Surveys show that spending quality time with relatives ranks high on people’s to-do list. The trouble is that no one has the energy to organize a big event, let alone host the inevitable bunch of out-of-towners. Luckily, “Destination Reunions” which combine a get-away with a get-together, come to the rescue, allowing the gang to reassemble without over-burdening anyone.
The Last Resort?
The best known of the resort bunch is Club Med, which invented the all-inclusive concept back in 1950. If you still think of Club Med as the land of bar beds, body paint, and shaking booties, don’t panic. In recent years, the chain (like you and I) has grown up and now cultivates a wider demographic. Club Med Cancún Yucatán is a case in point. Once revered by hedonistic twenty-somethings for its Gomorrah-like vibe, it underwent a $24 million overhaul and re-opened as a family-friendly facility last November.
Très cool activities like circus workshops are still available; but now they’re complemented by an award-winning Children’s Club as well as a selection of cultural and eco-themed excursions that appeal to travelers of any age. Groups can also take advantage of special incentives. Twenty or more people traveling together qualify for package discounts of up to 30 percent and get their annual membership fee (remember this is a club) reduced from $60 to $35. Each group, furthermore, is assigned a coordinator who’ll sort out airport transfers, select special menus, and plan private activities.
Ironically, the possible downside here is the number of choices. When your primary goal is bonding, the wealth of activities can prove distracting. Indeed with so many aimed at different ages and interests, it can be mighty hard to keep your group together. So if it’s intimacy you’re after, consider a DIY reunion in rental digs. Sure you’ll miss out on organized conga lines and limbo contests, but you’ll be able to make your own rules and recreate a homey atmosphere on neutral turf.
All the Comforts of [Someone Else’s] Home
As much as package sellers try to tell you otherwise, resorts don’t hold a monopoly on tropical attractions. Take Las Terrenas, on the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Peninsula. Independent types can get their fill of sun, sand, and classic Caribbean activities here without competing with all-inclusive or cruise ship crowds. Deep-sea fishing, windsurfing, and sailing are all available from the blissful beach. Plus there are coral reefs for snorkelers, challenging dive sites for scuba fans, whale-watching expeditions for animal lovers, and petroglyph-covered caves for Indiana Jones wannabes.
