Club Med? (Le Massif, Quebec)

[JO-ski]

@JO-ski , her DH have skis. I've skied with both before Covid. So rentals not needed.

She/They can drive. It's a 4 lane highway but a good 7-8 hours with a toddler.

It's true. We'd be driving and have our Thule and all our gear. But I have a feeling it would take us longer than 7-8 hours. Google Maps actually says closer to 9 hours for us. But with toddler, that will mean 12 hours. And 12 hours means, we will likely need an overnight stopover in Montreal. This would all make a lovely winter vacation! But omg, in the dead of winter, it will be COLD!!!

 

[JO-ski]

...also I hope the drive won't be too treacherous as we approach the Laurentians.

 

[Jilly]

@JO-ski 401 to Montreal, 40 (north shore) all the way to QC. Through QC to Charlevoix.

 

[JO-ski]

Edit - in terms of lesson, every one that I've seen have levels from absolute beginners through to high level, normally divided into six different classes (kids have their own levels).

For lessons, did you feel that your kids skied better after your trip? I know group lessons are not as good as 1:1. But our plan is to continue our private lessons next season or even the following two seasons. Maybe fit in 4-6 lessons per season, depending on the climate. And then do a trip like Club Med Le Massif once we're all better skiers. That way my current 4yo will have some experience under her and won't struggle too much if it's group lessons. I want it to be fun, but also a time to learn some things and not struggle too much on a trip like this. Thoughts?

 

[Eera]

For lessons, did you feel that your kids skied better after your trip? I know group lessons are not as good as 1:1. But our plan is to continue our private lessons next season or even the following two seasons. Maybe fit in 4-6 lessons per season, depending on the climate. And then do a trip like Club Med Le Massif once we're all better skiers. That way my current 4yo will have some experience under her and won't struggle too much if it's group lessons. I want it to be fun, but also a time to learn some things and not struggle too much on a trip like this. Thoughts?

Absolutely!

The kids had a fat old time with their instructors - certainly for the younger ones it was more play-based learning rather than drills etc, but after a couple of trips they were doing carving and learning on one ski etc. I saw you got hold of my other thread when the kids were 8 and 11: now they're 12 and 15 they are both happily doing park stuff and the odd double black (not so much "happily" for the sulky teenager, more like "under duress" except in the instances where he decides he loves the sport, but that's another story).

The instructors we've had all seem to love being with the kids and they responded so well to the enthusiasm: it's part of the model as well that the staff make time to socialise with the patrons so they'll come and sit with you in the bar and ask if they can join your table for dinner and have a chat, I've really miss that aspect when we've done our own thing the last couple of times.

The group lessons are great for the kids to meet friends: often in the evening they'd all go away and hang around in the games room together. You can get private lessons if you wish: you just pay extra for them.

And don't worry about not being an awesome skier: only my OH had been on the planks prior to our first trip (brought up in the Victorian Alps): Club Med taught 3/4 of my family to ski

 

[Eera]

I'd love to hear all about the Club Med lessons and how they conduct them. Is it truly all day lessons for adults too?

2 to 2.5 hours morning, same in the afternoon.

How our day would go was generally: get up when the sun comes up (around 8, hey it's a holiday) and go to the cribroom for breakfast. Then we'd take the kids to the kids' club and sign them in. Lessons generally start between 9 and 10 depending on the level (so they don't get massive crowding in the meet zone). At your appointed time you find the flag with your level on, meet your instructor, do some warm ups and then they'll take you to an easy slope to assess your actual level and make sure you're in the right group.

After a couple of hours you break for lunch, then meet up again in the afternoon between 1 and 2 and do it again, end of day will be about half hour before the last lift closes so get down the slope, have a shower, hit the bar (possibly find kids somewhere in between).

You don't have to do both sessions if you don't want to, just be sure to tell the instructor you won't be back after lunch as they'll be looking for you. I don't know if any of the newer joints have an electronic booking system - the ones I've been to every evening you went to a central point and manually checked in for the following day - you can also sign the kids out of the club any time and take them off on your own if you wish, when Master-then-11 was getting quite competent he'd go to the club in the morning and then go out with his dad in the afternoon.

The first evening when you arrive expect it to be a tad chaotic: you have to find the layout of the place, find where the check-in is and get your gear sorted - it can be a bit of a scrum but once you've got your bearings you'll be right.

 

[GabbyNYTX]

I'm looking at resorts that are family friendly. Club Med resorts are marketed so well for families. I saw that they also have winter resort packages now! I believe there is only 1 Club Med ski resort in Canada, at Le Massif in Quebec. Has anyone been?

Is it worth the all-inclusive package? We have our own gear, so we can at least eliminate rentals as a cost. How were the rooms and meals? Did it make the family ski trip more convenient because everything is set out for you? Or did you feel limited because there weren't many food options in the package? Is it truly cheaper than if we put together our own accommodations and food?

We did club Med a couple of year ago, and had an absolutely fantastic time! The food was amazing, gourmet-level, and the view from the dining room was breathtaking. Kids were not ready/comfortable to do lessons on their own yet at the time, so they dropped out after a couple of days (my little was battle social anxiety at the time), so we didn't fully take advantage of that. We did have to rent equipment and there was a fee for that. I'm always looking to go back, but we're now trying to go for longer stays, so the cost can be a bit prohibitive, but that is also because we don't own gear and we have to fly. We live in San Antonio, which does not have a major airport, so flying from one smaller airport to another gets very pricey. But I would definitely recommend, especially if you can drive and bring your own equipment. It was a really fabulous experience. There were also lots of other fun activities for non-skiers, like sledding, which my older son and husband and I really enjoyed. If you can get a good promotion, definitely go for it! Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[JO-ski]

@GabbyNYTX Thank you for the insider experience at Le Massif! I am very excited about the idea of a family ski vacation there in the near future! I hear you about the flying. Those who live near a real mountain are so blessed! We would drive to Le Massif but it's still a 9 hour drive, albeit we'd be saving on gear rentals and flights. Our Canadian dollar is weak right now. So doing ski vacations in Canada is just so much more appealing. I am surprised there is only 1 Club Med in Canada and that not more are near Whistler or Banff.

