An Inside Look at Club Med Québec Charlevoix

The all-inclusive Club Med Quebec Charlevoix, which opened in Dec 2021, is the first and only Club Med mountain resort in North America. Located about an hour’s drive from Quebec City, the resort is adjacent to Le Massif ski mountain, so skiers still have a couple months left in the season to get up there and hit the slopes—as well as the buffets, activities, and luxury hotel amenities for which Club Med is famous. The resort is open four seasons, so guests can return to enjoy summer hikes and fall foliage excursions.

Club Med Charlevoix Activities
The Club Med Charlevoix is a prime vacation destination for skiers, particularly those with families, as the resort stay includes ski lessons and guides for all levels of skiers ages four and up. Tykes too young to ski (even babies) can be dropped off at the resort’s well-staffed and equipped childcare center for the day. 

A ski day is as easy as picking up your rental equipment on the first floor, skiing out the back door a hundred yards down to the gondola for a ride up the mountain to join a class, or ski on your own. At the end of the day, guests can simply ski down a run directly back to the hotel entrance to begin apres ski festivities with Quebecois snacks and cocktails. The resort is open for skiing through April 9, weather permitting.

Even non-skiers can ride the gondola 2500 feet up to the peak of Le Massif for sightseeing excursions, or rent snowshoes for a clomp around the hills and trails surrounding the resort. 

Indoors, the Club Med Charlevoix coordinates enough activities to fill a vacation, with a daily slate of options including swimming in a large pool (and hot tubs), ping pong, a fitness center with plenty of equipment, and yoga and pilates classes, kids and teen club centers, and even circus training sessions. The Club Med’s spa offers treatments to help recover from a long day on the slopes or to just get a little pampering.  The resort can also facilitate bookings for nearby town tours and even dogsled expeditions!

The resort comes alive at night with staff performances, bands, DJ-led dance parties, and a lively cocktail and bar scene. On my visit, the guest demographics were a combination of families, older couples, and one large group corporate event.

The resort's main restaurant. Photo: Club Med

Club Med Dining
On my visit, I fueled up for my outdoor adventures by indulging in the resort’s all-inclusive meals--both at an expansive buffet that seemed about half the size of Quebec, and at sitdown restaurants including the resort’s fondue-focused Terroir & Co., and with steak frites and fine wine at the upscale Le Chalet set in the atmosphere of a Swiss Alps ski chalet. 

One older couple told me the resort reminded them of a cruise ship, but on land, given the wealth of included food and entertainment options.

Charlevoix’s Lodging
The Club Med Charlevoix has 302 rooms and 25 suites spread over two large buildings (try to book for the main building for convenience, and the secondary one for a quieter vibe). Deluxe-level rooms have views of the St. Lawrence River, a nice feature for the extra price. The rooms all have a fresh, sporty, colorful feel to them, and provide workspaces and good Wi-Fi.

I found staying on the Concierge floor as part of the resort’s “Exclusive Collection” to be a highly rewarding add-on for my visit. The floor has a dedicated lounge with a concierge, snack bar and cocktails hours, and even semi-private hot tubs on the lounge balcony overlooking the river.  

The resort's Superior Room. Photo: Club Med

Club Med’s Travel Agent Resources
Club Med is travel agent-friendly, providing many resources to support advisors. Club Med’s travel agent commission payouts begin at 10% and can increase over time “based on advisors’ success in the customer journey,” according to a company representative. Club Med’s Travel Advisor portal should be your first stop for answers to questions and advice to share with clients.

Club Med also offers a Travel Advisor “University.” This is an educational platform providing advisors with the latest details on all Club Med resorts and how to best work with them. Once advisors complete the program, they will be certified as a Club Med Travel Advisor Specialist. On that same platform, advisors can find comprehensive resources and a new booking engine to help facilitate the booking process. 

Deals
Club Med Charlevoix is currently offering mid-season deals at nearly half price for weeklong packages, with other discounts available for weekenders and short stays. Bookings for next ski season are being offered at up to 50% off. Consult the travel agent portal for the latest client deals.