Located on the St. Lucie river on the east coast of Florida, The Club Med Sandpiper Bay is the only All-Inclusive resort open all year long in the United States. There is a small white-sand beach area and a wide variety of activities at the resort: swimming, sailing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, basketball, volleyball, soccer, dining, dancing, various sports, three restaurants, a Golf Academy with 18- & 9-hole courses, a Tennis Academy and much, much more – even a trapeze!
The Club Med brand is much stronger internationally than here in the United States. Perhaps that’s because there are seventy-one resorts worldwide, and only US location is The Club Med Sandpiper Bay. Club Med properties are considered to be the original all-inclusive resort.
The resort has 307 rooms, spread out among seven three-story buildings. There are family rooms at Club Med, and options for two bedrooms to allow some separate space for Mom and Dad.
After a major renovation ($28 million), The Club Med Sandpiper Bay reopened in December 2010. The grounds are small and intimate, but we never felt like it was overly crowded! The property has a tropical feel with beautiful with flowers, palm trees, fish jumping in the river, dolphins just offshore, and other wildlife like the multiple bunnies we saw.
There are four pools at the resort, including an all-adult infinity pool (top photo), a lap pool, a baby pool, and the zero-entry family pool (shown above).
The pools are surrounded by red umbrellas and loungers creating a modern, South Florida feel. Near the shore are red-accented cabanas and on the beach are comfortable wicker couches… so plenty of places to just relax. Near the adult pool is a cozy little bar with a vivacious bartender. It was great to just step over to the bar, grab a drink and head back to the pool.
There are three restaurants at at the Resort: The Marketplace – a buffet dining experience. The Soleil, which has table service with a limited menu. And last, the Riverside Grill & BBQ, which requires advance reservations. The Marketplace has an extensive choice of options, and we repeatedly went back for the chocolate bread. Club Med provides a wide variety of dining choices, from vegetarian to sinfully delicious. There are chefs ready to make dishes to your order, such as omelettes each morning. It’s so easy when dining in the evening: grab a bottle of wine from the cooler and head to your table.
Although the resort is geared to families, like the all-adult pool, there is an all-adult dining section. If you’re planning to go to the Riverside Grill & BBQ, make your reservations well in advance as reservations opportunities often close up at least a day or two in advance. The grill overlooks the bay and provides great ambiance along with the good food.
This Club Med Sandpiper Bay is also the home of the only Club Med Spa by L’Occitane® in the U.S.A. This new spa is an great addition to the resort and ties in with the Health & Fitness programs. We were able to tour the spa and my wife spent a few hours here one day… a wonderful experience! The spa provides a relaxation area with misters and refreshments to use before and after your spa experience. The staff was solicitous and the prices were competitive.
Some of the biggest draws at The Club Med Sandpiper are the Academies. The Club Med Academies have specialized programs with professional instructor and they are committed to providing training for players of all ages and abilities.The Tennis Academy is run by renowned coach Gabe Jaramillo (who trained Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and many others), and the The Golf Academy is located on an 18-hole on-site golf course. The Golf Academy also includes a 9-hole pitch-and-putt course.
The Fitness Academy offers specialized training programs and coming soon – Volleyball! If you are looking for a sporting experience, this is your place! And your children are sure to have a great time at Club Med’s world-famous children’s clubs. There is also a great fitness facility and a wide variety of exercise options such as Zumba, pilates, yoga, aqua workout, just to name a few.
We were the special guests of Trish Noa, the Southeast Business Development Manager for Club Med. Trish took us on an extensive tour of the property. We saw a multitude of rooms, toured all the fitness facilities, and enjoyed a two-hour presentation on Club Med properties. She was the perfect host, answering all questions, and helping me understand Club Med properties.
If you’re looking for a family-fun resort, with the benefits of being all-inclusive, a great sports-environment, and in a convenient Florida location, then the Club Med Sandpiper Bay is a great resort to explore!
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