Review: An all-inclusive family holiday at Club Med Bintan

Yes, this was our second Club Med adventure this year! The kids could never resist Club Med, so we decided to surprise them with a 3D2N family getaway to Club Med Bintan this school holiday.

Our journey began at Tanah Merah ferry terminal, and we reached Bintan’s Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in just 50 minutes. The best part is that Club Med Bintan offers a complimentary shuttle service, so we didn’t have to worry about transport at all! It was truly a holiday where NO planning was needed— all we had to do what we wanted, whenever we wanted! For the husband, this meant lounging all day e’er’ day at the resort’s various bars. With complimentary drinks, snacks and live music, I can’t say I blame him!

Deluxe Room with Sea View and Balcony

We stayed in the Deluxe rooms with Sea View and Balcony, and our rooms were just a few steps away from the main building. We would have loved the interconnecting rooms but we booked a little too late this time. Our rooms (for two adults and two kids 5 and 8) were two rooms apart along the same stretch, so that was fine!

There’s a ‘mini’ corner bed that comes with corner rooms, and Cbb quickly declared it as hers before Cdd had the same idea. The Deluxe room is furnished with a balcony and I loved the beautiful sea view that greeted us every morning.

The restaurants and bars

Club Med Bintan got us covered with two restaurants we can go to for all-day dining in different settings. The Waterfall, Club Med Bintan’s buffet restaurant, offers a variety of heavy and light meals in different cuisine styles, including Korean, Indian, Italian, American, French and of course, local Indonesian cuisine!

My favourite dishes were the Chef Specialties, which included gourmet plates such as Beef Wellington, Seafood Bouillabaisse, Salmon Poke Bowl, Cheese Ravioli, Beef Bourguignon, Mexican Tacos and SO MUCH MORE on top of the extensive buffet selections! Go to my Instagram highlights to see the amazing variety we tried. I guarantee you will be wowed too!

Since it was already 2+ when we checked in, we went to Terrace Restaurant for a late lunch, available from 2 to 5pm. The menu was extensive and there’s a kids menu too. We enjoyed the Seabass with Warm Quinoa Salad, Crispy Fried Squid served with Aioli, Ayam Bakar and a Tempeh Wrap. The Caramel Panna Cotta was to die for – you need to try it if it’s available!

There are many bars in the resort for you to lounge around and try out all the specially concocted beverages, cocktails and alcohol! I love the Panorama Bar (above pics) for the amazing Indonesian coffee (Barista classes are available too – just ask for the timings!) and the husband spent maybe 50% of his time at the Main Bar trying out the all-inclusive alcohol menu (you can also top up for premium spirits). The Beach Bar is great to lounge around while the kids build sandcastles just few steps away.

Club Med Kids Club

Own up – this is the real reason why you’re considering a Club Med holiday! I mean, we love our kids, but it’s nice to be away from them once in a while.

Club Med’s Kids Club is a fantastic service designed to give both parents and children a fun and stress-free vacation experience. The club offers a variety of age-appropriate activities, ensuring that kids are engaged, entertained and well-cared for while parents enjoy some time to relax.

Petit Club (2-3 yo) and Mini Club (4-10 yo) are available at Club Med Bintan, and the kid’s version of Club Med is just as amazing as the grown-up one. On offer: spaces, meals and activities designed especially for children of these ages, and all supervised by Club Med G.Os. Petit Club is available at an additional charge (check with the resort) while Mini Club is included in your stay.

On the first day, Cdd needed some time to warm up, so we spent time playing board games, table football and building blocks at the Mini Club. The classrooms could use a refresh, but that didn’t stop him from having fun! There are two pools at the club, with swimming typically scheduled after lunch, but kids can swim with parental supervision at other times. Activities like the Flying Trapeze, Archery, Wall Climbing, and Treasure Hunts keep kids entertained throughout the day. They also rehearse for performances, a great way to encourage self-expression. At lunch, you can either join your kids at the Waterfall Restaurant or let the Mini Club handle their meals.

Overall, Club Med’s Kids Club is perfect for families who want a vacation that caters to both adults and children, ensuring everyone has a memorable time! What I like is that the drop off and pick up timings are flexible, so if you want to take the kids to the beach for example, you’re welcome to do so!

A special shout-out

I wanna give a huge shout-out to G.O. Re Re, who really went out of her way to make Cdd feel comfortable. He was a bit shy and clingy at first (to mummy!), but Re Re picked up on it right away and put in so much effort to connect with him. She even asked if she could join us for dinner when I said hi to her at the restaurant! By the end of the meal, Cdd was back to his usual chatty self and couldn’t stop laughing. Needless to say, neither of the kids wanted to say goodbye when our holiday ended. It truly takes a special person to be a Mini Club G.O., and we can’t thank Re Re enough!

Club Med x The Ranger Buddies

For the first time ever, Ranger Buddies Missions land on the shores of Club Med Bintan. Designed with children and families in mind, the Ranger Buddies Missions make learning about sustainability a fun and engaging part of their holiday experience whilst encouraging participants to care for the planet.

Read more about The Ranger Buddies: Start a Wave of Change in my blog post here: Club Med Bintan x Ranger Buddies: It’s MISSION time!

The beach and other activities

Club Med offers a private 2.5km beach with pristine sand along the South China sea, the ultimate retreat for families!  The kids have been looking forward to the beach since day 1 and we finally found time (too many activities to do, really!) to go on our last day! Since our ferry was at 6.30pm, we still had time to use the facilities and stay in the club after checking out, until the 5pm shuttle pick up. Due to the monsoon season when we were there, water sports like kayaking, etc were suspended, but you can still have a game of volleyball, take a stroll or chill by the Beach Bar.

The husband went for Archery lessons and there were also yoga, tennis, golf, ping pong, aqua fit, sundance, barista classes, body fit, futsal tournaments and more activities at Club Med Bintan. Whether you want to try something new like trapeze, unwind at the spa (I did! the rates are reasonable!), or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches and waters, Club Med Bintan offers an incredible variety of activities that will keep you active, engaged and entertained throughout your stay.

Plan your Club Med Bintan holiday

Friends who know me know that I was never a resorts kind of girl. But after experiencing the Club Med hospitality TWICE in a year, I guess it’s safe to say that we will choose Club Med again and again! Major plus point about Club Med Bintan is it’s only 50 minutes away by ferry, so it cuts costs (ferry tickets were about S$300+ for 2A2C) vs travelling by plane. And the nearer the earlier to enjoy all the amazing facilities! The kids absolutely love our Club Med holidays – I think they’re on a quest to experience all the different Club Meds around the world!

It’s not too late to book your holiday. Plan your family getaway at Club Med Bintan today!

Club Med Bintan: Lot A11 Jalan Perigi Raya Lagoi North Bintan Utara, Pos 29152, Teluk Sebong, Bintan Regency, Indonesia [Browse and book here]
How to reach: By ferry (I booked via Bintan Resort Ferries)
Shuttle service: Available to and from the resort
Watch my video: All the fun we had at Club Med Bintan (3D2N)and Our Ranger Buddies Experience
Instagram stories: See what we did every day!
Read blog about Ranger Buddies: Club Med Bintan x Ranger Buddies: It’s MISSION time!

This was an invited stay to experience Club Med Bintan. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.