All Inclusive Ski Holiday in the Alpes at Club Med Valmorel
/While spending a few weeks in Paris during the spring of 2022, I was itching to get to the mountains when I heard the forecast was expecting snow in the Alpes. Skiing in the Alpes had long been a dream of mine, and I had always been curious about visiting one of Club Med’s mountain resorts. They have plenty of options in the Alpes, but because my planning was a little last minute, I was lucky to find availability at Club Med Valmorel. Prior to visiting Club Med Valmorel, I had been to four other Club Med properties (Turkoise, Cefalu, Punta Cana, and Playa Esmeralda Miches), so while I was already familiar with their all-inclusive concept, I was still blown away by the ease and convenience of my experience with them in the Alpes. Ski trips are notoriously complicated to coordinate, so an All-Inclusive Ski Vacation is a great idea whether you are traveling as a family, a couple, a group of friends, or solo.
At a Club Med Alpes resort, you can choose to have a very active vacation or a very relaxing vacation, or in my case: you can choose both every day! Finding that perfect balance is especially easy at an all-inclusive resort because everything else (logistics, meals, entertainment, etc.) is already taken care of by processes that are expertly streamlined. And not only is an All-Inclusive Ski Vacation with Club Med a great experience, but it’s also a great value. In this article I will detail the highlights of my experience at Club Med Valmorel, and share why it’s actually more affordable for Americans to ski with Club Med in the Alpes than it is to plan a ski trip in the US.
First Impressions of Club Med Valmorel
If there is one thing to love about the Alpes, it’s that there are skiable areas everywhere. But with so many options, it could become difficult to decide where to even begin. Valmorel is a lovely village that’s within walking distance to Club Med, and the drive to the resort is full of breathtaking views which immediately made me feel like it was a great place for me to start familiarizing myself with the region. Though it was already April, I was lucky to have been there for some wintry weather (we received +30cm of fresh snow!), and was very excited to get a few more days in for what had already been an epic season of skiing.
As soon as you check in, the friendly staff gets you acquainted with the resort, you are handed your lift passes (which are included with your stay), and you are ready to start enjoying. While everything is convenient at a Club Med, this felt the most true when it came to the skiing. Ski-in/ski-out is already its own class of luxury, but to combine this with an all-inclusive concept really takes it to another level.
When lift passes are already included and access on and off the slopes is so convenient, it’s easy to just casually hop on the mountain for a few runs, or go at it all day knowing that home is just a few turns away.
An Active Holiday: On the Slopes
Ski Equipment at Club Med Valmorel
Getting geared up for the mountain with Club Med’s Easy Arrival is exactly that- easy. You can enter your size, measurements, and ability level in their reservation system, and when you arrive to the ski shop (which is right next to the ski locker room, which is right next to the slope), you can get fitted for your gear and choose from seemingly countless options. I was able to choose my gear based on my ability and my preferences for the current conditions- I knew I wanted a wide underfoot to ski in all the powder! It was also very easy to swap out my boots after my first day when I realized I would be better off using a bigger size. If you don’t know your sizes or don’t have preferences for gear, the knowledgeable staff in the ski shop can make recommendations and get you fitted and set up for the mountain.
The skis, poles, boots, and helmet I rented were clean, comfortable, in great condition, and were from the top-of-the-line ski equipment brands. Though the cost of the equipment rental is not included in your reservation (because many travelers choose to bring their own gear), the convenience and variety of choice make it very worth it. And if you do plan to travel with your own equipment, the locker room is outfitted with a tool board for making adjustments, and the ski shop offers waxing and tuning services.
Ski and Snowboard Lessons at Club Med Valmorel
Club Med Valmorel has its own ESF (École du Ski Français) office on the first floor of the resort, where you can review the schedule and sign up for group lessons or find more information about private instruction. Scheduled group lessons are included with your stay, but private lessons are easy to arrange and are well-worth the additional charge because your technique will improve much faster. For the same cost of a single day lift ticket at a resort in the US ($200+), you could take a private half day lesson with an ESF instructor for 180€ and you will receive undivided attention, personalized instruction for your abilities and goals, and have a private guide to show you around the mountain without having to waste any of your precious vacation time navigating the piste map. (And considering your lift ticket is already included with your stay, this feels like a bonus!) Depending on the time of day or day of the week, you may also be able to sign up for a single hour lesson (as opposed to a half or a full-day lesson) for the current rate of 71€. Not only is signing up for your lessons easy, but Club Med Valmorel also has its own designated ESF meeting point right outside the locker room- so you can pop down after breakfast or lunch, get geared up, and be on the slopes ready for instruction in a matter of minutes.
One of the most memorable tips I learned from an instructor during one of my ski lessons at Valmorel was: “The goal is to make it easy. Minimize the physical effort that you put in, and see skiing as the easy way to travel down and enjoy the mountain.” Beyond being great philosophical advice for where I am in my ‘ski education’, I felt this rang true to my entire experience with Club Med in the Alpes: everything was easy.
The Boutique at Club Med Valmorel
The boutique in the resort’s lobby stocks all the best brands for ski apparel, ski accessories, gifts, and souvenirs. Should you forget anything for your trip to the mountains (gloves, layers, goggles, socks, etc.), you can rest assured that you will find what you need in their boutique. Even if you didn’t forget anything, I suggest visiting the boutique anyway to see the latest from top brands like Rossignol, Fusalp, Goldbergh, and more.
