| Show 6T The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday December 21 1 9X To woo new members H Club Med its hedonistic image soft-peda- ls by Jerry Hulse ngeles Times Writer Fox Call out the gendarmes Once billed as a hide-ou- t for hedonists the worldwide playgrounds of Club Mediter-aneare the old image that these are sanctuaries for the sybarite While it may surprise old Club Med hands the French vacation outposts are pulling the plug on certain indulgences in a beefed-ucampaign to woo new members Remember all the whispeied tales about blithe spirits slipping off on nightly patrols to someone else s bungalow on clandestine searches for companionship’’ Well all that s changing Because now it s more likely that club members will be found i curled up in a hammock stretched between palms outside their own bungalow Reading a book or perhaps just snoomig Attracting The Families This at any rate is the picture Club Med's execs are putting across in a endeavor to attract families with children No more nocturnal searches for the opposite sex no more alcoholic orgies Just good clean family fun And while it's unlikely that everyone is go ing to buy this story the illuge hiefs indicate that uninhibited vacationers are getting a cooler reception But more about this later From tents to temples is the circuit this worldwide carrousel of playgrounds has taken since its spinoff in France shortly after the hostilities of World War II ended Once the exclusive domain of singles in their 20s and 30s the clubs today are attracting families as well as older groups To show they're serious the organizers have gone so far as to establish baby clubs staffed by pediatricians Pursuing Mature Travelers Besides families Club Med is pursuing mature travelers 40 and up They've even nabbed one or two in their 80s This isn't to sav Club Med is spurning youth On the contrary the villages worldwide are invaded weekly by new enforcements of young vacationers bent on spending their energies windsurfing playing tennis scuba diving riding backpacking river rafting skiing ad infinitum No one is required to dress in the latest fashions and employees speak to members in a dozen languages With the world its oyster Club Med has established ramps even in communist nations — Yugoslav ui Bulgare (ho-hum- v 100-plu- s piefei something a trifle more sedate so they leased a couple of villas to Club Med on the grounds of the Imperial Summer Palace outside Pend none of king No golf or tennis the other pursuits So rest in peace Chairman Mao rest in peace Instead the inns are serving as staging areas fol China s sightseers Shelter is provided in suites done up like a mandarin s palm e complete with T and telephone In addition Club Med has leased a ship for three-anfour day onuses on the Yangtze River and intends to intiodiiee a third inn at Xian Again though no beads or bikinis Itssimplv not Mothei Chi na s sty le Traditional High Jinks One can test the traditional Club Med high jinks on the island of Phuket in Thailand A dip in the Indian Ocean and then ip off to the elephant farms of Chiang Mai and a gabfest with monks dm mg teatime in a tern pie One can haidlv get more exotic than that Phuki t Island is only a short flight fiom Bangkok and the 90 acres Club Med occupies on Kata Beach It s not ea tlv The King and P but its close Guests come eveball to eyeball with water buffalo They learn the martial that aits and dine in a restaurant-ba- r icsenibles a Thai palace complete with Thai danceis In Malaysia near the village of Kuantan Club Med Cherating involves a sweep of buildings with beaches swimming pools and a disco Unlike a number of other (Tub Med propet ties the menu here lists all the exotic specialties of the region including Malaysian Japanese Indian and Chinese fare along with an interlude ot classical music at sunset Join I anguage Classes At Chili Med Cherating scholarly tv pcs join languages classes while art Or others bone up on for those whod rather loaf than learn the G O organizes canoe tups low-ris- e silk-scree- f WE KNOW THE' WORLD ' professor Give Underwater Cameras the Bahamas vacation- At clubs in e Hal-rvo- e ers are given underwater cameras with which to film fish grottoes and the island s celebrated blue holes A baby club has been established at Paradise Island — complete with pedia- tricians and during summertime in Colorado the Club s Rocky Mountain destination is devoted exclusively to kids of the world'- (ages 8 to 13) The setting is Copper Mountain where the small fry arrive from as far away as Australia Hong Kong Switzerland France Belgium Colombia Venezuela Mexico and Canada as well as the United States