Esprit Chalet v Club Med Valmorel

DizzyIzzy2022 · 2023-04-05T14:39:13+00:00

Hello, I am looking at booking a ski holiday next March with my two little ones who will be 4 and 1. We've never skied before and have been recommended Chalet Corniche (Esprit) and Club Med Valmorel by an agent. Has anyone had experience of these two types of accommodation and what worked better for small children? I really like the all inclusive aspect of the hotel but have read some reviews about the ski lessons being mainly in French and I'm worried by biggest girl (who is already quite shy) will be left behind. However, she might not like skiing and at least the hotel has swimming pools and other activities. I've been told that the chalets Esprit offer are fine but 'quite tired' and that if you have a 'bad' family it can be quite a long week! I also want to learn to ski, so any experiences of what the adult beginner lessons are like at club med would be great, but of course mums needs are bottom of the 😀 Both options are quite expensive so I'd love to hear any experiences of what worked best for you [smile]

Icedblondelatte · 07/04/2023 11:25

I did esprit when my youngest was 18 months old. It was a small hotel rather than a chalet. I didn't like the fact that you didn't eat with the children in the evening and that they just had staff sat outside bedrooms listening to the children. I'm not sure if it's the same with the chalet. I also wanted to spend time with my child and found this awkward so we ended up going out for dinner. Children's dinner was also quite early. I don't know if it differs between location but I would check what the meal situation is.

We did clubmed for the first time this year, now my children are 6 and 8. Yes there were lots of French speaking children but there were a couple who spoke English as did the staff so my children didn't find it an issue. Ski instructors spoke in French and English. Most of their day is spent in ski lessons or eating so play time was limited anyway. Lessons were done by ESF for both children and adults. How good they are will totally depend on your instructor and the size of the group but my experience of ESF have always been positive.

Original poster

DizzyIzzy2022 · 07/04/2023 14:30

Icedblondelatte · 07/04/2023 11:25

I did esprit when my youngest was 18 months old. It was a small hotel rather than a chalet. I didn't like the fact that you didn't eat with the children in the evening and that they just had staff sat outside bedrooms listening to the children. I'm not sure if it's the same with the chalet. I also wanted to spend time with my child and found this awkward so we ended up going out for dinner. Children's dinner was also quite early. I don't know if it differs between location but I would check what the meal situation is.

We did clubmed for the first time this year, now my children are 6 and 8. Yes there were lots of French speaking children but there were a couple who spoke English as did the staff so my children didn't find it an issue. Ski instructors spoke in French and English. Most of their day is spent in ski lessons or eating so play time was limited anyway. Lessons were done by ESF for both children and adults. How good they are will totally depend on your instructor and the size of the group but my experience of ESF have always been positive.

Thank you so much for replying.

Which club med did you do? Also can you remember how many children to each instructor?

I like the look of both! It's a lot of money to take a punt though

OP posts:

Icedblondelatte · 07/04/2023 14:36

We went to Samoens. I think there were about 7 or 8 in their group. That was outside of school holidays. I think the maximum they have per group is on the ESF website, might be 10 or 12 but I can't remember. It might be less for a 4 year old though.

I also preferred the buffet style/all inclusive club med aspect compared to the more formal meal at esprit but again it's probably all just down to personal preference.

photoshop · 07/04/2023 14:47

What about Mark Warner or Neilson ski holidays?

Original poster

DizzyIzzy2022 · 07/04/2023 14:59

photoshop · 07/04/2023 14:47

What about Mark Warner or Neilson ski holidays?

I did look at both of those but we are in Cornwall so limited to agents who can fly from Bristol (and that's still 3 hours away from us )

OP posts:

Muchtoomuchtodo · 07/04/2023 15:07

Have a look at Family Ski Company. Their childcare is fabulous and they have ski school helpers with the younger classes which worked brilliantly for our shy ds when he was 4.

wormshuffled · 08/04/2023 12:34

We did Club Med Alpe d'huez this March.
We were not in term time and no they English kids in our daughter's group. In fact the whole group except for her were Israeli.
The lessons were spoken in English so ski wise she was fine, it was just in the standing around times that she was left out until she realised the international language of throwing snow at each other!
We have booked it again DD11 said it was her best ever holiday.

