First-time skiers review of Club Med Val Thorens Sensations
As a first-time skier, I recently had the privilege of experiencing Club Med’s renowned Val Thorens Sensations resort during an exclusive VIP familiarisation trip. Nestled in the stunning Tarentaise Valley, this resort offered the perfect setting for my first ski adventure. In this review, I’ll share my personal experiences, highlight key aspects of the resort, and provide recommendations for anyone planning to explore this exceptional ski domain. Follow this link to listen to the full podcast episode on Spotify.
I’d actually never been skiing before this trip. I didn’t even know many people who’ve been skiing before, so I was a bit nervous about it! Of course, I was excited, but I also knew it was going to be a real challenge. In the end, though, it totally exceeded my expectations. I got the chance to visit the La Palmyre Atlantique resort in France with Club Med, which meant that I had a general idea of what to expect since I knew a bit about their all-inclusive packages and the activities they usually offer. This was my first time experiencing a ski resort, though, so it was a bit of an unknown for me. But like I said, it was incredible – way beyond what I imagined!
What made it really smooth was how Club Med handled everything, from flights to transfers. For this familiarisation trip, we flew into Geneva airport, and the views on the way in were breath-taking. The drive up to the resort was such an experience, too, winding through narrow, icy roads, climbing higher and higher into the Alps. Val Thorens is one of the highest-altitude resorts in Europe, which meant it felt like we were driving up forever. But when we arrived, everything was seamless. Checking in was a breeze, they handled our luggage, and I was in my room in no time.
Speaking of my room, the views were stunning. It overlooked the beginner slopes and the rest of the resort, which made for some great first impressions. One of the best parts of the experience was how organised everything was. Club Med made it so beginner-friendly. All my ski passes, lessons, and equipment were sorted beforehand. They even provided lockers with wristband access, which was super handy. As someone new to skiing, not having to worry about the logistics or figuring out the gear was a huge relief. Honestly, I’d recommend it to any first-timer.
We had access to the Three Valleys (Trois Vallees) ski area, which is enormous. Since I was a beginner, I stayed on the green and blue runs with my group. Even so, there was so much to do beyond skiing – snowboarding, snowshoeing, and more. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to try everything, but it was great to know there were options. And après-ski? It was such a blast. There was live music, and the village of Val Thorens and the surrounding areas had a number of pubs, bars, and even nightclubs. I didn’t have time over the few days to make it to the clubs, but some people in our group did, and they had a great time.
On-site, the resort had plenty of activities too. There was a climbing wall near reception, which I got to try out, and the dining was fantastic. The main restaurant served buffet-style meals, and on our last night, we went to the gourmet restaurant, which featured incredible cheeses and local dishes. The food definitely stood out.
The rooms were impressive as well. I stayed in a superior room with a balcony overlooking the slopes—it was just beautiful. Overall, the facilities were top-notch and really made the trip special! If there’s one thing I’d mention about Val Thorens, it’s that it does seem more suited for experienced skiers. That said, the instructors were amazing, and even as a beginner, I felt like I learned a lot in just a few days. Now that I have a bit of experience, I’d love to go back and tackle it again.
If you’re interested in booking a Club Med Ski holiday, call free on 0800 707 6229 to speak to one of our travel experts who will be happy to talk you through the most suitable options for your ski holiday. Alternatively, send us your enquiry for huge savings on Club Med Ski holidays.
