Our family has visited many all-inclusive resorts around the world, but we immediately noticed that Club Med has a unique culture. Club Med was founded in 1950 by a French travel and tourism operator headquartered in Paris, France. From nightly dances called “Crazy Signs” to 45 apparel everywhere, you could quickly tell that for many Club Med visitors it wasn’t their first visit, but more so a tradition. By the end of our first trip we grew to feel like we had truly become a part of a club.
We hope this short guide helps you acclimate to some of the Club Med lingo and customs!
Villages
Each Club Med resort is also referred to as a “Village” which you can quickly feel a part of. One of the most noticeable things when we entered was the French influence that even existed all the way in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Many guests speak French and most employees from around the world ebbed and flowed between multiple languages with ease.
Tridents
The Trident (Ψ) is also recognized as the official logo for Club Med since 1980 and is their way of rating the various villages. Instead of rating a Club Med resort as 4 or 5 stars, they rate it as 4 or 5 Tridents. There are also some resorts that have different ratings within the resort itself. For example, Club Med Punta Cana is a 4 Trident Resort which features dedicated zones for families (around the Children’s Clubs) as well as an adult-exclusive Zen Oasis. For those looking for an extra touch of luxury, the property also features an Exclusive Collection (5 Star) space – which includes a dedicated, pool, bar and spacious two-bedroom oceanfront Suites.
G.O.’s – Gracious Organizers
This diverse group of people are typically referred to as staff. We found them to be extremely friendly, from all over the world, and most were fluent in several languages. These Gracious Organizers seem to keep busy and you will run into them throughout various parts of your day. Sometimes they are teaching you how to trapeze and other times they are performing in a show. We also loved how it was not uncommon for a Gracious Organizer to sit and chat with you at the bar or while dining.
G.M.’s – Great Members
Hopefully that will be you, the guest!
Crazy Signs
Crazy Signs were our kids’ favorite part of the day! They are choreographed dances led by a lot of G.O.’s. While you may hear a few familiar songs like La Macarena, most songs we learned the dance on the spot! It had a true “Zumba meets outdoor nightclub” vibe. What made Crazy Signs so fun was the large participation by everyone and the atmosphere created by the G.O.’s.
The Number 45
You will likely see the number 45 a lot while visiting. We were so confused at first as to why the number 45 was so proudly being worn and sold so we did some research. We found that back in 1995, Club Med had their 45th anniversary and in celebration they created a commemorative shirt with the number 45. It unexpectedly became extremely popular, much more so than their 50th anniversary apparel was.
Over 20 years later, “45” merchandise is still as popular as ever, with each Village finding ways to make it their own. The unique items sold at each location make them fun collectibles. There was also a 45 theme night during our stay where you were encouraged to rock your attire either from the current location or a previous one.
Conclusion
We loved getting to know Club Med’s unique traditions and customs. Their way of operating and ensuring high participation levels at all of their activities made you feel like you were at summer camp all over again. We look forward to visiting other Club Med resorts around the world to see how these traditions are implemented in other places.
For a full recap of our Club Med Punta Cana visit, read our hotel overview!