Original poster

DizzyIzzy2022 · 08/04/2023 13:13

wormshuffled · 08/04/2023 12:34

We did Club Med Alpe d'huez this March.
We were not in term time and no they English kids in our daughter's group. In fact the whole group except for her were Israeli.
The lessons were spoken in English so ski wise she was fine, it was just in the standing around times that she was left out until she realised the international language of throwing snow at each other!
We have booked it again DD11 said it was her best ever holiday.

I like the multicultural aspect, I'm just a bit worried about my 4 year old feeling like she can't communicate and in a big group of that makes sense!

OP posts:

dew141 · 08/04/2023 13:29

I'm not a big fan of ESF ski schools for kids but that's probably just me.

I have two sets of friends who absolutely love Club Med, particularly the fact that there's childcare/ski lessons for the whole day so the adults have a lot of freedom and flexibility. They've been five years running.

But I can't quite bring myself to cough up £10-12k for a week in a bog standard room for two adults and one child) in a Club Med hotel. I'd rather book into a nice hotel and sign them into a ski school with British instructors and kids that speak the same language.

But that's more hassle for the adults so I can see the merits of the wraparound childcare option.

Original poster

DizzyIzzy2022 · 08/04/2023 13:37

dew141 · 08/04/2023 13:29

I'm not a big fan of ESF ski schools for kids but that's probably just me.

I have two sets of friends who absolutely love Club Med, particularly the fact that there's childcare/ski lessons for the whole day so the adults have a lot of freedom and flexibility. They've been five years running.

But I can't quite bring myself to cough up £10-12k for a week in a bog standard room for two adults and one child) in a Club Med hotel. I'd rather book into a nice hotel and sign them into a ski school with British instructors and kids that speak the same language.

But that's more hassle for the adults so I can see the merits of the wraparound childcare option.

This is exactly what I think! I got a quote for a chalet from Espirit and that was still £6.5k and the travel agent said the property was 'tired' . Where are all the nice hotels?!

OP posts:

dew141 · 08/04/2023 14:23

I've stayed in some lovely hotels in France, Switzerland and Austria for far less with beautiful rooms, great spas and really nice meals.

But you don't get the childcare element so you have to do the ski school drop-off. That said, you could probably pay for a private instructor with some of the thousands saved!

dew141 · 08/04/2023 14:28

Hmm just reread your posts and didn't realise your youngest is one. That does limit your other options as you need babysitting.

alittleadvicepls · 08/04/2023 14:30

Club Med Valmorel for sure! They’re SO great with kids! Even the littlest ones! They have a baby room filled with kids snacks and nappies you can help yourself to!

Original poster

DizzyIzzy2022 · 08/04/2023 14:33

alittleadvicepls · 08/04/2023 14:30

Club Med Valmorel for sure! They’re SO great with kids! Even the littlest ones! They have a baby room filled with kids snacks and nappies you can help yourself to!

That's good to know! Did your children struggle with French being mainly spoken? Worry about my shy 4 year old asking for the toilet ect!

OP posts:

alittleadvicepls · 08/04/2023 14:42

@DizzyIzzy2022 everyone speaks English! Even the ski teachers and the kids club staff.

Wavinggoodbyetoo · 10/04/2023 04:07

Esprit or Mark Warner.
club Med far better with older kids. Their lessons are shite, FAR too many in a group. We call it Chinese whispers, not classes.

elodiesmith · 10/04/2023 04:40

Ouch a 1 year old? We skied with a 7mo and never again.

Have you pre booked a nanny? It was so hard to find one as they're all booked up. I managed to find one for $400 for 5 hours. Just the nanny cost us $4,500 in the end. And I STILL felt like I was stuck in the chalet with a baby whilst everyone was out skiing all day.

Not going again until he's 3 and can go to skiing school.

Sort the nanny out asap is my main advice.

ILOVEALLCAKES · 17/04/2023 22:05

Hi @DizzyIzzy2022 , we have just got back from Chalet Corniche. It had a face lift at the beginning of this season and was definitely not ‘tired’. We used Esprit previously for our first family ski holiday, but children were 3&4yrs then and they had ‘lessons’ with ESF.
We went to Club Med in 2019 and had a fantastic time, but my DC did not progress - far too many children in lessons.
Food was great in both but buffet style in Club Med. No choice in Chalet Corniche although I’m not fussy and will eat most things. Happen for you to DM me.