that it really is hot and humid. I mean really hot and humid. I found it to be the most beautiful club that I have ever been to, out of 20 different ones. I found the sports to be excellent, lovely pool, the best entertainment that I ever have seen, and the food to be as superb as Phuket. Now I also have to say that it was being run by one of the greatest CDV's that I have ever seen--Jeff Plantabant. His imagination permeated to whole club. What a difference a CDV can make!

Phuket is probably my favorite club. It's beautiful, the food is superb, excellent sports, very international clientele, and the Thai culture is something to behold. A photographer's dream.

I really hope that you like Cherating, although I understand you are going at the end of the rainy season. I'm going there in April. Just paid for it yesterday on American Express.

John

Hi, I have been to Cherating 3 times, twice before reno's and once after. I have also been to CM Bali 3 times and Phuket once. I love all CM's and I have always really enjoyed Bali (I suppose because it is one of the CM that you can surf at) and I have enjoyed Phuket and Cherating as well. I was at Cherating last Feb and had a ball. I am thinking about going back in July. Unfortunately I haven't been to Bali since the bombings (I can't stand when clubs are quiet).

Personally I think you would have a great time in Cherating, plus the food and restaurant are magnificent.

dear mermaid

Well, if u;ve been there before the reno and love it, then you'll probably still love Cherating.
If're u're a teen, they now have a teen club and teen's activities.

Bali
I agree with John about the heat and humidity in Bali - and i've been living in tropical Asia all my life ! The other thing i didnt like were the flies at meal times in the main (not-airconditioned) restaurant).

Cherating's main restaurant is air-conditioned (phew) but with outdor seating as well.

Having done the south east asian club meds circuit (ie bali, bintan, cherating & phuket) in the last 3 years - *drum roll* -
Phuket gets my vote - even though they've stopped sea sports (scuba and snorkelling excluded) after the tsunami.
Mid to end Feb is the peak season because of the Chinese New Year period.




Aita Pea Pea

hey guys!

Thanks so much for all your answers! I've gotta say i agree with you John-Chicago, a good CDV makes all the difference! When i was in Bali the CDV was Youseef and i thought he was great but even being a great CDV, if the ambience is dead (the club was nearly empty), there's not much you can do! (i was ther in March 2005)

Also when i was there, the GO team was really weak...i guess the lack of guests gave them little motivation but a good GO should ensure that you have a great time no matter how empty the village is (even though that is hard!). Something i forgot to mention is the beach! It was awful compared to Bintan's for example (by far the best beach out of Cherating, Phuket, Bali&Bintan in my opinion)

Vinz, how did you know i'm a teen??? Is my writing that obvious? haha! I'm 15 by the way. Actually, a teen's club won't make me want to go to a CM more because the GOs in charge of teens tend to be pretty pushy (as in, if you don't take part, they give you the evil eye and they're constantly creeping up wherever you are to ask if you want to "join them".) Sometimes, i prefer to do my own thing and be more independent! Then again, if there are people i'd get along with and the GOs are fun, i'd consider joining!

I've gotta say i really loved Cherating on my previous trips but a previous review in the Cherating forum (the one written by a GM who came from Europe), kinda put me off! It was pretty negative and shocked me, because i've always been a big Cherating fan! (that's kinda what pushed me to ask i nthe 1st place) Then again, many people i know (GOs and GMs alike) have spoken wonders of the "new" Cherating and if Chinese New Year is the peak season, i should have a blast!!!

I agree with you guys that Phuket is awesome! I was there last March and the GO team was great! The restaurant was amazing, the pool was great and the animation was really one of the best in Asia (HEAPS better than Bintan's TERRIBLE animation). In animation, Phuket and Cherating are much better than bali and bintan in my opinion.

The only things i didn't really like there were the Circus team and the fitness. I found the circus team to be very much "all about them" wanting all the glory to themselves in shows and not teaching very well. In Bintan, the circus team is always great and they are happy to let GMs have a go in shows. They give better tips as well. Now i know Adam is supposed to be really good, but when i was there, he'd just show up from time to time with a milkshake and say hi!!! Hilarious! You'd only see him in shows.

