One for Wham! fans
Hard to believe, but it’s been 35 years since George Michael and Wham! filmed their now legendary ‘Last Christmas’ video in Saas Fee, and this Christmas the Swiss ski resort will be celebrating the anniversary with several 80s themed events.
Planned activities include a Wham! 80s disco on the Wichel ice rink in neighbouring Saas-Grund on December 28, and a Wham! Walk through Saas-Fee itself on December 28 and 30, organised by the tourist board. Guests are invited to dress up in 80s attire at these events and there’s a competition to win an overnight stay in the suite where George Michael stayed during the shoot at the five-star Walliserhof Grand-Hotel & Spa.
The resort has also revealed that Charly Schmidt, the gondola driver of the Felskinn cable car Wham! took in the clip to get to the chalet, had no idea the journew was being filmed. Since neither he nor his colleague spoke English, they couldn’t talk to George or the rest of the crew and he actually didn’t see the video until 10 to 12 years later!
"In the 80s it wasn’t common to own a TV. Besides, nobody had English channels. We had no idea that the clip was so successful", he said.
Ski Safari has a seven-night stay at the three-star Hotel Alpin, departing on December 23, from £1,499 per person bed and breakfast including flights and transfers.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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