dawntomassi
LOVE Club Med Turkoise Tennis!
5/5 • 24/04/2025I just returned from Club Med Turkoise (my 3rd time in the last year). This time with two of my close tennis friends. The club is wonderful, the beach and water the best (among many islands I've traveled to), the food good, and overall a great value for the price.
I go for two reasons: tennis since I can attend clinics in the morning and then fun tournaments and round-robin style playing in the afternoon.
After morning tennis, for me it's all about time on the beach and in the water. Nowhere else can I float without moving or treading water. It's wonderful.
Right after the afternoon tennis play, most everyone from the courts including GOs, go right to the Sharkies beach bar for cocktails and live music. [NOTE TO MANAGEMENT: Don't change Sharkies - we love the old beach bar vibe that it has - we don't want it new and renovated. It has charm the way it is. I've been to other Club Med renovated beach bars and it's just not the same. I heard they will keep it the same for now, but I hope that's a decision that stays long term.]
A quick shower and change, off to dinner and then the entertainment (evening show) and then the party/dance scene for a bit. Rinse and repeat - no decisions needed, no extra money spent. It's all taken care of for a true "R&R" experience. The perfect place to go if you have friends and family that like the same activities you do, or that don't at all. Everyone can find something to do.
I want to call out two individuals ("GOs") - the two tennis pros who are there now and were also when I stayed in December 2024 - Maxime-Olivier Bombardier and Joelle Rayas. Both are not only fabulous on the court and great instructors for improving your skills and facilitating interactions with others at the courts, but they are genuinely friendly, fun and engaging on a personal level. Yes, it's part of the "GO" job, however, they bring a different and fun vibe that feels really welcoming whether you've been there for a week or you're there on the court for the first day. They bring everyone together and help everyone get to know each other - on and off the court. Having tennis in common with strangers does make getting to know people easy, however, every time I go to Turkoise, I'm making friends from the very first day on the tennis courts - some that I'm staying in touch with after returning home, and even making future travel plans with. That has been happening mostly from tennis and the engagement from Maxime and Joelle.
Before leaving, I checked in on Joelle and Maxime's plans and stay at Turkoise to see if they'll be there again if I return later in the year. If and when they move on to another Club Med location or to other endeavors, the new pros will have some big shoes to fill.
Maxime and Joelle - until then, keep up the great work.
I "mourn" for about a week after returning home because it really is a little paradise. I find myself having "FOMO" because I know some of the friends I've made on the courts are staying longer and are already playing with new friends. I always wish for just a few more days.
For those that haven't been to a Club Med, you just don't know what you're missing until you go. My two friends were first-timers and were a bit skeptical but now they know.
