Club Med Bintan 09-13 Dec 2011

So the story goes, Bee Kuan (BK) and I decided to treat ourselves after finishing our MSc course and there was a one-for-one discount from Club Med. It was my childhood dream to go to Club Med because it has always felt like it belonged to the world of the rich and it would be a dream come true to visit it someday. BK was kind enough to agree to the trip.

Everything was booked online vis their website and their membership is compulsory at $60/annum. So the total cost for a 5D4N for both of us was S$1,530. We didn’t spend an extra dime during the trip. But because this was an offer, the ferry timings given to us were really crappy (re: really early).

So the trip began with a 8.10am ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bintan Ferry Terminal. The trip is about 1hr and sea conditions were rather good.

In the ferry

After checking out, approach the Club Med storefront in Bintan Ferry terminal to check in and board their internal shuttle bus to resort which take about 10-15mins. As Bintan is an hour behind Singapore, we have gained an extra hour and was able to enjoy a long full day.

Checking in at the Club Med store

When you reach the Club Med Ria Bintan, you will be welcomed by their staff called Gracious Organizers (GOs). They will offer you, the Gracious Members (GMs), a welcome drink, give a short briefing then allow for check in to our rooms. The resort is known as the village and a Village Chief heads the GOs.

Welcomed at the reception area

A welcoming towel art shaped like a dog in the room

The Village Chief is Merlin Chelliah who is a vivacious lady despite being pregnant. She participates in dances and activities whilst putting her hand on her tummy, as if to comfort the child within. Not easy. She has a team of managers who supervises the various village operations and also a very international group of GOs from various countries, backgrounds and skill sets.

Village chief and her managers

GOs and the location of their hometown

The GOs not only know a variety of languages (we have Indonesians speaking fluent Japanese, Caucasians speaking Mandarin and many speaking French), they are also dancers, singers, musicians, artists, nannies, DJs, sportsmen, lifeguards, bartenders, acrobats, sailors, etc. Aside from cleaning and waitressing, which are covered by Gracious Employees (GEs), they basically run everything! They are the ones holding lessons on archery, yoga, aquarobics, darts, flying trapeze, etc. They will also accompany you when you play mahjong, pool or during meals to make sure everything is enjoyable.

Multi-national and multi-talented GOs

To orientate the new GMs, there is a more detailed briefing and walkthrough to introduce the various facilities and programmes available.

Village map

General view of the Village’s main building

Mahjong room: Fully air-conditioned with 4 mahjong tables and 2 table soccer

Bagus bar: Village night club with a bar, 2 pool tables, dance floor and sound systems room

Circus school with flying trapeze lesson

Private beach

As for our accommodation, our room is Superior Seaview (I suppose every room is seaview because all the accommodations are facing the sea in 2 parallel lines, with one on an upslope). The various blocks are well separated and the surroundings very serene. The rooms are also nicely set up and amenities comparable to a decent hotel’s. There is cable tv, towels, toothbrushes/toothpaste, hairdryer, kettle, etc.

Picture taken from an upslope building

Floorplan of Superior room

The daily theme and programme are made available to all GMs via their posting on the notice board the night before. So you could plan and prepare to maximize your stay there. When we were there, the themes were: Eclipse (for the Lunar eclipse, not the vampire show), MJ (Michael Jackson), Latina Fiesta and Glee. Each night, the GOs will dress according to the theme while some of the GMs, who so happened to pack similar clothings, will also do the same. Each night, the GOs will put together a programme, according to the theme, that lasts about 1hr. It features many sets of dances and costume changes, acrobats, live music and audience participation.

Eclipse night by the pool

MJ night at the theatre

Latina Fiesta night at the theatre

Glee night at the theatre

Based on the programme, we can partake in many activities or learn some sport. The activities start punctually and depending on the popularity of the activity, there may be a queue. In Club Med, the activities and facilities are there for your perusal. You can either slack it out in your room/by the pool/at the beach or go all out joining everything in the programme. It is totally up to you. Have a closer look at the programme to see what is available.

Programmes posted on notice board

Practice session with Circus GO before going for the real thing. Foggy picture due to cold camera lens.

Emi’s flying trapeze

BK’s flying trapeze

Emi’s archery session

BK in Limbo competition with a hyperactive stranger boy. Note: My fave GO is behind with arm raised and BK’s fave GO is next to her, all tall and dressed in white.

The main dining area is the Waterfall restaurant, where every meal is buffet styled. International cuisine with Korean, Japanese, Indian, Western, Chinese items featured regularly to cater to the bulk of the GMs and the GOs. Should you want to have a late lunch or feast at a place with more ambience, Terrasse Restaurant is available. There they have ala carte main courses with a mini buffet and you are seated in wooden furniture amongst foliage, giving a very resort like feeling.

Waterfall restaurant

Our various meals

On one night, they brought the whole restaurant out by the pool. You can see the very classy setup in the picture. Chefs and waiters serving you as you dine under the lunar eclipse. The dinner also ended with a firework display.

Dinner by the pool

There are 4 bars offering a variety of hard liquor, cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine and juices. Yes, they are free flow and they don’t stinge on the alcohol. The bartenders will mix your order and waiters will bring them to you, whether you are out in the pool, sitting by the beach, playing mahjong/pool, etc. Santai bar is their main bar and is also the place where many small activities are held. Panorama bar, as its name suggests, is located on the highest floor, offering a bird’s eye view of the village. Matahari bar is located by the beach and on certain nights, acapella nights are held there. Bagus bar is essentially the nightclub of the village and the bar open only after 10pm to serve those at the dance floor.

Lazing in Matahari bar

Just some of the MANY cocktails we drank during our stay

In conclusion, this all inclusive Club Med stay is really good. The people are warm but not overbearing. The activities are adequate though some of the water sports have to be closed due to monsoon season. The spread of food is also good. All in all, it is recommended for only a short period of time because it will not be long before you miss city life or shopping malls. All this nuahing, it does take some getting used to. Perhaps, practice makes perfect. =)
For more pictures, refer to our gmail account.