Club Med’s Michès Playa Esmeralda Resort: Where Luxury and Family-Friendly Travel Collide

Packing And Getting There

Admittedly, I hadn’t heard a ton about Club Med’s 70+ all-inclusive resort offerings prior to booking this trip. I later learned that this is likely due to the fact it is a French company, but frankly, I don’t think it’ll be long before it’s a household name in the US. 

When the time finally came, we made the trip from Detroit to Chicago to Punta Cana. Despite the country being pretty far south, the second flight was only about 5 hours. We had a pretty rough time with travel (pro tip: get yourself an e-ticket for the country before you go to the airport!), but once we got to the Punta Cana airport, the complimentary shuttle provided by the resort was easy to find. 

Designed to be an eco-chic destination tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Punta Cana, the drive from the airport to the resort is probably close to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. It does make for a long travel day if you’re coming from the Midwest or somewhere more northern, so do consider that when booking flights.

We packed pretty lightly (as we always do!), but every parent knows that there are some critical packing items for littles. For both kids, I packed our portable sound machine from Yogasleep and tons of the Hello Bello swim diapers. I also packed two of our Graco Slim Fit LX-3 carseats, as I knew the shuttle from the airport would be a few hours. I swear, these are the only carseats I’ll travel with due to their lighter weight, ease of installation, and price. I also will never fly without a carseat bag and have found this one from J.L. Childress to do the job nicely at a good price. 

‍The Suite Was… Sweet!

The resort offers several different room options for groups of all sizes with its 4 boutique villages. We booked the Junior Family Suite in Explorer Cove, which included a king size bed, a sofa, 1.5 baths, and a kids’ room with two twin beds. The suite was right in the middle of all of the action – we were just steps away from the main area – but somehow still felt private and quiet. The patio in the room extended right out with an ocean view, which was so amazing to have both from a relaxation and convenience perspective. The design was beautiful and modern, as well as functional.

The set up itself was really what stood out. First, we were on the ground floor, which was amazing for hauling our stroller around the whole time (which by the way, you can borrow from the resort!). When I walked into the room for the first time, I was struck by the thoughtfulness of the amenities for kids, which were clearly tailored to our family. I have a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old, so we were provided with a pack-n-play and bed rails on one of the twin beds. Additionally, there was a changing pad, a baby bathtub, and bottle warmer in the room. I couldn’t believe my eyes – how thoughtful! The primary was equally thoughtful, with a glorious king-sized bed, espresso machine, plenty of water bottles, a luxurious walk-in shower, and a tablet with information about the resort. 

I felt totally safe both in the room and walking around the resort. Privacy and security are equally as much of a priority to the team as luxury is. Security guards walk the premises regularly, and always smile and say “hola!” or “bonjour” to you as they pass. This is a cultural norm of Club Med it seems – nearly all employees would always politely greet you. From the housekeeping staff to the front desk to the bartenders, it’s impossible to not feel the friendly vibes going around the resort. Jennifer (events manager), Théo (general manager), and Ashley (wonderful bartender) especially made an impression on our family for their kindness and service-mindedness. 

For the Grown Ups

Let’s talk about what the resort offers for grown-ups. I could write a whole separate piece on this, but since I can’t, let me share the highlights. Though we did travel with our kids, we did get to steal away for some time on our own – more on this in a bit. The Zen Pool (no kids allowed) was truly an exceptional experience. Maybe we were just that ready for some grown-up time, but we had such a wonderful time sitting at the swim up bar, chatting, and admiring the koi pond that brushes up against the pool. Despite the resort being at ~80% capacity at the time, it felt like it was just my husband and I. We also got the chance to take a long walk on the beach just chatting, followed by some stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking on the ocean. I wish we would’ve had time to play some pickleball or try our hand at archery. There are plenty of excursion opportunities for adults and older kids alike, though admittedly, we didn’t do these for time and age reasons.

One thing adults love is good food… and the resort did not disappoint! There are two dining options: the main dining area and the Coco Plum restaurant that requires a reservation for dinner. The main dining area is really good, offering every type of food you could want. Some of my favorites were the chilaquiles for breakfast, parfaits every morning, oysters, fresh ceviche, and the gelato bar. We enjoyed dinner at Coco Plum on our last night – and this is a must for everyone visiting! It was lovely to have table-side service, but the food was out of this world good. We ordered 3 steaks between the two of us, among other things, at dinner because they were that good. 

For the Kids

As I mentioned, we did utilize the resort’s childcare (which spans all ages) offerings to get a little “us time.” We are daycare parents, so dropping them off wasn’t a new thing, but it is always a little scary when it’s someone you don’t know. The whole team at Baby Club Med (ages 0-2) and Petit Club Med (ages 2-3) made us and our kids feel at ease by asking all of their preferences and normal habits/schedules. The kids did some arts and crafts, took walks, and just played in the sun. One day after pick-up, we even got to enjoy a pool party with the kids and teachers. I do wish this service was included in the price of the stay.

My kids also loved the kids’ pool area which featured a zero-depth entry pool, several slides, and a lovely shaded area for sun breaks. This pool was a bit better suited for our family than the main family pool from a depth perspective. Our sons also really enjoyed the food selections in the main dining area, especially the pizza, ice cream, and juice stations. There is not a kid in the world who couldn’t find something they’d like! Speaking of juice, the bars even offer a “kids drink menu,” which was hilarious and something my kids totally got into. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen your 1-year-old drink what can only be described as a non-alcoholic mojito.

Would I Recommend to a Friend?

Though we did a lot in just a few days, we barely scratched the surface of what the resort had to offer. Days later, I am still left thinking about how profoundly impactful this trip was on our family. Despite some difficult travel, we were able to bond in such a needed way, thanks to the backdrop Club Med provided us. With its exquisite offerings, attentive staff, and unique activities, they’ve somehow managed to merge luxury and family-friendliness.  It’s a rare combination, but if that’s what you’re after, then you’ve got to check out the Michès Playa Esmeralda Resort by Club Med. You won’t soon regret it.

Book your next getaway to the Dominican Republic at Club Med’s exclusive resort in Miches!