Club Med Canada, Margarita Travel, Club Med Travel Agency

By Jon Birger

(FORTUNE Magazine) - Prescription drugs aren't the only bargains worth crossing the border for: Canadian travel deals are better too. For a family of five, Canada's clubmed.ca recently quoted a FORTUNE staffer $4,714 (USD) for seven nights at Florida's Club Med Sandpiper, while clubmed.com quoted $6,277. A Club Med spokeswoman says they don't allow U.S. travelers to make reservations on clubmed.ca. But you can go through a Canadian agency like Margaritatravel.ca, and similar discounts can be found for cruises and chains like Sandals. Why the disparity? The exchange rate is a factor, but there's also more competition up north from bulk tour operators, driving all prices down, says Jonathan Carroll, president of itravel2000, Canada's top online travel company. With 15% of itravel's business now coming from the U.S., prescription drugs are no longer the only northern draw.

EVERYONE VILLAGES

ADULT VILLAGES

FAMILY VILLAGES

Club Med's Basic Insurace (optional Insurance $65)

INCLUDED WITH MEMBERSHIP:

A BILLION REASONS TO VISIT. Since 1999, Club Med has spent over a billion dollars improving our ambiance, amenities and activities. There are flat-screen TVs in Columbus Isle, two-story suites in Marrakech and new features everywhere you look in every village we offer. So take off your shoes, dance barefoot in the sand and stroll the grounds of whichever village you choose. New discoveries, experiences and levels of luxury await you around each turn.

NEW LUXURY. From your meals to your accommodations to the shared experiences with others from around the world, Club Med has re-defined luxury in a whole new way. You'll never need to meet a dress code, bring an invitation or act in a particular manner to enjoy it. Our experiences are about the magic that happens when people enjoy the pleasures of vacation together. It's a friendlier luxury, for everyone to treasure. Variety is the spice of life, after all.

ESCAPE. Club Med isn’t like the world you came from. There are no schedules, deadlines or obligations. Instead, you have the freedom to awaken when you like, do what you like and socialize with whom you like. And just in case you’re not sure what you like, we’ve got an endless menu of activities you’re free to try. (If you like.)

INVIGORATE.* Life takes a lot out of a person. Club Med is here to put it back. Each village offers a different menu of spa services, ranging from simple facials to indulgent full-body treatments, using the latest herbs treatments, and aromatherapies. Each does for the body what the freedom of a Total All-Inclusive™ Vacation does for the mind, reducing stress, relieving tension and reminding guests what it’s like to live in the moment.

ACTIVITIES. Since Club Med was founded over 50 years ago, the variety of sports, activities, entertainment options and ways to relax has grown exponentially. What has remained is the atmosphere of encouragement, instruction and assistance given to anyone with the desire to learn. Sports are taught by skilled instructors. Dances are led by festive bands. And shows are put on by talented performers, including the guests themselves.

ENTERTAINING ALTERNATIVES. For those not into sports, or anyone who needs a break between games, Club Med offers a menu of exciting activities that cater to every sort of hobby or interest. Guests can get a massage, watch a cooking demonstration, participate in a dance class or enjoy live entertainment by international acts facilitated by the Club Med Artist Program. There’s no right or wrong way to spend a day at Club Med, just a list of choices long enough to fill your entire vacation, and to give you many reasons to return.

DINING. Many ingredients go into a great meal. Some are spices, meats, vegetables and grains. Others are the setting in which the meal is served, the company across the table and the atmosphere created by the restaurant’s staff. It’s why we pair gourmet cuisine with gorgeous scenery. It’s the reason the presentation of your meal is as important to us as the preparation of its contents. And it’s why so many come back for seconds of everything ClubMed has to offer.

TOGETHERNESS. With everything else taken care of, guests here are free to spend their time and effort getting to know those around them. Instead of preparing meals, they engage in conversations. Rather than making reservations, they make friends. One of the most important things Club Med of offers is the time to get to know friends both new and old in a relaxed, casual setting.

ACCOMMODATIONS. At Club Med, your accommodations are a personal oasis — truly modern luxury with amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. From CD alarm clocks, mini-fridges and cable/satellite television to everyday conveniences like ironing boards, hair dryers and in-room safes, your room will be a luxurious refuge after an exciting day in the village. And now, eight distinct room categories* provide guests with the ability to choose the room or suite that suits them best, while still enjoying a taste of the indigenous cultures we draw so much inspiration from.

EXCURSIONS.* Break out of the everyday and experience something truly life-changing with a Club Med excursion. Together with highly trained guides, you’ll explore villages, cities and archaeological sites on horseback, by foot and atop 4X4s. Every experience at Club Med is memorable, but these might just make it to the front of your photo album.

VILLAGES AROUND THE WORLD. Worldwide, Club Med operates villages in over one hundred locations. Some are high atop peaks in the Alps. Others are at sea level in the South Pacific. Still others are alongside lagoons, rivers and natural preserves largely untouched bymankind. But as diverse as they are, every Club Med village has two things in common: beautiful accommodations and the planet’s most spectacular views.