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Club Med Sandpiper Bay: A Vacation for the Whole Family, Moms Too!

By Catherine Fialla, Macaroni Kid Brandon Publisher August 17, 2018

It's summer! Now’s the time for a little relaxation and a vacation, although sometimes a vacation doesn't quite feel like a vacation for us moms. I recently came across a funny (and maybe a wee bit too relatable) post on social media. The gist of it was "a mom's vacation is all the same cooking & cleaning household duties as usual, just in a different location or closer to the beach." 

I’ve discovered another way... 

Just a three-hour drive across the state awaits Club Med Sandpiper Bay, all-inclusive resort designed for families. The ride to Port St Lucie was just long enough to feel like we were really getting away, but not too long that I had to prepare a zillion snacks & activities to keep the kids happy in the car. We all (kids AND parents) were still in a pleasant mood and ready for some fun when we arrived for 3:00 check-in. 


Check In

Check in was super easy. Glasses of water with fresh mint & lime water at the reception desk kicked off the resort vibe. Be sure to bring the whole family into the lobby, because everyone needs to be there to get their wristbands, the key (literally) to this relaxing vacation. For the duration of your stay, there's no need to grab keys or wallet, you can walk out of your hotel room hands free, because the wristband is your room key and the key to all-inclusive dining & activities.


 The Rooms

The Deluxe Family Room was more than enough space for my family of five. It was like a little apartment and the kids were so excited to have their own bedroom within the room. In the main room, the canopied bed separated the sleeping area nicely and there was plenty of room for the heap of belongings that comes along on a family vacation. A lovely lake view awaited us through the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that led to our very own furnished private patio. We even spotted a couple of bunnies hopping around out there!


The Pool

There are three pools and a kids water and splash area, but we mostly stuck to the main pool. We were allowed to bring pool toys into the pool., so that was definitely a plus. My kiddos spent many an hour diving for coins, playing underwater shark catch and just having fun splashing around. My husband and I split our pool time between playing with the kids and lounging poolside, where we could easily keep an eye on the kids while they played. One afternoon we were lucky enough to catch some of the planned pool activities: water aerobics and water polo.


The Drinks

Club Med Sandpiper Bay is all inclusive, so to many that means DRINKS! Of course, there is an open bar with all-you-can-drink adult beverages, including these yummy "drinks of the day" that we enjoyed poolside, but there are also plenty of non-alcoholic options. One of my kids' favorite parts of the trip was grabbing frozen slushy drinks and Shirley Temples from Slice. In the main restaurant, we were also able to treat ourselves to healthier options like smoothies on tap and watermelon juice!


The Food

Oh, Marketplace, how I miss you. I miss the seemingly endless buffet of kid-friendly standards, like hamburgers, fries and macaroni & cheese, joined by fresh fruits and salads, grilled fish and delicacies enjoyed by more adventurous eaters. I miss your copious fruit smoothies and juices. How I wish there was someone with me, right now, who would whip up made-to-order crepes topped with berries and whipped cream (or caramel.. or chocolate.) or scooping unlimited cups of gelato. I can still taste your signature white chocolate bread. Most of all, I miss getting to eat my food while it's still hot and my ice cream before it melts and not having to cook or do the dishes after my family eats.


As a special treat, I decided to take my 12-year-old foodie out to Riverside Grill & BBQ, Club Med Sandpiper Bay's fine-dining establishment exclusively for adults and kids ages 10+. We chose our selections for the three course meal and enjoyed stuffed shrimp, salmon, steak and even tasted gator. The key lime crème brûlée was outstanding and my son loved the vanilla gelato with chocolate covered bacon! Even better? Dining at Riverside is included in your stay and there is no additional upcharge!


The Activities

The G.Os (Gentils Organisateurs -- Gracious/Nice Organizers) are always up to something, whether they are playing ping pong with the kids, organizing games or putting on a dance party. Club Med's Kids clubs, Mini Club Med – from 4-10 years old & Club Med Passworld – from 11-17 years old are included with your stay. Kids 4 months- 3 years old aren't left out though, Baby Club Med & Petit Club Med are available at an extra cost.

Each night there are different shows and entertainment. One evening I had the surreal experience of walking into a party that was like the ending credit scene of Despicable Me, complete with the soundtrack-- Pharrel's "Happy" and a stuffed unicorn.... oh, and dancing princesses and Pokemon characters... and a "champagne" (apple juice) fountain... and snowcones...


Kayak and paddleboard rentals are, you guessed it, included! Our family had so much fun paddling around the river in kayaks. My kids got the hang of it pretty quickly and we enjoyed the view.


One of the coolest parts of the resort is Flying Trapeze School! It's your chance to "fly through the air with the greatest of ease." Be sure to check the schedule for the proper time for your child's age group-- and, yes, adults can try it out too. One night each week you can catch the trapeze show starring professional trapeze artists and if you're lucky (and brave enough) you can even BE a part of the show.


Need more to do? Club Med Sandpiper bay has a mini-golf course, tennis courts and a soccer area. My boys had fun checking out all of the facilities and made up their own tennis/soccer game!

Rainy afternoons spoil all the fun at a riverside resort, right? Nope, not the case at Club Med Sandpiper Bay. It was a bummer when the downpour started and we had to get out of the pool, but the staff worked quickly and turned a huge conference room into a carnival. It was filled with balloons, a popcorn machine, two bouncy houses, and more candy than any kid could eat! I was in awe and my kids were thrilled as well. Way to make lemons out of lemonade, Club Med!


We all had a great time and packed so much fun into the two days we spent at the resort. Plenty for everyone to do, plus no meal planning, no cooking, no dishes... sign me up again! 

Club Med Sandpiper Bay is an all-inclusive vacation that is truly a vacation for the WHOLE family.




Club Med Sandpiper Bay hosted my family and I received complimentary overnight accommodations for our two-night stay at this all-inclusive resort. No other compensation was received in consideration of this article and all opinions are that of the writer.

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Your family can enjoy Club Med Sandpiper Bay with this exclusive discount offer: 

Residents Save Up to 50% OFF Getaways to Club Med Sandpiper Bay, FL | Exclusively for residents of FL, GA, AL, NC & SC
Use promo code SANDPI at check-out
Book by August 21, 2018. For travel between June 23, 2018 – February 16, 2019

For more info and to get started planning your family's getaway, check out "On Our Radar: Club Med Sandpiper Bay: Family Friendly & All-Inclusive Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida"


*** Club Med has partnered with Macaroni Kid Family Travel for an amazing all-inclusive 5-night giveaway for a family of 4! Enter at https://goo.gl/kJaCMU ***