It’s here in the French Alps that European big mountain purists come to enjoy spring skiing at its finest.
By Caroline Tapp-McDougall
Perched at 1,600 feet in the mountains and pine forests of 
Tarentaise Valley, Peisey-Vallandry is near the gateway to the Vanoise National Park. It’s a picturesque village with its own iconic slope-side Club Med resort that backs onto the Paradiski Skiing Domain—a location that’s part of the privileged circle of interconnected big ski domains.
Narrow, winding roads lead us to snow-kissed, picture-postcard chalets built in traditional alpine Savoy style.
With its own homegrown alpine vibe and cheerleading “GOs” (multi-lingual guest hosts), this family-friendly resort is a laid-back, everything-you-need mecca for winter sport enthusiasts and families who want to be close to the slopes.
The Paradiski, as it’s known, boasts 139 ski lifts and a snow park that offers 264 miles of continuous well-groomed ski runs. There are options to match all skill levels (37 black, 65 red, 132 blue and 12 green) and altitudes between 4,100 and 10,262 feet. And don’t miss out on the 95 fabulous miles of stunning cross-country trails.
Besides its great location, Club Med has a pioneering reputation for its high-octane environment participatory evening entertainment, and award-winning enrichment programs for kids and teens that give parents peace of mind. It’s not hard to see why everyone leaves happy.
As expected, here in Peisey-Vallandry there is plenty to do and nothing more to pay for during our stay. We can ski as much as we want with all-inclusive lift tickets, enjoy private or group lessons from world-class instructors, and feast whenever we want on all we’d ever want: gourmet meals with free-flowing snacks, wine, beer and other beverages on the house.
It all started with a vision. When founder Gérard Blitz pictured the first Club Med Resort, he had an ambitious goal: creating happiness here and now! Our stay was a truly hedonistic and hassle-free experience that we can’t wait to repeat.
