Le Massif de Charlevoix ski resort is a place where sea and mountains meet — and is now the site of the world’s first year-round Club Med mountain ski resort, which opened Dec. 3. As I paused on my skis at the top of the mountain and took in the view, it looked as if I could ski right into the wide, blue waters of the mighty St. Lawrence River all the way out to the ocean.
The mountain has the highest vertical drop east of the Rockies, and provides a waterfront ski experience you can’t find anywhere else. Club Med Quebec Charlevoix, Canada’s first Club Med resort, is unique in the world and different from other all-inclusive Club Med mountain ski resorts.
All-Inclusive Skiing at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix
All-inclusive skiing is incredibly convenient because equipment, lessons, lift tickets, activities, entertainment, drinks and gourmet meals are all included. And the all-inclusive ski experience begins before clients even leave their homes.
After emailing their equipment requirements to the ski shop, their rental gear is waiting in a locker on arrival and can be adjusted or changed at the on-site ski shop if necessary. Every room has a ski locker, and an electronic bracelet opens both the room and the locker door. This means that clients are ready to ski from the moment they arrive and, since the resort is situated right on the mountain, they can ski in and ski out. When you add up the costs of booking everything separately, all-inclusive skiing can work out to be less costly.
The newest Club Med resort is also distinctive because it is the first Club Med mountain ski resort that will be open year-round. Club Med pioneered the concept of all-inclusive ski resorts and the company operates mountain ski resorts in Europe and Japan. While some Club Med mountain resorts are open in summer, none of the others are open year-round.
The writer takes in the unique environment provided by a waterfront ski resort.
Credit: 2021 Debbie Olsen“Club Med Quebec Charlevoix is unique because there are so many interesting experiences during the spring and also in the fall in this region,” said Amelie Brouhard, vice president, marketing omnichannel North America and USA Sales at Club Med. “We felt it was really important for our clientele to discover these experiences in a special landscape that speaks for itself.”
The 302-room resort will offer mountain biking on the longest mountain biking trail in Quebec in warm weather, and included hiking or snowshoeing excursions year-round. A variety of excursions will be offered throughout the year at an extra charge, including dogsledding, tours to old Quebec City, whale watching and train excursions to the quaint community of Baie-Saint-Paul nearby.
The resort has one outdoor ice-skating rink with provided skating equipment, a 4.7-mile sledding run and the largest swimming pool of any Club Med Mountain resort. There’s also a Nordic Spa and an included wellness program with a yoga school, guided meditation, a circus school and fitness classes.
Next Up: A Club Med All-Inclusive Ski Resort in Utah
While Club Med Charlevoix is currently the only all-inclusive ski resort in North America, it won’t be for long. Club Med announced that they will be building an all-inclusive ski resort in Snowbasin, Utah, which is located 35 miles outside of Salt Lake City. The ski-in/ski-out resort is scheduled to open in December 2024.
Club Med is well equipped to handle families. Ski instruction and equipment are included for children ages four years and older, and there’s childcare available at an extra cost for children as young as four months of age. There are also activities and play areas designed specifically for babies, children and teens.
When it comes to the property’s ambiance, you know you are in Quebec when you stay at Club Med Quebec Charlevoix. The eco-friendly resort, 10 years in the making, was designed by a Quebec firm. The interior showcases the culture with carefully integrated design elements such as hanging canoes, Canadian art and materials and colors that speak to the region. The restaurants serve cuisine that is locally sourced and unique to this French-speaking part of Canada. Local entertainers also add a taste of the culture.
“We are thrilled to finally open our doors to Club Med Quebec Charlevoix and to Canada,” said Henri Giscard D'Estaing, president of Club Med. “As we ease back into travel, we know this picturesque property hidden in the mountains of Charlevoix will be a frontrunner for domestic and international vacationers. It is our first Canadian property and first four-season mountain resort in North America.”
Club Med Quebec Charlevoix is impressive. After three days experiencing the all-inclusive ski concept, it was easy for me to understand the appeal. It’s very convenient and truly unique. The skiing was fantastic, the dining was excellent and the resort and other amenities make it unlike any other ski resort in North America. Welcome to Canada, Club Med.
The Details
Club Med Quebec Charlevoix
