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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 2050m
Families:		[No]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[3]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Andorra’s original resort, Pas de la Casa built a new lift almost every year for decades after it first opened 50 years ago. Now it has expanded so much that it has merged its ski area with neighbouring Soldeu, together creating the largest ski area in the Pyrenees with one of the most modern lift systems in the world. They’ve called it Grandvalira.

The resort sits right on the border with France (indeed the ski lifts now continue over the border in to France) and as well as providing an affordable ski destination, it is also a duty free shopping mecca for French nationals who pop over the border to shop as well as ski.

Through the 1970s and 1980s Pas de la Casa built up a reputation for “cheap and cheerful� ski holidays for British package tour holidays and it has perhaps been less affected by Andorra’s move up-market than some of the Principality’s other resorts. The lift ticket prices have risen dramatically however in recent years in line with Grandvalira’s status as one of the world’s biggest ski areas.

Beginners

A popular choice with beginners, Pas de la Casa has an excellent ski school and the new terrain of the Portes des Neiges on the French side of the border is reported to be the largest beginners ski area in the Pyrenees. Another new dedicated beginners area was added in 2007-8. Most tour operators offer inclusive packages with rentals, tuition and lift ticket which normally offer major saving on purchasing these separately in resort, as well as greater convenience. Alternatively a daily beginners ticket covering limited terrain is available.

Intermediates

Intermediates will get the most out of the huge Grandvalira ski area with its 100 or so blue and red pistes served by one of the world’s newest high speed lift networks and if that’s not enough, you can buy the Ski Andorra ticket which gives five days in the other Andorran ski area Vallnord as well as Grandvalira. As the area is so big it can be worth taking up one of the “get to know Grandvalira� courses offered by the ski school at the start of your stay.

Advanced

Although not highly regarded on the world map for serious skiers, Pas de la Casa does have hidden gems if you’re prepared to look for them. Cat skiing is offered in the Pedrus mountains for example, and the ski school can provide freeride courses and ski test camps. There are some challenging black runs including Avets above Soldeu and on powder days the terrain around Grau Roig is especially good. Here the new Pic Blanc chairlift accesses an especially designated freeride zone where the pistes are left unpisted but are patrolled for safety.

Snowboarding

Pas de la Casa is popular with boarders on and off the mountain. There are three freestyle areas in Grandvalira, the closest to Pas de la Casa is the Isards Park which is suited to beginners and intermediates. There is also a freestyle circuit in Grau Roig and an advanced park at Soldeu. The area also has two boardercross courses and a freeride zone.

Other Activities and Facilities

Duty free shopping is a major attraction at Pas de la Casa. Shops are open 360 days a year from 9.30am to 9pm every day except Sunday, when closing time is 7pm. Jewellery, perfume, electronics and sporting goods are amongst the most popular items to purchase.

Pas de la Casa’s own non-ski activities are limited, but nearby Grau Roig has been made the activity centre of Grandvalira with a mountain adventure centre. Here you can try paintballing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, igloo building, dog sledding, archery and rifle range, tobogganing or paragliding. About 15 minutes down the valley the sports centre in Canillo has an ice rink, swimming pool and squash courts).

The spa culture is also taking an increasing hold in Andorra with the luxurious Sport Wellness Mountain Spa at Pas de la Casa’s neighbour Soldeu and Caldea in the capital La Vella (20 minutes away) boasting everything from Aztec baths, Indo-Roman baths, waterfalls and much more, making it worth a day trip in itself.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Pas de la Casa is Andorra’s main party resort with a reputation for its 24 hour entertainment. The centre is relatively compact with dozens of bars and night spots serving low priced food and drinks. Popular venues include the Milwaukee Bar and Billboard disco.

Families

Pas de la Casa is marketed more as a young person’s ski resort than a family destination, but none-the-less there are some benefits for families staying here including affordable dining and a first rate ski school, which operates a ‘snow garden’ ski kindergarden for children aged three to six. This offers five days of five hour sessions with three hours daily in the snow garden and two hours indoor play. There isn’t a non-ski nursery however. Older children have special ski school classes tailored to them. After skiing families can head for the adventure sports centre at Grau Roig, although there is a new children’s snowmobiling operation on the Abelletes slope which opened last winter.

Accommodation in Pas de la casa

• Alaska - 3 star, self catering
• Aparthotel Alaska - 3 star, self catering
• Aparthotel Alaska - 3 star, self catering
• Aparthotel Alaska - 3 star, self catering
• Cal Ruiz - 4 star, self catering
• Cal Ruiz - 4 star, self catering
• Cal Ruiz - 4 star, half board
• Cal Ruiz - 4 star, half board
• Himalaia - 4 star, half board
• Himalaia - 4 star, half board
• Himalaia - 4 star, half board
• Himalaia - 4 star, half board
• Himalaia - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Cal Ruiz - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Camelot - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Camelot - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Chez Paulo - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Chez Paulo - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Chez Paulo - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Chez Paulo - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Cristina - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Himalaia Pas - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Llac Negre - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Llac Negre - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Llac Negre - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Llac Negre - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Magic - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Magic - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Magic - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Magic - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Magic Pas - 4 star, half board
• Manzano Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Manzano Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Olympiades Apartmentshotel - 3 star, self catering
• Olympiades Apartmentshotel - 3 star, self catering
• Panda - 2 star, half board
• Panda - 2 star, half board
• Reial Pirineus - 4 star, half board
• Sandi Iv Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Snowlakes Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Sporting - 3 star, self catering
• Sporting - 3 star, half board

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