Destination French Alps – Valmorel: A True Winter Wonderland

For most of my trips I'm packing my bikinis, thongs and kaftans. This this time I'm grabbing my ski goggles, boots and gloves and packing with a smile on face ten foot wide, ready to hit the snow. I am very humbled to be setting off skiing in the French Alps in search of the ultimate winter wonderland. I am super excited to be travelling to another Club Med and very fortunate to experience one of their most premium ski resorts in the world Club Med Valmorel.

I am going to take you on a journey to a place which is so beautiful and breathtaking in so many ways....I am talking jaw dropping scenery where you keep snapping photos so many times your camera's memory card is full in minutes. The Alps will make you stop and pinch yourself to see if you are dreaming as you gaze at the picturesque snow covered mountains and majestic pine trees dusted with snowflakes lining the quaint French villages.

Is this sounding like your type of snow holiday? Well say hello to Club Med Valmorel ski resort in the heart of the French Alps.

Club Med Valmorel is a ski resort that can offer accommodation options spanning all budgets from luxury private chalets, with your own exclusive butler to a modern and beautifully appointed 4 star premium hotel room. But it's not just a hotel, Club Med Valmorel offers you the ultimate snow holiday where everything is taken care of - a true hassle free all inclusive ski holiday for families, friends and couples.

Valmorel is located only 2 hours from Geneva, 2.5 hours from Lyon and 1 hour from Chambéry airport and a short 30 mins from the closest train station Moûtiers. The area is not as well known as the popular neighbouring ski domains such as Val Thorens, Meribel/Couchevel. Valmorel offers the feeling of exclusivity, sense of elegance and style without the busy crowds. Set in an amazing stretch of the French Alps that dominates the Savoie region.

 

Perched at the very top of the village at 1460 metres, Club Med Valmorel resort has an impressive position over looking the most beautiful little French village and picturesque mountains I have ever seen..and for the ski demons who just want to know the hard ski facts and figures, lets just say it ticks a lot of boxes.

Located in the Grand Domaine ski area, which includes beginner slopes in the hamlet of Doucy-Combelouvière. Ski to the Col de la Madeleine – one of the Tour de France’s toughest climbs – and you end up in the linked resort of Saint-François-Longchamp in the Maurienne valley. Altitude ranging from 1 250m to 2 550m and the ease of door to door skiing. 150 kilometers of slopes, 90 slopes for all levels (22 green, 38 blue, 17 red and 8 black) and 342 snow cannons and 2 snow parks and plenty high altitude mountain restaurants for the best pit stops whilst discovering the well groomed runs or venture off piste.

 

I'll let you know in on a little secret.. I've only skied three times before in Europe and once in Japan and I really wanted to improve my skiing ability but at the same time felt a little nervous. When you get a little older you seem worry about hurting yourself and you really second guess yourself, especially when you haven't skied in a while and hope to god you haven't forgotten how to ski or simply look like a baby giraffe on skis. I now know the best thing about Club Med ski resorts is that your ski lessons and lift passes are included in your ski package. The package includes all your meals, open bar (all your drinks) and nightly entertainment. Yes you heard right, ITS ALL INCLUDED. This trip, I was determined to push myself to keep my skis parallel and tighten up my turns. Part of me was hoping my ski instructor was a sexy Olivier Martinez lookalike, but at the same time thought that could be VERY distracting and embarrassing if I happened to face plant it in the snow. On my first day in my intermediate group lesson, I had Coco as my instructor. She was no Olivier Martinez, but she was amazing and helped with my skiing style and technique whilst giving me tips and a personalised tour of the best runs on the mountain. I learnt so much more and it helped increase my confidence. Valmorel ski fields are so expansive that just getting familiar with the runs can take days. The nationally-accredited ESF instructors also double as guides, as small groups of similarly skilled skiers or snow-boarders are expertly instructed and guided throughout the reaches of this expansive region. From a very beginner seeing snow for the first time to competitive experts looking to push their limits and their off-piste ability, all skill levels are catered to with group or one-on-one lessons and all with the ease of ski in and ski at Club Med Valmorel. Its makes a ski holiday so easy and hassle free. No catching buses and being cramped in a crowded bus after a long day on the slopes when all you want to be is back at the resort sipping a Baleys' hot chocolate by the open fire place. You've got to love ski to the door resorts! Ski in and Ski out is so easy!

 

Club Med's holiday experience is made easy and seamless, and allows guests to do whatever they want whenever they want as their holiday is completely pre paid for. The all inclusive concept is brilliant for everyone and even more so for families who want to keep to their holiday budget.

Valmorel in particular is amazing for families. Club med has thought of everything when it comes to catering for families. This resort offers baby club from 4 months right through to teens club. This gives mums and dads an opportunity to ski together or take part in the lessons and the kids can go into ski school and learn to ski from 4 years old and the little tackers under 4 years can go to the snow garden located in the centre of the resort. Everyone has a great holiday and the team are very friendly and helpful to make sure your holiday is fun and unforgettable.

 

Club Med Valmorel showcase their new level of luxury accommodation options with the 5T Luxury Space: which includes 26 exclusive Suites with luxury services such as the concierge & a private ski room and a private lounge and bar area serving top shelf alcohol including french champagne served exclusive to the suite guests.

