General: Andorra > Reviews > Andorra - not just Pas de la Casa

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Excellent
Sightseeing	Average
Shopping	Excellent
Nightlife	Good
Ease of getting around	Average

Advantages:	cheaper and quieter than the Alps
Disadvantages:	long transfer

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Andorra has always been a great resort to learn to ski and board due to both the fantastic ski schools and cheap prices. This has given it a reputation for being a bit cheap and cheerful but over the past couple of years it has been trying to shake this image and go more upmarket. We have visited Andorra 4 times in the winter and once in the summer, and over the past year or two we have seen so much work going on, they are pouring in what seems like unlimited funds it's unbelievable. Which is all good!
Andorra la Vella is a shoppers paradise but it is sooo busy traffic wise.
Pas de la Casa is the most popular resort but also in my opinion the ugliest (but hey you're not skiing in the town - it has fab pistes!), whereas some of the other resorts are prettier with old stone buildings etc.

Arcalis/Pal An undiscovered couple of gems in Andorra.. A car is recommended as we experienced long waits for the ski bus. Last year we stayed at the bottom of the red bubble in La Massana - Hotel Magic - can definitely recommend it - lovely 4* star hotel, large rooms with free broadband, really good choice of food and a handy location. Pal is on your doorstep, it's a short drive to both Arcalis and Andorra la Vella. With the right conditions Pal is a great resort with decent runs, loads of mad off piste, trees etc.. but then there is Arcalis.. it's about a 15 minute drive away, Arcalis is the highest resort in Andorra and as there are no hotels there it is mostly local people in the know who go there, or those brave enough to wait for a ski bus. It can be busy with lots of Spanish at weekends, go during the week and you will have untouched powder on every run ! The piste's are good, but it's the off piste that is challenging, dangerous and sometimes a bit scary. The lift pass here covers Pal, Arcalis and Arinsal which we visited but to be honest got bored after a couple of hours. Very much a beginner resort.

Pas de la Casa it's quite a few years since we stayed here but it is such a popular resort it sells well every year. Linked with Soldeau the Grau Roig ski area has almost 200km piste so a good choice if you have a mixed party of beginners and intermediates. LOTS of nightlife a proper party resort, if you want it a bit quieter stay in Soldeu. Pas itself is a compact resort so most hotels are central although some can be up a steep hill. We stayed at the Chalet Xadoc (the only catered chalet I know of in Pas) one year which is ski in/ski out and another year the Himalaia Hotel which is one of the better hotels although an uphill walk from town. There are lots of budget hotels and self catering in Pas.

Andorra la Vella is well worth a trip at night to check the shops out… take your credit card and hammer it !! it's really cheap as it's duty free - last trip there resulted in some good pc speakers, a new bling Shaun White snowboard, a new jacket, 2 pairs of Burton bindings… nuff said ! If you want to chill out and have a day off skiing definitely take your swimming costume and go to Caldea It's brilliant, hot saunas, roman baths, Turkish steam baths etc.. a lovely restaurant to visit afterwards well worth doing. Soothing the aches away ! ready for the next day..
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