Après Ski Holidays

French for ‘after skiing’, the term - which came about in the twenties - can apply to whatever you get up to at the end of a day on the slopes, but is most often used to describe a drink (or three) in a mountain bar once the lifts start to close.

‘Sprès ski’ could also be used for afternoon activities like tobogganing, ice skating and husky rides, or simply putting your feet up in your chalet at the end of the day...

Most people’s après ski wear is whatever they’ve been skiing in during the day – salopettes, ski boots and all.

Sometimes you might want to change into something specific before joining in the mountain merriment:

Après ski fancy dress – You might want to pack an après ski costume like an animal onesie, retro ski suit or perhaps lederhosen if you’re skiing in Austria. These are popular for themed parties, St Patrick’s Day and any other occasion you fancy dressing up for…

Après ski boots - If those plastic ski boots are giving you grief, free your feet and swap them for something comfier. You can buy specific après ski footwear like Moon Boots or opt for walking boots or any snow friendly shoes.

Après ski jumper – Your usual microfleece if you want to keep it casual, a Christmas jumper if it’s the festive season or that retro fluorescent fair isle in the back of your wardrobe…

Beanie – An après ski essential keep your head warm and hide helmet hair, the brighter the better.

Your ski jacket – It gets very cold in the mountains after hours, and even if you’re still warm from skiing and drinks earlier on, you don’t want to feel the cold when it comes to heading home.

Your thermals – If you’re après skiing in the comfort of your chalet or apartment, lose your outer layers, swap ski socks for clean ones and you’re ready to relax. Shops sell groovy après ski leggings if you want to really look the part.

If a resort is good for après ski, it’ll have at least a few mountain bars with live music, DJ’s and happy hours to draw in the crowds. There will usually be more bars and pubs in the resort base area to move onto, and maybe a night club or two for later-on.

The best resorts have a bundle of lively bars but also more sophisticated options where you can sip fine wines by log fires, and child-friendly fun like ice rinks, swimming pools and bowling alleys.

Slopeside waterholes will serve all the drinks you’re used to in bars back home, amongst certain regional libations like the ones below – remember alcohol affects you more at altitude!

Hot wine – Mulled wine to us, but by any other name this drink would taste as sweet: Vin Chaud (in France), Glühwein (in Austria), Glögg (in Scandinavia), vin brulé (in Italy).

Toffee Vodka – Meribel’s signature drink. Like liquid fudge and dangerously un-vodka-ey, best served in a shot ski…

Good old-fashioned beer – Look for local brews like ones from the Micro Brasserie de Chamonix, Aspen Brewing Company and White Frontier from Nendaz

Irish coffee – Ateaming hot coffee, cream and copious amounts of whiskey

Champagne – a jeroboam if you’re in Courchevel, raining from the rooftop if you’re partying in a Folie Douce bar, or just bubbling away in a bottle shared with friends.

Génépi – A greenish herbal liquor made from alpine plants. Served in France before/after supper/skiing. As strong as absinthe…

Jägertee – An Austrian staple, featuring Stroh rum, brandy, hot tea, wine, fruit juice and spices

Hot chocolate – Because it doesn’t always have to be alcoholic! A hot choc (Chocolat Chaud in France, heiße Schokolade in Austria, cioccolata calda in Italy) on the hillside is hard to beat, especially one with lashings of cream. For an ‘adult hot chocolate’, request a glug of baileys or génépi…