Is Club Med Québec Charlevoix Worth It In The Summer?

Club Med Québec Charlevoix is the first (and so far only!) Club Med in North America!

It was built on the ski mountain, less than a 5 minute walk from the gondola, so it’s no secret that it’s primarily a winter all inclusive resort.

But it’s still open during the summer, and that’s exactly when I visited! So what is Club Med Charlevoix like in the summer? Is it worth the discounted rate, or should you just wait to visit in the winter?

Spoiler alert: I loved it! But there are a few key things to know before you book to make sure it’s for you and get the most out of your stay!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Welcome To The New Club Med Québec Charlevoix?

Club Med Québec Charlevoix opened December 3, 2021 and it’s the FIRST Club Med in Canada. We stayed during the first summer it was open, in July 2022.

Although it had a few growing pains, we still thoroughly enjoyed our stay at one of the only all inclusive resorts in Canada!

Honestly, the Club Med Québec Charlevoix is a breath of fresh air in the summer. They give you an action packed all inclusive vacation in Canada without the stress of planning it yourself.

Keep in mind that it’s a very different experience from your typical all inclusive beach vacation. The Club Med is hidden in the mountains, along the St. Lawerence river.

Where Exactly Is The Club Med Canada?

The first (and only) Club Med in Canada is in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Charlevoix, Québec.

For context, it’s about an hour drive from Quebec City and a four hour drive from Montreal.

The Club Med Quebec Charlevoix is great for a quick getaway from Montreal or Quebec City. But it’s also the perfect spot to start off or end a Charlevoix Region vacation in Quebec.

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The Charlevoix region is known for its gastronomic experiences and nature, and let me tell you, it’s BEAUTIFUL!

What you see at the Club Med Charlevoix is only the beginning of the region. Starting with the Massif Mountain, a renowned ski hill in the winter, and now home to the Club Med at the base.

Beyond the Club Med, there are a few points of interest, like Baie-Saint-Paul the closest city.

Or L’Isle-aux-Coudres, an island that that you’ll have to take a ferry to actually reach. But there’s biking trails, history, and gorgeous views!

And finally, an hour away, is La Malbaie which is close to the Haute Gorges National Park and more!

How To Get To Charlevoix Club Med: Shuttle Or Drive

Probably the biggest downfall to the Club Med Canada is that it’s a bit hard and expensive to get to…

As an all inclusive resort, you can book your flight with your stay, and it will come with an airport transfer included. This is the easiest way to get to the Club Med in Charlevoix.

You can book a flight to either Montreal or Quebec City, because Club Med will provide a transfer from both airports.

Quebec City is the closer airport, so it will be cheaper, but it’s also quite so small so you might not be able to fly there. So you may have to fly in to Montreal instead.

P.S. If you’re from Montreal, it’s actually cheaper to book a flight to Quebec City with an airport transfer, than to just book an airport transfer from Montreal (without any flight). The transfer is so expensive from Montreal that you can save $1000 just by flying to Quebec City!

Driving To Club Med Canada

If you have a car and are willing to drive to Charlevoix, you absolutely can! This will be the cheapest option if you’re in driving distance.

As I mentioned, it’s about an hour drive from Quebec City and a four hour drive from Montreal. It’s a pretty easy drive, very scenic (especially towards the end!) and there are some scenic stops along the way.

If you don’t have a car, you can also rent one for your stay (I’d recommend renting one with Enterprise).

Visiting Club Med Charlevoix Summer Vs. Winter

You don’t not get the same experience at all when you visit Club Med Charlevoix in the summer vs. the winter. All the activities offered during each season are completely different, so you can come back every season!

The main activities that stay the same are the indoor swimming pool that’s open all year round (it is a shame that they don’t have an outdoor pool for when the weather is nice though, but apparently might be working on adding one!?). The jacuzzi is also outside with an extra sunbathing area in the summer!

And the spa is open all year round where you can pay for different spa treatments from facials to massages.

Club Med Charlevoix in the Winter

If you visit Club Med Québec Charlevoix in the winter, it’s obviously all about the ski hill (Le Massif). I think they also offer some winter hikes, but let’s be real, you’re there for skiing or snowboarding.

