Club Med Alpe d'Huez: Does An All-Inclusive Ski Resort Make Sense for a Family Holiday?

Have you ever considered going on an all-inclusive ski holiday? While family holidays in the snow are fun and make for incredible bonding moments, the costs of boarding, snow sports, ski passes and food can rapidly add up. This is why we’re often tempted to junk all that travel planning and rely on an all-inclusive package by destination experts such as Club Med. 

But, does going all-inclusive still score over the spontaneity, cost and flexibility of a DIY ski holiday? 

We recently experienced the joys of an all-inclusive ski holiday at Club Med Alpe d'Huez. From cost to convenience, here’s our take on how the stakes match up vs. a ski holiday - one where you need to organise everything on your own. Read on to do the math! 

Destination Planning - Club Med Alpe d'Huez

Where do we go? If you are from tropical Asia, finding a solid ski base in the Alps can be harder than you think. For one, ski resorts in Europe are huge and lack the simple connectivity you may be used to in Asian locations such as Japan. 

Secondly, these get filled up very quickly! Ski holidays are an annual family outing in Europe, which means the popular resorts and destinations get booked way in advance and are often quite pricey owing to this favoured status. 

DIY ski breaks in the Alps can also become expensive. If you are hung up on a low-cost route, travel consultants recommend heading outside of the Alps to skip that premium price tag.

Here’s when an all-inclusive destination like Club Med Alpe d'Huez scores, and big. Nestled in the sought-after Grandes Rousses Mountains, this beautiful resort offers an exceptional panoramic view of the surrounding peaks, thanks to its large, south-facing terraces. 

The ski-in, ski-out resort boasts modern accommodations, sumptuous food and beverage options and a wide range of ski and snowboard activities for all ages. With 300 days of sunshine annually, the warm and comfortable atmosphere is a welcome base for both winter sports and summer biking/hiking enthusiasts. 

The 441-room resort boasts three separate accommodation categories – Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Suites – customizable to fit guests and their comfort preferences. 

Have you got a big group or travelling with the kids? Families seeking two-bedroom accommodations can opt for the Family Superior Room or Suites. Suites also feature two bathrooms, an in-room lounge and a private terrace overlooking the valley.

So whether it's a snowflake bounty outside or you’re in the midst of a ski session, all it takes is one step back into this comfortably heated haven. Our favourite part of the room? The balcony overlooks a stream, snow-laden trees and the most gorgeous of sunsets! 

Equipment and Ski Lessons

The next part of booking your ski holiday is the right equipment and ski lessons. When you go the DIY route, this means hunting for quality ski equipment, having to pick it up a day earlier – and also figuring out a way to return it after. Take into account, trying and fitting into your ski boots, helmets and ski gear, and then carrying that mountain of gear with you back to your lodging. Needless to say, it’s a monumental task that we personally don’t enjoy! 

When you book an all-inclusive holiday at Club Med Alpe d'Huez you get the convenience of a ski-in, ski-out area that opens to France’s second-largest ski region, the L'Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine. We are talking more than 250km of ski runs, including 18 black trails, 28 red trails, 31 blue trails and 34 green trails.

And as part of Club Med's all-inclusive ski package, guests receive a ski lift pass and have access to daily group ski and snowboard lessons, ranging from beginner to advanced. Guests can also participate in fun-filled family-dedicated lessons with two designated slopes for kids as young as four! 

Plus, you have the best quality, professional-grade ski equipment available to rent. Head to the ski room as soon as you arrive, get kitted out and set off on your ski adventures right from the resort’s door front! Even better, you get to store your ski equipment in dedicated lockers, without having to lug them back to your room. 

Are you a ski novice or an absolute beginner? With two distinct beginners' areas, one for children, and the other for adults, a mat and a piste for everyone, just in front of the Resort - Club Med Alpe d'Huez is possibly one of the best ski resorts to start your ski journey! 

More than Just Skiing at Club Med Alpe d'Huez

Afraid the kids may get bored of just skiing? While there’s nothing like exploring and conquering different levels on your ski journey, you may also have family members that don’t enjoy the sport as much. Instead of leaving you to research alternate activities, an all-inclusive resort like Club Med Alpe d'Huez ensures there’s something for everyone - at any time! 

