Club Med

All-Inclusive Bliss

With ski season in full swing, and spring right around the corner, the travel industry is offering great deals for those looking to hit the slopes or escape the snow to warmer climates. One of the more unique incentives kicking off is Club Med’s City Stops program, new for the 2015 winter season, which allows guests the opportunity to combine their Club Med resort vacation with an exciting stopover in a second destination city, resulting in two vacations in one.

The concept is simple — guests schedule a couple extra days on the way to, or returning from, their Club Med resort stay, to experience a rich urban center they might otherwise fly right over. The choices are enticing and plentiful, from Hong Kong to New York City to Singapore, and more. There’s a stop in just about every corner of the globe. To ensure the most comfortable stay possible, the brand has partnered with some of the top rated hotels in these cities, such as the Tribeca Grand in New York and the Shangri-La in Bangkok, to make these quick excursions about both culture and luxury. Looking to get cozy by a fire while snow falls outside? Try a stay at Club Med’s new ski resort in the Alps, Val Thorens, and stop over in Paris to peruse the Louvre or ascend the Eiffel Tower. Heading to Club Med’s Caribbean destination? Try an extra day or two in South Beach Miami to take in the rich art community of Wynwood or the world famous nightclub scene.

For San Diegans looking for something closer to home, Club Med offers fun in the sun in the Cancun Yucatan as well as other tropical destinations in the resort communities of Mexico. Spa treatments, golfing, surfing, scuba diving, and fine dining are just a few south of the border amenities available, perfect for de-stressing after the holidays.

As a bonus, Club Med Cancun is perfect for kids as well. Not only does the Yucatan Peninsula boast one of the richest educational archaeological zones in the ancient Mesoamerican world, the new Petit Club Med caters to wee ones 2 to 3 years of age as the Deluxe Rooms come with separate bedrooms and baths for children. And whether you’re bringing the kids or are just a kid at heart, Club Med Cancun is an adventurer’s dream with plenty of activities both above and below the world’s second largest coral reef. Top it off with pools, lagoons, wellness centers, three restaurants, and a wealth of bars, and it’s easy to get lost in relaxing bliss.

Guests can customize their stopover to their wants and needs, such as elongating their stay, but Club Med has thought of most of it already — included in the packages are hotel bookings, flights, hotels, car services, and dining. (www.clubmed.com)   RYAN THOMAS