Skiing Operators

Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Skiing Skiing Operators Club Med 

	Club Med
Kennedy House, 115 Hammersmith Road, London W14 0QH			MAP
tel: (0845) 367 67 67

The upmarket French holiday camps with enthusiastic staff encouraging participation have a loyal British clientele, not least among those with small children, though the style doesn't suit all. On the plus side is the convenience. The ski service is located inside the villages, which means getting equipped is easy, and parents can take their children down to the club in the morning in their pyjamas leaving the GO's to get them dressed while parents head off to the slopes. The predominance of French-speaking staff and guests can be a problem for some English speakers, but could be useful if you have a child learning the language. Out of the total programme of 24 ski resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy, Japan and the US, three offer a baby club for 4 months-plus, four facilities for 2-plus, and 17 facilities from 4 years up. All resorts are rated from two trident (basic) up to four.

No Smoking Chalets or Rooms

Available on request.

Care in same chalet or hotel

Yes, all in the resort itself.

British-qualified staff

‘A specialised team of fully qualified and experienced international GOs', may include some with British qualifications.

Staff to child ratio

Information not available.

Ages to qualify

Four months to teens. (Age divisions are strictly adhered to.)

Childcare

Six days a week. For younger children a register serves as a diary of the child's day. Access to the childcare is conditional on presentation of a ‘non-contagion medical certificate' issued by your GP no more than 48 hours before your arrival, indicating as well as good health that the child has received all necessary vaccinations.
Baby Club Med 4 to 23 months 8.30am to 5pm, offering quiet wake up games, meal times, and rest periods. Carers are expected to show the children affection. Activities are low key to cater to the natural rhythms of the age group but might include morning wake up games, some educational activities, a short walk or a sleep for the youngest children. Lunch is organised by the Baby Club GOs but parents are welcome to join the children. After a nap there may be outdoor games, including with two characters called Clubber and Medy, and tea. Dinner is in the baby restaurant with the parents. Supplement payable of from £169 per week per child. br>Petit Club Med 2-3 years 8.30am to 5pm and 7.30-9pm. After breakfast with the family there are gentle wake-up activities, group activities, walks and outdoor games. Parents can join children for lunch (designed to meet the nutritional needs of the age group). There is then a nap and outdoor activites plus arts and crafts like face painting, clay modelling and tea. From 7:30 pm, after eating with their parents, children can go back for low-key evening programme such as story telling and songs. Supplement payable of from £169 per week per child.
Mini Club Med 4-10 years 8.30am to 9pm. Sports and creative activities advertised daily on the board at the entrance, details varying with age and village but including from 4 years ski lessons. From 8 years children are free choose their activities themselves. Cost is included in the holiday package price.
Junior Club Med From 11 years is designed to enable teens to meet up with others of the same age and a junior club GO can help organise activities, sports and shows. Cost is included in the holiday package price.

Exclusive child ski lessons in English

Not in English but all Club Med instructors have english as a second language. Ski tuition is available for children 4 years and above, and in snowboarding for ages 12 up.

Babysitting

Available at certain Villages on a private basis with GOs.

Other

For babies there are bottle warming facilities, sterilisers, food mixers, cots, potties and baby baths. From 6.30pm those villages with a Baby Club opens the Baby Restaurant to children and parents for an evening meal. Helmets are hired for children in all villages with children's club facilities. There are also two types of downhill skis available for children; sport which are standard for all levels, and Competition-Performance which are technical skis for intermediate and advanced skiers, recommended for children 10 to 12 years. The brochure recommends packing a warn and waterproof ski outfit, ski hat, scarf, waterproof ski gloves, ski socks, sun glasses, goggles and sun cream (attaching gloves to the anorak with elastic cord. However, they warn against too many layers which can be restricting (sweater, salopettes or pullover are superfluous) but instead provide warm underwear. Everything needs to be clearly labelled.

Adult guide price

For a week in mid February at the three-trident Serre-Chevalier resort, £1,225 all inclusive (ski and boot hire extra).

Child Offers

For a similar period child 4 months-4 years, £219; 2-3 years £420; 4-11 years £1,024.