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Should Club Med Cherating Be On Your Local Luxury Vacation Bucket List? [Review]

Should Club Med Cherating Be On Your Local Luxury Vacation Bucket List? [Review]

Club Med is a premium all-inclusive resort that caters to both leisure activity afficionados or those looking for outdoor adventures in Cherating, Pahang.

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Initially, I had no clue what a Club Med was.

I thought Club Med was a meditation club or perhaps a clubbing spot. But in Cherating? I guess not.

So what is it? Well, we got a chance to find out in person what Club Med is and guess what? I didn’t wanna go back home after getting the Club Med experience.

Club Med, A Breathtaking Resort

Not too long ago, we went on a 3D2N stay at Club Med Cherating for a relaxing, thrilling and all-inclusive package.

(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)

Just a 3-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, Club Med Cherating is an 85-hectare resort set between the tropical jungle of Pahang and the South China sea.

The first thing we saw when we reached Club Med was the golden sand and bluish ocean. We were so excited to see the beach that we couldn’t stop smiling.

The People – GOs, GEs & GMs

The next most noticeable thing was their enthusiastic facilitators that welcomed us. Boy, we could see their energetic smiles and eager waves a mile away. It was a really warm welcome, signifying how friendly their GOs are going to be throughout the trip.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

We later found out that some of the facilitators are called GO, Gentil Organisateurs (Nice Organisers) and some are called GE, Gentle Employees. Meanwhile, we, as the guests are called GM, Gentil Membre (Nice Members).

Apart from the beautiful place and the exciting activities, their GOs are what keep the guests coming back to Club Med. They are sort of the brand ambassadors, wearing many hats from entertainer at night to your sports guy or bartender by day.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Fun Fact: After a few years or seasons, their GOs can actually change their location to any Club Med resort in the world, so you might not be seeing the same GOs when you come for a second time.

They come from different nationalities too and are very social beings… Introverts, beware, they might just randomly go to you to strike up a conversation about the weather. They’re just being outgoing and friendly, that’s all.

The Lodging

At Club Med, they call each resort a village so this is the Cherating Village. Everything is made of wood, from the teak walls of our rooms to the wooden corridors leading to the restaurants and common area.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

You do not wanna wear heels while walking in those corridors, believe me, the whole village will hear you passing through. It kinda reminded me of my old village hometown, just a creak on the wooden stairs and the whole house will know you’re not asleep yet at 3 am.

(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)

They label each block of the lodging with animal names and we got the I block, or Itik. The rooms are quite spacious for one person and the view outside the window is amazing. I especially love how the sound of waves hitting the shore is so calming when we sleep at night.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Relaxing Activities

They have two beaches here, the main beach which you can’t swim and the Rembulan beach which you can. All the watersports activities can be done here. They have a buggy to get you from the main buildings to the Rembulan beach every 30 minutes.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

The buggy ride takes 5 – 10 minutes. You can also choose to walk. Taking the scenic route will take you 20 minutes on their forest trail. But if like me, you missed the buggy, it’ll be a 15-minute sprint. 😌

(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)

They have two pools, one for the general public with child-friendly areas and another is a pool for adults called the Zen Pool. The Zen Pool is one of my favourite places as it overlooks the South China Sea and you can watch the sunset here. You can leave your kids (aged 4 and above) at the Mini Club Med +, and have some quiet me-time here too.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Additionally, they have plenty of cosy gazebos with lazy chairs and beds spread all around the resort by the beaches. Just imagine falling asleep or indulging in a book by the shore. It’s stress-relieving and remarkably therapeutic, I tell ya.

Other than those, there are also free yoga sessions, a batik painting workshop and also a spa for a pampering massage session. However, the batik painting and spa sessions are not included in the “all-inclusive” package though. You have to pay extra for those.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

We did the batik painting workshop and it was really a calm and curative activity. You can just choose whichever painting you want in medium and large sizes. And there will be an instructor to guide you with all the colours and techniques thoroughly.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Moreover, Club Med Cherating collaborates with the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS), to bring you fun and educational programs. We listened to a talk given by Dr Chen Pelf Nyok, a marine biologist and also a Co-founder of TCS.

(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)

Besides understanding the dangers of plastics to our sea life, including the turtles, we also got to not only see but hold a few baby turtles. They’re not those sea turtles you see in Finding Nemo but still, a turtle nevertheless. They are called River Terrapins or TungTung in Malay.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Apart from that, we also learned how to make your own organic soap. It’s a process of melting some organic chemicals, mixing them with colour and pouring them into a cute mould. You can also bring back these soaps with you.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Unlimited Food

As this is an all-inclusive resort, all the food here is free! Well, mostly…

This includes an international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner at The Mutiara, their main restaurant. They also have another restaurant called The Rembulan, where you can indulge in a full-course meal.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

The food we had there was magnificent. Foie Gras, raw Salmon and Tuna, fresh Scallops, Steak, and many more. I do not recommend you stay on a diet while you’re on this trip. Those scrumptious and mouth-watering desserts would be a waste.

