Club Med Phuket: Our Full Week in Review

by Christopher O'Keeffe August 06, 2025

PART ONE: ARRIVAL, FIRST IMPRESSIONS & GIANT SUITES 

A Welcome Like No Other

Some holidays begin with a schedule. This one began with a feeling.

Just steps beyond the arrivals hall at Phuket International, I was met by a Club Med host in crisp white linen, holding a carved wooden sign bearing our name. No queues, no confusion—just a warm smile and the cool relief of a lemongrass-scented towel, pressed gently into my hands as the humid air wrapped around us like a shawl.

We were guided to a waiting luxury minibus—quiet, spotless, blissfully air-conditioned. Bottles of ice-cold water were handed out as soft music played in the background. And then we were off, winding through the southern reaches of the island—past banana palms, tangled jungle, the occasional golden spire of a hilltop temple, and sudden glimpses of the sea, bright and impossibly blue.

By the time we pulled into the entrance of Club Med Phuket, the stress of travel had already faded. It felt like we were ready to begin our holiday properly—relaxed, refreshed, and well looked after.

The Arrival Ritual

We stepped out into another world.

The lobby was open-air - all teak beams and slow-moving ceiling fans. Smiling G.O.s (that’s Gentils Organisateurs, Club Med’s answer to cruise directors crossed with fairy godmothers) greeted us by name.

We were offered delicious fruit cocktails and asked—without fuss or queues—to take a seat while they handled the details. No paperwork. No lines. Just a gentle unfolding of everything we needed.

And then came the introduction to our room.

Suites Made for Sunrises

We were shown to a Suite with Balcony, interconnected with a Superior Room boasting its own terrace. For a family travelling with children (or grandparents, or couples needing a bit of breathing room), this configuration is the holy grail.

Spacious is too small a word. These were not rooms. They were residences. The Suite opened onto a private balcony shaded by palms and filled with birdsong, complete with plush outdoor seating and glimpses of the sea between fan-shaped traveller’s palms. Inside, there were carved wooden panels, embroidered cushions, fresh orchids on the table, and towel elephants topped with hybiscus flowers.

On the children's beds in the Superior Room, those same towel artists had folded miniature tuk-tuks and jungle animals out of cotton and imagination. A note from the housekeeping staff welcomed us personally. The minibar was stocked with juices and sparkling water. The air-conditioning whispered rather than roared.

This wasn’t just a place to sleep—it was a place to dwell.

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PART TWO: LANDSCAPES OF LEISURE – THE GROUNDS, THE BEACH & THE HEARTBEAT OF THE RESORT

Lush Beyond Expectation

Step outside and you’re in a garden that dreams might envy.

The grounds of Club Med Phuket are a riot of green—lush, unbridled, unapologetically tropical. Giant birds of paradise arch over mossy stone walkways. Bougainvillea spills down balconies like pink champagne. Every footpath is flanked with something blooming.

You can walk for ten minutes and pass ancient banyans, lotus-filled ponds, and hidden sculptures placed just so. There are pagodas for quiet reflection and hammocks for glorious abandon. The entire resort feels as though it was planted by hand and blessed by the weather.

The Beach—Yours for the Taking

Then there’s the sea.

Just beyond the gardens lies the edge of Kata Beach, a soft crescent of golden sand that melts into gentle waves. Club Med has its own gate to the beach, just a few short steps from the pool area. There’s no scramble for chairs. No crowds. It feels private even when it’s not.

The ocean is warm and shallow enough for children to splash safely, yet deep enough for a proper swim. We built sandcastles in the morning, chased crabs in the evening, and watched the sun dip into the Andaman Sea every night like it was performing just for us.

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PART THREE: WET & WONDERFUL – POOLS, COCKTAILS & THE QUIET JOY OF DOING NOTHING

The Pool That Brings People Together

The main pool is the beating heart of the resort. It’s vast—big enough to swim laps, splash with children, or simply float on your back and contemplate the meaning of life (which, at Club Med, may well be rosé and a well-timed cannonball).