I am hoping one of my best friends and her family can join us in Charlevoix so that the kids have each other to do lessons and hang at the Kids Club. But her husband does not ski and doesn't have interest. So he will have to be enjoying the lodge if he comes. But it's good to know that there are other non-ski activities there. Do you think those activities are sustainable for an adult for like, 4 days??

 

[GabbyNYTX]

For adults, we were just happy to be in the resort, especially when the kids were in class! ;) There is the spa, but, of course, that is also an additional fee. I guess it really depends what you're hoping to do... The mountain definitely felt isolated to us, so it only felt like resort activities were our options. If you have some time on your hands to do the planning, I definitely think you could work something out where you lodge a condo near another slope and arrange for classes for the kids, and I think it would still come out less expensive honestly. If you have a condo with a kitchen then you will save a lot on meals. Of course, it won't feel like the full-on being taken care experience, but it depends what you are looking for. We just came back one 4 days in Whistler. We were at a hotel but they had a kitchen with a stove, oven, and microwave, and that was extremely nice to have, especially for quick breakfasts. I think you will have fun for sure at Club Med, and you will definitely feel spoiled with the food. When my kids were small, figuring out food on vacation was the most stressful part, so having endless all-you-can-eat options was a major plus. But I think you can also find some great stuff at a non all inclusive - it will just require you to plan a bit more.

 

[JO-ski]

@GabbyNYTX I hear you. The all-inclusive model is definitely very appealing to us when we have a toddler. I think the multi-hour ski lessons per day is also a major plus. Having fun while advancing ski skills is a great thing. I also think some intensive lessons over consecutive days can advance our ski skills exponentially. I just want to be felt taken care of, as a mom! LOL. Mommy and Daddy need a vacation too. I do not want to cook, or ask my toddler what she wants to eat, or pack food with us at all!

 

[marzNC]

Just announced . . . Le Massif is joining the Ikon pass for 2025-26. That will probably put it on the radar of more families who can get there by driving.

 

[Eera]

I think you will have fun for sure at Club Med, and you will definitely feel spoiled with the food. When my kids were small, figuring out food on vacation was the most stressful part, so having endless all-you-can-eat options was a major plus. But I think you can also find some great stuff at a non all inclusive - it will just require you to plan a bit more.

Hahaha I just remembered the first time we went to Club Med Sahoro - Hokkaido is famous for its ice cream and they had a number of self-serve machines there.

Youngest was 7 or so, and had a full on meltdown screaming hissy fit in the mess when he wasn't allowed to basically sit underneath the machine decanting it straight into his mouth.

I learned to apologise in Japanese that year...

 

[GabbyNYTX]

Hahaha I just remembered the first time we went to Club Med Sahoro - Hokkaido is famous for its ice cream and they had a number of self-serve machines there.

Youngest was 7 or so, and had a full on meltdown screaming hissy fit in the mess when he wasn't allowed to basically sit underneath the machine decanting it straight into his mouth.

I learned to apologise in Japanese that year...

But at least it was all inclusive and you didn't have to pay like 50 dollars for whatever ice cream he was able to get before you arrived!

 

[ski diva]

Le Massif isn't on IKON - less crowds!

Le Massif was just added to the IKON pass for next year, so something to keep in mind.

I skied Le Massif a couple times before it was Club Med, and absolutely LOVED it. Absolutely gorgeous views!

 

[Lorraine S Taylor]

I'm looking at resorts that are family friendly. Club Med resorts are marketed so well for families. I saw that they also have winter resort packages now! I believe there is only 1 Club Med ski resort in Canada, at Le Massif in Quebec. Has anyone been?

Is it worth the all-inclusive package? We have our own gear, so we can at least eliminate rentals as a cost. How were the rooms and meals? Did it make the family ski trip more convenient because everything is set out for you? Or did you feel limited because there weren't many food options in the package? Is it truly cheaper than if we put together our own accommodations and food?

We stayed at the Marriott at the base of Mt St Anne in Quebec. It was lovely and very family friendly. It has its own restaurant, bar, pool/ hot tub, with other restaurants and bars that you can walk to. Ski in/out and great mountain. Not far from Quebec City, that is also fun.

 

[mustski]

In France it was morning lessons, 2 hr lunch, then afternoon lessons. We were in an advanced level that began with a ski off and we were split into 3 groups - low, med, upper. It balanced well IMO, but you could switch easily if desired. One guy’s instructor switched him into our group because he identified as expert and wasn’t.

Although the “lessons” were all day, actual instruction was brief tidbits and then a bunch of skiing. I loved our first week instructor. He was a backcountry, off piste guy, which is what I wanted to work on. The second week guy was a racer and I did not gel with him at all. My husband preferred him to week 1 guy. Since we wanted to stay together, he sucked it up week one and I sucked it up week two. Both weeks were really good overall.

 

[Leslie Hall]

Don’t know about Club Med but I’ve skied there several times and it’s a great layout! The views are stunning on a clear day and the lodge had good food! I would say all levels can find some terrain.