Day 1 – Club Med Peisey Vallandry
Having never skied before, I didn’t know what to expect when I first arrived at the beautiful French resort, Peisey Vallandry. I needn’t have worried; from the moment I arrived, I was converted. Clear blue skies, snow-capped mountains, wooden interiors & open brickwork added to its rustic alpine charm. A postcard-perfect scene that left me feeling as if I’d entered a magical winter wonderland.
My bags were whisked away to my room, which left me free to tuck into a delicious buffet lunch where I was overwhelmed with choice. French gourmet quality, fresh produce & French chefs at various cooking stations, the choice of food alone was impressive. With no need to worry about Michelin-star bills, Club Med offers superb, signature dining, all included in your ski package.
Even children are offered a separate area with a huge range of food to suit even the fussiest of eaters, whilst gluten-free options are available upon request.
Guided by a friendly member of resort staff, I was shown to my room, complete with balcony & stunning mountain views.
Day 2 – Hitting the Slopes!
Next up, time to conquer my fears and head to the mountain for my first taste of skiing.
The main lift takes everyone up the mountain (& back down if you don’t want to ski down!).
Beginners, intermediates & experts all head up for their lessons provided by the expert Club Med team. The instructors are so friendly and, thankfully, so patient! A couple in our group were complete beginners & by 12.30 were confidently skiing on the nursery slopes.
As a beginner, I felt that our instructor, David, was superb at interacting with all of us & our varying levels of ski proficiency, whilst still managing to make it fun. He managed to truly put everyone at ease, even those as nervous as I was! Club Med also offers personal guides to show experienced skiers the slopes in the region & the opportunity to go off-piste if they wish (again all included in the cost).
Wine & canapes at the bottom of the lift-served by the Club Med staff were a welcome way to end my first alpine adventure! It did seem rather indulgent when a 3-course lunch followed, though I did assuage my post-Christmas calorie guilt with a dip in both the indoor and (heated!) outdoor pools.
So, until tomorrow, au revoir, mes amis!
Day 3 – Club Med Les Arcs
This morning we left Peisey Vallandry and snow-shoe hiked across to Les Arcs, with some spectacular views over the mountains.
You can really see a different resort in Les Arcs, it has a much bigger ski area & is busier, with more of a village feel to it. Hot chocolate on tap (and I literally mean on tap as you could just help yourself) was exactly what I needed upon arrival.
If you are considering going here with a group of your friends, or with a partner & want a much livelier adult-only property with many ski options & even a town to visit, Club Med Les Arcs resort will tick all the boxes. Sadly, my familiarisation visit was over all too quickly, but I’ll be very happy to discuss my experience of Club Med Ski with anyone who might be interested.
Snow guide for the upcoming 2021/2022 season in Europe
As Covid restrictions are easing all of Europe, many are gearing up for a winter season on the slopes. Ever since my first skiing holiday in the French Alps, I’ve been eager to return and I finally can now it seems safe to do so.
So what is the snow looking like across Europe?
Well, It’s safe to say that the weather has been rather biblical in countries all over the globe during the year. Greece saw record temperatures during the Summer. Germany experienced a hellish storm of hail due to over-flooding in Northern Europe. The European winter is seeming no different. Obviously, weather forecasting is not totally accurate but there are usual guides you can place some trust in when planning your ski trips. Concerns have been raised that the Gulf Stream is currently very weak, which means that temperatures would fall in Europe considerably.
Although a drop in temperature and increases in the precipitation rate would signify a harsher winter, and would round off an already intense year for weather instability, it wouldn’t be too bad for us skiers, right?
Is there any more early news about the weather for the 2021/2022 ski season? Reports are suggesting that there’s a ‘geopotential anomaly’ forecast in Scandinavia. Paired with the reported high pressure circulating above the Atlantic, experts are hedging their bets on a potential blast of cold weather early this ski season. This would permit early snowfalls that were seen in the region last May. Horray! Any excuse to get us over to the wonderful Alps sooner rather than later.
October 2021 brought great news for Skiers!
On October 24th, the government announced that people in the UK who had received both COVID vaccination jabs will no longer have to pay for an expensive PCR test on their return from red list countries. Instead, winter vacationers will be able to use the cheaper and more readily available lateral flow tests. This is great news for all travel but is excellent news for those looking to hit the slopes early this year.
For many, the disruption of Covid has meant that many ski and snowboard lovers have had two whole seasons without feeling the thrills of the slopes. So you can expect the vibes to be nothing short of excellent in this winter season. I for one, cannot wait.
Booking a family ski holiday this winter
If you are looking for a winter holiday – skiing or non-skiing – I cannot recommend Club Med enough as they are the only company that offers fully all-inclusive Ski packages. Also, some of Club Med’s mountain resorts are open throughout summer, where you can enjoy a whole host of activities including mountain biking, hiking, and swimming without the worry of hefty bills for meals & exchange rates.
What’s included in a Club Med Ski Holiday:
- Flights & transfers
- Accommodation
- Lift pass
- Ski/Snowboarding lessons
- Gourmet full board cuisine
- Open bar
- Kids clubs from 4-17 years
- Non-ski activities and evening entertainment
So if you’re considering an all-inclusive ski holiday, please call our team on 0121 213 0012 for help choosing the right Club Med resort for you. Plus, as Club Med specialists, we can offer you the very best prices with extra, exclusive benefits! Take a look at what other customers say about us on TrustPilot!
See you on the slopes!
