The new ‘frictionless’ French ski resort families will love
Madeleine Barber was one of the first to stay at Club Med Tignes when it opened its doors last December and, as a first-time skier, she was completely sold on the experience
Club Med has had a presence in the French ski resort of Tignes for 60 years now, but this recently constructed ski-in, ski-out property sitting just a stone’s throw from the base of the lifts and funicular opened its doors last December.
Its new unrivalled location in the upper village of Val Claret is one of Club Med Tignes’ biggest selling points and ideal for first-time skiers like myself who need easy access to a beginners’ slope and the “magic carpet” (upslope travelator). What’s even more ideal is that group ski and snowboard lessons with English-speaking instructors are included in the price of a stay and run from Monday to Friday, with a maximum group size of 12 people.
During my short stay, there were no other beginner skiers so my friend Simon and I were lucky enough to enjoy a private lesson (usually coming at an extra cost), during which I went from being completely clueless as to how to put on skis to tentatively snaking my way down a piste entirely unassisted. If guests are intermediate or expert skiers, they can explore the slopes alone or with a mountain guide.
But it’s not just ski lessons and mountain guides that are part of the Club Med Tignes all-inclusive package, it’s six-day lift passes too, which are handed over to guests staying for seven days on arrival along with a wristband permitting access to the guest’s room and ski locker.
This is all part of Club Med’s mission to provide a “frictionless” ski experience, so guests who want to hire equipment can even send in their shoe size, weight and height ahead of time so items await them in their lockers. This seamlessness will particularly appeal to families, which is a key target market for the resort.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Club Med Tignes is located at 2,100 metres above sea level and has 430 rooms in three categories: Superior, Deluxe and Exclusive Collection.
- It was designed by renowned French architect Jean-Philippe Nuel.
- The resort offers supervised activities for children aged 2-17 and a range of discounts and special offers depending on their age.
- Ski lessons are for guests aged four and above (snowboarding for eight and above).
- Skiers and snowboarders can access 21 green, 67 blue, 41 red and 29 black slopes.
- Tignes offers year-round snow so in the summer skiers can traverse the La Grande Motte Glacier, which lies 3,456 metres above sea level, and in the winter ski over to Val D’Isere.
Mealtimes are also made easy for families, with restaurant Le Val Claret’s vast buffet selection serving up everything from indulgent – and, I discover, much needed in the mountains – meats and carbs to lighter options such as seafood and salads. Dessert is an indulgent affair too; with a gelato bar, it’s impossible to resist returning for seconds. There truly is something to suit every taste here, and the head chef will be happy to personally advise guests with food allergies. Gourmet Lounge Le Solstice is a stylish alternative option offering snacks between mealtimes and an a la carte menu in the evenings for those who make a reservation.
I was pleased to notice these two restaurants and both bars (named Equinoxe and Energy), as well as guest rooms, are free of single-use plastics thanks to the launch of Club Med’s Happy To Care sustainability scheme in 2019. This also means Club Med Tignes uses regional and seasonal ingredients, sources solar power, has waste reduction processes in place and employs more than 300 staff members local to Tignes.
Some of these staff members can be found providing facial treatments and massages in the Club Med Spa by Sothys – the sports massage was vital to muscle recovery after my first-ever day on the slopes. Most treatments and hammam access come with a cost, but yoga classes and wellness workshops, as well as use of the sauna and the largest Club Med pool in the Alps, are included.
Guests who are happy to spend a little extra to elevate their stay (beyond the spa) do have options. The resort can arrange a wide range of additional winter sports such as glacier hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking, bob-sleighing, sledging and – a first for Club Med – diving beneath the ice of a frozen lake. I couldn’t resist giving the glacier hike a try and it didn’t disappoint.
There’s the option to upgrade to a suite in the Exclusive Collection space too, which comes with private airport transfers, access to a private lounge regularly serving champagne, priority bookings across the resort, a concierge service, in-room continental breakfast and much more. If a client is celebrating a special occasion or has a larger budget, it’s absolutely worth booking this for them.
How to book it
A seven-night stay for two adults in a Superior room costs from £1,873pp, including return flights from Gatwick to Geneva and shared transfers (price based on 10 December departure).
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
