You may think nothing of booking a DIY summer holiday, with EasyJet or Ryanair flights to Spain, and a cheap apartment by the beach, but when it comes to ski holidays many people used to be apprehensive – not any more! Here at Andorra Resorts we specialise in helping visitors plan and book their own DIY ski holiday to Andorra – our team in Andorra get on the slopes regularly to keep you up-to-date with snow conditions, and our websites have all the information you need to create your own trip.
In the seven years we’ve been organising ski holidays we’ve seen a huge increase in the popularity of booking independently – we try to make it as easy as possible, bringing together all the information you need. Not only is it much more flexible to suit your needs, but it can be more convenient flying at a time that suits you, and it can also be much cheaper, especially during peak holiday weeks.
We arrange as much or as little of the holiday as you need, so whether you need to book everything or just your lift pass we’ll be able to assist. Here’s our handy guide to putting everything together for your perfect trip!
Choosing Your Arrival Day
If you’re a beginner and you want group lessons then your arrival day is very important. In both Vallnord and Grandvalira group lessons start on Mondays, plus in Grandvalira they also have group lessons starting on Saturdays (see the lessons section further down this article). This means you’ll want to arrive on either a Sunday or Friday, depending on your resort, so that your first day coincides with the start of group lessons.
If you’ve skied before or aren’t wanting lessons then your arrival day is less important, however as Monday mornings are always very busy with new arrivals getting ready for classes you may want to choose a different arrival day eg. Saturday, so that you get to explore the slopes on the day most British & Irish holidaymakers arrive and depart.
Booking Your Flights
Starting with the flights we’ve a useful table showing you which airlines fly from local airports around the UK and Ireland across to Barcelona, Toulouse and Girona. You can then get booked up via our Sky Scanner search tool so you’ll find the best prices.
We always suggest flying to Barcelona if you can because there are normally more flight options, but more importantly there’s a wider range of airport transfers to choose from (see below). The airport is called Barcelona El Prat with airport code BCN, so make sure you don’t book somewhere else quite a way from here (if you book with a certain budget airline!).
From the Airport to Andorra
Once you’ve made it to one of these three airports we have a choice of shared Novatel airport transfers or private taxi/minibus services. What you choose will depend on the size of your group and your budget, as well as your flight times, so when planning your own independent holiday it’s best to check the availability or transfers before you confirm your flights. Our handy price calculator shows you the price for your group for each option so you can decide which to book.
During winter 2014-15 the number of shared airport transfers between Barcelona and Andorra has increased up to seven services daily, every two hours from 10am to 10pm, which means you shouldn’t have to wait too long. If you’re a larger group or have a larger budget you may opt for the convenience of a private transfer booked just for your party at times to match up with your flights.
A third option is to rent a car then drive to Andorra. If you do this make sure you check with your rental company that (1) you can bring the car to Andorra; and (2) that they won’t charge you any extra. You will usually have to find the price you want, save a quote to get a reference number, then email or phone with your reference to check about travelling across the border.
Where to Stay
On each of our resort websites we have details of a variety of accommodation to help you choose somewhere to stay, then to make your reservation we’ve teamed up with Booking.com because you get live availability and prices across a huge range of hotels and apartments. You can make your booking on our accommodation search page.
Staying in an apartment usually gives you more living space and so if you have children it can makes things a little easier to have bedrooms and a separate living area, plus you’ll have cooking facilities which means you can prepare food when needed rather than having to wait for set meal times.
That being said, it is a holiday, so if you want to avoid cooking you can look for hotels with half board options and look out for our “lift pass with lunch” offer in Grandvalira which covers your lunches on the mountain.
As it’s a ski holiday, some other things to look out for are the distance from the slopes/lifts, if there’s a bus stop close by, and if the accommodation has ski storage.
Getting on the Ski Lifts
In Andorra there are two ski areas – Grandvalira and Vallnord. We only sell full area lift passes which means you’ll have access to the whole of either Grandvalira or Vallnord when you book your ski pass through us. By pre-booking your lift pass not only do you get everything organised and paid for in advance but you can also save money too. Everyone needs a lift pass to access the slopes, even if you’re booking lessons.
In Vallnord we give you an extra discount when you book your lift pass with equipment for at least five days, then an additional discount if you book lessons as well. In Arinsal one of our team will also meet you with your lift pass when you arrive so it makes your trip run smoothly.
For Grandvalira look out for our fantastic offers exclusively available for pre-booking. Like with Vallnord you can choose to take a discount when booking a lift pass with equipment and lessons, but additionally we have “lift pass with lunch” deals and discounted packages with lessons and equipment included.
To make a booking you can start on our ski extras page.
Hiring Equipment
In each resort we’ve chosen to work with a rental shop partner right by the slopes and ski lifts which means that no matter which resort you book with us you’ll have a convenient location to collect your skis or snowboard. Our pre-booking discount means you’ll save at least 25% off the resort price, along with further discounts when booked along with lift passes and lessons.
There are various levels of skis and snowboards to choose from, so have a read of the descriptions to make sure you choose something suitable. If you’re a beginner then you’ll be perfectly fine with the introductory range which are the cheapest, however once you’ve gained some experience on snow you’ll find having a better ski or snowboard will allow you to progress on the slopes, so it’s worth paying a little extra.
Don’t forget about booking a helmet too, and when booked with your skis or snowboard you’ll also save on the price of the helmet. It’s not compulsory to wear a helmet in Andorra but definitely recommended.
To get started with your equipment booking head to our booking form.
Do You Need Lessons?
Group lessons are a great way to learn to ski or snowboard as well as improve your technique, plus it’s a really social way to get to know other holidaymakers and have lots of fun on your holiday. You’ll be in a group with others of a similar ability so you’ll be able to learn and progress together.
If you want group lessons then most classes start on Mondays, which means you will probably want to arrive on a Sunday so you can start your lessons on your first day, however in Grandvalira there are also weekend classes starting Saturdays for two days.
In Grandvalira we have pre-set discounted packages including group lessons for two days starting Saturdays, then three to six days starting Mondays.
If you prefer to take private lessons then you’ll find all the booking information and prices on our websites. In Arinsal we can book you in, however in Grandvalira you will need to book directly with the ski school, although you’ll find the booking information on our ski school pages.
What Are You Waiting For!
So that’s our handy guide to planning and booking your independent ski holiday to Andorra – don’t forget, you can book as much or as little as you need through us. If you think you’d like to visit and need help booking up then you can explore our websites or get in touch – we’d be happy to help, and look forward to seeing you on the slopes soon!