Club vacation
A club holiday is a special form of holiday in which the holidaymakers spend most of their time in a holiday complex that is spatially separated from the surrounding area. As a rule, there are special leisure activities for the entire daily routine of the club guests . For the entertainment of the guests provide entertainment . Usually sports, fitness, wellness, hobby courses, entertainment and childcare are offered. The animators create so-called evening shows with singing, sketches, quizzes, etc.
history
The invention of the club holiday is attributed to the Belgian entrepreneur Gérard Blitz , who built a tent village on Mallorca in 1950 on the beach of Alcúdia and not only took care of the accommodation of his guests, but also of their leisure time. From this concept, which Blitz gave the name Le Club , the Club Méditerranée developed a few years later in collaboration with the French Gilbert Trigano . The club holiday provider Aldiana was founded in 1973 with the opening of the first facility in Senegal. Later other providers established themselves who took up this idea. The possibility of nudity was mostly part of the club's concepts; at meals, as le minimum, only a pareo was required as a cloth wrapped around the waist. In 1982, Aldiana also advertised the possibility of nudity .
Today Aldiana is one of the three largest European providers, alongside Club Med and Robinson Club.
particularities
There are special club facilities for families with children, in which child care is offered according to age groups. Sports-oriented club facilities offer active guests many types of sport, from beach volleyball to aqua aerobics and fitness rooms. Depending on the focus, there are trained sports instructors for, for example, tennis, football, etc. There are also so-called club ships, clubs with a focus on certain sports (such as golf).
Problems
With the so-called “all-inclusive” club facilities, drinks, sports activities, animation and evening entertainment are often included in the travel price for travelers. All-inclusive tourism often brings economic disadvantages to the surrounding area itself. Often the infrastructure "dies" in the area around these club facilities, as the guests hardly ever leave their club. Bars, restaurants and souvenir shops have to close.
Individual club hotels
The clubs differ particularly in terms of price and thus also the quality and scope of the offer. For example, Club Méditerranée, Robinson and Aldiana are in the upper price segment, while Alltoura and 1-2-Fly-Fun-Clubs are much cheaper. The following is a list of the most famous club chains; In addition to these, there are also club ships and smaller chains.
- Club Med (formerly Club Méditerranée)
Mainly francophone, but also club villages with German-speaking support. The largest of all club chains with over 100 villages on all 5 continents. The offer ranges from hut villages to 5-star hotels, all in the upper price segment.
The market leader in Germany. TUI subsidiary . More than 20 plants, mainly in the Mediterranean area; almost exclusively in German. The first club complex was Jandía Playa , opened in Fuerteventura in 1972 . For the most part 4-5 star segment.
- Aldiana (formerly Club Aldiana)
Also a German-speaking club; except in Austria and Gran Canaria, all facilities are run on an all-inclusive basis. Distribution currently still through Thomas Cook ; a separate sales department is currently being set up. First plant 1973 in Senegal. 2005 Sale of 75.1% of the company to a Spanish investor. 10 facilities mainly in the Mediterranean area, all of which offer at least a 4-star standard.
- Club Valtur
Italian club chain with a corresponding offer. Most of the plants are in Italy, but also in the rest of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
- Magic Life
Also a subsidiary of TUI , it is between Robinson and 1-2-FLY-Fun Clubs in terms of both price and range. Mostly very large plants mainly in Turkey and Tunisia.
- CLUB CALIMERA (formerly Calimera Aktivhotels)
DER Touristik Hotels & Investments
Together with PrimaSol -Hotels & lti-hotels, a club product from Rewe Touristik. Mostly German guests and all-inclusive offer in all facilities. All houses offer 4-5 star comfort. Priced below Aldiana and Robinson.
- Club Alltoura
Alltours Flugreisen club product , purely in German. Since summer 2005 at least 4 star comfort, all-inclusive is always offered, sometimes half-board. Almost 20 plants in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. No uniform management of the individual clubs.
- Holiday Club
Also belongs to Alltours Flugreisen and is very specialized in families from the entire offer. Clubs in the 3-5 star range, all-inclusive. Very inexpensive, but the quality varies greatly between the individual systems, as there is no uniform management.
- 1-2 fly fun clubs
TUI subsidiary , also purely German-speaking and all-inclusive. Many plants, all in Europe / North Africa; very different in terms of price and quality, as there is no uniform management here either. Alternative to the expensive clubs, especially for families with children.
- AIDA
The club ship is the special kind of club vacation. The AIDA Cruises fleet includes several club ships . Half a million visitors a year. As a subsidiary of Costa Crociere SpA, it belongs to the British-American Carnival Corporation & plc .
Movies
- Ute Casper: Welcome to the Club - Cultural History in Swimming Trunks , 2013
- Club Las Piranhas (by and with Hape Kerkeling)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Aldiana online, May 24, 2013, http://www.aldiana.de/ueber-aldiana/unternehmen.html
- ^ Spiegel report
- ^ Club Aldiana - large photo advertisement with a naked woman; Small print, You are in the mood for a hearty hare hunt - and not afraid of having your fur pulled over your ears? Then .... "; PLAYBOY, No. 2 1982, p. 40
- ↑ Die Welt online, vacation in the club - providers are upgrading for summer, February 20, 2013 https://www.welt.de/reise/article113770890/Urlaub-im-Club-Anbieter-ruesten-zum-Sommer-auf.html