Sadly, winter 2005-2006 was the last season for Club Med Crested Butte. This unique resort is much missed!
See Crested Butte Mountain Resort, for a more recent profile of Crested Butte.
It's North America’s only all-inclusive ski resort: but that’s not the only reason to go.
- "all-inclusive" includes lift tix, ski and 'board lessons
- the (twice-daily) lessons are excellent
- kids programs (on and off the slopes) are first-class
- Club Med ambiance is the friendliest
Club Med: background
Club Med was started by an energertic individual in post-war France, who set up a camping “village” on the Mediterranean using army surplus tents – hence the name “Club Mediterannee”. Much has changed since, and Club Med now has resorts worldwide, many of them opulent: but several key points have stayed the same.
Most notably, all Club Med "villages" have GM's and GO's: GM's are the guests (Gentil membres, or "gracious members") ; and GO's are the staff (gentils organisateurs, "gracious organizers.") Both groups socialize together, which makes a wonderfully friendly ambiance, especially in a family resort: kids love to share a meal with their ski teacher.
Crested Butte: background
The one negative about Crested Butte is also a positive: it ain’t so easy to get there; which means it hasn't turned into an Aspen (yet). Crested Butte is 45 minutes from the airport at Gunnison, Colorado; most guests fly to Gunnison from Denver, though some flights come direct from the east.
Crested Butte is a former mining town, restored into quaint shops and restaurants. A free shuttle runs from the town to the ski area. Club Med has a great location, right at the foot of the Crested Butte ski lifts.
Crested Butte has mainly marketed its X-treme terrain: 60% of its runs are black diamonds. Fortunately for us lesser mortals, there are plenty of blue and green runs too. And Club Med Crested Butte is ready to teach any beginners how to ski or board -- see below.
Runs are relatively short but the snow is terrific, and so nice for easterners: dry snow, no ice.
Club Med Crested Butte: features
Unlike tropical Club Med "villages", this resort is in one low-rise building, located right by the ski lifts. Decor is comfortable rather than swank, with 283 units including some roomy suites; and there's an indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, massage rooms ( -extra charge).
Lodging, food, drinks (all that ski hot chocolate), lift tickets, lessons, kids programs, are all-included; but equipment rental costs extra.
Crested Butte has 183 GO’s – of 18 nationalities- and a good number of them are dedicated to teaching you to look good on skis or 'boards.
Ski and Snowboard School
Club Med's kids' classes rule the slopes -- read more, below. Many grown-ups take lessons too: probably because lessons are all-included, the approach is very developmental; it's expected you'll participate for several days, and the instructors really aim to take you to "the next level".
Many guests take two lessons a day, and stay for a week. Classes are sorted so that every group is close in ability: this makes for efficient learning time.
* all photos (c) Teresa Plowright
Continue to Club Med Crested Butte, p. 2 for Kids' Programs, Food, Drink, Entertainment, and the Brazilian Connection.
