Club Med Cherating Beach

Has anyone else seen the shocking review this village got over at Tripadvisor.com by some clown? He really went to town on the village. IMO he was totally unfair, I don't think lost bagagge on the way over is the fault of the CM and I certainly don't agree with him about the food. He also say's his room wasn't cleaned for days at a time. I have been to plenty of CM's and Cherating about 4 times, and my room has always been cleaned every day.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else thought this guy was off the mark? I was at Cherating about 9 months ago and it was it's usual excellent self.

Here is a link for the review.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298296-d579713-r13635033-Club_Med_Cherating_Beach-Kuantan_Pahang.html

I have never been to Cherating and I hope to go there one day ( and Bora Bora , Kani, Phuket )

People tend to forget a few thing when they travel.
First : it is a foreign country
Second: what is the point of bringing 3 pairs of shoes and one expensive T shirt when your are on vacations ( same with Jewels etc... ) I think it is even a lack of respect for the people that will not earn that in 1 year
Third: airlines are loosing luggages like crazy. I live in a city with a small airport: 12 millions people annually only. Connection, delayed flight and stuff are not good for the suitcases. A seasonned traveller will put essential stuff in their carry one. For sure, with the gel and liquids, you have to be creative.
I spend one week across NA with everything in a 1.5 x 1.5 feet suitcase. I was glad I had it cause I missed my connection re snow storm number xxxxxx

It not always easy to be flexible, especially when you have a bunch a tired kids in tow.
As I mentionned in a previous forum, courtesy is a must even for youngs kids.
I tell my kids that they are very lucky to go to CM so often and to be so privileged

Fly high

Complaint:
1. 3/4 four bags had not arrived - we could not use the pool or the facilities until they had
Thoughts: Arrived where ? In the room or the club ? If GM had arrived around lunch time, quite possibly, they would have to wait till after lunch. I dont think skinny dipping is allowed at the pool

2. The rooms were suffocatingly small, dingy, filthy (my daughter sneezed for hours whenever we entered the room).
Thoughts: Size is relative esp if you're used to staying in suites.
GM probably stayed at the older unrenovated rustic themed rooms !

3. Some days the rooms were cleaned other days not, some days the rooms were cleaned but the bathrooms not.
Thoughts: If this true, then this is a serious complaint

3. You cannot go to the beach due to rips
Thoughts: It is still monsoon season

4. The brochure photos do not in any way resemble the rooms.
Thoughts: Brochures usually showcase the suites !!

5.The website boasts 3-4 restaurants - there is basically one. We asked for a booking to the Lautan restaurant to be told it had closed - LAST YEAR!!!..... the other one on the other side of the island is only open a couple of nights per week and we were only able to "dine" there one night as it was arranged by management who were equally astonished when I showed them the website which clearly is misleading advertising.
Thoughts: I think CM websites are often not updated frequently. Different countries' websites carry different contents of the Villages. I think this is a valid complaint. CM has to standardise website/webpage contents for all their CMs

6. Have you ever been to a restaurant with only four dishes to pick from - I have - its at Cherating!
Thoughts: Honey, it's called a set menu.

7. The main restaurant is appalling. Monotonous, cold food, leftovers regurgitated into the next days entrees.
Thoughts: If you visit the restaurant at 1,45pm, that is what you get. Regurgitation occurs everywhere around the world where buffet is served

8. As for the the wine - have you ever been to a restaurant where there is only one bottle to choose from - I have - its at Cherating!
Thoughts: Yup, one red, one wine and one rose'. I believed they have a wine list if you wish to buy premium wines

9/ As for "Showtime" - it was cringeworthy and embarrassing - basically one dancer knew the routines and the others giggled their way through the misstepped "performances" - the cardboard props were equally embarrassing.
Thoughts: GM nite ??

10. My calls to Paris HO remain unanswered.
Thoughts: My emails to CM office have never been answered unless it is to book another package.



Aita Pea Pea

CM Cherating is still rated #1 hotel (out of 13 in Kuantan) on Tripadvisor!

I often go to Tripadvisor, but for hotel reviews mainly in Switzerland, France and other European countries.

I usually forget about the worst and the best review and make up my mind with the reviews in between.
There are always folks who rave and rant, justified or not.

I much more prefer CMP for CM villages, for sure!

I have to come to the defense of Cherating. As most of you know, I was there last May. I'm not exactly a rookie, having been to 21 different club med locations. Cherating was one of the best. The food was extraordinary and the place was so clean, I thought you could do surgery on the sidewalks. I have never seen where they advertised 3-4 restaurants. The last time I looked they only mentioned two, and one of them isn't open every night. I will agree that the air conditioning doesn't work that well, but the rooms were always very clean, and the GE's were extremely nice and efficient.

This guy was way off of the mark. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Cherating. Even though I was the only American GM there, everyone went out of their way to make me feel at home--tremendous GO's.

Let us hope that he isn't the new breed that the club is attracting.

John

It is unclear what happened to the luggage whether it was the airline or CM but later they do say CM had errors with the tickets. If he is a seasoned travelor then he should know luggage does get lost. We always use a carry-on with at least a set of clean clothes, swimsuits, razor, and appropriate shoes. It is a hassle with gels etc so I check those and if I have to buy it so be it.

The U.S. website does list three restaurants: Mutiara, Rembulan, and Lautan. The latter the person said he was told it was shut down last year.