As for fitness, i wasn't allowed to join the classes anymore after they found out i was 15! When i'd done the classes for a few days already without any comments. At least i WENT! they should've been happy! In my opinion, since there were so few of us, the teacher (not mentionning any names) was just too lazy to teach at all! In Bintan, i wasn't ever even asked my age! Even when the lessons were given by Damian the chief of sports!

<<What a difference a CDV can make!>>

Couldn't agree more with you John and Circus Mermaid, especially now, that CM is changing so much. At least, some great CDVs are left. Book where they are!

I for myself will only book villages of which I know what CDV is there.
Incidentally, this is what I've been doing for years already and it pays.

Only downpoints: one needs to wait for the list of the CDVs and then, they can still be away from their village, either for a holiday or some training.

Cherating is really worth checking out!! Its beautiful :) I have some of my closest friends there.....Joan, Maria, Jenn, Soraya, Nikky, Coco(I think she left), Laura(gone I think), Joanna, etc. Ask me if you want to know about it, I've been there 5 times!

Circus Mermaid: Well you surprised me. I sure didn't think you were 15. Your writing is much more mature than that. Oh, well, at Club Med they say age is only an attitude.

John

Hi Circus Mermaid,

Bintan : small, building like a hotel rather than Club Med village (there is lift), very few things to do outside village
Bali : big, very beautiful especially gardening, restaurant without air-conditoning, very convenient to go outside
Cherating : big, beautiful
Phuket : a lot of shops outside village

For food, Bintan > Cherating > Phuket > Bali
Note : Everyone one has his own taste.
Some GMs think that food in Phuket is very good and better than Bintan.
Some GOs think that food in Cherating is the best.
Most GMs and GOs think that food in Bintan is the best (same taste as me)

I think the most important factor is GO team.

Hope you have very good holiday in Cherating.

Mermaid - must be the content of your postings ; )

Ric - plenty to do in Bintan if you take taxi to tanjong pinang or ferry across to Batam - travel time is about 1 hr -1.5 hours

Well, one of my not so favourable experiences in Cherating was the lack of proper instructions and safety information given by one of the GOs (wont mention name here) to one of my friend who was trying rock climb for the first time. All the GO said was climb up and grab the hand/footholds. Sheeesh ! But that is another story ...

Aita Pea Pea

Hi everyone!

Thanks you for answering such a long post. I figured when the posts are too long people don't bother to read them but hey! i have a lot to say :-) I'm a real chatterbox.

Kiki de M, that's a smart idea about knowing which CDV is at the village you're going to before booking! Just wondering, which CDVs have you liked prevoiusly? (to see if i know any and for future reference).

Speaking of which, how is Karim the CDV at Cherating. Is he an active CDV? Does he do his job well according to you etc...I think that after reading those very interesting 8 pages on Aziz ("Aziz the WORST CDV ever in "Angry zone"), i want to know that there's nothing strange about the CDV. I highly recommend you guys read that topic if you haven't already. It's hilarious! great reading with heated arguments (always fun to read) :-). It was very interesting for me to read because in 2002 Aziz was CDV in Bintan during one of my trips. I NEVER would've imagined all the things that were said (assuming they're all true) and was shocked to my very core!

Gingergr75, i would appreciate it if you could tell me which GOs are (or will be in feb-march) at Cherating. The GO "categories" that interest me most are: Circus, Fitness (&sports generally) and animation/entertainment. Not that i don't find some of the Boutique, Rececption, Bar, Restaurant... GOs really nice it's just i don't really focus on those particular aspects in CM.

Gingerbr75 and John-Chicago, i'm really impressed that you guys come to Asian villages all the way from the States! well done! Living in Asia, i know mostly the Asian villages because they are closer and more convenient. (Although i have been to Chamonix and Santa Lucia a long time ago). I would love to visit villages in other regions (i've heard the ones in Brazil, Mexico and the Caribbean are wonderful). If any of you have been to villages in other regions how do you find them compared to Asian villages? I'm really curious.

Thanks for all the excursion tips guys but when i go to CM, i usually stay at the village (i find there are enough fun things to keep me busy, and don't want to miss out on anything!). Plus, some of you may stay for long and may have time to do things outside the village but i usually go for 5-6 days. Plus, Asian culture isn't as exotic and interesting to me because i already live in Asia.

