New to Andorra

Hi I hope some one out there who has visited Andorra many times can help?

We live in France and are hoping to take our family skiing to Andorra for the first time. My husband and I have skied in Austria before and love the apres ski, culture etc as much as the skiing.

Is Andorra therefore the place for us and which village will cater for our needs as we dislike concrete purpose built resorts.Better still any hotel offering lots of facilites for two very sporty daughters?

Will there be much snow in the first week in March and does any one know of a good catered chalet for friends?

Many Thanks!

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Pas de la Casa is a great resort...but it most definitely is a purpose built and all concrete and is not at all pretty in the traditional Austrian ski village way. However, it offers great ski-ing/boardng and great nightlife so...

Hopefully someone else will be able to comment on Soldeu and Arinsal.

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We%26#39;ve been to Soldeu 6 times now and have just booked again for Feb. I would heartily recommend Soldeu to anyone, especially either the Sport Hotel or Sport Village (the best of the two). These are quite expensive by Andorran standards but cheaper than the Alps. The Granvalira ski pass offers access from Soldeu over to Pas de la Casa, keep most people busy all week! Pas was once described to me as %26#39;Blackpool on snow%26#39; and whilst this is a little harsh it does lack a bit of culture. I%26#39;m not too sure about chalets in Soldeu, it tends to offer either hotels or apartments.

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I have looked at the Sports Hotel but when reading the reports they have not always been very positive. Have you stayed there and do you book direct as I can%26#39;t see us finding a package holiday for the hotel here in France? Is Soldeu also a %26#39;Blackpool in the snow?%26#39;

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The Sport Hotel is really nice, true 4 star. Stayed there over Christmas just gone, no complaints. Booking direct can be a pain, they don%26#39;t really like dealing with the British direct but Spaniards seem to be able to book direct. They have a brochure on the reception written in just French and Catalan. Maybe giving them a ring direct or trying their website (grupcalbo.ad - I think) might be OK, especially if you can sound French. Otherwise it is a package deal. Soldeu is a pleasant little place, strung along the main road leading down to Andorra la Vella. Everything is within walking distance of the gondola, except the village of Incles which is about a mile down the road. Soldeu is not as brash as Pas, plenty going on but a little quieter, but not %26#39;Blackpool on snow%26#39;!!!!

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Thank you for your replies! They have been really helpful as I have sat at my computer just going around in circles for months. I will phone with my best French accent and see if that works if not perhaps there is someone out there who lives in Europe and knows of a tour operator I could book with Thank you again!

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Hi 41cookie, we only booked Sport Hotel last week thru a great lady - heres her email address: tracy.hendrie@tarsc.net We have been on other holidays booked thru her, she%26#39;s so helpful and gets great deals. She is part of the co-op group %26amp; we found her via teletext. If you quote our name she will know how you found her (Marc %26amp; Tracey Hurst). We have never been skiing in Andorra either %26amp; after reading reviews, are very excited - leaving on 12 Feb with our 2 boys (13 %26amp; 15).

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Hi Redrose49er. We have booked our first skiing holiday to the Sport Hotel Andorra for half term 06 -12 Feb, should we hire our skis/boots once out there (read that Esport Calbo is the main ski shop) - also, where would we get our ski passes from, and would this be cheaper once in the resort.

Many thanks

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Hi there

Really easy to sort out ski hire in Soldeu, head for the gondola and you will find Ski Calbo, very helpful, lots of stock, good English. Ski pass will be €180 each for the whole Grandvalira, well worth it. The ski pass place is again by the gondola, head for The Villager pub and just follow everyone else down the ramp. Make sure you take your passport with you as they like to see additional ID when paying by credit card. At Christmas our %26#39;rep%26#39; told us to excpect to pay credit card surcharge fees of up to 4% in resort, must have thought we were green behind the ears to fall for that trick, it was his first week in Soldeu, our sixth. My advice, buy your pass the day you arrive to avoid any queues and sort your skis out either early Monday (9am ish) or leave it until about 10.30ish, therefore avoiding any queues.

For a break from the skiing take the bus down to La Vella, about €4 each way, stops outside the Pic Negre shop at about 10 past the hour. Again, take your passport if paying by CC.

Soldeu is a really great place, Sport is a lovely hotel. For a nicer evening try the Sport Village across the road. Iceberg from 4pm-6pm is a must for Happy Hour and try the Bruxelles or Slim Jims for lunch.

When returning to Toulouse take something to eat or drink, the airport is useless.

Can%26#39;t wait to get back there in February!!!!!

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Thanks for all your help rose49er. maybe c u on the slopes!