Two years ago, when we started planning a family ski trip to the French Alps over Christmas, I got overwhelmed pretty quickly. Accommodations, lift tickets, ski rentals, lessons, childcare, meals... trying to piece it all together with two young kids felt impossible. Then Club Med took ALL of that off my plate.
I honestly had no idea all-inclusive ski resorts existed, and now I can't imagine doing a ski trip any other way. It was one of the best family vacations we've ever had, so here's everything you need to know before you book.
What is an all-inclusive ski resort?
Think of a beach resort, but in the mountains. I was skeptical at first, but for families it's BRILLIANT. At Club Med Les Arcs Panorama, your package includes:
- Accommodations: modern, comfortable rooms, including interconnecting family rooms
- All meals and drinks: gourmet spreads at every meal, snacks and an open bar (I definitely took advantage of après-ski)
- Lift tickets for the entire Paradiski ski area
- Group ski and snowboard lessons with ESF instructors for kids 4+ and adults, which is perfect if you want to learn to ski but don't know where to start
- Kids' clubs for ages 4 to 17
- Evening shows and activities for the whole family
- An indoor heated pool and fitness classes
What's not included:
- Ski rentals: easy to add on through the in-house shop
- Baby and Petit clubs (under 4): these cost extra, although kids under 4 stay free
- Spa treatments and private lessons: also extra
Everything else is bundled into one upfront price, so there are very few surprises at checkout.
Where it is
Club Med Les Arcs Panorama sits at around 1,750 m in a pine forest clearing in Arc 1600, one of the Les Arcs villages in the Savoie region of the French Alps. It's a modern building of glass, wood and stone with big views over the Tarentaise valley, and the whole resort has a cozy Scandinavian, enchanted-forest feel, with animal sculptures dotted around the restaurants and lounges.
The skiing: Les Arcs and Paradiski
Les Arcs is part of Paradiski, which links Les Arcs, La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry through the Vanoise Express cable car. It's one of the biggest ski areas in France, with 425 km of runs, and the slopes reach up to about 3,250 m, so the snow is reliable all season. More than half the runs are green or blue, which is great news with little ones, and there's plenty of red and black terrain for stronger skiers. And the views of Mont Blanc are absolutely breathtaking.
The resort is ski-in/ski-out, so there are no shuttles and no long walks carrying everyone's gear. You step outside and you're on the slopes, and heated lockers right by the slopes keep your equipment ready to go. Your wristband works as both your room key and your locker key, which makes everything super convenient.
Skiing village to village (and the huts!)
This was one of my favourite parts of the whole trip. The ski area is so big that you can ski from one village to the next. We skied right THROUGH one village and stopped for hot chocolate and coffee along the way, and another day we found a bar built inside an igloo, which we took my son to and he thought was the coolest thing ever.
There are so many little bars and huts dotted along the slopes, and we thought it was brilliant. It really shows off that European après-ski (or during-ski!) vibe, where stopping for a warm drink mid-run is just part of the day.
Ski rentals
The in-house ski shop made renting so easy. Everything we needed was there, from helmets to tiny skis for our youngest. We rented helmets, skis, boots and poles. You can pre-book your gear or sort it out when you arrive, and the staff made sure everything fit properly.
Pro tip: bring your own goggles, since they're not available to rent.
The kids' clubs
This is where Club Med really shines.
Petit Club Med (2 to 3 years, extra cost)
Our 3-year-old had a blast here. The staff are amazing at introducing little ones to snow through play and mini "ski-like" activities, and by the end of the week she was skiing on her own, thanks to the instructors and the safe, kids-only training area right in front of the resort. There was also an outdoor playground for her age group that was a huge hit. She's not a napper, but there's a quiet rest option if your little one needs it. We also got a detailed daily report on her activities, meals and ski progress, which I loved.
Mini Club Med (4 to 10 years, included)
From age 4, kids join ski or snowboard lessons with instructors from the French Ski School (ESF), and the club also includes lunch, an afternoon snack and evening activities. Our 6-year-old skied for 4 hours every day and absolutely loved it. He came back every afternoon with so much confidence, and by the end of the week we took him out for a full day of family skiing and he handled almost every run with ease.
