Get On Your Game At Club Med Sandpiper Bay

Lazy weekend views at Club Med Sandpiper Bay

“Damn Its Hot.”
I’m standing on the tiniest of platforms about 30 feet in the air and about to jump…and the only thing I can think of is the heat. Because jumping off this platform while holding onto a bar to swing and eventually turn upside down into a trapeze move is strangely the least of my worries—I’m more concerned if I put on enough facial suncreen to make it through all the sweat that is going to come from my forehead today. I’m not really concerned that the closest I’ve ever come to the flying trapeze is jumping off of Jamaican cliffs (does that count?) and that I’ve never actually seen anyone with my curvy body actually on a flying trapeze.

I hear the command, jump, swing and 4 seconds later I’m upside down and now hanging just from my legs. I then swing my body up, let go and then get caught by the safety net and flip over to my feet firmly planted on the ground like a normal human being.

Surprisingly enough, it was the easiest activity of my entire weekend, largely due to the fact that my “mini-training” was facilitated by three specialized trainers from the Flying Trapeze and Circus School of my resort. The same resort where I had completed an intense tennis lesson with two professional players turned coaches (Rafa, Rasheed...thank you!) and learned I had a great backhand, beach volleyball with a current professional player who was prepping for a NVL tournament, a HITT workout with another athletic conditioning coach and Vinyasa yoga with a woman I can only describe as a modern day yoga deity with great thighs. By the time I got to trapeze, a long-forgotten confidence that I had was in full effect, my active mojo was back and I was feeling very much up on my game. Because I was at Club Med Sandpiper Bay and no matter the activity—around here everyone is on their game.

Whether your game is tennis, golf, cycling, triathlon, overall athletic/physical conditioning, volleyball, yoga or even sun worshiping and relaxation (which is also a sport according to Parlour!)—if you like it, chances are there is someone at Club Med Sandpiper who loves it, so much that they’ve made it their professional passion and have won awards at it, and they want to teach you and your family how to get better at it. This particular Club Med property is home to what is commonly known as an "active vacation" and for a family that values fun and fitness, it's better than Disney World.*

Club Med? Yes, Club Med
If you're an eighties baby like myself, the name Club Med is synonymous with private club getaways in exotic locales with European jetsetters, the original (and sexier) all-inclusive blueprint for the Sandals/Dreams/Beaches brands of modern times. But in reality, Club Med and it's 67 villages all over the world have been a haven for active, vacationing families for over sixty years.

A part of Club Med's appeal is it's ease once you enter. Because you have paid for everything, including your meals and activities, before you set foot on the property there is little need for extra cash and whether you have pre-scheduled your activities or just going with the flow—there is always something to do and someone to do it with, namely the Club Med's "GOs" or Gentils Organisateurs (Gracious/Nice Organizers), who are ready to play, eat and drink alongside the "GMs", or Gentils Membres (Gracious/Nice Guests/Members) aka you and your family. At first, this concept was strange to me but after seeing the process in action it can actually be a bonus for families, especially those with smaller children. Because if mommy can steal some quiet moments with wine and her thoughts while a GO and the kids have a lively dinnertime conversation, mommy is winning and all is right with the world.

Unlike other all-inclusive properties who tend to offer a lot but in reality are providing the bare minimum of quality and service, I found myself impressed with Sandpiper Bay's commitment to detail from my welcome to the products, serviced and amenities offered—from the grounds to the food to the staff. I'll admit, I slept on Club Med—but as I move into a personal phase (marriage, etc) where a luxurious yet delicate 44th floor suite just won't work, I just may have found a new go-to brand for international family vacay time.

What's Your Game?
With the Club Med Sandpiper Bay being the brand's only locale in the United States, it's Port Saint Lucie, Florida address is ideal for combining a few jaunts to West Palm Beach and even Miami for a little variety, though your daily itinerary at Sandpiper Bay may leave you with little time to leave, between its resort, the L'Occitane Spa (the only one in the U.S), and full time Golf, Tennis, Triathlon, Cycling, Swimming and Beach Volleyball centers which make up the adjoining Club Med Academy. And that's not including the full scale athletic training staff for performance conditioning, mental coaching, and nutrition. True, you can chill in style at Sandpiper Bay where this property comes to life is on the court, making it a haven for those who want to blend fun, fitness, and relaxation into their family holiday.

Even if you aren't training for your next competition, the average active (or wants to be more active) family benefits by having access to elite level instruction that can easily break down the basics of tennis for a fun day of instruction and bonding. If you'd rather do your own thing or get some adult-only time in with your partner, the property offers supervised, day-long activities for children and teens (including sports training) while you work on perfecting your swing, learn a new sport or reconnect with your physical self. I personally didn't think that I could have so much going from a tennis to beach volleyball in the Florida sun, but after a few good serves and swings the desire to intake and improve with my instructors easily outweighed the sweat. Knowing that your instructor is also a world champion is also a very effective motivator. You can reunite for lunch, dinner and one the nightly family-friends activities featuring your friendly GOs often as your emcee and entertainment in addition to live bands and performances.

