Article on Forbes – Is This The Next Big Vacation Spot In The Caribbean?
Is This The Next Big Vacation Spot In The Caribbean?
Brittany Anas
Contributor
I cover travel, specializing in adventure and the great outdoors.
About 90 minutes from the airport in Punta Cana, this chilled-out destination is just now emerging on the radars of tourists, thanks in large part to a newly opened highway that shaved an hour off the drive time from the airport, making Michès a more feasible vacation spot.
Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda opened in late 2019, offering four boutique villages within the … [+]
CLUB MED MICHÈS PLAYA ESMERALDA
In late-2019, Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda became the first resort to open in the area, debuting its eco-chic, all-inclusive 93-acre beachfront property that’s surrounded by a verdant palm grove. Next up, Four Seasons is planning Tropicalia, a 169-room oceanfront resort with luxury residences.
Unlike the big hotels you’d find in Punta Cana, though, Club Med gave its resort — which is the brand’s first full Exclusive Collection resort to open in the Americas — a boutique hotel vibe by divvying the property up into four distinct villages. The family-friendly Explorer’s Cove is close to the kid’s club; punchy colors and tropical gardens define Caribbean Paradise and Emerald Jungle is a zen, adults-only space. The most exclusive space is Archipelago, an ultra-luxe, adults-only village where 750-square foot suites come with private pools and ocean views.
Bursts of bright color fill the lobby at Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda.
CLUB MED MICHÈS PLAYA ESMERALDA
In a sense, Club Med’s newest Dominican Republic resort feels much like a hideaway. With that in mind, here are a few of its best-kept secrets.
Satiate your Sweet Tooth at a Chocolate Speakeasy
Kids (and anyone else with a sweet tooth!) will feel like they’ve stepped into a real-life Candyland once they figure out the passcode to enter this chocolate-themed speakeasy. Inside the decadent Secret Chocolate Room is a chocolate fountain, plus cakes, candies, and ice cream. The resort has a partnership with Xocolat, a Dominican chocolate company that creates its treats with the island’s cocoa beans.
The Secret Chocolate Room is like a real life Candyland.
CLUB MED MICHÈS PLAYA ESMERALDA
Fill up Your Instagram Grid at This Photo-Famous Park
Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda has plenty of excursion options, ranging from a trip to the scenic El Limón waterfall, a cascading 170-foot fall that you can swim underneath to a whale watching getaway from January to March when humpbacks migrate from Canada to the warmer waters of Samaná Bay. But, an especially unique trip is one that winds you up to the top of nearby Montaña Redonda, which translates to “rounded mountain.” Once there, you’ll be spoiled with 360-degree views of the region’s lush landscape. Several squeal-inducing swings are atop the mountain and are just the prop you need for a jaw-dropping Instagram photo. Those who are afraid of heights can relax in a hammock.
Take a swing on Montaña Redonda, which provides panoramic views (and a great photo for your … [+]
CLUB MED MICHÈS PLAYA ESMERALDA
Run Off and Join the Circus
Sure, most resorts have volleyball nets and tennis courts. But a unique Club Med amenity? The circus equipment. Trained staff will help you get the swing (no avoiding that pun) of the flying trapeze. Or, let loose on the trampoline.
Take a break from the beach and try your hand a the circus arts.
CLUB MED MICHÈS PLAYA ESMERALDA
Try Jet Surfing
Other entertaining ways to break up those lazy beach days include archery, trying out a yoga class in the Treetop Wellness Canopy, playing bocce ball or kayaking. But something unique to the resort is jet surfing, and the amateur-approved surfing option is a breezy way to explore the coastline.
A new water sport to try: Jet surfing.
CLUB MED MICHÈS PLAYA ESMERALDA
Published on: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanyanas/2020/03/02/is-this-the-next-big-vacation-spot-in-the-caribbean/?sh=43ab52c46467