Club Med Pragelato Vialattea

The food quality and variety were fantastic, and we had a great time skiing. The staff were attentive and wonderful hosts in such an amazing place. Thanks so much for a great stay. Sha and Katie

The pistes were great, with plenty to see, and were quiet apart from the weekend. Food was excellent throughout, whether at the large buffet or the a la carte restaurant, where you need a reservation. Lunch options at off-site spots on the piste were included, which meant we could stay in the ski area, and the drinks and snacks were excellent too. Mostly friendly staff, ski lessons included for advanced skiers (more guiding than teaching), airport shuttles, and equipment rental at an okay, though not especially cheap, price. For the range of food and the convenience of being looked after, it may suit some people, but I didn't feel impressed for the cost. It seems family-oriented and is right by the slopes, but I didn't think it was very good value for money. My room was at the back of the resort and had no working WiFi. A local dog, maybe a farm dog and not part of the resort, barked for hours at night, and staff couldn't do anything about it. The rooms aren't especially special, either. Bags were left outside the hotel door instead of being brought in. One of mine went missing for two hours, and staff weren't very helpful when I asked about it. Had I known the bags would be left unattended, I'd probably have kept mine with me. The first instructor for the English class hardly spoke English, so I changed to another class, which was fine. The lessons mostly involved being guided around the area, with tips or technique exercises only occasionally and after asking. It's quite pricey for what you get.

David, the GO, was attentive, helpful, and easy to contact. Marco, our ski instructor, was very experienced and sensible in his approach, and Dory was excellent and professional with the children. Reception staff also did their best to help. The start was tiring and frustrating because the kids' club was disorganized. For the first two days, the welcome and rules were chaotic. Getting around inside the hotel was confusing too: signs were scarce, and the layout felt impractical and not designed with guests in mind. The rooms were clean and warm, but the linens were very old and the mattresses were worn and much too soft. Good body support matters especially on a ski holiday. Staffing seemed inadequate, and the property appeared to have had little investment. This was my third Club Med, and I hadn't encountered this at the other two. Unless significant investment is made, I wouldn't consider coming back.

Our room wasn't ready until 6pm on the first day, after a long trip with two kids who were both ready to rest. Then the first afternoon was spent waiting in line, as they tried to sign up 700 people for ski school, gear, and the week's activities all at once. Our bags were left out in the open despite being told they'd be put in our rooms, and we had to track down a couple that had been misplaced. There were also dirty sheets on arrival, mould in the bathrooms, a broken shower, and a broken towel rail. The place has so much potential, but it felt badly organized and poorly maintained. We paid extra hoping for a stress-free week in the snow with the kids, and got the opposite. Not worth the money.