Is Club Med Bintan great or is it a big headache!

[bintanbound?]

Looking for somewhere to take Grandparents and 2 kids under 4. Usually I hate the though of kiddie entertainment and cheesy sing alongs but I hear good things about Club Med Bintan.

Cheesy, headache or a pleasant surprise?

Other option is Bintan Lagoon.

[jnm]

We went a long time ago now, but for a mixed age family it is fantastic, lots to keep everyone happy.   The children will have a ball in the clubs too.

[not anymore]

I went twice or three times in the last few years and the last time, we swore never to do it again. We were with friends and they agreed that the quality has really gone down. Another friend commented that the GOs look unhappy, and I must say it's true. They didn't seem to enjoy joining GMs for meals and weren't the hallmark Club Med friendly.

The food was excellent in 2004 but had really gone down by last year. It's like a cheap buffet with quantity but no quality.

I suspect our group isn't the only unimpressed lot -- keep receiving promotions fm Club Med which feature incredible deals like kids free or even more. Such deals only apply to Bintan and not their better locations. Says something about its popularity.

Then again, another friend went recently and seemed happy. Perhaps she was just glad to have her kids off her hands and hadn't been before.

[never again]

we went a couple of years ago for a big family treat - it is very expensive ($1500/day for family of 4) so I was expecting quality.....

First disappointment - smelly old bus that meets you off the ferry.

Second disappointment - all-singing, all-dancing staff to greet you on arrival.  Never been to Butlin's but I guess that's what it's like.

Third disappointment - despite asking for a non-smoking room, the room we were given stank of stale cigarettes.

Fourth disappointment - advertisement said 'newly refurbished' but this seemed to mean had been given a lick of fresh paint.  Furniture in room was old and worn.

Fifth disappointment - our (then 5 yr old) son was allowed to wander out of the kids club, and was eventually found crying in the restaurant.  Luckily he remembered our room number so they could locate us.

Suffice to say this was the final straw.  We checked out after one night (although they make you pay in advance for minimum of three) and vowed NEVER AGAIN!!

Hope this helps