posted 04-28-2003 05:59 AM           

SARS or not, it is wise to get trip insurance. ANYthing can happen between now and then. You certainly don't want to lose $11,000 for any reason!

I'm glad to hear from other posters that CMBB allows kids. I'm sure they will have a great time! The GO's are really very nice and full of enthusiasm to make sure you and yours have the vacation of a lifetime!

We'll all be looking forward to reading your trip report once you return!

posted 05-06-2003 11:38 AM           

I'm planning our honeymoon for this summer (I know its kinda late). I'm considering spending a few days at CMBB as well as a few days at some of the other islands. I have the following questions:

- Does CMBB have a swimming pool? (I haven't seen one in any pictures)
- Is there an outdoor bar or waiter serivice on the beach??
- Should I rent a vehilce while we're there?
- Do they have any special honeymoon packages (champagne, flowers, etc)?

posted 05-10-2003 12:57 PM         

I can only address one of your questions. CMBB does not appear to have a pool. Kind of odd, huh?

posted 06-28-2003 05:55 PM         

Thanks,
Craig

posted 09-03-2003 10:09 AM         

Back from CM BB and wanted to post here, as I found this forum so valuable in helping me prepare for our trip.

First off, things I wish I had taken with me:

A rain slicker (yes, I know it's the dry season; tell that to the gods of weather! It poured three or four days!)

Binoculars -- Just would have been nice for watching birds and my family sailing and jet-skiing. I also developed quite an affinity for those weird land crabs, but you can't get close enough to them to really observe them.

Guides on the history and local flora and fauna. I wish Club Med had a little library on-site, but they don't appear to, and no books for sale in their boutique.

We had a great trip. We stayed at CM 11 days, which I think is 2 or 3 days too long, but my husband likes to settle when he goes somewhere rather than spend a lot of the vacation moving from place to place.

We were in units 4 and 5, which were lovely, on the water, quiet and away from the 'ghetto' feeling of the more populated areas but not such a long walk from the common areas that it was a problem. If you go to Club Med at BB, pay attention to their warnings about keeping your unit locked -- a woman we met who was there with her adult daughter awoke at 5 a.m. to find an intruder in their room. We had no problems, but we might have just been lucky, or maybe because I was traveling with my husband and two boys I was less likely to be a target.

My favorite things: the great attitudes of the hard-working G.O.'s; the opportunity to meet and chat at length with people from different cultures; the CM dock, off of which I could spy several species of tropical fish and even an octopus living on a rock there (I am severely limited by an unstable pelvis and can't snorkle or do any of the other fun activities offered).

My less favorite things: CM is bare bones compared to the usual 'hotel' experience my husband and I like. With my special needs, it was impossible to find a comfortable place to sit. The beds were pretty uncomfortable, but sometimes you just have to take things in stride. We aren't real picky about food, but found ourselves having a hard time eating there. The variety was impressive, and everything LOOKED nice, but things just kind of tasted 'off' to us. We ate a lot of bread and cheese. Not that I starved, by any means -- I must have gained at least 5 lbs!

The drinks weren't great, either. They're included in the price now, which eliminates a hassle, but I think they must water down their alcohol pretty seriously, because I never felt the slightest effect from the drinks I had at the CM Bar, although one night we went to dinner at Top Dive (lovely, although I have to say I'm not a big fan of transgender waiters...)and I ordered a Mai Tai and thought I was going to pass out after about three sips.

My husband and boys really enjoyed: the shark-feeding expedition; the jet-skiing around the island (they did it twice -- Coco is a great guide -- he stops and gives you fresh-cut fruit); and the jeep safari. They didn't do the Maramuu excursion as it was all-day, but the fellow who runs it, Steve Walker, seemed MOST knowledgeable and personable. He gave a talk on the island's fishes at the CM bar one evening that was amazingly comprehensive, and even e-mailed me a pic of a Picasso triggerfish!

There's also a very handsome guy named Pascal who runs a water-skiing and fishing concession, but he was on vacation until the day before we were leaving. We met him on the dock on our last evening and my husband wistfully told him how much he had wanted to fish. Pascal was kind enough to take my husband and boys out for a quick 45-minute pass on the lagoon for free!

Great, great people there, and those will be my best memories.

I did get to go in the shark-feeding boat one time and thus, saw some of the other resorts. Liked the looks of the Nui, but of course, it's not cheap.

Oh, another impression -- the Italian women were que bella!!!!! Just amazing! I've never been to Italy so I was completely unprepared for their incredible style. Someone told me not to take any clothes except for swimsuits and pareos and they were WRONG! The European women really dress for dinner and there are all kinds of 'themes' for dress -- black, white, floral, etc. If you have kids, you might want to even pack colored hairspray and little costume ornament kinds of things so they can have fun with the theme nights.

I have to run to an appointment -- if I think of more things to post, I will add them.