Other than that, they also have another restaurant called Enak, which will automatically open when the buffet closes. Hence, if you’re still feeling a little peckish or if you’ve missed the buffet, you can still head on to Enak to enjoy some noodles and a sandwich.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Besides that, sometimes in the main lobby, they’ll hand out finger food randomly like pancakes or fresh-cut fruits. Trust me, you won’t be hungry here.

Additionally, they also have three bars which are open till 12 am. You can order whatever drinks you want – mocktails, cocktails or frappe – and even bring it into your room.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Adrenaline Junkie’s Safe Haven

Club Med is known to be a retreat for you to both relax and return to nature. So there’s a high probability that you’ll return back home more exhausted than you came. This is because they have a lot of extreme and mild sports activities for you to try out.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Here are some examples of the activities:

  • Sailing (subject to tides)
  • Rock Climbing
  • Flying Trapeze
  • Archery
  • Stand-up Paddle Board
  • Kayaking
  • Hiking
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Excursions

For us, we didn’t manage to do all the activities but we did try kayaking, stand-up paddleboard, and rock climbing. I came home with bruises and a body ache but it was all worth it.

I fell a few times during the stand-up paddle boarding because of the waves but it was still fun. The tiring part was to fall flat in the water and get back up on your board. If you already know how to skate or rollerblade, then you would love this one.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

The water where all the water sports activities are done is not that deep and you will definitely be given a life jacket. The kayak one was fun but it became quite tiring after a few pedals. You gotta have strong biceps for this.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

For rock climbing, the instructor will guide you through every step, as in which rock to step on, which one to hang on and so forth. I froze for a minute or two midway, deeply frightened by the thought that “I’m gonna fall and die at a retreat”, but hey, seems like I made it. I was still shaking after the climb but it was a good experience after all. Mind you, I was a beginner in all of those sports.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

They also have value-added activities which are called excursions. You can take a Mangrove River Cruise ride, go witness fireflies by the river at night, go Turtle Watching & Hatching (subject to season), and more. Check the excursion activities here with their rates.

Extra info

Besides the spectacular food, views, and activities, there are a few minor things that we find a bit frustrating. Just some minor ones, that is.

The Quiet Room.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

First of all, the wifi connection is a bit spotty. Especially in the rooms. However, they do have an air-conditioned room near the lobby called the Quiet Room. It’s fantastic for those wanting to do work while sipping some fresh mocktail overlooking the sea.

The view from the Quiet Room.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Yes, they’ve successfully made all the guests forget about the real world for a moment and enjoy nature. But for those who went on a work trip like us, well, we couldn’t really get much work done. Which is, the point, I guess.

However, they do have a premium upgrade for smooth wifi. You just have to pay extra.

Next is their laundry room. Here at Club Med, they do not provide room service so, you’d have to go to the laundry room to iron your clothes. It is three blocks away for us at the time and a little creepy at night.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Nevertheless, if you really want the iron, you gotta be pretty persistent with the request. If it’s not in high demand, only then they’ll send the iron to your room.

In conclusion, bring ironless clothes next time if you wanna get that perfect OOTD picture there.

(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)

Besides those, we definitely enjoyed our trip at Club Med Cherating. It was a true tropical paradise.

A Thing Or Two About Club Med

Founded in 1950, Club Med is a french travel and tourism operator headquartered in Paris, specializing in all-inclusive holidays. They have over 70 resorts in 30 countries all over the world and employ more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employés (GEs), representing 110 nationalities.

Fun Fact: Club Med Cherating was the first Club Med to have ever opened in Asia. It opened in 1979, that’s 44 years ago!

(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)

However, make way for a brand new resort next year by December 2024 because Club Med is opening a 41-acre of land between woods and waves in Kota Kinabalu called Club Med Borneo. You’ll probably get to see wild Orang Utans in their natural habitats and enjoy the crystal clear shores of Sabah.

With over 70 resorts worldwide in 26 exceptional locations, Club Med has constantly reinvented itself to stay ahead of new customer expectations.

By 2024, we are going to have globally – 17 new resorts opening and 13 extensions and renovations. 

Olivier Monceau, New General Manager of Club Med Singapore and Malaysia

If you’re not looking to have a vacation in Malaysia, you can try their other Club Med resorts worldwide. Right now, they’re doing their promotional period for stays in Club Med Japan and Club Med Alps. Visit here for more details.

For more info on Club Med Cherating, you can check out their website here.

Club Med Cherating

Address: Hvom 29th miles Jalan Kuantan-Kemaman Pahang Darul Makmur, Jalan Kuantan Sungai Lembing, 26080 Kuantan, Pahang
Contact: 09-581 9133
Expenses: Starts from RM1104 per night
Website

READ MORE: Club Med Cherating Tawar Aktiviti Di Resort, Sesuai Untuk Percutian Yang Tenang!


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