Punta Cana Exclusive Space Dominican Republic

Germain and Alvaro do a great job of running the tennis with a lot of fun activities for all skill levels! My favorite tennis out of all the Club Meds I have been to.

We just came back from our 7th stay at Club Med Punta Cana, so I guess it's fair to say we're fans. We've also been to Club Med Michès a few times, so I thought I'd share what keeps bringing us back and maybe help anyone trying to choose between the two.

For us, the magic is the Kids Club. It's one of the very few vacations where the kids have the time of their lives... and so do the parents. Mini Club runs all day (and again in the evening for dinner and the shows), and every morning our kids are literally asking when they can go back.

The G.Os are what make it so special. Over the years there have been true rockstars who have become part of our family vacations. Rose has been that familiar, constant presence year after year, making the kids feel completely at home with her endless warmth, energy and hugs. And then there are newer faces like Nelly, who somehow stole our kids' hearts in just one stay. It's that mix of familiar faces and amazing new people that makes the Kids Club so special.

For the adults, there is so much more than people realize. Sailing, tennis, trapeze, paddleboarding, kayaking, archery, the water park, fitness classes... it's all included. Then there are great paid activities like wakeboarding, kitesurfing, e-foiling, fishing, and honestly one of our favorite dive centers anywhere. The spa is also excellent.

One tip: choose your room carefully. The standard rooms are fine but nothing special. The renovated Deluxe Family rooms are a huge upgrade with two separated rooms and bathrooms for adults and kids - a 2 bedroom/2baths flat almost.

But if you're debating whether to splurge on Tiara, the 5 star section... do it.

Tiara is a peaceful little world inside Club Med, with beautiful beachfront casitas, a private beach, private pool, breakfast served on your terrace if you want it, exclusive happy hours, and a level of calm that's hard to describe. You get all the fun and energy of Club Med, but with the feeling of staying at a boutique five-star resort. There is little service in the regular room, Tiara changes that.

A huge part of that Tiara experience is Christelle. She is, quite honestly, one of the reasons we keep coming back to Tiara. She runs it with genuine five-star hospitality, somehow remembering every family, anticipating what you need before you ask, and making everyone feel seen. She's warm, elegant, incredibly kind, and has a real gift for making every guest feel like they're the most important person there. She doesn't just manage Tiara, she creates the experience.

The food is very good (coming from a French family, which says something!), Indigo is still our favorite restaurant, all the renovations after the fire are complete, and the new water park is a huge hit.

If you're deciding between Punta Cana and Miches, here's my quick take:

Punta Cana: 6 minutes from the airport, huge choice of activities, lively atmosphere, beautiful Caribbean turquoise water.
Miches: smaller, quieter, more eco-luxury, easier to get around, a newer Kids Club, and better rooms overall, less activities though, sick adult only area with private pools.
The one exception, in my opinion, is Tiara at Punta Cana, which is in a league of its own.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with either.

Jorge is the best golfer there. I loved the experience he gave me while learning golf. Jorge is the best; they should give him an award.

Jorge is the best at golf, I highly recommend him, and the experience is great too; the golf is excellent.