THE ART OF LETTING GO WITH CLUB MED
words ELIANA CASA
“Don’t look at the ground, just let yourself go.” That’s easier said than done when you’re the OG overthinker, surrounded by mountains as high as 2,300 metres, all while wearing some incredibly uncomfortable ski boots for the first time. Some people might have spent King’s Day in the comfort of Amsterdam’s usual celebrations; others, like us, headed all the way to Val Thorens with CLUB MED, immersing ourselves in the natural beauty of the French Alps while embracing the spirit of the ski season’s final moments.
During the last week of April, we were invited to experience Club Med’s Dutch Week firsthand. While some might think the snow has already disappeared and it’s far too late to dive into ski adventures, we were pleasantly surprised to experience quite the opposite. As we entered the VAL THORENS SENSATIONS resort, the snow-covered mountains seemed to glisten even brighter in the sun, while Heart of Gold by NEIL YOUNG created the perfect soundtrack to our arrival.
Between skiing and snowboarding, we were naturally drawn to the former, naively thinking it would be much easier. If this is your first time on the ski slopes, don’t panic, Club Med has got you covered! We kicked off our stay with a delicious buffet breakfast, followed by our first beginners’ lesson. It might seem daunting at first — and, believe us, it’ll still feel that way on the third day too — but, as they say, you’ve got to keep trying until you fall over and over again. And at some point, you’ll eventually get there.
For those who are familiar with the BRIDGET JONES scene in the second movie where she pretends to be an experienced skier to prove to her beloved MARK that she’s better than his gorgeous colleague, only to end up doing a downhill run and almost risking her life — well, that was pretty much us. “I know I’m going to like skiing a lot, it’s very romantic, very relaxing,” she says in the movie, and that was exactly what we kept telling ourselves. With one little difference: our instructor was holding our hands and kept repeating, “You think way too much, you just need to let yourself run free. I believe in you, you can do it!” Sadly enough, this was not the start of a rom-com. But how can we describe the happiness of that same instructor when we managed to go downhill for the first time without losing our balance, despite being in the beginners’ class sub-group, with not a shred of shame, but our heads held high? Experiencing something for the first time is always scary, as you’re entering an uncomfortable and unknown territory. But most often, it’s exactly in these situations that you get to meet wonderful people. ALICE, KIMBERLY and JULIE from the team, KAIRA from the group, they all became new friends within the span of a few days.
While tanning in the sun with ALICE CHACQUENEAU, Online Marketing Project Manager at Club Med, she tells me about her earliest memories of the resort. At just five years old, she visited CLUB MED NAPITIA in Italy with her mum, who also worked for the company. “They had the most delicious pizzas ever, and that’s where I learned my first Italian phrase: ‘Un gelato alla vaniglia, per favore.’” While Club Med has become more upscale over the years, with more spacious rooms, luxurious facilities and elevated dining and entertainment, Alice says its distinctive spirit remains the same: “Casual, relaxed, and without too much bling
At Club Med, we simply had the feeling that we were never alone, and even a smile while getting lunch could somehow make the day feel special. “As a guest, you feel that genuine friendliness from the moment you book until you leave the resort. Interactions with the G.O.s (Gentle Organisers) at the resorts feel authentic and sincere, and that’s because they truly are. As a matter of fact, some guests even choose their next vacation destination based on where their favourite G.O. is working that season — I think you can definitely say that that’s successfully pushing the boundaries of hospitality,” Alice continues.
After our wellness spa treatment, we can confidently say that Club Med thinks of everything. You can have a full experience, with activities that go well beyond skiing. “For Dutch Week 2027, we’ve planned an extra-big King’s Day celebration. We’ll also have a Dutch DJ playing at the après-ski!” Alice tells me, all while already organising our next trip there.
For four days, we paused our lives. Despite the fear of trying something for the first time, we enjoyed nature in silence, with our room overlooking one of the most unforgettable views, and finally we let ourselves go.
