The French Alps with Club Med La Rosière
This post is in partnership with Club Med, all opinions are our own.
This past week Matthew and I hopped on over to La Rosière, France, ready to explore the French Alps and make Club Med La Rosière our home away from home for five nights!
We didn't really set many expectations (we’ve come to learn going in without them always results in the best experience!) but we couldn’t help but be excited given we know Club Med has a great reputation being the pioneer of the all-inclusive. We flew into Geneva, Switzerland and took a shuttle alllll the way up a big ol’ mountain to the village. As the shuttle made its winding path up the mountain the snow got heavier and heavier and by the time we were pulling into Club Med we had an incredible 360-degree view of pillowy snow-white mountain tops that looked like, I don’t know, just the most beautiful thing ever???
Our week's agenda was refreshingly simple: Ski, drink all the wine and eat all the food, relax, enjoy pool time, and soak in the stunning views.
Keep on reading for more about our stay!
The Mountain Setting
The mountains the village is nestled in are part of the Alpine mountain range and they are, well, in-freaking-sane. Never seen anything like it. Even from "ground level," they were gorgeous… but a chairlift ride to the top for skiing revealed a heavenly sight—massive snow-covered mountains beneath expansive clouds in every direction. Oh and the skiing? It was fantastic, with powdery snow and well-maintained slopes. Accessible green slopes were perfect for getting our bearings, we quickly started trying out the slightly more challenging blue slopes which had some of the most incredible views.
Convenience
When you check into Club Med you’re given a digital bracelet which works wonders—allowing a quick wave to access both our room and ski locker effortlessly. Oh and one other really cool thing: our assigned ski locker was the same as our room numbers which made it super easy to keep all the different numbers straight in our gay little heads. Whoever came up with that feature deserves a raise, no doubt. The entire flow of the property, layout and system used to keep all of our info in one place made the stay extremely effortless.
All-Inclusive
From delicious meals at the main restaurant, Le Mont Valaisan Restaurant, to a gourmet experience at Bernard Gourmet Lounge, or a cocktail at Bar Hannibal, the all-inclusive concept made dining and drinking so simple and enjoyable. The food and drinks were top-notch, eliminating the hassle of deciding where and what to eat. Not to mention we got to experience traditional Alpine dishes like raclette and fondue!
Ski-in, Ski-out
Picture this: no shuttles needed, just smooth skiing from the slopes to our doorstep. It was life changing! We could get from the slopes to our room in just a few minutes, which gave us a lot more flexibility in how we planned our day (like, if we decided we were tired of skiing for a bit and wanted to head back to the room for a nap or snack it wasn’t a big inconvenience).
Ski Lessons
Given we don’t have a ton of ski experience, Club Med's group and private ski lessons were a game-changer. Whether teaching newcomers or refining the skills of advanced skiers, the hands-on instruction at the ski school was exceptional and I was able to correct some weak parts of my form I’ve had forever.
The Room
Our room was incredibly comfortable, featuring a beautiful balcony with a mountain view. There was a huge window which meant bright bright natural light, but the blackout curtains kept the room dark as night so we could sleep in! Surprisingly spacious closet storage made keeping things organized a delightful experience.
The Gym, Spa, and Pool
The expansive gym, equipped with everything we needed, stood ready for our attempts to stay in shape—though, truth be told, skiing took a lot out of us. Fitness and yoga classes are offered throughout the day and seemed to be popular among other guests, though we dropped the ball on attending one. Next to the fitness center, a pool with a steam room and outdoor jacuzzi became our post-ski haven. Imagine being in a bubbly jacuzzi with snow falling around you—pure bliss.
The Common areas
In the lobby there’s a ton of conversation areas set up, Bar Hannibal ready for you to grab a cocktail, and gorgeous art installments that complement the stunning Mountain View right past the windows. We spent many nights after dinner just lounging about people watching or enjoying the scheduled entertainment.
Nightly Entertainment
The restaurant stops dinner service between 9 and 10, at which point there was always some kind of show in the lobby or theatre. We saw a musical act, live music, a contortionist (!!), a belly dancer, and several dj sets. It was such a fun atmosphere and every night we struggled to leave the fun to head back to our comfy room.
Even with all of the incredible programming, food, activities, and facilities, if I had to name one favorite thing from the trip it would be the overall sense of being at home and comfortable in this beautiful setting. The entire property was just so serene and welcoming, and I think that’s ultimately what made our stay absolutely phenomenal. If you’ve got any questions about staying at Club Med we’d be happy to discuss with you in comments or on DMs!
Xoxo Beau & Matt