Ric, about restaurants, i find that while Bintan has more variety, Phuket has more quality. To me, the food in Bali didn't make the cut (plus the restaurant was pretty dark at night and there was no air-con). I've heard the new restaurant in Cherating is amazing (although according to a previous review it isn't!) with waffle-makers and crepe makers.

Speaking of that pretty negative Cherating review, i must say i disagree with that person...a lot. What villages has he/she been to that made Cherating so bad compared to them?? For his/her info, Cherating has won tons of awards lately (in Asia) (like best resort 05-06, best food, best hospitality, best family resort and many more). Plus, many people that i know (who usually have the same tastes as me in CMs) absolutely adored Cherating. And then there's you guys! Glad to see there are Cherating fans around. I personally loved it but posted this because i haven't been there for long and needed a little update ;-) I guess that person's experience must've been similar to my Bali experience (there's no other explanation!)

Coming back to you Ric, you said that Bintan looks like a hotel and has a lift. Did you mean that in a negative way? Sure, Bintan looks MORE like a hotel than Bali or Phuket or Cherating but compared to any regular hotel (Hilton, Four Seasons, Hyatt) it doesn't really look the same, as in it's not just a plain "building". I have to say, many people disagree with me, but i find Bintan beautiful...

The seaview/poolview on the 4th floor and at the Panorama bar is amazing in my opinion and makes a very good 1st impression on GMs. I als

<<Kiki de M, that's a smart idea about knowing which CDV is at the village you're going to before booking! Just wondering, which CDVs have you liked prevoiusly? (to see if i know any and for future reference).>>

Circus Mermaid, I've listed the CDVs I like(d) in this thread (page 3):
http://www.clubmedplanet.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3427

Thanks for the link;-) That was an interesting topic i hadn't come across yet.

Hi Circus Mermaid,

Bintan is small and beautiful. There is a lift in Bintan, no lift in other Asian Club Med village.
It is not a negative comment. I just want to show the difference.
Indeed, I like Bintan very much.

hi Ric

Oh ok, sorry, i perceived it differently! glad to know you like it as well! ;-)

Hi Circus Mermaid,

Have great time in Cherating.
Tell us about the village, the GO team, ... when you are back.

Thanks so much!:D I'm pretty sure i'll have a great time and i'll give you guys a detailed review and answer all your questions

Yes Cherating is amazing and I wish I was going there!! I just talked to a bunch of my friends yesterday--Maria, Jenn, and Joan(nurse). I msis them sooooo much!!! Get to know them, they're super nice!

"CM Bintan looks like a hotel"

Yes, actually it does look like the other hotel resorts in Bintan with the exception of Mana Mana, Banyan Tree.

I recall there are lifts in CM Sahoro (sorry Ric ; p)

Aita Pea Pea

yup but i meant that it doesn't look like "classic" hotels like the hilton for example even if it does look like other resorts.

Circus Mermaid - looks like you have lots of ill-feelings regarding my review on Cherating... but those were just my personal views.

To respond to your comments:

If people say food in Cherating is good then they should try the food in Da Balaia - absolutely awesome!

In terms of sport/ beauty of the village - Kos is my favourite.

So I was not just posting my review for the sake of being negative or irrational... I did make a couple of positive points - e.g. excellent CDV, good GO team, etc.

I don't have ill-feelings :) (believe it or not!) it's just that i was pretty surprised as i have personally had a great time everythime i've gone to Cherating.

I just wanted to make sure that that hasn't changed and when i saw your review i got worried. Fortunately, people have reassured me and reconfirmed everything i thought before.

I do understand your point of view because you seem to have more villages to compare Cherating to and you have been to different regions (the region changes everything, i think) I've mostly been to Asian villages so i guess my references make a huge difference.

Since you;ve been there recently, could you tell me the Gos that you remember from your trip and what dress codes you had during your stay? I'd appreciate it :-D

Circus Mermaid, dress codes for the winter - Asian, Elegant Black, Elegant white, Blue & white, Capussino, Jeans Elegant, Pink & White, Black & White... pretty basic.