A lift ticket and group ski or snowboard lessons are included with your stay!

I haven’t visited during the winter, but let me tell you, we weren’t bored for a second in the summer…

Club Med Charlevoix in the Summer

A lift ticket is also included in your stay at Club Med during the summer, but obviiously, there isn’t any skiing.

So activities at the Club Med Charlevoix in the summer are all about hiking and mountain biking!

Club Med Charlevoix Summer Specific Activities At The Resort

At the resort itself, there are daily summer activities included in your stay, like basketball, volleyball, pétanque, and mini putt at the resort!

And there are guided activities on the mountain inlcuding hiking and mountain biking (you’ll leave the resort with a guide for these activities).

It’s important to note that these activities are all offered through the Massif Mountain. You’re only with Club Med guests, but the guides are employed by the Massif and NOT Club Med.

We found this made a difference in terms of what they expected from us. As guides from the mountain, we felt they were expecting more experienced or thrill seeking participants. We just wanted to have fun, not leave bruised…which we did…but more on that in a bit!

Gondola Ticket Included

A gondola ticket is always included in your stay, for the duration of your stay, no matter the season you’re visiting.

You’ll need this for any of the activities on the mountain but you can also ride the gondola up on your own, just to see the views from the top!

A Closer Look At Hiking At Club Med Canada

They have several hikes to choose from that range from beginner to expert hiking level. We tend to enjoy the occasional hike but opted for 3 of the beginner hikes, as they sounded the most interesting.

You’re always led through the hike with a guide (sometimes two!). They have extra supplies, and will always teach you something new about the region.

I would highly recommend Le Villageois and The Gourmandise hike for everyone. These aren’t so much hikes but rather informational walks that give you an insiders look into the region and the local town.

Le Villageois is a bit over an hour walk to and through the town of Petite-Rivieres-Sainte-Francoise. There are incredible views and you learn the history of this small Québec town.

The Gourmandise is food based hike in the mountain range! You go into the forest to discover the edible regional food of Québec. They offered two themed walks, mushrooms and berries, and tea and mixology (of course, we chose the tea and mixology one!).

We also opted for the beginner hike to the Secret Lagoon. It’s only beginner because of the short length of the hike, but honestly I was kind of scared on the very narrow path… plus it’s less of a lagoon more of a stream…

If you want more of an intense hike up the mountain, they also offer some full day expert hikes up and around the Massif.

You can also sign up for a yoga at the top of the mountain hike!

Mountain Biking At Club Med

This is where things get interesting!

The Club Med Québec Charlevoix offers mountain biking to their guests. As I mentioned, it’s offered as part of Club Med, but the guides work for the mountain.

Let’s just say, I think they’re used to training a different type of clientele.

We’re mediocre bikers at best and have never mountain biked before. The Club Med staff assured us we’d be fine in the beginner class. And we were so not fine.

First off, they made us sign a waiver, which should have been my first warning sign.

Then they rushed through explaining the bike mechanisms and pretty much just threw us on the course. Needless to say, my shellac nail polish did not make it and I left with some new bruises on my leg!

At the end of the day, I would do it again, I had a blast! Plus, it was definitely an experience. But, I would have appreciated if they moved at a slower pace, and took the time to make sure we understood the techniques before throwing us on the course!

It’s a seemingly simple course that goes around the top of the mountain. The views are incredible, and the guides will also tell you about the region and what you’re looking at.

Summer Weather In Charlevoix

You might have realized that all the activities are outdoors.

Based on this, you also might think that Charlevoix has unbeatable weather for the most part in the summer… could you BE more WRONG!!

Charlevoix weather in the summer is more of a mixed bag.

If you’re used to Montreal humid weather, you won’t get that here. It’s typically 10°C cooler than Montreal in the summer. So if Montreal is 25°C (plus the humidity) then Charlevoix region is about 15 degrees… with a lot less humidity.

Plus, it’s a lot windier off the St. Lawerence making it a lot cooler!

These temperatures are actually more suited to hiking and mountain biking, s you’ll be very comfortable wearing hiking pants, without ever getting too hot.

