Club Med Tignes: We Review the Hottest All-Inclusive Ski Destination in France

Have you heard of Club Med Tignes? A change in weather, experience in the snow or learning to ski, no matter the reason for your next escape to Europe, we think you and the family will enjoy all things Tignes. 

We were recently invited to the opening of the resort and got a first-hand experience at Club Med Tignes and its all-inclusive hospitality in the mountains. Here’s a fair review of what it felt like at 2100 metres smack in the middle of a winter wonderland.

Getting There

A flight from Singapore to Geneve airport and a 3-hour car ride bring you to Tignes, one of the most popular ski destinations in Europe. If you are like us(from the tropics), the drive up to the resort will delight you every few minutes with exquisite landscapes, obscure villages and snow monster trees, all building up to the grand arrival.

And grand it certainly is! Located in the heart of the Val Claret, the new Club Med resort is the perfect place to enjoy the mountain experience. Close to the Chevril and Tignes lakes, as well as on the doorstep to La Vanoise National Park, it rises to 2,100 metres above sea level and provides direct access to the slopes. 

First Impressions 

Walk into the cosy resort lobby to the resort, where you will be checked-in, and handed the necessary information along with your Club Med bracelet to sport for the rest of your stay. The bracelet -washable and quick-drying - can be used to open your room, and ski lockers, and gain access to other points of interest. Without the hassle of lugging around a key!

At check-in, you also get a lay of the hotel facilities, buffet and fine dining options, spa, swimming pool, ski and sports centre. You are encouraged to try on your ski equipment if you have booked your lessons in advance - and we highly recommend you do so. But, more on that later. 

Club Med Tignes boasts 430 rooms, two restaurants, a huge swimming pool and a wellness area. From the moment you arrive at the property, the natural wood and stone interiors are reminiscent of a mountain home. From the bedrooms to the living areas, the Alpine tones are subtly mixed with a more contemporary design.

In addition, the resort integrates perfectly with its surroundings thanks to the work of architect Jean-Philippe Nuel. The building reflects the natural elements of the mountain, featuring larch panels, overlooking a stone base. Club Med Tignes is known to be the most contemporary Club Med in the Alps! 

Stay @Club Med Tignes

When it comes to rooms, there’s a choice of Superior, Deluxe and a Suite Exclusive Collection. We stayed in a Deluxe Room, a spacious 29 m² area with a seating area as well as a balcony overlooking the gorgeous snow-scape.

Travelling with family? Book one of the interconnecting Superior rooms that use a sizeable 48 - 53 m² with a bedroom layout which combines a large space and extra comfort for your little ones. 

If you are looking to splurge, we recommend getting the Exclusive Collection Space Family Suite - with a view. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and a living area or balcony to share the fantastic view, this is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of ski adventures. There’s also Champagne served by the glass at 6 pm in the private lounge! 

Perched high on the resort’s hillside, the Exclusive Collection Space of the new Club Med Tignes, known as ‘Le Sommet’, provides picturesque views of the snow-covered peaks. Holidaymakers can enjoy the full Club Med experience while benefiting from private spaces and attentive staff for those unique moments of intimacy.

Guests can meet and relax with a glass of bubbly, in a snug atmosphere around a contemporary designer hanging fireplace from 6 pm. Along with these exclusive perks, guests can also make use of an exclusive room service, concierge service, private drinks and a ski room.

The Quintessential Ski Holiday Experience 

With the Easy Arrival service, you can request your ski lessons online, so your GO or staff in charge can prepare the equipment and facilities. A boon during the busy season, this allows for your family and infants-in-tow to avoid queues or missing out on the right equipment on arrival. 

As for the location, Tignes is known around the world for its winter sports. Club Med Tignes is located at the foot of the slopes and has direct access to skiing, snowboarding and freestyle sports. Best of all, and here's where the all-inclusive aspect really kicks in – activities for all levels of winter sports enthusiasts are included in the Club Med package. 