A couple of thoughts. Most of us here are seasoned CM people and remember the spartan days. So these new renovated CM (I have stayed at Cancun) are luxurious-for a CM-not for a luxury resort. CM is starting out with high prices and targeting the upscale market but in fact they are not delivering an upscale product. Stay at a Weston or one of may favorites, the Williard in DC, and see what luxury is-bathrobes, turndown service, chocolates at night, premier rooms and restaurants. Frankly, at an upscale, luxurious all inclusive, I would expect more than three low-end choices of wine at the sit-down restaurant and more than four choices of entrees. Lastly, I have to agree that the front desk at CM pretty weak. At Cancun, it took them three days to send a fax. Each time it did not go through, it was my company's fault not theirs even though I told them I checked with my company and the fax was working. If you are going to target the upscale market you better have some seasoned front desk people, not some kid from who knows where on a six-month contract who has been up all night. Finally, people going to an upscale luxurious resort do bring three pairs of shoes and expensive clothes. Some people like to get dressed-up on vacation. (I am not an upscale person but I bring 4-5 pairs to CM. Running, tennis, beach scandals, and dress scandals and/or dress loafers.)

You are going to see more complaints like this because CM is targeting an upscale markert which is more demanding and well they should be with the prices CM is asking. Unless you find a special their prices are very high.

Jim

His or her 1st sentence was 3 of 4 bags didn't make it with them
Second sentence was they believe it's a deliberate practice of the Club.

I think they probably lost everybody at that point of the review. LOL.

Another thought. She said it was $17,000. I just checked for two weeks for 2 adults was under $7,000. So the kids (?) must have been $10,000. Very big family!

A few years ago when they introduced (free) drinks at least for Americans I just happened to print out the list from their brochure. As well as being able to drink a lot I'm hooked on Red Bull. Of coarse Red Bull was listed as a free drink at the bar.

Of coarse when I went to the bar it was a premium. I took the printout to the Chef de Village.. Well you know the rest of the story. "I can't be responsible for what America prints in their Club Med Brochures". Just smile and keep going.

Since my wife passed a few years ago it I've discovered it's tough being single and trying to get a "fair deal". But you know try a cruise and get a deal for a single, or Disney world, etc. All vacation deals are per person for 2.

But I can't really complain too much, I can drink as much as the room and board cost. So basically it's free for me except the airfare. With all it's problems, till the best deal on the planet!!!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by boraborabob

His or her 1st sentence was 3 of 4 bags didn't make it with them
Second sentence was they believe it's a deliberate practice of the Club.

I think they probably lost everybody at that point of the review. LOL.

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Exactly, is he/she trying to insinuate that CM deliberately losses your luggage so that you have to by clothes etc from the Boutique? If they are trying to make this tenuoius link then they have lost me. As if CM would risk it's reputation on such a crazy stunt.

I am not necessarily trying to defend the guy but not sure when in January he went nor for how long nor if that include air. Some people have posted high prices here for CM including $15,000 for a family over a holiday period.

Jim

I have found that people that have had some sort of bad time are more likely to post a review than someone that had a great time. No matter where you look on trip advisor there will be a much larger percentage of bad reviews. People that had a positive experience tend to come home and kick back with good memories and look forward to their next trip. Those that are upset are more likely to make it known.
Thats why I tend to overlook the tripadvisor posts and form my own opinion either from past experience or from people I know.

Why would anyone go to Cherating in January, the height of the rainy season? As a Aussie, he ought to know better.

John

quote:

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Originally posted by HowiePA

I have found that people that have had some sort of bad time are more likely to post a review than someone that had a great time. No matter where you look on trip advisor there will be a much larger percentage of bad reviews. People that had a positive experience tend to come home and kick back with good memories and look forward to their next trip. Those that are upset are more likely to make it known.
Thats why I tend to overlook the tripadvisor posts and form my own opinion either from past experience or from people I know.

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Couldn't agree more. You are far more motivated to post a negative review rather than a positive one.

quote:

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Originally posted by John-Chicago

Why would anyone go to Cherating in January, the height of the rainy season? As a Aussie, he ought to know better.

John

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Yes John, as a fellow Aussie I am embarrassed by my countryman.

However, in Australia our main school holidays for the year are in January, so I would say this is why they went then. However, does not excuse them from doing basic research to discover that this is the worst time weather wise to go to Cherating.

The funny thing is that because of the poor weather or 'off-season', Cherating should be at it's cheapest at this time of year, so why the hell is he paying $17,000?????

quote:

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Originally posted by HowiePA

I have found that people that have had some sort of bad time are more likely to post a review than someone that had a great time. No matter where you look on trip advisor there will be a much larger percentage of bad reviews. People that had a positive experience tend to come home and kick back with good memories and look forward to their next trip. Those that are upset are more likely to make it known.
Thats why I tend to overlook the tripadvisor posts and form my own opinion either from past experience or from people I know.

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I agree it is better to form opinions on past experiences or info from firends. However, by and large the posts on tripadvisor for Club Med are very favorable at least for Cancun, Turks, and Ixtapa. In fact CM posts link to tripadvisor for Cancun and Ixtapa. The few complaints are generally about the quality of the rooms and the buffet style/group seating. Both of which can be valid. While the rooms are much nicer in Cancun, I would not call them luxurious. While I fine the food good, again giving CM advertising its upscale approach, I can see people expecting more.


Jim