But there’s a chance that you might also get the really hot weather…

This was our second time visiting the Charlevoix region and had two completely different experiences, despite having visited at the exact same time of year (on our anniversary!).

The first time, in La Malbaie, we were freezing the entire time and I was not expecting this so hadn’t packed pants!

Based on that, I almost didn’t pack shorts this time! I packed all the cozy essentials (sweatpants, sweatshirt, and even a tuque!). I didn’t touch those once, it was so hot!

Needless to say, be prepared for either climate because it’s a 50 / 50 which one you get…

Oh, and then there’s the rain…

What Happens When It Rains!?

It rains quite a bit in Charlevoix, and it’s unpredictable.

When we first looked at the weather forecast it was supposed to rain every day we were there. Thankfully it didn’t, but what would have happened if it did? All the activities rely on nice weather.

Well, apparently, the activities go on! Yup! They still happen if it’s raining and are only called of when it’s a thunderstorm.

If you don’t feel like going in the rain, this is always a good time to visit the indoor pool or make sure to pack some travel games to play (see my top 30 travel games!).

Paid Amenities & Club Med Charlevoix Summer Excursions

You can get anything at the Club Med Charlevoix if you pay for it!

The Club Med Spa By SOTHYS

The spa is open all year round but isn’t included with your stay. The spa offers treatments, private sun bathing chairs, hot and cold jacuzzis, a relaxation room, and sauna.

You can either book a day at the spa, which gives you access to private spa amenities for the day.

Or, you can book a treatment (like a facial or massage). If you book a treatment, you can use the spa amenities for half the day…

Yep, you read that right…if you book a treatment, you have access to the spa… but only for half the day. The spa is open from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 2:30 to 5:00 (closing for lunch in between). It’s a bit unfortunate that you only get it for half the day when you book a treatment…

So because of that, if you’re booking a treatment in the summer, choose your access time wisely. If you want sun while you’re at the spa, then book a morning appointment. Otherwise, the spa area is completely shaded by the afternoon.

Excursions At Club Med Canada

You can of course also book a Charlevoix excursion with Club Med for the day. We didn’t have time to even think about booking one of these, we were so busy with the Club Med activities that are included.

But, they also offer excursions for whale watching, a day trip and tour of Québec City and Baie-Saint-Paul. You can also book a tour on the Train de Charlevoix.

Who Should Visit Club Med Québec Charlevoix In the Summer?

I visited with my partner as a mini moon after our wedding and it was exactly what we were looking for. If you’re looking for an easy vacation this is for you!

It was the easiest vacation I’ve ever planned and exactly what we were looking for to just relax and have everything taken care of. Your food and activities are all covered.

If you’re active and like doing things on vacation, you won’t be bored here for a second either. They even plan night time activities to keep you entertained until 1:00 A.M..

Club Med Québec Charlevoix is also great for couples that like different things on vacation. It wasn’t uncommon for partners to split up during the day. They would each do what they were interested in and meet back up for meal time!

Club Med Québec Charlevoix is also an ideal place to bring your family. We didn’t get to experience this aspect, but if you have kids over 4, they can join the kids club from 9:00 to 5:00… it’s like camp!

This gives you the ENTIRE day to fill with activities of your own. The parents we met were ecstatic for a break for the first time. Don’t worry if you have younger or even older kids, if you have they’re under 4, you can pay extra for child care (otherwise they stay for free).

There’s also a teen room that your moody teen can go to for some socialization away from their embarrassing parents!

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What To Pack For Club Med Canada In The Summer?

This is the most I’ve ever packed for the shortest trip.

We were at the Club Med Canada for 4 days and I packed in 4 suitcases (granted it was 2 carryons and 2 duffel bags… but still).

All this being said, your packing list might be a bit larger than you’re used to. You need a lot with the unpredictable weather, outdoor activities, and the Club Med dress code.

For the unpredictable weather, I needed both warm clothing like sweatpants, jeans, and sweatshirts to wear. But then again, I also needed clothing in case it was hot, so I packed shorts and summer dresses too. And don’t forget to pack rain gear in case it rains!

