Once synonymous with all-inclusive bare-bones resorts

Upon arrival at ClubMed.com, one begins to sense what makes the company’s vacations unique. A splash page asks visitors to select their home countries from among a pull-down menu of 40 plus nations or hot-linked German, French, British, and American flags. As any Club Med veteran will confirm, one should be prepared to mix and mingle with an international crowd and the splash page instantly sets that tone. And while not racy, the lone photo of a bikini-bottomed snorkeler gives the impression that packing light is a key part of a Club Med vacation.

With activities ranging from flying trapeze clinics to body building to snow skiing, finding the right Club Med village could be a challenging task. Luckily, several tools rescue the overwhelmed guest. A cumbersome but intelligent query system lets visitors choose travel dates, potential activities, accommodation types, and desired levels of kid-friendly atmosphere while continuously updating the number of villages that match the request. For those not sure of what they want, there’s a page that allows visitors to identify themselves by selecting pre-written statements like "Let the good times roll" and "Have 13-year-old twins, Carrie and Robert." Picking one of the descriptors brings up a short-list of suggested villages that are bound to please.

After reducing village options to a manageable number, one should have more than enough information to help make a final decision. Detailed activity descriptions along with virtual tours comprising 360-degree photos give potential travelers a real taste of life at each village. Although a section with some Shockwave animation re-emphasizes earlier themes about activity choices and can’t-miss fun, they don’t seem worth the required bandwidth.

Perhaps the best feature of the site is e-Club, a virtual meeting ground for past and present travelers. Here one can find unadulterated answers to questions about village party life, food, and activities. There’s even a section for travelers looking to meet up before journeying on one of Club Med’s numerous charter flights. For those who want to relive past vacations, discussion forums offer the chance to swap war stories, get re-acquainted with fellow guests, and see which love affairs are still burning strong.