If You’re Planning a European Ski Trip, Read This First

A quintessential European ski vacation is about more than just the slopes and the powder—it’s also about what you do once the skis come off.

So, if you love a mulled wine in the warm as much as a slalom on the slopes, here’s our ultimate list of where to go, what to do and what to bring to create a lively après ski European escape.

Location, location, location

When it comes to planning your ski vacation, location is everything and nowhere does après ski luxury quite like Europe. With a blizzard of competition to choose from, we’ve narrowed down our top three picks for where to plant your poles.

Switzerland

When you think of Switzerland, you can’t help but think of the crisp, snow-covered mountaintops and powder-soft snow in the Swiss Alps. Home to some of the top slopes in the world, join some of the world’s best snowboarders, freestylers and skiers who frequently grace these languid hills and ride into the chic chalets at the bottom.

For après ski: Whip off the salopettes and be treated like a celebrity in St. Mortiz, the oldest winter holiday resort in the world located in the southern Alps and blessed with sunshine 322 days a year. Renowned for its glitz, glamour and vibrant après ski social life, venture to the legendary Kings Club housed within Badrutt’s Palace Hotel for a post-ski drop.

Austria

Dreaming of windswept terrain and dizzying heights from which to revel in panoramic views over the pure white Alpine wonderland? Obertauern is the ultimate winter destination to zoom across 100km of pistes and glide up the mountain in one of the respectable 26 lifts, including two gondolas, 18 chair lifts and six drag lifts reaching a top altitude of 2,526m.

For après ski: Not only home to some of the most tremendous views and slopes in Austria, Obertaurn also boasts the Après Ski mile with no less than 25 ski huts beckoning with culinary treats and refreshments to enjoy after the ski lifts have closed for the day.

France

This is the one you’ve been waiting for. With 600km of pistes, more than 180 lifts linking eight resorts and three valleys, dive into the world’s largest snow wonderland in Les Trois Vallées. Home to the highest snow resorts in all of Europe, this winter paradise knows how to do snow with the slopes typically covered from November to May for a longer-than-average season.

For après ski: When in the world’s largest ski village and Europe’s highest 2300m, it’s only fitting that you enjoy the very best, the ‘après of all après’; La Folie Douce. Billed as the ‘dance floor on top of the world’, this is the perfect place to kick back, enjoy the surrounding mountain vistas and sip a toasty mulled wine.

Priceless® European winter experiences

No European ski vacation is complete without floating down the world-class ski slopes through fairytale-worthy forest, but it’s what happens off the slopes that’s just as important. Here are our top three experiences for when in a snow-covered Europe. Simply use your Cash Passport™ to unlock exclusive Priceless® Experiences, exclusive to Mastercard® cardholders.

Magical Paris music: Keep the holiday magic going with a performance of the Orchestre Hélios at the elegant Madeleine Church on 26 December, as the orchestra performs Corelli’s For Christmas’ night Concerto and Vivaldi’s famous The Four Seasons. Take in the concert from upgraded seats, and then join the conductor and a couple of musicians in a private room after the show for a celebratory glass of champagne.

Alpine Advent adventure: High-up in the snowy mountains and surrounded by untouched nature, you’ll celebrate Advent traditions in the iconic Alps along the Katschberg Advent Way. Step into cosy huts with inclusive dining along the way and explore an Austrian winter wonderland with the one you love over two days.

Extravagant Show on Ice: Be mesmerized by a night of extraordinary skating. At the Wiener Stadthalle, you’ll watch as the all-star cast moves on the ice for a performance full of twists, turns, and drama. Marvel at the extravagant costumes, exquisitely adorned ice and skills displayed by professional stunt skaters, bungee performers, and more. Meet the stars of the show for a photo and mingle with them later at the deluxe aftershow.

CASH PASSPORT™ MASTERCARD®:

Forget dashing through the snow and rifling through your snow gear to find local currency. When planning your European ski vacation, there’s one thing you won’t want to leave home without.

Travel light

Empty out your wallet and leave the avalanche of baggage at home with just your Cash Passport™ by Mastercard®, delivering unsurpassed merchant acceptance around the world. Use it like a credit card or debit card, but with your own pre-loaded funds, load up to 11 currencies^~ and lock-in rates for EUR and other foreign currencies^#.

Travel fluently

Forget the expensive initial loading and issuing fees with your Cash Passport, offering a $0 initial load fee online and $0 issue fee ⁺, so you can travel fluently.

Priceless Experiences

Unlock unmissable experiences all throughout Europe and around the world with exclusive curated offers, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unforgettable stays to take your ski vacation to new heights – with or without the chairlift. Head to priceless.com to explore a world of offers. Simply pay with Cash Passport to access these offers.

24/7 Global Assistance

There’s nothing more important than ensuring you have card security when planning a trip overseas and your Mastercard Cash Passport gives you greater peace of mind with help only a call away, 24/7. If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, you can have it replaced quickly or get a much-needed emergency cash access* – perfect for when your card’s gone flying down the mountainside!

Use Cash Passport on your next European après ski getaway to unlock incredible experiences, enjoy greater security and travel lighter.

Disclaimers:

~ Before you make a decision to acquire the card, please check www.cashpassport.com.au for the latest currencies supported.

# Lock in your exchange rates means the exchange rate is locked in for the initial load only. The exchange rates for subsequent reloads will be set at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction.

+ Other fees and charges may apply. Consider the PDS.

* T&Cs apply. Customer must contact Customer service to report lost or stolen card. Emergency cash can be arranged up to the balance on your Cash Passport, subject to availability of funds at the approved agent location.

Mastercard Prepaid Management Services Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 47 145 452 044, AFSL 386 837) arranges for the issue of the Multi-currency Cash Passport™ (“Cash Passport”) and Cash Passport™ Platinum Mastercard® (“Cash Passport Platinum”) in conjunction with the issuer, Heritage Bank Limited (ABN 32 087 652 024, AFSL 240 984). You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement for the relevant Cash Passport facility available at www.cashpassport.com.au before deciding to acquire the product. Any advice does not take into account your personal needs, financial circumstances or objectives and you should consider if it is appropriate for you.

If You’re Planning a European Ski Trip, Read This First