Andorra has a long-established reputation as one of the most affordable destinations in Western Europe, but fewer people are aware of just how extensive the country’s ski areas have become, nor the investment into state-of-the-art, fast. comfortable lifts.
This high-quality experience Andorra now offers, while remaining one of the best value destinations in Europe, helps to differentiate it from others further east that claim to be affordable but don’t offer the same quality experience.
There are more big plus factors to Andorran skiing holidays as well though, and it’s not just the low-tax après ski! Andorra has, over decades, built a reputation for having the best ski & snowboard schools in Europe, with mostly native English-speaking instructors trained to the highest standards delivering a great learning experience at all levels.
Easy To Reach
Andorra’s proximity to Barcelona and Toulouse airports makes it a great choice for daily flights from the UK that aren’t reliant on (nor overcrowded by) the ski market in the way that the weekend scrums at Geneva are. Jet2, EasyJet, Ryanair, Vueling & B.A offers a wide choice of routes from airports across the UK.
Transfers to resorts are often a logistical and financial headache when planning an independent ski holiday wherever you’re heading. Here though the Andorra Travel Service and its sister company Andbus run regular, fast and affordable transfers from both Barcelona and Toulouse airports.
For this winter Andbus have increased frequencies to/from Andorra so that there are now eight services per day (one every 2 hours) from Barcelona to Andorra and 4 services per day from Toulouse, both with stops in all resorts of Andorra. It is the only shuttle service that connects the airports to the ski resorts and runs every day of the season except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The transfer price varies but a guide price is £65 return. Andorra Travel Service can also organize private transfers from any of the surrounding airports to and from Andorra.
It means that a complete Andorra ski holiday package booked through the Andorra Travel Service, including seven nights on a half-board basis in a three-star hotel, as well as transfers, lift pass and ski or board rentals could cost as little as £550pp, excluding your flights.
Affordable & Fun Après Ski
While the costs of even a fairly modest night out in the Alps have gone, frankly, a little crazy, Andorra’s reputation for fun, friendly and affordable après ski still lives on. Each area has its own vibe with wide-ranging nightlife options designed to suit most tastes. So it’s not just full-on party, party, party everywhere (though there is plenty of that if you have the energy!), but there are chilled-out cocktail bars too or live music venues with everyone from local bands (including ski instructors bands!) to international groups. With a pint still costing only about £4 and a 3-course meal from £15, Andorra is still offering great value for money, meaning you can still actually go out and enjoy your holiday, not have to curtail your enjoyment as you’re in a resort where it’s just too expensive to go out for the night.
Exceptional Ski & Snowboard Schools
Andorra’s roots in introducing people of all ages to skiing and snowboarding are as strong as ever. Andorra’s resorts, in particular Soldeu, El Tarter & Arinsal have snow sports schools with seasoned teams of native English-speaking instructors renowned for making lessons of all levels fun, and friendly and delivering a progression in your ability that amazes beginners and improvers alike. Group lessons remain brilliant value for money – from £130 for 15 hours or as part of a ski package.
Snowboarding tuition is also at a higher level here and available to younger children than at most resorts. The Grandvalira ski area has teamed up with the famous snowboarding name Burton to offer their Riglet program enabling snowboarding tuition for kids as young as 3 years upwards.
Freestyle ski and freeride camps and courses are also available as part of the wide and diverse programs you can sign up for at ski areas across Andorra.
Snow Conditions
Continuous Investment To Offer Ever Greater Variety of Terrain
Andorra has come a long way since it was first popular in the 1970s and 80s as a beginner-orientated destination.
The Grandvalira area including Soldeu, El Tarter, Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Canillo & Encamp will exceed its previous 210km of piste from the 2023/24 season with new developments announced for the coming winter. It was already not only the biggest ski region in the Pyreees but also one of the largest in Europe, and the world, and with more high-speed fast and comfortable chairlifts and gondolas than most resorts in the Alps or Dolomites.
Andorra’s other two well-known resorts of Arinsal & Pal have now also joined the Grandvalira brand meaning all can be included on one lift ticket and that an exciting expansion of the ski area between Pal & Arinsal is planned in the coming seasons. In addition, Ordino Arcalis, the lesser-known little gem of Andorra gains new powder followers every year.
All in all, the Grandvalira terrain now extends to over 300km with no shortage of gentle runs for beginners, challenging off-piste terrain for advanced skiers, and vast amounts of intermediate terrain for regular recreational skiers and boarders too.
Flexible, Affordable, Andorra
Andorra is perfectly placed to meet the most demanding requirements of skiers and boarders in the 2020s, particularly in the much talked of ‘cost-of-living crisis’ (should it be ‘cost of skiing crisis’ for determined skiers?). Although it can no longer be considered “cheap and cheerful” it’s now top quality, one of the world’s biggest and best ski destinations, and if not cheap, still great value for the high-quality offer.
Along with a big ski area and terrain for everyone from complete beginners to experienced experts, thanks to the efforts of the Andorra Travel Service, Andorra’s ski resorts are easily accessible and ski holidays can be fully flexible on dates, with the many daily transfer provided by AndBus.
Booking everything together with Andorra Travel Service once you have your flights organized will not only give you the best and most affordable Andorra ski holiday possible but also give you access to the company’s unrivalled local knowledge and connections in Andorra.
Andorra Travel Service – The Andorra Experts 0330 043 2134 | [email protected] | andorratravelservice.com