Whether it's running on the slopes, practising cross-country skiing or taking on a para-skiing experience, you can enjoy all types and levels of snow sports here. And if you are a beginner, be rest assured that you can enjoy your first runs in a dedicated area. Perfect for first-timers! 

For young enthusiasts, ski lessons are available for all ages, starting from the age of 4 with snowboarding lessons from the age of 8. 

We have a warm spot for the toasty ski room - a heated area with a dedicated storage room for boots and gloves, as well as best-in-class equipment. There are also beverages and snacks to be had - before your lesson or after.

Missed lunch hours? Don’t worry! To make the most of your winter holiday, restaurant hours at Club Med Tignes are flexible to make sure there’s always a seat at the table for ski lovers! 

Wellness and Beyond Skiing

And what if you don’t ski? Non-skiers can delight in other all-inclusive activities at Club Med Tignes including cross-country cycling and Biking Experience XXL through the mountain pastures, walks around lakes and waterfalls, yoga sessions to relax and fitness classes, to take the edge off.

For those who want to go further, there’s plenty of adventure on offer such as paragliding, bungee jumping on skis, ice diving, glacier walks, sledging and Fat Bikes. 

Our favourites included the Zen activities available at Club Med Tignes. Featuring the largest(and may we add stunning) Club Med swimming pool in the Alps, you can look forward to 25 metres of swimming lanes. With panoramic views of the mountains, the pool is the place to be seen for exercise or even those moments of pure leisure!

There’s also a complete fitness programme: from cardio-training and spinning to tension-releasing Vibhava Yoga – you will find this a unique place to relax. The yoga program at Club Med Tignes has been developed by none other than Herberson Oliveira, who is considered to be one of yoga’s great masters.

And when you are ready to wind down for the day, take a special look at the Club Med Spa by Sothys, an essential place to recharge your batteries. During a treatment, you can unwind in a soothing atmosphere and enjoy the recuperative benefits of this relaxing natural world or its open-air whirlpool bath. Don’t miss the freely available hammam and sauna to comfort those legs post-skiing!

Food and Dining at Club Med Tignes

If you’ve ever taken a pack of ha-ngry kids to look for a restaurant post-ski lessons, this one will is a real winner! You will love every aspect of the dining experience at Club Med Tignes. Specially designed for families, Club Med Tignes has created comfortable living areas to catch a drink or a much-needed gourmet break, throughout your day. 

The resort’s two restaurants offer mountain specialities in the evenings or at lunchtime. ‘Le Val Claret’, the resort’s main restaurant, comprises four areas dedicated to families – le Hameau (the Hamlet), le Sentier (the Trail), l’Atelier (the Workplace, about the mountain dairy farms where the milk is churned to butter or cheese) and le Lac (the Lake). The buffet(again fab, if you have picky eaters!) offers a wide choice ranging from world cuisine to local specialities.

There’s also the ‘Le Solstice’ Gourmet Lounge that serves dinner at the table and by reservation only. The restaurant also offers a wine cellar with a fine selection of wines, comprising great vintages, as well as regional wines which deserve to be better known.

We especially enjoyed the large, south-facing terrace that allows for direct access to the slopes. If it’s a sunny day, take in the beautiful landscape with a drink, or two and if it’s snowing, there’s no better way to skip out and play and return to warmth as quickly. 

When you get back from skiing, the atmosphere is as welcoming as it is warm, with hot chocolate and crêpes and friendly aperitifs with music around the outdoor bar.  

Kids - How Hands-off Do You Want to Be? 

There’s nowhere that takes the ‘free and together’ philosophy to heart as much as Club Med. Absolute advocates of the family spending valuable vacation time together, the resort group also acknowledges the need for alone time. Without having to worry about your little ones getting bored!

You decide how hands-off you want to be! Club Med Tignes offers supervision for children from 2 years old to 17 years old in the form of activities they enjoy under the guidance of dedicated GOs and instructors.

