Club Med Val Thorens Sensations
We flew to Geneva and it was 2hr 30-minute transfer to the resort. The welcome was warm and well organised with our room keys and lift passes waiting for us. We were escorted to our rooms which were warm and well equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, bottled water and environmentally friendly toiletries. My room had a view across the roof tops to the mountains. There are a range of room options available including suites and interconnecting rooms for families. We were given instructions on obtaining our equipment, where to store it in the individual heated lockers and where we could meet the ski school to discuss our lesson requirements. Ski lessons are included with all Club Med ski holidays (you can choose snowboarding if you prefer) and these cover all levels of ability.
Food is plentiful with a buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is a late breakfast option, afternoon tea and lunchtime and early evening canapes - the only meal I did not find was a midnight feast! There is an a la carte restaurant for which reservations are required as tables are limited and a wine tasting room for which there is a small supplement. I must confess it was odd to stop for a full buffet lunch as when I am skiing with my family, we just stop for a quick snack on the slopes but it is definitely something I could get used to. You can even have your lunch in the sister resort in Meribel in the next valley over if you want to take greater advantage of more of the fantastic skiing that the Three Valleys has to offer.
The resort is ski in/ski out which is great as you don't waste any time getting on buses or walking to the slopes. The ski school meets just outside, and my group was very international with guests from Spain, Israel, Germany and the USA. Even if you are an experienced skier like me you can always learn something, and it is a great way of getting to know the resort. One afternoon I ended up as the only person in the class as the weather was poor, so I had a private lesson which was fabulous - even if I could not really see where I was going!
Away from the slopes the hotel has a climbing wall, a spa (I had a wonderful massage - purely in the interest of research of course), a hammam, a fully equipment gym, an exercise room offering various classes including Pilates and a roof top hot tub. There are two bars offering a comprehensive range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a lounge with a DJ both and a stage where the staff put on some great performances and a second quieter lounge where there is more live entertainment.
I highly recommend the Club Med all-inclusive ski product whether for a short break or longer and look forward to going back! Thank you, Clarisse and your team.