One to three-day training packages for both children and adults range from $250-$500, with the later also including 1 hour of a regeneration spa treatment.For a more self-guided experience, Sandpiper Bay also hosts an expansive fitness center complete with Life Fitness equipment, and spin bikes with daily classes. Runners can also take advantage of the property's 3+ mile-long trail that surrounds the property. And your inner daredevil will love the flying trapeze class, even if you just do it one because you've decided that your feet function better on the ground.

For families with children who are getting serious about their sports, Sandpiper Bay's Club Med Academy also functions as a full-time educational facility that boards a number of budding pro-athletes who are looking to complete their education while also getting intensive training in the sports program of their choice. In short, it's the coolest boarding school you could go to if your little one is very focused on becoming the next Serena Williams. As an alternative, weekly camps are also available for specialized training during school breaks and the summer season.

The Relaxation Game
If your game involves more sunbathing and salutations versus time on the court, one could easily perfect their freestyle or butterfly stroke in the 25 yard lap pool, with the main pool bring right next door for some fun family time. For a quieter, more relaxing experience the adults-only quiet pool offers an infinity design and hot tub right on the banks of the St. Lucie river, which is also perfect for swimming. The adjacent Infinity Bar, adds the perfect touch for a late afternoon solo or couples chill session. For teens and small children, they also have their own dedicated pool areas which are supervised.

Just a short walk from the secluded quiet pool, you will walk right into another are dedicated to relaxation and regeneration—The L'Occitane Spa and the yoga/cardio studio. The only one of it's kind from the French brand, the spa is a local destination within itself with its 5 individual and 2 dup treatment rooms, it's relaxation garden and it's salon for a quick touchup. And if you love L'Occitane's cult products like their shea butter hand cream (a MUST for flights), you will find all of that and more both in your treatment room and their in-house shop. The cardio/yoga studio is the perfect size for personalized group instruction or an arranged solo session to perfect your headstand and vinyasas.

For more retail therapy, the property also boasts a carefully curated shop, La Boutique, where you can find pretty much anything you may have left at home, from flip-flops to toothpaste. Potentially problematic (but beautiful) Native American war bonnets aside, the shop also has a decent selection of swimsuits, sundresses and accessories that one might find at a local indie retailer.

When it's time to turn down they can do so in the three varieties of Deluxe Rooms that Sandpiper Bay offers. There are rooms just for couples that offer just one room in-suite with an expansive bathroom, or two variations of family rooms that offer separate sleeping quarters for parents and children, featuring bunk beds or two twin beds. No matter what, this solves the costly problem of having to often get two separate yet adjoining hotel rooms as in some properties, while still maintaining some parental privacy. For couples coming alone or perhaps with a baby, the Club Rooms are the more luxe option on the higher levels with bay and garden views. By day, there is even a Baby Club Med with a full nursery and staff to offer peace of mind while on the tennis court.

The Culinary & Cocktail Game
Between all those activities, one had to fuel themselves right for the next day, so as much as the property has put into their dedication to an active lifestyle, it also extends to the food. In the main self-serving hub called The Marketplace, you find less of a buffet experience and more of a self-guided culinary tour that is prepared right in front of you. Chef Ralph Sipolo and his team work to make sure that everything from steamed fish to pizza is all freshly made to please even the pickiest of eaters, including guests with particular allergies and dietary restrictions. Aside from this main area which is open for all meals, Sandpiper Bay also boasts two dedicated sit-down restaurants Soleil and Riverside Grill, which offers a more formal experience with riverside dining and views.Before or after lunch and dinner, guests can chill at the Slice Bar and Lounge that features a full-service bar and a lounge that is surprisingly kid-friendly but doesn't skimp on the mixology. Outside of Slice, garden sectionals make for a casual, social experience, not unlike many upscale, al fresco lounges that you would find at a South Beach hotel. But the unique difference here isn't what you see, it's what you hear—French.

As Club Med is a French brand, you will find many guests visiting from France and French-speaking countries, with the staff speaking both English and French (and Spanish, Portuguese, etc) fluently and seemingly everywhere. These more social times, especially outside of Slice, are a great way to practice your own French with folks being eager to help you with your technique.

Whatever your game is, from golf and tennis to practicing a new language by the pool—The Club Med Sandpiper Bay will put you on to a new type of getaway that will please all the senses and the muscles. Rates start at $149/night per adult depending on the season, with children under four staying for free and discounts for children ages 12 and under, and 15 and under.

For more information on the property and to design your own experience, visit Club Med Sandpiper Bay.

For more information on specialized training, academic + sport programs and camps, visit Club Med Academies

.Closest Airport: West Palm Beach (PBI)*Club Med Sandpiper Bay is just a short drive from all of Orlando's theme parks, so save a day for Minnie Mouse!