Club Med Grand Massif - C'est Magnifique

Life is about experiences, memories, scents, melodies, and flavours. Club med Grand Massif gives us all of this and so much more. Accessible from both the cities of Lyon and Geneva, lies this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those wishing to experience all things winter, snow, and adventure. My arrival was akin to any of the best 5-star resorts that Dubai can provide with airport transfer, a glorious breakfast and an elegant suite with the softest of mattresses. However, it was important not to forget my real reason for being there, learning how to glide on the snow and be at one with the French alps. Being a Mumbaiker, skiing was never one of the things I could do growing up but I was determined to learn, and what better place than Grand Massif?!

Complete with my newly purchased winter clothing, I ventured to meet Patrick, my instructor. This man had the patience of a Buddhist monk and the enthusiasm of a child in a candy store. While surrounded by the most adorable 3-year-old students cruising down the beginner slope, I was taught the famous pizza slice and, more importantly, how to break once I gain speed. It was exhilarating and something I thoroughly recommend doing with the family.

The trip itself was 4 nights and 5 days with direct flights to either Lyon or Geneva. This all-inclusive resort had many choices of entertainment when not skiing to keep everyone busy, but my favourite experience was snowshoeing in the hills surrounded by white mountain tops and breathing in the crispest, healthiest of air. Our dinners had a plethora of local dishes with the cheese fondue evenings providing a truly local culinary experience.

Club Med is a green-certified resort with a lot of incredibly sustainable practices. One of the ways they incorporate Responsible Tourism is by integrating local cultural experience into your stay. There is an opportunity if you wish to visit the local markets or go hiking in the nearby villages. After two days of skiing done I decided to venture into the local market of Samoens. This wonderful market included a smorgasbord of pastries, coffees, handwoven sweaters, affordable ski gear and so many other local products at the palm of your hand.

The next afternoon was spent moving to the chalets for two days of the real chalet experience. The rest of the day was spent with some much-needed rest and relaxation by the pool. It is on this day there that I had a spiritual experience in their indoor pool with floor-to-glass windows and views of the alps and mountains. I could have stayed there forever! It was then time to destress at the sauna and Hammam. I was now pure zen at this point.

My last day had a gift of fresh snow falling around me and the experience of me using the kitchen in the chalet to cook myself an omelette to accompany the other breakfast items delivered to my room. My transfer then arrived by lunchtime to take me back to the dunes of Dubai. I will end with the words of my instructor and who taught me how to ski, “C’est Pas Vrais’’ (It cannot be true). Although he meant it cannot be true that I had fallen again, I will use it to say that this corner of mankind is definitely too good to be true. I would love to help you live it as I did.