Then you need specific attire if you want to take part in the activities. So exercise clothing for yoga, hiking clothes, and biking clothes. Plus a bathing suit and flip flops for some pool time!

And to top this all off you need clothes if you want to take part in the Club Med dress codes (yep, this is a thing!). Every evening they have specific themed dress codes to follow. They’ll give you the schedule ahead of time, and don’t worry they have a boutique on site if you forgot anything. Some of the themes include pastel, neon chic…etc.

Things To Know Before Booking Club Med Charlevoix In The Summer

There are a few things to know before booking your all inclusive resort getaway!

Upgrade Your Room During The Summer!

The room you book at the Club Med Québec Charlevoix in the summer will make or break your stay.

In the winter, the rooms are pretty equal. In the summer though, upgrade your room to the Deluxe River view room. The room size doesn’t change, but the layout and balcony size does…

This gives you the view, but also a balcony for two. If you book the Superior room, it’s a bit of an odd design but there’s a balcony that’s only big enough for one person (we saw in some reviews being referred to as the divorce balcony!).

And the balcony was the highlight of our trip for us though. We brought food and drinks back to our room to enjoy the unbeatable views.

Also the bed is positioned towards the window, so we were also able to wake up at 5:00 AM to watch the sunrise (which started at 5:08)! I mean, sunrise is always a pain to wake up for. But when you don’t have to travel anywhere, can stay in your pyjamas, and go back to bed after, it’s a no brainer!

If you can, request the last room of the hallway (a corner room). This way, you only have one balcony neighbour and nothing blocking your view on the side. The other balconies all have frosted glass dividers on both sides of you.

How Long Should You Stay At Club Med Québec Charlevoix?

In the winter, it’s all about skiing.

Without the main activity to entertain you in the summer, how long should you visit Club Med Québec Charlevoix for?

We were there for four nights and five days, and I think that was the perfect amount of time.

We were able to spend a day at the spa, and enjoy all the activities we wanted to. Plus, by the end we were starting to get a bit tired of the food scene (breakfast is the same everyday!).

We didn’t have time though for any paid excursions. If you’re interested in one of those, you might want to consider extending your stay.

You Might Leave More Tired Than When You Arrived…

I’m sure it’s the same in the winter because this is not your typical relaxing vacation.

We wanted to do ALL the activities at the Club Med Québec Charlevoix that there was barely any time for a break (we were also exhausted when we showed up having just gotten married a few days before!).

We did have time to relax at the spa and felt refreshed after the day. But then we decided to do two activities a day between hiking and mountain biking, we were done!

We needed a day at home just to recuperate from it all.

Overall Club Med Charlevoix Review In The Summer

All around, despite some growing pains, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this all inclusive Canada resort.

Hopefully they’ll learn from their mistakes and dial down the beginner mountain biking! And eventually install an outdoor pool for when the weather is nice.

But for us, coming from Montreal, it was exactly what we wanted for our holiday without having to travel too far.

It had all the perks of an all inclusive resort and more! We didn’t have the stress of planning a vacation, or going to a foreign country.

So what’s the bottom line? Well, we would absolutely visit again in the summer and we’d love to go back to see what it’s like in the winter.

Club Med Not For You But Still Want To Visit Charlevoix?

Charlevoix is a magnificent region in Québec with several points of interest, the Massif and Club Med are only two.

I’ve also stayed in La Malbaie at the infamous Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. It’s pricy but definitely a worthwhile experience. Who doesn’t want to stay in an epic historical chateau overlooking the St. Lawerence? Find room rates & availability.

P.S. Interested in visiting La Malbaie? Read my full travel guide.

For similar vibes to the Club Med Québec Charlevoix stay at La Pignoronde. You have outstanding balcony views but you’re closer to Baie-Saint-Paul and have a full apartment. It’s perfect for a fun-filled family vacation! Find room rates & availability.

If you’re looking for a reclusive Bed and Breakfast experience, drive further into the Charlevoix mountains to Petit Saguenay to stay at B&B Les Deux Pignons. Find room rates & availability.

For more accommodations in the Charlevoix region, see Booking.com.

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