Mardi Gras in Verbier – Ski holidays in Verbier

This may sound like a paradox, but being surrounded by news about financial pessimism every day makes me think that an annual trip to the Alps should be considered a necessity, not a luxury. ‘A change is as good as a break’ as the old adage goes and a good thing too, as a Verbier ski holiday probably won’t give you much rest. Whether staying in a cozy chalet, a luxury hotel or a bargain basement apartment, the long, groomed slopes followed by the vibrant bars in Verbier will be hard to resist. If a good party and great skiing are at the top of your vacation wish list, then Verbier for Mardi Gras is a must. As the last day of indulgence before the start of Lent, what better place to do it than in Verbier. You’ll be shooting down shooters instead of gobbling up pancakes, but the principles are the same. It’s all about letting go and getting stuck, followed by vowing never to drink again.

‘The Pub’ is the place to go if you really want to embrace Mardi Gras, but make sure you’re in costume. A word of warning: your old-school tie and pig tails aren’t going to cut the mustard. Costumes in Verbier are serious business at the best of times; But with Mardi Gras the stops are well and truly pulled back. Many Verbier season-goers make a trip to Martigny to pick out a Mardi Gras-worthy costume, so if you want to be let into the bars, make sure you’re prepared.

Once at the bar, you might find yourself shoulder to shoulder with Mickey Mouse and the Empire State Building, or the Incredible Hulk and Madonna. As is often the case with costume parties, the lovingly made costumes begin to disintegrate under the wear and tear of precarious dance moves, creating a slightly unsettling scene of unlucky disheveled hair. Madonna might have racked up the Superman cape and Kermit the frog might have developed a cone-shaped chest, but the party will go on regardless and there will inevitably be more costume swapping. Seeing which parts of the costume you wake up with is always an interesting reveal, as is knowing who the blue ‘Smurf’ body paint came from…