Club Med Columbus Isle

Hi there,

I am looking into vacation in November and thought about Columbus... Would you say that this is a good idea for a single , 36... Is it quiet or minimum of ambience?

Thanks!


Last trip: Djerba la Fidèle Sept 2009
'09: Punta Cana, Djerba la Fidèle
'08: Punta Cana (4*)
'07: Punta Cana, Djerba la Fidèle
'06: Punta Cana, Marrakech, Djerba la Fidèle
'05: Cervinia
'04: Kemer

Columbus is quiet, and November should be an especially quiet time because it is in between the summer and the Christmas-New Years time. The weather should be okay since it is the end of the hurricane season, but it should be getting a little colder.

I went down seven years ago in May as a single and met some tremendous people there. Interestingly, I just got emails today from two of the people whom I met down there. After 7 years we are still the very best of friends. One was a GM and one was a GO.

The ambiance all depends on the CDV. A good CDV makes the club what it is. Anyway, you still should have a nice time, but a little quiet.

John

A good CDV makes the club what it is. How true, John.

Anyway, one doesn't need to get to know the whole village to feel comfortable by travelling alone. IMO, it's fine to find a couple of nice GMs one gets along well and that's about it. Since there isn't much to do for GOs, they will be more than happy to join a nice bunch of GMs.

PS: I see that CMP member Trish is there right now. I am sure, she'll be able to tell you all about once she's back and since she's into scuba, it's very easy to make friends quickly.

Thanks for these feedbacks. Compared to Cancun... which one would be the "best"?
Flo

Last trip: Djerba la Fidèle Sept 2009
'09: Punta Cana, Djerba la Fidèle
'08: Punta Cana (4*)
'07: Punta Cana, Djerba la Fidèle
'06: Punta Cana, Marrakech, Djerba la Fidèle
'05: Cervinia
'04: Kemer

Columbus is quiet and very scuba oriented - so it tends to shut down early. But it is predominantly adults. It depends on what kind of vacation you want to have. I still like Cancun and I'm single (but water ski is important to me). However, as others have said, avoid Cancun during major holiday times, spring break, and probably summer - or you will have tons of kids to deal with and the village will be in "family mode". With all that being said, Columbus is a nice place to get away from it all...

Hi Folks!

I got back from Columbus on the 3rd of July, then was doing family stuff in Atlanta. I got back to France on Friday. My trip report is in process, but overall is very positive. Will post it as soon as I can.

Re Rikkitis' question: CI is fine for singles, as long as you are not going with the idea of meeting the man/woman of your dreams. If you want a big singles spot, the only village in the American Zone that has that is Turquoise.

I was with a group of divers, so I mainly hung out with them. But on my first day, I met a woman, Denise, who had come by herself. I saw her a couple of times during the week and she told me that she had met quite a few people and the "being alone" thing was not an issue. She also had become close to a woman who was there with her hubby and kids. I met them and it was clear that she and this woman had bonded and the woman was quite happy to have some "gal time" just to chat and be away from her family! So the two of them spent a bit of time lazying around at the beach and gabbing! They were both from the LA area and I think they'll be friends for years to come.

Having been to this village several times, I can tell you that the GOs are sensitive to the fact that there are singles visiting and they go out of their way to make sure you have somebody to eat with, etc. So you will NOT be lonely while you are there!

One thing I would point out is that the village will be closed in Sept and Oct for maintenance and to avoid the worst of the hurricane season. So in Nov, you will be with probably a new CDV and a new team, which can be good or bad, depending on who goes there.

The village itself is in very good shape (much better condition that Turks, I have to say) and it's a beautiful place to visit. I wish I was still there, but duty (work) calls, so...

Have fun!

Trish


Dive now; work later!

Trish

Was the a Veronique who worked at reception?

Jim

How many gold bar beads?

Jim,

I'm afraid I only really met Kate from Montreal, who is the head of Reception and is fantastic! (She's a long-term friend of the Reef Police, with whom I dived). So pretty much all my "Reception contact" was with her.

I will say (as I noted in my trip report and in my CM questionnaire) that the hospitality factor of the Reception has markedly improved since my last visit in 2008. Back then, when someone told you that you had to go to Reception for something, you pleaded, "Oh no! Not them!" and the GOs understood what you meant (they had quite the reputation for being unhelpful). Now it is 100% better!

Trish


Dive now; work later!

Columbus Isle is certainly not a singles-oriented Village in the way that Turks is (and Cancun used to be; don't know how that's changed since they've become more family oriented)....but we have spent many many weeks at Columbus Isle every year and there are always quite a few solo travelers, many of whom enjoy it so much that they now return repeatedly. Those singles who come to Columbus Isle tend to be a bit older than at Turks (of course, we're older also; and we used to be the singles at Martinique & Cancun back in the day, although some of us are no longer single). Many, but not all, are divers coming from Europe, Canada, South America, as well as the US for the world-class wall diving. But not everyone dives, and not all the divers dive every day. Columbus Isle attracts more Europeans than Turks or Cancun; the ambiance is calmer and less frenzied. It is very easy to meet all sorts of people, which is of course the attraction of most Club Villages. The nightlife is more low-key, but as always it depends on the nature of the crowd during any given week. There are shows,as at other Villages, and the DJ will keep going as long as anyone is interested in dancing. But, as mentioned by others, if there are a lot of divers who want to catch the 8:15 boat in the morning, there may not be as many folks pushing things into the wee hours.
As far as the daytime goes, Columbus Isle has a beautiful long and empty beach, no surrounding development (as has encroached around the Villages in Turks and Cancun, which also both originally had long empty beaches years ago). The island of San Salvador is small, safe, and very friendly; but there is not much to do outside the Club if that's what you're looking for....no casinos, no real shopping, etc. However, for anyone who wants an unspoiled tropical paradise, San Salvador Island is perfect.
So it all depends on what you like to do on vacation; but we know many singles who love Columbus Isle.

Adria