Guests can look forward to active experiences outside of traditional skiing and snowboarding and can also opt for snowshoeing, hiking, Nordic walking, cross-country skiing, skijoring, dog sledging, paragliding, rail sledging, ice skating, virtual reality sledging and swimming lessons at the resort's stunning pool. 

For a more relaxing experience, try the rejuvenating spa treatments at Club Med Spa by PAYOT or unwind at La Bulle, an adult-exclusive wellness lounge with calm music, essential oils, comfy seating areas, and yoga and meditation classes. Pure bliss!

Food and Beverage

Remember that ski areas generally have few restaurants, which means queuing up at meal times. Believe us when we say this, with kids and after a tiring day of snow activities, looking for food is not fun! Especially on a hungry tummy, the last thing you need is for bubba to be waiting for a seat at a cafe or for you to be cooking up a quick meal at your chalet. This is why families LOVE the Club Med concept! 

Whether it’s tipples and cocktails for the grown-ups or a constant deluge of snacks(even off-peak hours), meals that offer the widest options for picky eaters and desserts that can double up as art, you will never be left wanting of Food or Beverage at Club Med Alpe d'Huez.

The panoramic views of the valley and slopes extend through their two restaurants and one main bar offering the perfect backdrop for its multicultural and refined gastronomy. The resort's main restaurant Le Pic Blanc is split into three different dining halls with stunning views and a wide international spread. 

Gather at LE NÉVÉ to enjoy snacks and beverages served all day and evening, complemented by valley views. Bright earthy colours, wooden elements and ornate decor give way to an authentic mountain spirit with a contemporary design that transforms into a theatre in the evening for nightly live entertainment. 

LES ALPAGES, the Gourmet Lounge serves up a variety of Alpine delicacies for every time of the day, including all-you-care-to-eat gourmet meals, afternoon tea, a healthy corner, a wine cellar, and a selection of local produce, accompanied by live music. Guests can also choose between indoor and outdoor seating. 

Families and Children at Club Med Alpe d’Huez

The number one reason for booking that Club Med holiday - your kids will love it! With families at the heart of all things Club Med, it is needless to say that Club Med Alpe d’Huez features an Amazing Family program, allowing parents to create special memories with their children through a fun-filled weekly agenda of activities. 

Not forgetting Club Med’s signature Kids Club that offers an extensive program for children between 4 months and 17 years of age, under the caring guidance of dedicated GOs and instructors. 

Kids also get to enjoy fabulous discounts at the property! Under 4 years stay for free all year round in all Club Med mountain resorts. 6 to 11 years get up to 50% off* the stay and 12 to 17 years: up to 20% off* the stay. 

*Booking costs as of 2 March 2023

Do the Costs Add Up?

A ski holiday is never cheap but if you are watching the numbers, the costs of arranging a DIY ski holiday can also be as daunting. Most travellers end up spending much more than they initially intended to. Whether this is down to the cost of a ski pass you forgot, or an over-priced meal because there wasn’t much choice around, the surprises add up AND fast. 

With an all-inclusive holiday, we find comfort in knowing what we are likely to spend - right from the very start. Flights to food, cocktails, ski equipment, and accommodation, you can qualify for each number and know what to expect at the other end. 

Buying it as a group or family also allows for better discounts. You can score exceptional rates during Club Med’s Sale and rest assured that any further expenses at your destination will be far and few.

For instance, a 5-night stay in early December(school holidays) for a family of two adults and two kids in a Superior Family Room with separate rooms for parents and the children costs S$6556 at Club Med Alpe d’Huez. This means you spend only S$328 per person, per day for full-board food meals, bar and snacking, activities, ski lessons and the kids club. And at one of the best locations for skiing in the world. 

Let the affordability of that sink in!*     

Book your stay at Club Med Alpe d’Huez

About Club Med

Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gérard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding in activities, especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. 

Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites like the Club Med Alpe d’Huez. Today, Club Med is the world’s leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and working couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 85% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection. Present in more than 32 countries, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employés (GEs), representing 110 nationalities.