After our fabulous Club Med Bintan holiday back in 2024, where our days were pretty much a non-stop cycle of eating, playing and eating some more, we were sold on the idea of a Club Med holiday. And honestly, for families with young kids, I can see why an all-inclusive resort with a kids’ club makes so much sense. The kids get to have their fun, parents get a chance to unwind, and there’s no need to keep planning what to eat or what to do next.
Club Med has quite a few resorts across Asia, so the next question was, where to? We eventually settled on Club Med Phuket, partly because of its newly opened kids’ splash area, which we thought our little one would love. Plus, it had been more than a decade since our last visit to Phuket, so we were quite happy to have an excuse to revisit the island and see how much it had changed.
Family Oasis Rooms
Club Med Phuket has this new “Family Oasis” extension. The rooms in this wing have been renovated such that it feels like a retreat within a retreat for families, especially with the Splash Park and snack bar just steps away. The kids get their own child-friendly toiletries and amenities, while the room itself features a cheerful mix of pastel green, orange, Thai-inspired woven patterns and natural wood elements that bring in a touch of the island’s tropical charm.
There are also two additional kids beds within the same extra spacious room, so parents can easily keep an eye on the kids if required. I was pretty impressed that the room even came supplied with a huge air purifier.
I must say the Family Oasis room looked really inviting when we first stepped in. The children lost no time in exploring the room and whooping at every cute thing that they discovered, including the towels that had been folded into animal shapes.
Splash Park
As comfortable and inviting as our room was, it was hard to ignore the Splash Park just a few steps away. And once the kids spotted it, there was pretty much no keeping them away!
The Splash Park is a fairly generous-sized one, with all the fun elements you’d expect: a wading pool, two long tube slides, a giant tipping bucket that periodically dumps water on anyone unlucky (or lucky, depending on who you ask!) enough to be standing underneath, plus a few other water features to keep the little ones entertained.
My kids had an absolute whale of a time here. I’m always amazed by how children can go down the same slide over and over again and somehow never get bored. Meanwhile, one of their favourite games was trying to get me to stand right under that giant bucket, fully aware that I absolutely hate getting unexpectedly drenched. Apparently, watching Mum suffer is all part of the holiday fun!
Unlike our Club Med Bintan trip, where the kids couldn’t wait to head to the Kids Club, this time round, the Splash Park was the clear winner. They wanted to spend as much time here as possible, much to the dismay of the adults who were hoping for a little more R&R!
Thankfully, there’s a snack bar right next to the Splash Park, so all was not lost. We could still get a little taste of that beach holiday life, with an (alcoholic) drink in one hand and some rice spring rolls in the other, while keeping an eye on the kids. Not quite the uninterrupted relaxation we might have envisioned, but hey, we’ll take what we can get!
Food
Food-wise, we found ourselves spending quite a bit of time at The Mamuang, the resort’s main buffet restaurant. It serves up a mix of international favourites and local Thai flavours, with a pretty impressive number of live cooking stations. Thai dishes were out in full force, giving us plenty of opportunities to tuck into the local flavours that make Thai cuisine so well-loved.
But one of the stations that caught my eye wasn’t even a hot food station. It was the fruit station, with its colourful array of tropical fruits. You know that feeling when you’re overseas and the food reminds you exactly why you travelled? This was one of those moments. There’s just something about having all that fresh tropical fruit in Thailand that hits differently!
We also managed to snag a reservation at The Chu-Da, where we indulged in lamb chops and other dishes. I would have loved to dine here again but the restaurant is rather small so seating is limited. Make your reservations early!
Charlotte had a lovely time swimming with the Kids Club kids. Photo was taken by the staff, so cute! I was torn between wanting to watch her vs getting some freedom for myself!
Activities
When it comes to activities, Club Med Phuket offers a pretty similar line-up to Bintan, with options like trapeze, rock climbing, archery, tennis and golf, alongside nightly acrobatic performances. Since we had already tried quite a number of activities during our Bintan holiday, we decided not to go overboard with the schedule this time. Instead, we returned to one of our favourites, archery, and spent some time practising our aim. It helped that the archery place was just a 1 minute walk away from the Family Oasis!
We also made time for the main swimming pool, which is absolutely huge and looked so inviting. Between the Splash Park, archery, pool time and simply wandering around the resort, we found ourselves taking a much more relaxed approach to the holiday. This time, we were quite happy to slow down and enjoy the resort at our own pace. We did end up visiting the bars more often. The children enjoyed the visits too because they could get their orange juice or milk in champagne glasses! Because you know, drinking from a fancy glass makes everything taste that much better!
Things to note about Club Med Phuket
One thing to note about Club Med Phuket is that the grounds are rather extensive. As such, it takes about 10 minutes to walk from the Family Oasis to the central main area, and the Kids Club is another 5 minutes beyond that. Shuttles come by every 10-15 minutes, so most of the time, we relied on the shuttles. For those who prefer more flexibility, it might be a better idea to take a room nearer to the main area.
Another difference we noticed compared to Club Med Bintan was the location. Bintan felt much more secluded, with its own private beach and that lovely sense of being tucked away from the outside world. Club Med Phuket, on the other hand, is in a much more populated area. There’s a beach just across the road, although it’s a public beach rather than a private one.
The upside? You’re not confined to the resort if you fancy exploring what’s outside. Just beyond the entrance is a row of shophouses with eateries, a convenience store and, my personal favourite, a massage place!
I made full use of that last discovery, popping in twice during our stay. At just S$20 for a massage, it was hard to resist. The kids had their Splash Park, and Mummy had her massages. I’d say that’s a pretty fair holiday arrangement!
Is Club Med Phuket worth it for families?
I’d say yes, but it really depends on what you’re looking for in a family holiday.
Compared to Club Med Bintan, Phuket is definitely more of a commitment in terms of getting there. You’re looking at a flight instead of a ferry, plus another 1.5 hours or so from the airport to the resort. Bintan wins hands down when it comes to convenience, especially if you’re travelling with young children and just want a fuss-free getaway without too much time spent in transit.
That said, one of the biggest draws of Club Med Phuket for us was the Splash Park right outside the Family Oasis rooms. It’s wonderfully convenient when you have young kids who want to spend hours playing in the water. I also thought the Splash Park was just the right size for younger children, with enough slides and water features to keep them entertained without feeling too overwhelming.
Personally, I think Club Med Phuket makes more sense if you can add on a couple of extra days to explore the rest of Phuket, which was exactly what we did. That way, you’re getting the best of both worlds: an all-inclusive resort holiday where the kids can play to their hearts’ content, plus some time to explore the island beyond the resort. This way, you get to feel like you’ve really “gone overseas”.
But if all you’re after is the Club Med experience, with its all-inclusive dining, activities and kids’ programmes, I’d say Club Med Bintan is still a very compelling option. If you’re not particularly fussed about experiencing Thai culture and hospitality over Bintan’s Indonesian setting, there’s little reason to make the longer journey just for the Club Med experience itself.
My verdict? Choose Club Med Phuket if the Splash Park is a major draw for your younger kids and you have time to explore Phuket beyond the resort. But if you simply want an easy family getaway where everyone can eat, play and relax without the extra travel time and expense, Club Med Bintan might just be the more practical choice.