Baby Club Med and the teen clubs
For babies from 4 months, Baby Club Med (extra cost) has cozy spaces and trained caregivers, and the main restaurant has a baby corner with a baby-friendly menu. Older kids and teens up to 17 have their own clubs with ski or snowboard lessons included.
Every day our kids came back with stories about their day and new friends, and we got a little extra adult time too.
One day the resort set up a huge inflatable bouncy castle with cotton candy and all sorts of kids' activities, and our kids were in heaven.
Our room
We booked interconnecting rooms, which were perfect for a family of four. The kids had their own space, we had ours, and we could still open the door between them. Club Med also offers family rooms, deluxe rooms and suites if you'd rather all be in one space.
The food
All-inclusive resorts aren't exactly known for amazing food, but this was a gourmet spread at every single meal. The main buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the mountains, and there's so much for kids: fresh pasta, pizza, Nutella crêpes, an ice cream bar and a huge dessert spread. Even my picky eaters found something they loved at every meal.
And then there's the raclette and fondue, with endless melted cheese, bread and gherkins. My husband laughed at how many times I made a full meal out of just melted cheese, pickles and bread, and I'll admit I went back for seconds (okay, thirds) more times than I'd like to share.
Evenings
Club Med runs shows and activities every evening, but I'll be honest: we never made it to a single one. After full days of skiing and fresh mountain air, all four of us were passed out early every night. If your kids have more stamina than mine, there's plenty going on.
How to get to Club Med Les Arcs Panorama
By car: We drove, and it was straightforward. From Geneva it's about 2 hours 45 minutes to Arc 1600, from Chambéry about 1 hour 50 minutes, and from Lyon or Grenoble about 2 hours 35 minutes. The road gets pretty winding after Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Important: from November 1 to March 31, French law requires winter tyres or snow chains in mountain areas like this, so make sure your rental car is equipped.
By transfer: Lots of other families at the resort came by bus transfer. If you book Club Med with flights, transfers are included.
By train: Take the train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (TGV trains from Paris and the Eurostar ski train both stop there), then hop on the funicular right from the station. It climbs 800 m to Arc 1600 in just 7 minutes, and the round trip is free with your train ticket.
When to go
The 2026/27 winter season at Club Med Les Arcs Panorama runs from December 13, 2026 to April 25, 2027. We went the first week they opened for the season and it was amazing. Book early, especially for school holidays, since this resort is very popular.
Where else can you find Club Med ski resorts?
If you love the idea of an all-inclusive ski trip but Les Arcs isn't the right fit, Club Med has ski resorts all over the world, including right here in Canada.
Canada 🇨🇦
- Club Med Québec Charlevoix: This was Club Med's first mountain resort in North America when it opened in December 2021. It sits on Le Massif de Charlevoix, just over an hour from Quebec City, with views over the St. Lawrence River. The ski area has 53 slopes covering 40 km, and Old Quebec City is about an hour away if you want to add a day of sightseeing.
- Club Med Mont-Tremblant (coming 2028): A second Canadian resort is planned at Mont-Tremblant, which is exciting news for families in Ontario and Quebec.
France 🇫🇷
With the biggest selection, France is where most Club Med ski resorts are: Les Arcs Panorama, Peisey-Vallandry, La Plagne 2100, Tignes, Val d'Isère, Val Thorens Sensations, La Rosière, Valmorel, Alpe d'Huez, Serre Chevalier and Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon.
Switzerland 🇨🇭 and Italy 🇮🇹
- Switzerland: Saint-Moritz Roi Soleil
- Italy: Pragelato Sestriere
Japan 🇯🇵
Hokkaido is famous for its powder, and Club Med has four resorts there: Tomamu Hokkaido, Sahoro Hokkaido, Kiroro Grand and Kiroro Peak.
China 🇨🇳
Club Med also has mountain resorts in China, including Changbaishan and Beidahu.
