New app Alto.Ski may be the only ski pass you’ll need this winter.
There’s nothing quite like that first morning of a ski holiday. The excitement of donning your ski gear on for the first time in a long time, rushed-down breakfasts as you fuel up for a big day on the slopes. Feeling the weight of your skis and heading out into that crisp mountain air, ready to grab your lift pass and hit the first lifts of the day… All quickly extinguished as you turn the corner and see a ticket office queue as long as 2020 seemed.
It’s happened to all of us at one time or another. It’s not always possible to pre-book lift passes and if you arrive after the offices shut, what can you do?!
This is where Alto.Ski comes in.
A new, one-stop app, Alto.Ski allows skiers to set up a smart pass for themselves and members of their family or party, which allows you to skip ticket office queues but also avoid paying for lift passes in advance.
Perhaps even more interesting, Alto.Ski also offers a unique pay-as-you-go method, so skiers only pay for the time they actually spend on the slopes.
While we’d all love to say we ski every minute of every day on our ski holiday, the reality is that often, this is simply not possible. Whether it’s an afternoon cut short due to a fall, a late start the morning-after-the-night-before, or a very lengthy early lunch thanks to a heavy snowstorm, it happens.
Now we all know we shouldn’t beat ourselves up in these scenarios (it’s your holiday after all!) but there’s usually one thing that does weigh on your mind at these times – the money you’re wasting on your lift pass!
With Alto.Ski, you don’t have to worry. You only spend on the time you’re genuinely using your pass, not the time you’re spending enjoying a hot chocolate or three!
Ana Davis, CEO at Alto.Ski said: “A winter ski holiday has always been associated not only with glorious slopes and plenty of fresh air but also with queues. As keen skiers ourselves, we’ve always wondered how much time we’ve spent skiing versus standing around waiting to do it. It’s an outdated system, and that’s why we launched Alto.Ski, to take away the hassle and ensure you can get straight to the slopes and ski as much or as little as you like!”
Finally, as if we needed any more persuading that Alto.Ski is the future, the pass can be used at multiple resorts, negating the need for multiple (often plastic) lift pass cards.
In addition to ski passes, Alto.Ski allows customers to book accommodation, ski school, ski and snowboard hire in advance – you can simply pick up your skis and head off straight away. You can also manage your insurance through the app, so you don’t have to worry about a thing when it comes to your well-earned winter break.
Those wanting the ultimate value can even sign up for Alto.Ski+ which includes fully-comprehensive insurance for everyone on their account, a special black diamond card and added rewards, all for just €2.70 per person, per ski session.
The app will initially roll out across 13 resorts in Italy for the 2021/22 season but plans to expand further into Europe in the coming months and global destinations in 2022.
So how exactly does Alto.Ski work?
Well, first you need to register online, or on the Alto.Ski app. Then, you add your payment details and order your card, and it’s ready to use! You can get up to five passes and the cards will either be sent in the post to the user, or you can pick them up in the ski resorts or partner hotels.
Once you scan the QR codes or enter the card numbers and your new cards will be registered to your Alto.Ski account.
You can now use your ski cards to access ski lifts and resort facilities, with no worries about lift queues or pre-booking!
When you’re done, you can view your activity and spending on the Alto.Ski app or website. With the ability to monitor usage on your pass, as well as any family passes linked to the parent account, it will be easier to budget the remainder of your trip, so you’re not left with any nasty surprises at the end of the holiday!
For more information and to sign up, head to alto.ski