Surrounding the water are rows of plush sunbeds, canopied daybeds, and poolside service that makes you wonder if you’ve accidentally wandered into a scene from The Great Gatsby. Within minutes of arriving, a tall iced drink appears in your hand and a staff member checks if you’d like anything else.

Cocktails here are unlimited and included—mixed fresh, made to order, and genuinely good. None of that syrupy faux-mix you find at lesser all-inclusives. Here, the mojitos sing with mint, and the passionfruit margaritas taste like summer on the tongue.

A Sanctuary for Adults

When the children are at Mini Club, or you simply crave quiet, the adults-only pool becomes your cathedral. Surrounded by bamboo and palms, it’s all tranquillity and cool tile—an oasis tucked gently away from the joyous roar of family fun.

Here, the pace slows. Bartenders slice dragon fruit into your cocktail. Couples read books or lie in silence, their fingers just touching across loungers. The water is still, the atmosphere reverent. It’s not just a pool—it’s a retreat.

PART FOUR: FOR THE LITTLE EXPLORERS – MINI CLUB MAGIC & FAMILY DELIGHTS

Where Childhood Comes Alive

If you ever wanted proof that children can live their best lives while parents get a break—and somehow everyone ends up happier for it—look no further than Club Med’s Mini Club and Le Petit Club.

From the very first morning, our little ones bounded toward the Mini Club entrance like it was the gates of Disneyland. Bright-eyed, sunhatted G.Os welcomed them with the enthusiasm of long-lost cousins and the patience of saints. Name tags were offered. Friendships were forged over sunscreen application. And off they went—barefoot into a world where foam parties, acrobatics, and inflatable obstacle courses are the order of the day.

Adventures Worthy of a Novel

Let me paint the picture. One day they were scaling a mini climbing wall before lunch, tightrope-walking with circus instructors in the afternoon, and then preparing for a stage show by dinner. Another day it was water balloon races and treasure hunts and cookie decorating.

And yes—foam parties. Glorious, sunlit, bubble-drenched affairs where squealing children leapt into cloud mountains of soapy delight. Every time we saw them, they were beaming. And every time they returned to us—usually sticky, sandy, and utterly euphoric—they came bearing stories. The kind of stories that don’t begin with “I was bored...” but rather, “You’ll never believe what we did today!”

The Gift of Friendship

More than the activities, what moved me most was the atmosphere. Children are not simply occupied—they are cherished. There’s a sense of community and belonging, woven gently by staff who know how to talk to kids like equals. Our daughter made a friend from Japan and another from France. Our son, usually shy, was singing karaoke with his new Mini Club buddies by the end of the week.

Parents, meanwhile, get the extraordinary gift of time. Time to nap, to read, to have that third coffee or that fourth swim. Time to remember what it’s like to not answer the question “Can I have a snack?” every twenty minutes. That alone is worth the airfare.

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PART FIVE: FEASTING LIKE ROYALTY – THE JOY OF THE BUFFET

Breakfast: A Celebration of Morning

If I could bottle the scent of Club Med Phuket’s breakfast buffet, I would keep it beside my bed and uncork it on winter mornings. Freshly baked pastries, tropical fruit sliced to jewel-like perfection, and eggs made however you like them—scrambled, poached, or folded lovingly into an omelette as you watch.

There are Thai dishes, too—steaming bowls of congee, noodles fragrant with lemongrass, grilled vegetables sizzling beside pineapple. There’s champagne if you’d like it (yes, even at breakfast) and a coffee bar that remembers your order after day two. It's not just a meal. It's the sunniest start imaginable to the day.

Lunch: Light, Long, and Lovely

By midday, you might find yourself wandering back to the restaurant—perhaps after a swim, a game of pétanque, or a particularly good nap. Here’s where Club Med really excels: rosé lunches that stretch out with no one to rush you. The buffet transforms—salads bright with herbs, grilled fish kissed by coconut marinade, spiced curries, and handmade sushi rolls lined up like edible art.