miles west of Denver Seventy-fivCopper Mountain attracts youngsters for summer encampments lasting from one to two months Activities range from tennis and sailing to mountaineering and bicycling Others shoot rapids on white-wate- r rafting trips attend rodeos and join Jeep safaris to ghost towns take in Glenwood Other Springs the old mining town of Lead-villthe ski resorts of Breekenridge and Aspen and the tomb of Buffalo Bill in Denver Serious types study languages learn to operate computs ers and enroll in and drama classes On the lighter side Club Med s - e day-trip- s e arts-craft- fYr person double ouuparuv one bedroom apart nunt suite io das minimum sta no Itase required Offer end' 4 St'all collect or mail coupon for a Mesa (602) 844-998- 5 North Mesa East Mesa HONG $679 TAIPEI v MANILA Mail to- 1st Class or Business Class Prices Call for Scottsdale and Other Destinations Some restrictions apply Call tor other destinations Major Credit Cards Accepted Maior b S Carriers We also Buy Frequent Flyer Awards Telephone $514 Prices vary from village to village but some examples are Club Med Guay mas at Sonora Bay Mexico $775-$95a week per adult (Tub Med Caravelle in Guadeloupe $1300 $1555 Prices include air transportation meals accommodations everything but drinks at the bar The range in prices is seasonal Children's rates available Membership fees are $25 initiation $40 annual per adult $15 for children under 12 For more information see a travel agent or call (8001 CLUB MED ROUND TRIP COACH PRICES FROM SALT LAKE TO: LONDON 475 ALASKA 499 EUROPE ‘449 AUSTRALIA SAN JUAN ‘399 FIJI & NEW CARRIBEAN 399 ZEALAND 885 Address $659 KONG $679 far-flun- g Name OSAKA destination No newsother papers no radios no TV More than a quarter of a century has passed since Club Med got its start as a tent village in Europe and it remains a bargain Having said all this I confess now that I am not the Club Med type Even though my travels have taken me to villages in Israel Morocco the Caribbean Mexico and Tahiti Sorry it's just not my idea of solitude I prize privacy too much to dine with strangers (musical tables they call it) and play games with other strangers On the other hand for gregarious ty pes (and families who enjoy sharing their leisure with others) it s terrific And there's not a prayer of being lonely Not a chance three-storcottages that are surrounded by mountains desert and sea Free riding lessons are part of the package along with windsurfing water skiing snorkeling and aerobics In addition tennis is taught on 29 courts 14 of which are lighted At Sonora Bay sunset cruises are offered along with a two-daexpedition to a Mexican ranch where members spend the night From Sonora the club also does two day rafting-campintrips Vacationing at (Tub Med means nev er hav ing to dress for dinner never having to pop for a picnic It's all part of the package — everything but the drinks Worldwide the club operates 106 villages and more than a million members vacationed with them last year The same philosophy prevails that prevailed in the beginning Pay once and put away the purse or wallet Drinks are stiil bought with beads and one settles with the bartender when leaving the moment when one returns to reality and the world outside with its tensions crowds and traffic Do As They Please Until then club members do exactly as they please This may mean simply sw inging in a hammock Or taking a stroll along a moonlit beach Or get Stav in one of the newest and plushest retirement resorts in the Phoenix area Choose Mesa or Scottsdale location Big apaitment suites with maid service pool and jacuzzi And much morel Just $20 75 per pet son per day I'm interested in TOKYO SPECIAL ting reacquainted with the kids Or one s wife It s the same at all the clubs be it Marrakesh or Martinique or some guests are taught circus acts e pint-siz- at Copper Mountain by an Bros performer On Sea Of Cortez One of Club Meds newest resorts has cropped up at Sonora Bay on the Sea of Cortez a flight from Los Angeles Members bunk in two-an- Best vacation under the Arizona sun East Mesa (6021 At mooning at Sui Mm Sha So what happened-The Chinese simply decided they d Med tells how vacationers can dine in French sail in French and sunbathe in French What s more nobody is stuck away in some stuffy old classroom Not on Guadeloupe Lessons are taught on the beach with the surf whispering to both class and free color brochure ia and Romania one point the club had its eye on a beachhead near Yalta m the Soviet I'nion but backed off for a numbei of reasons Village In China? One of the hottest items on its worldw ule agenda w as to be a illage in China Only 10 miles from