Banking and Money for a Ski Season

Most people going into their first ski season don't think much about banking until they're already in resort and their home bank has charged them £3 to take out €100 at an ATM. Over five months, that kind of friction adds up. Getting this sorted before you leave takes about thirty minutes and saves you real money.

The problem with your home bank

Using a standard UK, Australian, or Canadian bank account as your primary account abroad exposes you to three separate costs:

Currency conversion fees — typically 2–3.5% on every transaction you make in a foreign currency. On €6,000 of spending over a season, 2.5% is £150.

ATM withdrawal fees — often £2–5 per withdrawal, charged by your home bank on top of whatever the local machine charges. Weekly withdrawals at £2 each over twenty weeks is £40. Not catastrophic alone, but stacked with conversion fees it's meaningful.

Unfavourable exchange rates — banks rarely use the mid-market (real) exchange rate. They apply their own rate, which is typically 1–2% worse than what you'd find on Google. This applies to every single transaction.

None of these costs are unavoidable. They're just what you pay for using the wrong tool for the job.

Multi-currency accounts to use instead

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the most useful account for seasonaires. It holds multiple currencies simultaneously — GBP, EUR, CHF, CAD, AUD, JPY, and more — and gives you actual local account details for each: a real EUR IBAN, a real CAD account number, and so on. This matters for getting paid. If your French employer pays salaries by bank transfer to a French bank account, you can give them your Wise EUR IBAN and receive the payment directly. No international transfer fee, no conversion loss on the way in. Spending abroad with the Wise debit card uses the mid-market rate with a small fixed conversion fee — far cheaper than a standard bank.

Revolut works similarly — multiple currencies, decent exchange rates, debit card that works abroad with low fees. One thing to check: some currency providers apply a markup at weekends when interbank markets are closed. Revolut is one of them on some tiers. Check your tier's terms. For most seasonaires the free tier is fine.

Starling Bank (UK residents) is worth mentioning separately: it's a GBP account, not multi-currency, but it charges no fees for overseas spending and no ATM withdrawal fees abroad. If you just want one account that works everywhere without the currency-holding features, Starling is the simplest option for UK-based seasonaires.

The practical setup: open a Wise or Revolut account before you leave. Keep your home bank account active for UK or home-country transactions (direct debits, rent, family transfers). Use Wise or Revolut for everything in resort. This takes under an hour to set up online and you'll use it for the entire season.

Getting paid

Ask your employer how they pay wages before you start — not when you're already in resort.

Local currency bank transfer (most common for direct-hire roles): your employer will want local bank account details. Give them your Wise EUR, CHF, or CAD account details. Wise's local account numbers are genuine local accounts — your French employer can pay you the same way they'd pay any French employee.

GBP payment (common with UK tour operators and chalet companies): some employers pay in pounds regardless of where you're working. If Crystal Ski is paying you in GBP to a UK account, the currency risk is theirs, not yours — you just receive GBP and convert yourself when rates look reasonable. Use Wise to convert and hold the local currency.

Opening a local bank account

Sometimes required by your employer, occasionally required to get a local SIM card or sign a lease. Whether it's worth the hassle depends on the country.

France: BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and Crédit Agricole will open accounts for non-residents but typically want a French address (your accommodation address works) and an employment letter. N26 (digital bank operating in France) is simpler and often faster. In practice, a Wise EUR account handles most of what a French bank account would do.

Austria: in-person at a branch, with ID, proof of address, and employment letter. Similar process to France. Raiffeisen and BAWAG are common choices.

Switzerland: Swiss banks are notoriously difficult for short-term non-residents. UBS and Credit Suisse both have requirements around established residency. For a season, Wise or Revolut is far easier than opening a Swiss bank account — and since Wise gives you a genuine CHF account with IBAN, most employers will accept it.

Canada: TD, RBC, and Scotiabank all have accounts aimed at newcomers. The process is relatively straightforward — walk in with your passport and address proof, usually sorted in one visit.

Australia: Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and Westpac all allow you to open an account online before you arrive for most nationalities — you just verify in person at a branch after landing. Do this before you fly.

Sending money home

When you want to transfer savings back to your home currency, use Wise. International bank transfers through your home bank typically cost £10–25 flat plus a percentage. Wise charges a small fixed fee and uses the mid-market rate. On a €4,000 transfer, this can be £50–100 cheaper than your bank. On larger amounts the difference is more.

If you're moving a large sum — €10,000 or more — it's worth comparing Wise against a currency broker like OFX or Currencies Direct, who sometimes offer better rates on large transfers.

Cash vs. card in resort

The majority of resort businesses accept card, including most mountain restaurants and ski hire shops. That said, some après-ski bars are cash-only, smaller markets and independent traders often prefer it, and tipping is generally done in cash. Keep a small float of local cash — €50–100 — for these situations. Don't carry more than you need.

Avoid airport currency exchange counters entirely. Their rates are consistently the worst available. Get a Wise or Revolut card before you leave, and withdraw local cash from an ATM on arrival if you need it immediately.