I was especially happy about the boutique at Club Med Valmorel because I was in a rush before leaving Paris and didn’t have time to shop for extra technical layers. I had planned to stop by a Fusalp store in the city to get a pullover but ran out of time, but thankfully was able to find the exact one I was looking for in the resort’s boutique!
A Relaxing Holiday: At the Resort
Dining at Club Med Valmorel
Having visited multiple Club Med locations, I was always impressed with all of the dining options, but in this regard Valmorel certainly exceeded my expectations. Not only can you choose between vegetarian dishes, pescatarian dishes, meat dishes, kid-friendly options, cheeses, charcuterie, salads, (or choose all of the above!), I found that their offering of local dishes and cuisine like potée Savoyard, escargots de Bourgogne, raclette, fondue, and Tartiflette was a wonderful way for me to try something new (spoiler alert- I loved everything!).
In true French-All-Inclusive fashion, the wine offering at Club Med Valmorel was impressive, lovely, and generous- in a sense that when you ask for a glass of wine, they will bring you a whole bottle. Having many options was also a nice way to sample local varieties and discover new wineries and regions.
Though Les Cerfs et le Céleste change their buffet menu offerings daily and is certainly a highlight of Club Med Valmorel’s dining experience, I also had a wonderful meal at their a la carte restaurant La Laiterie which is also included in your stay. If you dine there, (and I hope you do!) do yourself a favor and order their burger montagnard.
The Pool at Club Med Valmorel
The indoor pool is architecturally impressive, with the gorgeous views of the snowy slopes framed by its massive floor-to-ceiling windows. The pool itself is heated, as are the outdoor pool and outdoor jacuzzi if you can brave the cold air for a swim or soak outside. The indoor pool is the perfect place to relax, and I found myself enjoying it or laying beside it every day after skiing. Another nice aspect of the indoor pool is that it has a clear view of the beginner ski learning area, so parents can have a comfortable place to watch their kids take their first lessons.
Wellness at Club Med Valmorel
For those that like to be active but don’t like to spend too much time in the cold, Club Med Valmorel has a daily schedule of fitness and exercise classes. Of the wide range of options, I most enjoyed yoga, stretching, and Pilates which are a great complement to skiing. They are also great for warming up before hitting the slopes and helpful for relieving and preventing soreness.
Other notable offerings at Club Med Valmorel include nightly entertainment, a daily snack bar and coffee/tea bar, and the Sothys Spa- which I would have loved but personally didn’t partake in since I was so focused on maximizing my time on the mountain! At Club Med Valmorel there truly is so much to do, and one great benefit of visiting in the early spring is that you have more daylight hours to enjoy it all.
The Accommodations at Club Med Valmorel
I stayed in a Superior Room with a Balcony that offered a view of the slopes and the ski lifts, which was the certainly easiest way I’ve ever checked a snow report before a day of skiing! There is nothing that will make me jump out of bed faster than seeing fresh snow falling on a ski run, and the convenience of Club Med Valmorel’s ski-in/ski-out location just made it all-the-more motivating. The room itself was spacious and comfortable, and the bathroom had a large tub and double-sink vanity. While I was able to conveniently store my skis, poles, helmet, and boots in my downstairs locker (which was equipped with a ski boot warmer!), my bathroom’s towel warmer served as the perfect place to warm my socks, neck gaiter, and technical layers in preparation for a day of skiing. Also worth noting- guests have access to a laundry room so you can keep your clothes fresh every day while you’re enjoying everything the mountain and resort have to offer.
How to Get to Club Med Valmorel
The easiest way to arrive to Club Med Valmorel is to take a train to Moutiers station and schedule a transfer to the resort, which is about a thirty-minute drive. There are a number of trains conveniently scheduled from Lyon Airport, and I was able to easily travel to the Moutiers station by train from Paris, which including my transfer took a total of about five hours. Another option is to rent a car and drive yourself to the resort, but you likely won’t be using it during your stay since there is no need to ever leave the property.
What Makes an All-Inclusive Ski Vacation Such a Great Value?
Planning a ski trip in the US is undoubtedly expensive. Between transportation, accommodation, lift tickets, lessons, equipment, meals, and entertainment- all of which come at an even higher premium in mountain towns- the costs can really add up. It can also be especially hard to budget for a ski trip for families or groups or friends, and in many cases hard to coordinate or make plans that everyone can agree to or be happy with. Not only are lift tickets, equipment rentals, and lessons generally much less expensive in Europe than in the US, but if you choose to combine all of your costs in an All-Inclusive Ski Vacation with Club Med, all the members of your group will be able to choose from the countless options made available to them each day when it comes to dining and activities. To learn more about Club Med’s All-Inclusive Ski Vacations and their destinations in the Alpes and beyond, you can click here or visit their website at https://www.clubmed.us/l/all-inclusive-ski-vacations.
Not only did Club Med create the All-Inclusive model, they are continuously redefining what it means to have a luxurious experience in the most beautiful destinations all over the world. Visiting Club Med Valmorel was a great experience, and it will be hard to go back to ‘regular’ ski trips after feeling so spoiled at an All-Inclusive Ski-In/Ski-Out resort. I guess I will have to keep planning future trips to the Alpes, at least until Club Med opens their first ski resort in Snowbasin, Utah, slated for Winter 2024!
Are you planning a trip to Club Med Valmorel or another one of their resorts in the Alpes and have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!
About the author
Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:
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