If you are looking for the ultimate level of luxury, The Chalet-Apartments at Valmorel are part of the exclusive collection of Chalets/Villas that cater for up to 12 people and promise a truly unforgettable experience. The Chalet-Apartments are open for both the ski season and summer mountain season and offer the choice of luxurious 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms with private terraces or balconies. Imagine waking up to your personal butler preparing breakfast in the kitchen in the mornings, collecting your ski equipment, and then after a full day on the slopes you come back to your butler preparing you a delicious afternoon tea with delectable treats from the local patisserie.  You also have a driver on call if you wish to pop down to the local village centre or down to the main part of the resort and facilities or you can stay in your exclusive lounge/bar for chalets guests to indulge in a glass of champagne in the evenings with canapés by the open fire place. Les Chalets Club Med De Valmorel allows you to indulge in the utmost level of luxury with a high level of ease & exclusivity.

 

Après ski is literally French for "after ski," and Club Med Valmorel offers a great variety of fun and entertainment within the resort and then you have access to the local bars and restaurants in the Valmorel village and the high altitude restaurants on the mountains to give you the most amazing Après ski moments.

For the non skiers or you just want to take a day off skiing the resort and the village offers so much to see and do. You can take a free shuttle bus called the "Valmobus" down to the village every 30 minutes. You can jump on the bus right out the front of Club Med reception and in a few minutes ride down the mountain you can get off at the village centre and explore the authentic French cheese and wine shops, bars and restaurants and it evens has a cinema. The village is so quaint and beautiful to walk around and emerse yourself in the real French charm. This is a must visit whilst staying at the resort, the cheeses, cured meats and rosé are a must try and renowned as the best in the Savoie region.

Not a skier or snowboarder?.... Well you should be pleased to know there is so much to see and do in Valmorel. Within the resort you can take a whole day to use all the leisure and relaxation facilities. There is a indoor heated pool, outdoor pool if you dare to take a dip, turkish bath, and the yes it has an outdoor hot tub/jacuzzi. If you are feeling a bit more energetic you can also take the Snow Shoe Walks & Nordic Walking to enjoy the majestic views of the mountain and to hike to a perfect spot to take a happy snap of the beautiful Mount Blanc. You can even take the pedestrian chair lifts to the look out points without having to have your 'transformer robot like' ski boots on.

 

Feeling a little bit more adventurous and you're a bit of an adrenalin seeker? Then you have to book yourself in for the paraskiing, dog sledding and ski mobile trail rides. When you come to a ski resort you feel obliged to ski every day and you don't want to waste a minute on the slopes especially if its a blue bird day and the visibility and snow conditions are perfect. I was determined to tick another crazy activity off my bucket list and I found out you can paraglide in the lunch break between your ski lessons. Nothing like jam packing your holiday full of exciting and once in a lifetime activities... when in the French Alps.. why not! You only live once!

Once I booked and confirmed my parasking experience I was like an excited child and couldn't wait for this memorable moment to come. I was booked in for a 1pm take off so off I skied to the take off zone located on the top of the Valmorel mountain. After a few blue runs and a few chair lifts I arrived at the jump zone. After a quick brief about the take off and landing, the next thing I knew I was all geared up in a harness, skis on and strapped to my paraskiing instructor slightly wetting my pants with excitement.

It was a magnificent bluebird day, the sun was shining and the adrenalin was pumping around my body and here I was perched at the top of a mountain attached to a large parachute just about to launch down a steep slope for take off. "Are you ready?" asked my french instructor? I said, "I am ready to fly"..then we took off skiing down the mountain to gain speed and then the wind picked up the parachute and our skies lift off the snow filled ground and we were soaring across the mountain. I was quietly squealing with excitement. Wow! What a view! I could see the majestic Mount Blanc and a birds eye view of the beautiful ski villages below.

My instructor was pointing out the amazing sites and then handed over the ropes to me. I was lucky to be able to steer and fly us over the mountains for a few minutes of the flight. Then to add some more thrills to the ride my instructor dipped, swerved and turned hard and put us into a downward spiral. Then we turned to soar over the resort to get ready and in position for the landing. I gave everyone a wave as we were coming closer to the ground and the before I knew it both skis hit the ground and we had landed skiing softly and gracefully in front of all the guests having lunch on the deck. What an amazing experience! I loved every moment and wanted to do it over and over again! Tick, done! Another crazy yet wonderful adrenalin seeking activity I can tick off my bucket list. Paraskiing in the French Alps. Highly recommended! Check out the link for more information on where to book www.valmorel.com/en/hiver/experience-valmorel/activities/more-activities/92638-vols-biplaces-en-parapente.html

When in the French Alps why not top off your trip with a Dog Sled outing. Jump in your sleigh pulled by 8-10 Nordic dogs guided by Ludo, your state certified musher. An unforgettable experience whilst meeting his beautiful dogs in the most magical snowcapped mountains and stunning surrounds. For more information click here to book: www.valmorel.com/en/hiver/experience-valmorel/activities/more-activities/267150-balade-accompagnee.html

My time at Club Med Valmorel was an unforgettable winter holiday. The skiing was amazing, the resort was unbelievable and had everything you could ask for on a ski holiday and it will leave you full of wonderful and unforgettable memories. Club Med Valmorel is truly a Winter Wonderland! Contact your local travel agent today to arrange your next ski holiday at Club Med. LWJ xxx

Club Med Valmorel: http://www.clubmed.com.au/cm/resort-valmorel-france_p-14-l-AE-pe-17H-v-VMOC-ac-vh.html