The season of the university ski trip is upon us. Alpine resorts across the Alps are soon to be invaded with hoards of young folk, intoxicated up to the eyeballs on vodka and Mutzig, riding down the slopes like lunatics in neon onesies and generally having a blast.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already signed up to your uni trip. Congratulations, you’ve made a very, very good decision, my friend. This will be one of the best trips of your life.

Before you leave, here are a few essentials you need to remember…

1. Fancy Dress

Half of your case should be filled with fancy dress. Every night is another theme and the competition for a banging costume is high. Yes, it’s -12°C outside, but you will be expected to wear an extremely creative, probably scantily clad outfit all night long.

2. Booze

Crucial, especially if you are travelling on a coach and don’t know a single soul. As a wise man once said, the best of friends are made over alcohol. That said, you don’t want to be the person who vomits in the first few hours of a 26 hours coach journey. Play it cool, kids.

3. Paracetamol / Vitamin C Supplements

These two are equally as essential, if you you want to make it through the week in alive.

4. Ear Plugs & Eye Mask

Sharing a room with eight other people is not conducive to a good night’s sleep. Particularly when they a) all wear ski boots and b) have a tendency to bring people back… every night.

5. Condoms

Because nobody wants to come back from the ski trip with herpes or a child.

6. Oversized Neon Beanie

You can spot a ski trip from a mile off, thanks to the prevalence of this ginormous (and frankly hideous) neon beanies on everyone’s heads. Get involved.

7. Speakers

The person with the best speakers = the person on the first night with the most popular room.

8. Your Good Underwear

Not your holey underpants or manky bra. There is a high chance you will be made to whip off your top mid-afternoon during some on-piste après action. Trust us, you will be glad you wore your new one when the photos pop up on Facebook afterwards.

9. Pack of Cards

Useful for inevitable drinking games (yes, everyone does have a different set of rules for Ring Of Fire, get used to it) or leaving ill-advised messages on your roommates’ pillow when you can’t find a piece of paper.

10. Insurance

Boring, but TOTALLY NECESSARY. How many ski trips have you heard where someone breaks a bone on the first day? Every single one. Fork out for this and you’ll avoid that painful conversation with your parents later…

11. Your Dignity

Because you won’t be able to find it afterwards…

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