A Luxe Ski Trip to France Is Cheaper Than Skiing in the US (Seriously)

By no means is the idea of an all-inclusive ski vacation new to Europe — it’s been part of the ski vacation industry for some time. But Club Med seemed to be doing something special when it comes to two major selling points: it makes a ski vacation to Europe both affordable, and ridiculously straightforward.

Perched at an altitude of 6,890 feet (or 2,100 meters) above sea level, Club Med Tignes is a sprawling complex of colorful corridors linking the resort village. Under one roof, there’s everything you need and want (and probably never considered you could get) from an Alps ski resort. During my visit, it had a lively mix of families, couples, and groups of friends enjoying the alpine ambiance. The ski-in, ski-out location means guests get extremely quick and easy access to the vast Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area, which has over 180 miles of interconnected slopes from beginner to expert.

The all-inclusive package includes accommodations, meals and drinks, childcare, entertainment, access to wellness facilities, twice-a-day ski or snowboard lessons for all ski levels, lift tickets, and ski shuttle access. That’s already much more than you get from a ski package in the US, but I also noticed exceptional service from the staff, who keep the enormous resort running smoothly. Everyone I met was kind and passionate and felt like old friends by the end of the week, creating a winning combination for a stress-free European vacation.

How Club Med is making European skiing accessible

I woke early on the first day of my ski trip, feeling anxious about my 25-year sabbatical from skiing. Breakfast starts at 7 AM, and desperate for an espresso, I navigated the winding passageways to find Le Val Claret — the main restaurant that serves an impressive buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I walked into magnificent stacks of pancakes, regional cheeses and cold cuts, crispy bacon and sausages, waffles, French toast, and warm baguettes aplenty.

While sitting alone, watching zealous powderhounds and other early birds trickle through the doors, I was jolted from my pre-coffee haze by the sound of a Boston accent. “I think I’ll join you,” said a gentleman in his early 70s. Andy Richards became my first new friend at Club Med, and we met each morning to have breakfast together. After one meal, I learned everything there is to know about his family, his heartbreaking recent loss of his wife in the last year, and why he decided to book a vacation through Club Med to perk himself up before the Christmas holidays.

“It’s basic math,” he told me in a hushed voice as if this was a secret other guests were not privy to. “I spoke with Club Med and told them to compare the cost of a ski trip to the US with what they could offer me here.” Richards was traveling with his 40-something son. Both are exceptional skiers and, at times, even instructed family members and friends. “I had to pay for my son, of course,” Richards continued as he poured a river of syrup onto his pancakes. I learned that he had paid $3,350 per person for seven days in Tignes. This included flights, transfers, and all the other elements I mentioned above. “Flights alone would have set me back more than half of that,” he added, looking smug.

Armed with this information and a little skip in my step after an unexpected new friendship, I spoke with Club Med and asked for a price breakdown to compare the cost of a vacation for a family of four in Aspen, Colorado, compared to an all-inclusive package with Club Med in Europe. And Richards was not exaggerating. Here’s the breakdown:

Club Med Tignes — total amount $8,340

• Round trip airfare — Included
• Accommodation — Included
• Meals — Included
• Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages — Included
• Lift passes — Included
• Ski or snowboard lessons (four days) — Included
• Roundtrip transfers — Included

DIY trip to Aspen — total amount $16,948 

• Round trip airfare from NYC — $1,988
• Accommodation — $5,122
• Meals — $1,750
• Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages — $980
• Lift passes — $2,996 (per family for seven-day pass)
• Ski or snowboard lessons (four days) — $3,182
• Round trip transfers — $930

That makes Club Med Tignes about half the price of a ski trip to Aspen? Of course, these figures must be taken with a grain of salt, but the point is that a ski trip to Europe can be much more affordable for families — especially when you consider a single-day lift ticket in the US can be more than $289 per person.

Lessons are divided by skill level. Putting my ego aside, I started at the bottom. I was apprehensive about the gear and had to grab an employee in the ski room to help me secure my boots before encouraging me slowly towards the fresh powder. Surrounded by the sound of upbeat music (the rental shop has a bar, snacks, and sometimes an afternoon DJ), I took in the azure blue sky, and neighboring runs peppered with skiers already zig-zagging down.

Group lessons were small because it was the very start of the season. There were only three adults in the beginner group: myself, and a couple from Namibia, Aniel and David, who had not only never skied before, but never seen snow.

We didn’t have a shared history of skiing as kids, but we bonded through the anxiousness of trying something foreign and uncomfortable. As we shuffled in our skis, Aniel told me that an all-inclusive was the only way they could carefully budget a European vacation. With the weak exchange rate between South Africa’s Rand and the Euro, the family put money aside for Club Med over a year and found solace in the security of no surprise extra costs.

The nervous tension broke as Aniel laughed, adding, “I have two boys aged 11 and 14. Believe me, they eat a lot. We need a buffet when traveling.” It’s one of several reasons the Club Med package made sense for the family. Aniel’s sons bounced from snowboarding lessons to family meals to the resort’s teenage club to watch movies, play video games, and hang out with peers while their parents braved the slopes together.

What is included in a Club Med all-inclusive snow vacation in Tignes?

 

There’s a range of comfortable and stylish rooms for all budgets

 

Rooms at Club Med Tignes are divided into “superior,” “deluxe,” and “exclusive.” Both the Superior and Deluxe have the option of an interconnecting room for families, a baby bed (and a baby welcome pack) on demand, and furnished balconies with views over the village or slopes. They follow a similar color pallet as the resort, with cheerful patterned carpets, wood furnishings, and warm fabrics. Bathrooms are spa-like, with rain showers, deep soaking tubs, luxurious toiletries, and a heated towel rail perfect for warming your robe after a long day in the snow.

