There aren’t too many warm-weather resorts that can function both as an idyllic retreat for romantic couples on destination weddings and honeymoons, and as an authentic family resort accommodating children, teens and infants. But the all-inclusive Club Med Punta Cana resort manages to do both quite successfully.

It doesn’t hurt that the property is located in the sprawling Punta Cana district, on the Dominican Republic’s easternmost tip. The area is blessed with sparkling blue waters, idyllic temperatures and some of the finest white-sand beaches in the entire Caribbean, elements for which the Club Med Punta Cana is an especially attractive showcase.

Club Med Punta Cana offers the additional convenience of being situated only 15 minutes away from Punta Cana International Airport. Winter weather–weary travelers can disembark their plane and within 30 minutes ease into a beach chair on the resort’s 2,000 feet of coconut palm tree–lined beach.

The property features winding paths and secluded garden and beachside spots that are ideal for romantic couples — and for all travelers seeking a sense of quiet and relaxation. Despite the resort’s welcome attitude toward children of all ages, it is remarkably quiet and orderly, and even adults who normally prefer to vacation at adults-only properties will find that children are generally engaged in areas and activities beyond their notice, and seldom impact the experience for guests without kids.

Of course, as a Club Med property the Punta Cana resort offers its guests a wide variety of activities and options designed to provide not only relaxation but also an experience that rehabilitates and rejuvenates the mind and body. Club Med calls it “happiness,” a concept that dates back to a vision established by Club Med’s founders, Gerard Blitz and Gilbert Trigano, at the company’s outset in 1950.

In practice today, the happiness ethos equates to a broad scope of intriguing activities and programs for children, teens and adults, from a trapeze school to archery instruction to beachside yoga and Latin dance and stretching classes. A variety of water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking and sailing excursions, are available.

The Club Med Punta Cana’s upscale accommodations consist of elegant cottages and three-story, pastel-toned bungalows set across a neatly landscaped, campus-like property. Accommodations are highlighted by the Tiara Luxury Space, an exclusive boutique hotel area within the resort. A long and winding walkway, shaded in spots by tall palm trees, connects the resort buildings and borders the beach.

The property also offers multiple pools, including a generous lagoon pool and a children’s splash park. There are three separate dining options, including a full-service beachfront restaurant. The resort’s L’Occitane Spa offers distinctive treatments in the facility’s indoor and beachside treatment areas. A shuttle service transports guests to all areas of the property.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Club Med Punta Cana accommodations are highlighted by the Tiara Luxury Space, a boutique hotel within the resort, with 32 suites framing a lounge area and a private infinity pool.

The beachside suites, located in pastel-colored bungalows surrounded by luxurious vegetation, measure 753 square feet. Suites feature one room with a connected private bathroom and second rooms for children or guests, plus a lounge and a terrace that face the resort’s beach. Guests in these accommodations enjoy exclusive concierge service and the private Perla Bar, which hosts special champagne and cocktail hours.

Tiara services also include continental breakfast room service through 11 a.m., a dedicated concierge to book resort services ranging from treatments at the L’Occitane spa to babysitting, laundry service and customized excursions. The concierge also provides consultation on the excursions, activities, outings and restaurants beyond the Club Med property.

Tiara accommodations also feature minibars, restocked daily with soft drinks, and Wi-Fi access in the lounge area. Guests can also opt for packages that include private airport transfers.

The property’s remaining 553 rooms are located in pastel-hued, three-floor bungalows set amid the resort’s tropical gardens. Designed for couples, deluxe rooms feature a bedroom and living area separated by a sliding door, plus a balcony.

The resort’s club room accommodations, the opening room category, recently underwent a full renovation. Both deluxe and club rooms feature coffee machines, hairdryers, ironing kits, minibars and security boxes.

PUBLIC AREAS

Club Med Punta Cana’s L’Occitane-branded spa last year underwent a $1.5 million renovation, upgrading the resort’s wellness and rejuvenation experience. The new facility offers a comprehensive selection of honeymoon packages, as well as his-and-hers customized facial treatments and a menu of relaxing couples’ massages that allow newlyweds and romantic couples to relax and unwind together in an oceanfront palapa. Treatments range from “Angelica Fountain of Glow” to “Immortelle of Youth” to “Deep Tissue Intense Relief.” The property also features a newly refurbished conference center.

DINING

The resort’s recently redecorated and redeveloped Samana restaurant is named for the nearby Dominican peninsula, evoking the serenity of the region’s lush white-sand beaches. Samana serves an international cuisine buffet in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening. The eatery also offers a daily selection of meals suited to a low-fat diet, plus a baby corner for parents to prepare children’s meals. There is also a smoking area inside the restaurant.

The Hispaniola restaurant, which overlooks the resort’s lagoon, serves international breakfast, lunchtime and evening buffets. The Celeste Beach Bar was recently converted from a casual eatery to a full-service beachfront restaurant. The resort also features the Celeste bar and Ceilo, a sophisticated watering hole located on the same floor as the resort’s reception area, opposite the swimming pool. This relaxing space features views of the Caribbean Sea from its terrace. A dedicated children’s bar inside the facility serves non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.

GUEST SERVICES

Club Med Punta Cana features a wide variety of sports activities, fitness classes, and discovery programs designed for children, teens and adults. Guests can opt for instruction in activities and sports pursuits, including windsurfing, sailing, archery and flying trapeze. Also available are fitness classes, and an extensive tennis program using the 14 courts on property. Aqua Zumba, yoga classes and snorkeling excursions are also available.

Club Med Punta Cana’s Mini Club Med facility, now featuring a music academy, art studio and game factory theme rooms, is designed to improve the creative and cognitive skills of children ages 4 to 10.

Childcare-trained personnel at Mini Club Med help children improve their communications skills through Nintendo 3D, Just Dance and Wii video games, and hone their creative talents in the art studio. The music academy provides a theatrical stage for performances with a Dominican-inspired instrument space and musical expression area. The facility also features a water park, an enhanced baby gym and kids’ sports classes to encourage physical activity and sportsmanship.

Club Med Passworld is the resort’s area for teens, located in the Lab at the Ramp facility. This is a center designed to let teens express themselves creatively through sports and artistic activities, including dance and DJ lessons, video editing, theater and other activities. It also serves as a space where teens can simply hang with one another. The teenagers are divided into two age groups: 11- to 13-year-olds and 14- to 17-year-olds.

Club Med officials, recognizing that their resort lies within one of the world’s leading golf destinations, has partnered with the Tom Fazio-designed Corales Golf Club and P.B. Dye-designed La Cana Golf courses to offer Club Med guests the opportunity to play at those outstanding facilities. Corales features an 18-hole course with six oceanfront holes, while La Cana boasts a 27-hole course that includes three nine-hole courses, with 14 holes that feature sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea.

Guests can also opt for a wide range of excursions that take place outside of the resort, including paddleboard tours, excursions with dolphins, trips to the Altos de Chavon cultural site and journeys to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s historic capital city.

RATES AND COMMISSIONS

Club Med Punta Cana is currently offering a special all-inclusive rate of $859 per adult (compared to the regular rate of $1,059) for guests who book accommodations in advance. Club Med pays travel agent commissions of 10 percent plus overrides based on production.