We travelled to Club Med Alpe d’Huez over New Year as two families with children and, overall, we had a good week and made some great memories. That said, for the price paid and the reputation of Club Med, there were several areas where the experience fell short of expectations and could be significantly improved.
Ski school (ESF) – chaotic organisation, mixed delivery
The biggest disappointment by far was the ESF ski school organisation for children. The process was extremely chaotic, particularly on day one. We received conflicting information from different instructors, no one seemed to have a clear understanding of procedures, and there was no simple information sheet explaining where children needed to be, at what time, and how the process worked.
Trying to organise three children into different classes and levels without clear guidance made the first morning unnecessarily stressful. This is an area where a small amount of structure and communication would make a huge difference.
We also participated in the adult ski classes. These were enjoyable and well run, but felt more like guided skiing than true instruction. That’s fine if expectations are set accordingly, but those looking for technical coaching or progression-focused teaching may be disappointed.
On a positive note, the locker area was spacious and well set up, which helped take the edge off the morning rush. Ski-in, ski-out access was excellent and very convenient.
The end-of-week ski school graduation was genuinely special. However, being asked to pay extra for ESF badges (€7 per child) was surprising and frustrating. Every other ESF experience we’ve had has included badges, and the additional queue after the ceremony felt unnecessary. This cost could easily be absorbed into the overall package.
Kids’ ski classes – language handling needs improvement
Some children’s ski classes were split into English-speaking and French-speaking groups, which worked well. However, not all classes were organised this way. In some mixed-language groups, there was limited effort to explain instructions in English, which left some children confused and uncomfortable.
There were also a couple of overly tough comments from instructors that came close to putting children off returning altogether. While this is not entirely uncommon in ESF environments, it could have been avoided with more sensitivity, clearer communication in both languages, and a greater focus on helping the group bond.
Kids Club – good in theory, unclear in practice
The kids club provision was generally good, and the independence bracelet was a real highlight. Our children loved the freedom it gave them and were able to get themselves to and from ski school confidently, which was a huge reassurance for us as parents.
However, as they came and went, it wasn’t always clear what activities were happening or when. This lack of visibility made participation harder than it needed to be as we couldn’t encourage them to get involved.
This is where the Club Med app could have played a much stronger role. The app is a good idea and the notifications were helpful, but the content lacked detail. More comprehensive daily programmes, clearer timings, meeting points, and activity descriptions in the app would have solved many of the information and communication issues we experienced across ski school, kids’ activities, and the wider resort.
Food & drink – plenty available, but poor flow, shortages, and limited dietary support
There was food available almost all the time, and the buffet offered a wide selection. Quality was decent — above average but not exceptional. The main issues were quantity, organisation, and dietary inclusivity.
Despite arriving for dinner only 45 minutes after service began, we regularly found that some of the evening’s “special” dishes had already run out. Queues for food, the bar and coffee shop were excessive resulting in panic stock piling to avoid another 30 minutes waiting in line! And comfortable seating was more often than not, difficult to find.
A significant concern for our group was the lack of suitable options for a coeliac guest. Gluten-free choices were limited, poorly signposted, and the risk of cross-contamination felt high, making mealtimes stressful rather than relaxing.
One notable frustration was the resort running out of non-alcoholic beer within 24 hours of arrival. Given that a member of our party is a non-drinker, it didn’t seem unreasonable for n/a beer to be provided. When we queried the bar and then the reception they were dismissive. Even when I noted that we would likely complain (not just for this I might add!) it was met with a shrug and a “do what you must do” attitude! To be fair, the resort manager was excellent — visible, approachable, and quick to resolve the issue — but routine matters shouldn’t require escalation.
Service & staff
Service overall was inconsistent. Some staff were friendly and helpful, but many appeared undertrained or stretched. Reception, in particular, was disappointing. About as useful as a chocolate teapot in fact!
The manager’s presence and willingness to help stood out positively and helped smooth over issues, but it also highlighted how reliant the resort is on escalation rather than empowering staff on the ground.
The lack of proactive information also extended to activities outside the resort. There was very little visible information or support for booking local activities such as tobogganing or dog sledding, which felt like another missed opportunity.
Photographer – great photos, unrealistic pricing
The resort photographer captured some genuinely lovely images. However, at €25 per digital image with no bundles or packages, the pricing felt unrealistic and out of step with guest expectations.
Rooms, spa & facilities
Rooms were comfortable but basic, and the hotel felt a little tired. The pool was very cold, the jacuzzi lukewarm and overcrowded, and under-16s were not permitted to use it which our kids were sad about as this has been a highlight post ski in previous years.
Entertainment
There was always something on, but the entertainment lacked variety and felt repetitive, even on New Year’s Eve. Although the fireworks were fabulous. The ambiance generated by staff when the DJ was on and the apre ski was buzzing was excellent and played into the typical techno cheese we’ve come to love about apre ski!
Overall
We had a good holiday and enjoyed our time together. However, the experience didn’t consistently match the price point or Club Med’s premium reputation. Many of the issues — communication, staffing, food management, dietary provision, and pricing transparency — feel fixable, particularly by better use of the app and clearer information sharing.
We’d consider returning, but probably only if pushed. And we’d cautiously recommend but only with caveats.
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