Club Med Opio-en-Provence

Unless you’ve been living in a cave you might have heard that Club Med is upscaling their villages to compete with the best resorts on the globe while still retaining their conviviality, quality and that little ‘je-ne-sais-quoi’.

And guess what, Club Med stumbled on to the wonderful, exciting, addictive, … Club Med Planet. So they thought it would be great to show you what a village opening looks like (OK, show me and let me tell you).

Well, we missed being in Cancun last year for the official opening, but no despair, we’re here in Opio (That’s in France) for the re-opening of the completely renovated Club Med village near Nice and Cannes. And what a renovation it is. The village is splendid. Located in the south of France near the Nice and Cannes this village is situated about half an hour by bus from the airport in the Provence and has breathtaking views from nearly every spot in the village. If you’ve ever been to a renovated CM then this is amazing.

I’ll spare you the thousand words trying to explain what everything looks like and how they did it so nicely and will just head out for a splendid afternoon of taking pictures for you to enjoy …

By the way, just had a talk with Henri Giscard d’Estaing (that’s CMs Big Boss, well I was with a few hundred other visitors at the convention center) and he shared some interesting news.

The Good News: as of next year children aged two and below will stay in CM for free. More effort is being made into orienting CM for families with children. And Club Med will launch 5 Trident villages by 2009, now that will be luxurious, and NOT booooooring.
The Sad News is that there will be less focus on the adult/singles villages (only 15% of CM guests) so party like it’s 1999 and enjoy it while it lasts.

Actually I think it is kind of smart ... If I look at my own CM experience, they are just adapting themselves to ... ME! When I was a kid I loved Club Med to go and play with other kids, then as a young adult I loved to party and play slightly different games, and now after all the parties and
picknicks (those were the best and the worst the next day) I enjoy being able to sit back and relax with a little luxury added to it ... but then that is only me ....

Updates, coming soon
I’m going to play outside

Mike – Direct from the Opio Grand Opening

Michael, merci beaucoup for your observations.

I've been to Opio three times. When it opened 1989 and then the following two years again.

At that time, it was probably one of the most luxury CM resorts. However, what I always missed, it's not located on the sea. In the beginning, there used to be a shuttle down to the Mediterranean Sea where CM offered some beach activities, but it was cancelled after some time.

Nonetheless, the site and the view are breathtaking and the surrounding villages are worth a visit.
However, I wouldn't go to Opio in July or August, but rather in spring or autumn. As a matter of fact, I won't return, because prices IMO are being too high. I wonder, if I should start and play Euromillions.

For the folks not knowing what the place looks like, here you go (before renovation though):
http://www.tourmag.com/Club-Med-d-Opio-25-M-pour-la-renovation_a13016.html

Enjoy your stay in the south of France!

PS: Are the CDVs still down there

I used to go in Opio too in 2002, it was very luxurious, it was amazing how the rooms were and the quality of the food I never found again in another village.
Like Kiki wrote, now, prices are so high.....
Mike, which CDVS did you see there?
Thanks for sharing this with us!!!

Hi Guys,

The main CDV gathering was over yesterday when I arrived, so I unfortunately missed them ... apparently most of them were there, I'll see if I can get a list of who was and who wasn't.

M.@Opio

Mike, thanks for the report! Jim

Mike, thanks for the pictures, it's beautiful, many things have changed since my stay there.

Thanks so much, Michael.

It surely does look superb. At least, one gets something for all the money one pays...

That small bar with the red chairs looks new to me. Can't remember it.
Is that near the golf club house?

The small bar is by the pool to the right at the end of the building.

We stayed at Opio the week after Mike did. We had a really enjoyable break there, and we were disappointed that we could not stay more than five days, because there were so many existing reservations. The club has a conference center, which accommodates business meetings, so there are both vacationers and business people using the resort. Thus, the club books up quickly, and it isn't easy to obtain a reservation.
We flew into the Nice airport and rented a car. Luckily, we had brought our own GPS , which aided us both in finding the club and traveling around Provence. The club runs buses from the airport, and there is also a local bus, which doesn't run often. Since we had our own car, we didn't utilize the excursions offered, one of which was to Grasse, the essentail oil capital of the world.
The club, located at the top of a hill, looked terrific and really chic. The deep purple bathrooms were a bit much though. Rooms come fully equipped, including air conditioning, which is helpful since it is about 90-100 degrees Farhenheit during the summer months. There are laundry facilities in each building.
There are two outdoor pools: one adjacent to reception and the bars, and the other near the golf course. The latter is quieter as children are not permitted. (There is also a pool for the mini-club, which we didn't use.) There are plans to put in a stand for refreshments, but at this time you must bring your own or visit the golf pro-shop/restaurant. The golf course restaurant required reservations (open only for lunch at this time), and the food was excellent.
The main restaurant is located on the third floor of the main building. Much of the seating is outside, and the views of the Gorge du Loup are fantastic. Sadly, we speak minimal French, but we found other visitors from the UK, USA, Belgium and Holland who spoke English and with whom we could share a meal. (One of the reasons I love Club Med is the opportunity to talk about world affairs and cultural issues with like-minded people from other countries. Opio was definitely a hub for such exchanges.) Conference attendees sit in a separate dining area, adjacent to the main dining room. There is also an air-conditioned area for those desiring a cooler meal. Overall, the food was above average, but not superior. There were lots of fish and shellfish options each day. Ice cream is usually served only at lunch. The bread was terrific, and there are fresh croissants and brioche in the morning, baked right on the spot.
We took part in the two-hour morning trek each day while we were there. The lead GO brought bottles of water, but try to bring your own as it is hot! You'll also need a good pair of athletic shoes or hiking boots. Frederic, the head of land sports, was a delight to be with each day. His knowledge of the area and history enlivened our walks. On one of the days, he arranged for a tapenade tasting with wine after we had visited the club's olive groves and vineyards. One walk took us to the village of Valbonne, where we visited a master glassblowing shop and church. Julian, the Chef d'sports, was enthusiastic and all of his staff were friendly and helpful. Be sure to visit Kamal in archery, located near the tennis courts. Although there are opportunities for trapeze, we did not utilize them.
We have visited several of the clubs in the Caribbean, and Opio has a very different feel to it. This is due in part to not being an oceanfront property, but also to the relaxed feel of the Provencal countryside. The evening shows were different, also, and the "circus" show was outstanding. While the disco ran each evening, there was no dancing outside, so the club seemed quieter to us. The bars were always busy, and the bartenders were outstanding. There were times when the bar was very crowded, but the bartenders were able to maintain their composure as the served drinks and espresso. We were impressed with the routine they have set u