Everything is fresh, everything is plentiful, and everything is included. Pour yourself another glass of white. Try the mango mousse. It’s okay to take two.

Dinner: A Festival Every Evening

Come evening, the restaurant becomes a stage of its own. Candlelight dances across the open-air space. Themed nights bring global flair—one night it’s French, with duck à l’orange and foie gras terrine, the next it’s Thai with pad see ew and green curry that sings with heat. There are carving stations, seafood mountains, noodle bars, and salad spreads that would make Ottolenghi blush.

Wine flows freely—red, white, rosé—and cocktails are made on the spot. Try the passionfruit mojito. Or the frozen margarita. Or the lychee martini. Or all three, if the night calls for it.

The Desserts (Deserving of a Novella)

Let’s take a moment here. The desserts are not an afterthought. They are the grand finale, the encore, the firework display. Chocolate mousses, lemon tarts, fruit pavlovas, hand-dipped éclairs, and a mango crème brûlée that made me weak at the knees. There’s an entire freezer of ice creams and sorbets, a crêpe station, and a little corner I named “the chocolate situation” featuring cakes so rich they require a disclaimer.

Yes, it’s all included. Yes, it’s all as good as it looks. And no, you won’t fit into your jeans by day five. But that’s the price of joy, and you won’t regret it.

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PART SIX: BEYOND THE PLATE – WINE, WELLNESS & WONDER

Wine Tasting Like the French Do It

On our third afternoon, we stumbled into one of those serendipitous Club Med moments: a wine tasting set up beside the main bar, hosted by a charming sommelier in linen trousers and sun-tinted glasses.

We sipped rosés from Provence, bold shiraz from Australia, and a sauvignon blanc that tasted like lemon blossoms and starlight. Plates of cheese and bread accompanied each pour. Laughter lingered in the air like incense.

It was casual, it was cultured, and it reminded me again that Club Med is not just all-inclusive—it’s delightfully inclusive of the things that make life beautiful.

Spa: A Sanctuary of Stillness

Then there’s the spa.

Set among bamboo groves and koi ponds, it’s a hidden world of calm. We booked the couples massage—a full hour of serenity under the gentle pressure of gifted hands, surrounded by the soft hiss of water and Thai pan flutes drifting on the breeze.

Afterward, we sipped herbal tea and didn’t speak for ten minutes. We didn’t need to. Everything we needed to say was in the silence.

PART SEVEN: WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN – EVENINGS AT CLUB MED

The Magic Hour

There’s a particular moment at Club Med Phuket when day yields to night and something subtle shifts. The children are back from Mini Club, sun-drenched and salty. Parents shower and slip into something linen. The air cools just enough to tempt long sleeves. Lanterns flicker to life. Music drifts across the resort like a promise.

This is the magic hour. And Club Med knows how to honour it.

A Pre-Dinner Toast to the Day

Before dinner, most guests gather at the main bar. It’s not just a place to drink—it’s a stage of its own. A wide, open-air pavilion strung with fairy lights, ceiling fans turning lazily overhead, and bartenders who are equal parts mixologists and conversationalists.

Cocktails are as endless as your curiosity: caipirinhas, martinis, mai tais, a daily special dreamed up by whoever’s behind the bar. There are mocktails for kids, and a generous wine list if you’re inclined to a quieter pour.

Children play nearby in the games area—table tennis matches erupt, foosball tables spin—and the atmosphere is one of effortless ease. A golden lull, before the lights go up.

Showtime!

Each evening, the resort transforms. The stage beside the bar becomes the heartbeat of the night, and the G.O. team—those tireless ambassadors of joy—put on performances that range from playful to breathtaking.

One night it’s a cabaret of singing and dancing, with costumes straight from Broadway and enough glitter to dazzle the constellations. Another night, it’s a Thai cultural performance with traditional drums, fire dancers, and silk-clad grace. There are comedy nights, acrobatic displays, circus routines, even karaoke marathons where guests and staff belt out pop ballads under a disco ball.

