It must have been
someone else. It couldn't have been me doing
“Crazy Signs” on that Club Med dance floor. After a leisurely
five-course meal at Le Serrac, La Plagne 2100's
specialty restaurant, I was shamelessly “Stayin' Alive” with my
new international friends. Several bottles of Moet before a main
course, several bottles of a silky St. Emilion through the cheese
course, and several shots of genepie, the local
chartreuse liqueur, may have had something to do with my wild
dancing.
It was my first day
on a Club
Med village. Months before, surfing the net in my cubicle,
I'd often planned elaborate Club Med getaways in faraway
villages, but I'd never actually pulled the
trigger. I'd often associated Club Med with
tropical villages, where I could be barefoot all week and drink
cold beverages with umbrellas. I'd imagined rooms that haven't
been updated since the 70's, hedonistic swingers, and cult-like
song and dance.
That is, until last
week. After a few days at La Plagne 2100, one of the four Club
Med villages in the Savoie region of the French Alps, I finally
get the allure of all things Club Med. Drinking vin
chaud and wearing shearling boots, I was thrilled to
discover that Club Med had gone upscale.
A
recent Club Med ad in The New York Times promised “a new
vision of paradise awaits at Club Med, where upgraded amenities,
indulgences, and improvements abound.” While the atmosphere leans
more toward fun and easy rather than luxurious and care-free, the
newly renovated La Plagne 2100 is one hip resort, with fun color
palettes and textures, not to mention glorious views
of Mont Blanc. (The village at Peisey-Vallendry, which opened in 2005, is
even more upscale and contemporary, with a killer pool and a
Nuxe-brand
spa.)
Sure, the elevators
at La Plagne 2100 didn't always work, you'll wait a minute or two
for a cocktail, and the wi-fi access was down for most of my
week, but I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much
at a resort. Besides, the stairs were great
for burning off the extra calories from all that cheese, I didn't
need another cocktail at that altitude (2100 metres), and I
certainly didn't travel all the way to France to check
e-mail.
All-Inclusive: From not
having to fumble for change any time you need a coffee, to not
freaking out when you get your bill at the end of the trip ”“ now
that's a real holiday.
Accommodations, food, booze, ski pass, and ski gear (just about
everything I needed for a ridiculously fun holiday) was included
in the package.
Upon check-in, I also
opted-in for The Club Med Pass (in exchange for a credit card
imprint and a deposit of 250 Euros.) The Club Med Pass card is a charge card that can
be used to pay for extra services in the Village, such as
champagne or VSOP spirits, which are not included in the
All-Inclusive Drinks & Snacks formula. Besides, The Club Med
Boutique, with an exclusive line by Polo and other cute ski bunny
accessories, was calling my name.
Alpine
Chic: The idea, of course, is
not to hang out in your room, but on the slopes or in the lounge.
The standard Club Rooms are small, but chic and comfortable. For
a bathrobe or a mini-fridge, you'll need to book a Deluxe Room.
My bathroom, in relation to the bedroom, was surprisingly
big. The towel warmer was a nice touch. Expect only the basic
amenities: there wasn't a Q-tip or even a shower cap in sight.
Don't forget to bring hair conditioner.
Ski-in, Ski-out:
There's nothing like stepping out into the pure
mountain air on your skis. La Plagne 2100 features alpine skiing
in the Paradiski area (Les Arcs, La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry)
The altitude varies between 1200m and 3250m. 164 ski-lifts
provide access to 420km of ski runs.
Whether you're ready to
shred off-piste or you're still trying to figure out how
to buckle into your boots, there are daily lessons and outings in
small groups according to your ability. The excellent
ESF-certified (Ecole
du Ski Francais) instructors introduced us to the slopes and
provided valuable advice for progress.
There's also nothing
like skiing to lunch. The other Club Med Villages in the
Paradiski area ”“ Peisey-Vallandry, Aime La Plagne, Arcs Altitude,
Arcs Extremes - are open for lunch to Club Med guests. Don't try
to use your Club Med Passcard
at any of the other Villages, like I did ”“ the card is only for
use at your own Village.
More
Raclette, SVP: Speaking of lunch, was I just a stupid
American wowed by the foie gras, lamb chops,
choucroute, baby squid grilled on skewers, the
raclette, the mountains of desserts? Couldn't be. I saw
plenty of French people (and Italians, Russians, Japanese, and
everyone else) going back for seconds and thirds. I'm not a big
fan of buffets for lunch or dinner, but for La
Morraine La Plagne 2100's main restaurant, I happily make
an exception.
Disco!:
Which brings us back to L'Indoors, the nightclub at La
Plagne 2100. Nightly entertainment will keep you up late, if you
want. I was so sleepy every morning, that my ski instructor,
Antoine, asked if “I make party last night.” The disco at
Peisey-Vallandry is notorious for last call around
6AM. La Plagne seemed to
vary.
And,
yes. You can have as many drinks as you want
in the night club. Don't worry, you can sweat it out tomorrow in
the Hammam (steam room) or Sauna, both which encourage the
elimination of toxins.
Back in my dreary
cubicle, I'm daydreaming of another winter ski getaway in
the Alps.
Club Med La
Plagne
73210 Aime
France
Phone: +(33) 4 79 22 24 26
Club Med
Peisey-Vallandry
Lieu Dit Plan Peisey
Peisey Nancroix
73210 Peisey Nancroix
Phone: +(33) 4 79 04 07 50
www.clubmed.com
Hyong Jung Lee is a New York-based freelancer who has also
written for Forbes.
