blog post

Story by 

Adria Valdes - Recommend Magazine

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

This past summer, Club Med announced plans to invest $25 million dollars into an enhancement program for the newly renamed Club Med Sandpiper Bay located in Port St. Lucie, FL. The resort, which Club Med calls the only family all-inclusive resort in the U.S., closed for renovations on Aug. 20 and will celebrate its official grand opening on Dec. 17.

Redesigned with the help of French architect, Francois Champsaur, the 216-acre renovated Sandpiper Bay resort will feature different room categories, including Deluxe Family rooms with two separate bedrooms to ensure enough room for everyone, three new restaurants serving gourmet cuisine from around the world and new children’s facilities.

Active guests will definitely want to check out the property’s brand-new tennis facilities. The resort partnered with the International Tennis Academy (ITA), to offer world-class coaching from talents such as former tennis director of the Nick Bollettieri Academy, Gabriel Jaramillo (training available for both adults and juniors), and expansive facilities, complete with six clay courts, 14 hard courts, one stadium court, a new pro-shop, training facility and a new 12,000-sq.-ft clubhouse.

Or, recommend a visit to the Sandpiper Bay’s International Golf Academy. Here, golf aficionados can enjoy the personalized service of a golf concierge that facilitates access to more than 16 private and public golf courses within a 20-minute drive from the resort such as the PGA Ryder course. The resort itself features an 18-hole golf course, a Tom Fazio II-designed practice facility, a putting green and driving range, and a lavish clubhouse and pro-shop.

Meanwhile, the resort’s fitness center has been transformed from a 700-sq.-ft. space to an expansive 7,000-sq.-ft. facility, complete with an indoor cardio dance studio, yoga studio and outdoor meditation areas with panoramic views of the bay. After an energizing workout, guests can get pampered at the spa with rejuvenating spa treatments, massages and facials.

In addition to renovations of guestrooms and sports facilities, the resort’s children’s program will feature significant enrichments, including personalized experiences at The Kidz Village, which allows children as young as four months and older to interact and participate in programs specially designed for their age group. Activities include everything from junior tennis, golf and sailing, to circus school and La Petit Chef cooking lessons. Sandpiper Bay has also found ways to make it easier for parents traveling with a baby. Highchairs, cribs, strollers, bottle warmers, bathtubs and much more will be ready for the family’s arrival.

“We’ve poured a lot of energy and planning to reinvent Club Med Sandpiper Bay allowing guests to rediscover life’s balance with a world of nourishing experiences to better ones’ self," says Sabina Sicuso, v.p. of marketing, Club Med. “With state-of-the-art facilities, the best names in the sports training business, and innovative children’s programming, we’re confident that the new Sandpiper Bay will go above and beyond guests’ expectations of an all-inclusive.”

Currently, the resort is offering special grand opening rates starting at $159 per night. The all-inclusive package includes accommodations, dining, full open bar with premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a wide range of activities and sports, and children’s program. To take advantage of the special rate, reservations must be booked by Dec. 31 for travel between Dec. 17, 2010 and Feb. 22, 2011.

For more information contact

VIP Cruise & Travel

Vera Kuemmel, ACC

877-211-2130

www.CruiseVIPStyle.com