Everyone knows that Club Med makes a great summer holiday filled with sun and sailing classes but it also really comes into its own with winter sports. With more than 18 resorts in the Alps alone, the majority of which sit above 1800m, it has been leading the way in all-inclusive ski holidays since the 1950s. There’s a lot of planning that goes into a ski holiday but Club Med makes booking accommodation – not to mention equipment, lessons and ski passes – all so easy. Ski passes and lessons are included with every package booking and all properties are ski-in ski-out. So, all you need to worry about is which ski area to pick:
Click on the skier to read about each resort in the French Alps
Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon
Best for: the views
On the edge of the Saix plateau, and only 70 minutes from Geneva airport, this resort has ski-in ski-out access to the fourth largest ski area in France, Le Grand Massif. The indoor heated pool has amazing floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the snow-covered Giffre valley. And the Skyline Terrace has 360-degree views – a wonderful spot to enjoy a hot chocolate wrapped in a blanket. The Haute-Savoie village of Samoens is just 10 minutes away via gondola and every Wednesday morning there’s a local craft market. Plus, on skis, there’s access to the Flaine Art Route, which has open-air works by Pablo Picasso and Jean Dubuffet.
Serre-Chevalier
Best for: sun seekers
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, this resort near the stunning Ecrins and Queyras national parks proves that visiting a winter wonderland needn’t mean bad weather. Sunny Serre-Chevalier embodies the best of chalet chic – think traditional wood and stone architecture, sun-drenched balconies, rooms with elevated Alpine details (gingham blankets, light wooden accents and mountain views) and dining centred around mountain favourites such as fondue. There’s also a spa, while you can book kids and adults onto ESF group skiing and snowboarding lessons, all included within the rate. Away from the resort, Le Monêtier-les-Bains's thermal baths in the valley aren’t to be missed.
Tignes
Best for: snow-sure skiing
In Tignes’ lively Val Claret area, guests find themselves in the thick of it at of the highest resorts in the Alps. Although there are slopes to suit every type of skier, Tignes is particularly good for serious skiers, with many travelling from all over the world to ski on the Grande Motte Glacier. Skiing here is guaranteed even when there’s not much snow elsewhere. For a real adventure, book an instructor and take a trip to ski the Aiguille Percée – a run-less route described as “the lost valley”.
Les Arcs Panorama
Best for: children of all ages
Named after its panoramic views, this resort is perfect for families, with kids’ ski classes sorted from ages four and upwards and a locker service that means your kit is ready on arrival. Les Arcs Panorama offers childcare from as young as four months, making it the perfect place to escape with a very little one in tow. For older children, nearby outings include sledding with a virtual-reality helmet to boost adrenaline and skijoring, where you’re pulled across the snow by a horse. And children of all ages will love the resort’s Scandinavian aesthetic, designed to resemble an enchanted forest with playful animal sculptures dotted throughout.
La Rosière
Best for: a double hit of culture
For skiing aficionados who want a side of history and culture with their winter getaway, La Rosière in the French Alps peaks at 1,900 metres above sea level, offering widescreen views of the historic village below. The slopes here also happen to run between France and Italy, meaning you can experience both countries’ takes on ski culture from one base. At the resort, muted, soothing rooms offer a sanctuary to relax in after a bracing day of thrills on the slopes (as does the spa and yoga studio). Go hiking, skiing or snowboarding by day and spend evenings relaxing in the hotel’s exemplary restaurants, which put a spotlight on local cuisine.
Val D’Isère
Best for: luxury
The most luxurious and the only Exclusive Collection property among Club Med’s Alpine offerings, it's also one of the Alps’ prettiest ski resorts with a real village atmosphere, set in the hollow of a valley with a 17th-century church peeking through the stone and wooden chalets. There’s some excellent skiing to be had, too, thanks in part to the easy access to the connecting resort of Tignes. And at the resort there’s a fine-dining restaurant as well as a serene spa with yoga classes.
Alpe d’Huez
Best for: outdoor adventures
Tucked into the mountainside of the Savoie ski area this resort boasts ski-in ski-out access to 250 kilometres of pistes. There’s also a dog-sledding scene and the longest black run in Europe – La Sarenne – which takes skiers from Pic Blanc at the summit all the way to the charming village of Enversin d’Oz. Back at the resort, the Happy Lounge comes complete with its own playground and climbing walls for children while there’s a spa for grown ups to kick back in.
Book your ski holiday with Club Med here