Eera
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Hey ladies.
I'm a huge Club Med fan. Thought I'd share some experiences of what they are like for skiing in regards to kids.
We initially booked with them after husband and I got talking about taking them skiing for the first time and I searched "best Japanese resorts for families". Both their resorts at Tomamu and Sahoro came up in various review sites. So we bit the bullet and booked (after initially falling over at looking at the cost, but more on that later).
Fast forwards a month and we are on a bus from Chitose Airport after spending a week in Tokyo. Sahoro is a slightly older resort and not flash-bang like some of the newer ones, but we figure it's a room for the night and there's somewhere to eat, and most importantly its got a kids club where the children are taught to ski included in the price.
The kids club runs from about 8am to 5pm. You sign the kids in where they are given an open locker for their helmet and ski gear and a team of international childminders look after them; then they go for their first lesson of the day, divided into groups based on ability. Both mine started in Flake group as they'd never even seen snow before, and initially taught skills on a private kids' area with a magic carpet before going on to the bunny runs with the chair lifts. hey have a lunch break after a couple of hours, then a play session where they do everything from theater to martial arts, and in the afternoon another couple of hours on the slopes.
The thing I really love about it is the progression they make, and each time they progress to a different group there's a medal presentation in the main theater and all the instructors are there to make it a party atmosphere. Before each trip my kids set themselves KPIs - to get into Star 4 this year, or to do every red run on the hill and I love the encouragement that they are given. In the years we've been going my eldest (now 11) is confidently doing red runs with his dad (you can sign the kids out of the club at any point during the day, the last trip he'd do the morning session then we'd have a family ski in the afternoon). My youngest (8) refuses to go with me because I'm too slow and boring apparently.
The instructors have all been wonderful and the kids have mainly enjoyed every second and look forwards to coming back each year - there's a thread here on why not to teach your own kids to ski and I agree with every word, I'm leaving that to the professionals!
So the cost, it's pretty exxy when you first look at it. Also bear in mind that we don't have any readily available snow so we realise we are going to have to pay. However, when you add up all the inclusions; room, all meals and snacks (and not canteen meals either, last year I had king crab, lobster, beef wellington and venison - the food is awesome), and open bar including spirits (I was also sick after Shot Night but let's not go there); four or five hours tuition a day if you want it, from all levels from real beginner through to highly advanced - the instructor my husband struck up a bromance with represented Bosnia at international level back in the day - kids club and entertainment, to cost is on par with doing it yourself, just with zero hassle.
I probably wouldn't recommend Club Med if you don't have a family in tow, but I do and I love their model and attitude. When you get off the bus the staff line up and shout "Welcome home!". And that's how I feel - Sahoro is our home away from home and we look forward to returning each year immensely.
A couple of photos - the awards ceremony where the kids get promoted to the next level; mast 8 taking part in a talent show (which was mainly doing all the dances from Fortnite); and him telling me to keep up as I was holding him back.
I'm a huge Club Med fan. Thought I'd share some experiences of what they are like for skiing in regards to kids.
We initially booked with them after husband and I got talking about taking them skiing for the first time and I searched "best Japanese resorts for families". Both their resorts at Tomamu and Sahoro came up in various review sites. So we bit the bullet and booked (after initially falling over at looking at the cost, but more on that later).
Fast forwards a month and we are on a bus from Chitose Airport after spending a week in Tokyo. Sahoro is a slightly older resort and not flash-bang like some of the newer ones, but we figure it's a room for the night and there's somewhere to eat, and most importantly its got a kids club where the children are taught to ski included in the price.
The kids club runs from about 8am to 5pm. You sign the kids in where they are given an open locker for their helmet and ski gear and a team of international childminders look after them; then they go for their first lesson of the day, divided into groups based on ability. Both mine started in Flake group as they'd never even seen snow before, and initially taught skills on a private kids' area with a magic carpet before going on to the bunny runs with the chair lifts. hey have a lunch break after a couple of hours, then a play session where they do everything from theater to martial arts, and in the afternoon another couple of hours on the slopes.
The thing I really love about it is the progression they make, and each time they progress to a different group there's a medal presentation in the main theater and all the instructors are there to make it a party atmosphere. Before each trip my kids set themselves KPIs - to get into Star 4 this year, or to do every red run on the hill and I love the encouragement that they are given. In the years we've been going my eldest (now 11) is confidently doing red runs with his dad (you can sign the kids out of the club at any point during the day, the last trip he'd do the morning session then we'd have a family ski in the afternoon). My youngest (8) refuses to go with me because I'm too slow and boring apparently.
The instructors have all been wonderful and the kids have mainly enjoyed every second and look forwards to coming back each year - there's a thread here on why not to teach your own kids to ski and I agree with every word, I'm leaving that to the professionals!
So the cost, it's pretty exxy when you first look at it. Also bear in mind that we don't have any readily available snow so we realise we are going to have to pay. However, when you add up all the inclusions; room, all meals and snacks (and not canteen meals either, last year I had king crab, lobster, beef wellington and venison - the food is awesome), and open bar including spirits (I was also sick after Shot Night but let's not go there); four or five hours tuition a day if you want it, from all levels from real beginner through to highly advanced - the instructor my husband struck up a bromance with represented Bosnia at international level back in the day - kids club and entertainment, to cost is on par with doing it yourself, just with zero hassle.
I probably wouldn't recommend Club Med if you don't have a family in tow, but I do and I love their model and attitude. When you get off the bus the staff line up and shout "Welcome home!". And that's how I feel - Sahoro is our home away from home and we look forward to returning each year immensely.
A couple of photos - the awards ceremony where the kids get promoted to the next level; mast 8 taking part in a talent show (which was mainly doing all the dances from Fortnite); and him telling me to keep up as I was holding him back.