The “Exclusive Collection” rooms cost extra, but include access to a lounge and bar, in-room breakfast service, a private ski room, and a dedicated concierge. The resort also has 25 suites for families, all of which have ample space for a family of four, including a main bedroom, a bedroom with two twin beds, and a separate living area. I can see where it would be good for families who want space to have breakfast together or hang out in the evening to play board games.

You’ll never go hungry (or thirsty) with Club Med

There are two restaurants: the aforementioned Le Val Claret, which serves an impressive buffet with dishes from Thai curries to raclette, steaks, risotto, and hearty stews, and the gourmet lounge, Le Solstice. Depending on the day, Le Solstice is open for lunch and dinner. For dinner, you’ll need to make a reservation, which I highly recommend doing at least once. In the evening, the a la carte menu is more elevated, offering plates such as beef carpaccio with parmesan shavings, pistachio sausage with creamy polenta, 30-day dry-aged ribs, and shareable fondues. An on-site sommelier manages the wine list. Of course, you can stick with the house wine included in your package, but if you want a treat, you can splash out on a bottle of Beaujolais to pair with the beef.

Between meals, the Equinoxe Bar near the main lobby serves afternoon tea and aperitifs of charcuterie and cheese, chips and dips, and a thoughtful kids’ corner with chicken nuggets and small sandwiches. Bar staff can whip up your drink of choice from an Aperol Spritz to a zesty mojito, both of which are included in the package.

First-class transfers from the airport to the slopes

Richards had mentioned he calculated the cost of getting from Geneva to Tignes before booking with Club Med. A taxi would average out over $300. The nearest airports to the Alps resort are Lyon, France, and Geneva, Switzerland; both are around three hours away, depending on conditions. But hotel packages include the airport transfer. Not only will this save you money, but you’ll be grateful to have a driver who knows the mountain roads, especially in heavy snowfall.

Leave your heavy gear at home and rent everything on site

Another huge benefit of snow vacation with Club Med is the gear rental service. This is an extra cost and is optional, but many of the guests I spoke to said it saved them money transporting their gear (although I knew a couple who brought boots and rented skis). Personally, I appreciated not having to lug my bulky ski gear through the airport. The resort offers a wide range of high-quality equipment from brands such as Rossignol. The ski shop staff helped me choose the right skis based on my skill level and personal preferences, and the process was streamlined and efficient. I spent less time worrying about logistics and waiting in lines, and more time enjoying the experience.

Gear rentals are reasonably priced, especially compared to resorts in the US. For example, adult skis for a week cost from $100, and boots were $65.

On arrival, you’ll need to visit the shop to get fitted for your gear. Next door, there’s a changing room with lockers. Each guest has an allocated locker yours for the duration of the stay. It makes it easy to store your gear at the end of the day, and when your vacation is done, just put it back in the locker, and staff will return it to the shop when you check out. It’s an exceptional service.

Ski or snowboard lessons are included in your package

You’ll receive your lift tickets at check in, where you can also sign up for group ski and snowboard lessons. They cater to all levels and are available for guests four and older. A lesson schedule lists staggered times for the different groups, but morning lessons generally last around three hours, while afternoons are about two hours long.

I’d highly recommend starting on day one if you are a beginner. Although you can easily spend the first day getting your bearings around the village (or using the sauna and pool), you won’t want to miss a minute with your instructor. As it was the beginning of the season, I was fortunate to have a small group. After the first morning, I left the couple from Namibia and moved on to more challenging slopes. At times, I had one-on-one instruction, which was an experience I’ll never forget. I went from being a nervous wreck on day one to a confident (and capable) skier by the end of the week.

Others experienced snowboarders and skiers I met at the resort also said they had knowledgeable guides who took them to the best areas of Tignes and Val d’Isère, based on the conditions and their skill sets.

It’s not just about snow sports, though

Club Med includes wellness offerings beyond just skiing. There’s a robust range of classes. Yogis can choose from 30-minute muscle warm-up yoga class in the morning to afternoon hour-long flow sessions, while cardio buffs can enjoy spin classes or CrossFit, catered to all abilities and schedules. Overall, the gym is excellent. When I visited, it was overseen by Alexis, a twenty-something who ended up being my personal trainer in classes when the early-season crowds were on the slopes.

If you visit, be sure to download and use the Club Med app for extracurricular activities. On the app, you can see what’s scheduled when and where. And want to turn notifications on, as  there’s so much going on.

On the same level as the gym, you’ll find a beautiful pool, hammam, and outdoor hot tubs with a view over the slopes. The spa, which uses luxurious French brand Sothys, offers single treatments and a nice range of packages, including family-friendly options for those who want to pamper the kiddos.

Kids are taken care of on and off the slopes

 

Club Med truly shines when it comes to catering to families. Walking around the resort village, you might wonder where they all are — which is perfect for those who want to relax with a book in the main bar and sip an old fashioned. But the lack of kids isn’t because they aren’t welcome — occasionally, there were afternoon activities in the theatre, including an incredibly fun-looking inflatable bouncy castle. It’s because young ones are so busy making international friends, having a blast in lessons, playing games, and dancing in the clubhouse, that they aren’t running around the other common spaces. The kids club is split into four groups: “Petit Club Med” (for ages two to three), “Mini Club Med” (for ages four to 10), “Teens Club Med” (11 to 13 years), and “Club Med Chill Pass” (14 to 17 years). As with almost everything at Club Med Tignes, childcare is included in the cost of a stay.