At Petit Club Med, 2 to 3-year-olds can experience the joys of the mountains in winter in a safe and fun way. They can also take advantage of Ski Kindergarten where they are taught all about snow and skiing for their age. 

For children 4 to 10 years of age, Mini-Club Med provides a dynamic and exciting space for exploration and expression with games, sports and creativity at large. The GOs also take them to ESF lessons, and get them ready and kitted out - from their heads to their skis! 

Got older kids? Teens aged 11 to 17 years, can experience the joys of winter sports with friends either snowboarding or skiing with Junior Club Med.

You can also choose to have dinner together as a family or separately - with parents at a quiet meal and the kids with friends in the company of their GO’s, at the Pyjama Club, Club Med’s babysitting service. 

If you have a baby in tow, the Club Med Baby Welcome® kit comes with everything you need, including bathtubs, bottle warmers, changing mats, cots and pushchairs. Parents - this is what holiday dreams are made of!

Club Med Tignes - Pro Tips

Want more tips on how to make your trip to Club Med Tignes a fabulous experience?

Rental of ski wear

While Club Med Tignes can arrange for you to rent skis, ski boots, helmets and poles, it does not rent out clothing or ski outfits. One option is to shop at the resort’s store where you can find quality winter wear, with special resort discounts or we’d recommend taking a quick 5-minute walk to Tignes and choosing from the selection of stores there. Should you prefer to rent, there are also a few stores in Tignes that allow for rentals. For those looking to rent winter wear from Singapore, a trip to the lovely Maureen at Popsicle Asia will have you kitted out for any winter trip - sub-zero or not! 

Grande Motte Glacier 

No matter how busy your ski days get, make the time to go to the summit of Tignes – Val d’Isère ski area  – the Grande Motte glacier at 3656m. 

Accessible in just 7 minutes via the Perce-Neige funicular (3032m at the top) and then the cable car (3456m at the top), it is an essential destination for views worth writing home about. And make sure to stop at the restaurant on the way to the cable car and enjoy local cuisine with hot chocolate, coffee and other spiked(or not) drinks! 

Dining at Club Med Tignes

An expansive breakfast menu means you get to sink your teeth into some of the most decadent pastries, fluffy croissants and fresh produce in the region. If there were ever a time to try cheese and its accompanying charcuterie it is this. Also, the speciality restaurant serves up local dishes such as fondue, should that be on your list. Finally, do not forget to indulge in their ice cream menu. An ever-changing flurry of sumptuous gelato - the coffee and rum and raisin have our hearts!

Post-Dinner Entertainment

If the idea of a pop quiz, dance performances by(and with) Club Med’s crew or themed nights don’t appeal to you - we recommend you still make the effort. Fabulous drinks on offer, with entertainment that will have you laughing your hearts out or dancing till those feet hurt - here’s where the village comes together, to form friendships and generally have a great time! 

Shopping in Tignes

If you have your heart set on shopping, there are a few stores in the main Tignes area where you can spend those Euros. Mostly ski or winter clothing stores(including a few Intersport outlets), you will find enough to kit out your winter closet if needed. Knick knacks and wine(cheap!) can be bought at the small-ish grocery store as well. Finally, for any big purchases, don’t forget to fill out your tax-refund form and have it ready before departing from the airport. 

Last Word - Club Med Tignes

Nestled in the French Alps, this stunning landscape has all the digs for a family ski holiday. Built to accommodate all levels, including bare beginners to the experts, Tignes is all about giving you an adrenaline rush no matter your choice of escape. 

Add to the mix, Club Med’s stellar all-inclusive and family-friendly hospitality and you will find a holiday spot with something for everyone in your brood, and worth coming back for. 

Of course what you won’t find elsewhere is the ease and efficiency of a well-run Club Med ski resort, where food, wellness and the nitty gritty of ski life are taken care of. 

All you have to do is – arrive! 

Book your holiday at Club Med Tignes today!