Hong Kong the dateline was to be Sm Mm Sha Figure that beads and bikinis m the land of batwing sampans and water buffalo Well it didn t woik out and mme than one Westernei doing business in Hong Kong is disappointed — as are dozens of Japanese couples w ho made known their intentions of honey- into the jungles and picnic safaris along stretches of milky sands Others jet off to Club Med strongholds in Mexico the Caribbean North Africa Europe and the South Seas A new club on the island of Bali opened only last December Snuggled up to the Indian Ocean and framed by Mount Agung the village occupies an coconut plantation 10 old miles from Denpasar airport Balinese dancers entertain guests who keep the spirit nurtured in two bars and a couple of restaurants On St Lucia in the Caribbean village hcadquarteis are in the Old Days Hotel Besides free riding Club St Lucia operates a couple of yachts that deliver romantics on overnight trips to peaceful coves Aimed At Duffers Scheduled to open in 87 the Sandpiper at Port St Lucie Fla is aimed at duffers with families Besides 45 holes of championship golf the village takes in five swimming pools a mini club for youngsters li) tennis courts and an aerobics center for the entire family Gianted certain Club Meds still rater to topless vacationers But more and more the philosophy involves for all reasons And families are big business They jog They birycle They scuba dive In the Bahamas on the island of Fleuthera youngsters are learning mens skills under a big top Acrobat irs Juggling Low-wiracts Another club features a computer school And at Club Caravel on Guadeloupe in the Caribbean free French lessons are part of the package (Tub 262 East Brown Road kbriuri Uf7 K Hi s miv ir at Mesa Arizona 85201 (801) USA 298-029- 8 IN Coupon Connection Svoft'dali SEE OUR AD DAILY “PERSONALS'’ COLUMN North Salt Lake UT $749 $769 SEOUL Prices from LA ISLAND 1 MrlAWAII 0 PACKAGE 2 ISLAND $399 ’87 PRICES COMPLETE (Selected depertmx only) Accommodations Non Stop Service ah Air and hotel Taxes Fiower Lei Greeting & More Call Now Limited Rooms Available At This Pice -One Island (Selected departures $499 trom Airfare & 7 Nights HAWAII" PACKAGE DAY 4 ISLAND 15 PACKAGE $799 COMPLETE only) $389 5 Day Pkg One Island 8 Day $445 la $290 Pkg 8 Day Pkg Air tron We otter Saturday non Stop Va Sky World or datv 1 stop via Western Lf Jd HD DdSpC S ty (D5f nC k 0 hd ' rh( 'jvp j S' vi (1 x Aut’iec 3DP ' y MR SOUTH AMFRtC MAZATLAN INCLUDES from CHARTER SERVICE Across town or Across the Nation 7 Passenger Buses 39-4- VIP MOTORCOACHES Group Rates Professional Drivers CALL OKOlO & MAZATLAN $309air $319rom MEXICO CITY PUERTO & $379 & RIO DE JANEIRO BUENOS AIRES SANTIAGO ALASKA CRUISE TOURS Pus Pad ir n H Pay i m Alaska a i xi ' i p 1 Wtfjijx v Very limited space tab tochv ' er NuC a sivi d LONDON - i From S99000 June 26 1987-Jul- 1S87 3 y Western Caribbean Cruse ceas 8 Pav vt Mt'f’ tun C cvu-''- thi " A '' t spt villi' 'i c ire t ’ 'a s V' f ’c Id i V a V “ t ’I ‘ " n "e N $539 $539 $539 ' I i i i - DENVER Dll SrON OF V IRC0CK TRAVEL 110 W 200 So S89500 SLC Suite Special Holiday Flights On Dec Lrmrted HAWAII 200 from 355-880- 0 Mon SLC Den Den $9Q 7 SLC 6 00 ay 00 A M MAZATLAN DENVER PM 7 man 40 A M PM 483-646- DESTINATIONS fi (MOa MI j i m OtFlCf am i rm 487-973- 1 hours - (Saturday am 5 - iSATjRDAVi - ?? ?3?3 OAf OGOf - 71 5450 - 1555 lOGAH - AM 7 an AM S HI 775 ’153 N SAT’ SLC Deni 00 AM - 910 AM Den - SLC 7 15 P M 12$ P M 10 - Special Flight on Dec 20 1 27 'Beginj '30 day advanca porchaaa jn WANT-AD- ' I llfs S S39 ro Advance purchase flight 237-200- 0 966-424- 2 add $10 for holiday HU 371 CTY (ST lAWHOAiE OA'Vf (300 SAiT city utAh 4 uut W apply m HOURS I aeata aome raatnction CARIBBEAN CRUISE 483-656- 5 CALIFORNIA OTHER 8 10 26 28 EPC0TDISNEYW0RLD ORLANDO PHOENIX UT 84101 2123 Jan 24 FOR RESER VT10NS TRAVEL A $49 Wedneaday 30 day advance round tnp fara Other day $5 lo $10 higher Some reafnehona aoov Cali for detaHa JENSEN BARON ' i' PHOENIX 5 FLIGHTS WEEKLY - a Priced from $499 AMSTERDAM FRANKFURT BRUSSELS Plan) - $59 ' - e- ‘238 (Family Nights Accommodations Trip Airfare Can Fof Details Restrictions Appy ALASKA CRUISE 8 P iv ie lull (doubld) ’ LOS ANGELES Priced From S186000 $297 Round Jlr lus p To ' Norti'wi st a c s from $789 $799 $799 $799 $799 CUSCO SAO PAULO 8 TOTAL PACKAGES VALLARTA MAZATLAN ah For omy LIMA 369 only 975-020- 2 Commissionable Travel Aqenls Welcome IT Pav to MANZANILLO from PUERTO VALLARTA w7s 753 4550 7500 SO Iii5 10RRIS AIR SERVICE $529 includes 4 day de'uxe cruise 4 mghis hotel accommodations m Orlando Round trip air from Sait Lake ’Seiecieo derw'iu'e dales 463 6S6S -- J'J |