Updates on GOs later... :)

All in good time

Thank you very much! It's very useful when packing ;-). Have you been there recently?

Circus Mermaid--
Any chance you're American? I'm still looking for an American who is going to Cherating soon. I was hoping someone could bring a CD to fitness GO Jeremy.

--Wendy

Hi Mermaid,

Yes several times over the last few months.

Bar GOs: Jamie (Can - Chief), Jen & Khairul(M'sia), Adil (Maritius), Jeremy (Fr), Tim (Aus)

Circus: Rick & Nat (Aus), Sonia (Can), Marina (Indon), Alil (Sin), Tak (Jpn)

Animation: Mamdouh(Tun), Chisato(Jpn), Ketut, Dewa & Randy (Indon) & Francisco (Mex)

Sports: Lionel (Bel), Popo (Jpn), Annie (Kor), Jean, Cliff (Mau), Jeremy (US),



All in good time

Lucky you! (for having been there several times) thanks for the update. I thought Clayton from south africa was in circus? is he gone? who's the CDS?

Clayton left bout 2 or 3 weeks ago. I don't know where to sorry.
CDS is belgium guy Lionel.

All in good time

clayton is in aus now but will be back mid feb.

Awesome! with some luck i'll see him! thanks for the info. Is Lionel a good CDS?

west5567,

sorry,i'm not american (although apparently i sound like one when i speak :-)). I'm south-american, european and asian...sorry about the late reply, i hadn't seen your question!

No problem! Well, when you meet JEremy, you can at least tell him I tried...

--Wendy

Sure, no probelm ;-) What sports is he in charge of?

Hi Minouche!

When you said Capuccino for the dress codes, is it Capuccino as in the coffee? Basically it's brown right?

Hi there!

Jeremy was the fitness instructor.
Mermaid, yeah capuccino basically means brown and white. But I saw some GOs wear black and white as well... Haha... go figure, i guess it can be black coffee and cream huh.
oh yeah and there is also red and black. Hard to say if Lionel is a good CDS, he seems ok, but he doesn't have a lot of presence in my personal opinion and he hardly ever talks to other GMs besides the french.

All in good time

Oh that sucks! i like sociable GOs. Oh well i speak french so i'll be fine ;-) thanks for the info. Capuccino is a weird dresscode i find!

Na, Cappucino (at CM) can be anything from beige via sand via khaki to brown. Since a perfect cappuccino is topped with whipped milk, you can even add white or off-white. IMO, beige and white is extremely chic. I often combine it.
But it's basically earth colours.

Thanks so much! Nice interpretation :-) Ya, beige and white do look good i find!

haha... yeah thanks heaps kiki....
mermaid, when are you going to cherating again? because I might be heading there myself

All in good time

From february 24th to March 2nd. (for my birthday!) I've made it a point to beg for a CM vacation for each birthday so 2005 was Bali, 2006 was Phuket and now Cherating!

... and next time should be Kani!

Circus Mermaid,

I'm going to be at Cherating starting April 27 for two weeks, so I would really appreciate a report. Okay? Thanks.

John

can i have an update on the watersports team when u come back from cherating too? i'm assuming the watersports team isn't doing anything right now because of the monsoon?

also apparently they're going to introduce surfing so let me know if that actually happens! thanks :D

Tell me all about it when you go ok:) I'd love to know what GOs are still there, especially bar, reception, boutique, excursion, circus, mini club...etc. THANKS!! My friends Maria, Jenn, Joanna, Joan, and Soraya are there. I hope you meet them!

Hi everyone!

Thanks Joseph but Kani has no circus so it isn't really a choice for me!! I've heard it's awesome there though...

No problem i'll give you guys reports and Gingerbr75 i'll tell you who i meet there ;-)

I'm still looking for an American to bring a CD to Cherating when they go.....I was really hoping to get the CD to Jeremy the fitness GO.....any takers?

--Wendy

hey Wendy,
I am sure I will be going again...but probably not til summer. :( But I will take it if you want me to. Unless you need to get it there sooner. I would suggest mailing it to them. I always send letters to my friends there and they get them EVERY TIME :)

How long does it usually take and how much do you think it would cost? I've never sent anything to asia....