And it’s not just the shows—it’s the spirit. Everyone claps. Everyone laughs. Everyone is, for a moment, part of the same delighted audience. No cynicism. No cool detachment. Just joy.

The Club After the Club

For those with a little stamina left after dinner and the show, the party continues. There’s dancing in the open-air lounge with music curated to suit the crowd—‘80s hits, island remixes, the occasional ABBA anthem (because, of course).

You can have a quiet drink under the stars or whirl barefoot across the tiled floor with someone you just met that morning. It’s that kind of place. Barriers dissolve. Stories are exchanged. Another round is always “why not?”

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PART EIGHT: ADVENTURE, GAMES & GOLDEN AFTERNOONS

A Playground for Grown-Ups

There’s a special joy in discovering that the same resort which pampers you with cocktails and massages also encourages you to pick up a bow and arrow and take aim.

Club Med Phuket offers a range of activities that could keep the most restless traveller endlessly entertained. There’s archery, where instructors patiently coach beginners through their first bullseye (you’ll hit one, I promise), and tennis, where racquets are always on hand and courts are shaded and well-kept.

There’s paddle tennis for the slightly more adventurous, and beach volleyball for those who enjoy the sand between their toes and the competitive glint in their sunglasses. Aqua gym in the pool. Thai boxing classes. Even yoga on the beach at sunrise, where sun salutations blend with the sound of gentle surf.

Workshops, Culture & Curiosity

Club Med doesn’t forget the mind, either. There are Thai cooking classes, where chefs guide you through green curry and mango sticky rice. Fruit carving demonstrations that border on sculpture. Language sessions to learn just enough Thai to charm the locals.

You can explore the region with optional excursions: boat trips to Phi Phi Island, snorkelling off coral reefs, elephant sanctuaries, or temple visits into the spiritual heart of Phuket. But honestly? You may never leave the resort—and you won’t regret it.

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PART NINE: WHY IT MATTERS – THE SOUL OF CLUB MED

More Than a Resort

It’s easy to talk about Club Med in terms of what it offers: the food, the pools, the fun. But what lingers most isn’t the tang of a passionfruit daiquiri or the feel of towel-warmed skin after a massage. What stays with you—what brings people back, year after year—is the atmosphere.

It’s the way staff remember your name. The way your children are greeted every morning with high fives and giggles. The way strangers become familiar faces by day three. There is a humanity here, a culture of kindness, that elevates the experience from excellent to unforgettable.

Club Med Phuket doesn’t merely deliver luxury—it delivers connection. To yourself. To your family. To joy.

Inclusivity Done Right

There’s something truly magical about never reaching for your wallet. About knowing that your next drink, next meal, next activity, is already taken care of. It allows you to be present. To linger. To indulge without guilt.

And because it’s all included, you’re free to say yes. To the snorkelling trip. To the massage. To the wine tasting. To dessert—twice. And that “yes” echoes across your stay, until it becomes a habit. You learn to say yes to yourself.

That’s the real magic of Club Med.

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PART TEN: THE LONG GOODBYE – AND WHY YOU’LL RETURN

Leaving Is the Hardest Part

On our final morning, we sat on the balcony one last time. The children were still asleep, salt in their hair and smiles on their faces. Birds chattered in the palms. Somewhere, a tuk tuk horn sounded.

We’d packed, reluctantly. Said our goodbyes to the G.Os who had become friends. We were thanked with warmth, handed little keepsakes for the children, and reminded to come back soon.

And we will.

Because Club Med Phuket is not just a resort you visit—it’s a chapter in your life you’ll want to re-read.

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Final Thoughts: Why You Should Go

If you’re looking for somewhere to truly unwind, reconnect with your loved ones, and feel taken care of from the moment you land until the moment you (begrudgingly) board your return flight—Club Med Phuket is waiting.

Whether you’re a family chasing a balance between togetherness and independence, a couple craving peace and cocktails, or simply someone ready to trade routine for ritual—this is your place.

It doesn’t just offer you a holiday.

It offers you a better version of yourself.

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