Grandvalira - introduction

When considering budget ski holidays, Andorra isn’t always high on the list. The tiny country between Spain and France can be forgotten about by UK skiers, used to the Alps.

However, thanks to its duty-free status, Andorra’s main resort of Grandvalira is a much more competitive option than most Alpine destinations. Moreover, while the resort’s ski infrastructure was once lacking, intense investment and infrastructure building over the past 30 years have meant that its value for money has soared, with high-quality hotels, a sophisticated lift system, and over 215km of interconnected piste. Andorra has since declared skiing their national sport, not having had one up to that point—a wise move, and one from which they've never looked back.

The resort caters to skiers of all abilities and styles, though it leans best towards intermediates. Snowfall is reliable owing to its altitude, with extensive coverage by snow cannons where it fails, while the weather is practically Mediterranean, with over 300 days of sun. For families, the resort’s ski schools have a formidable reputation for sensibly priced lessons, with a high percentage of instructors who are native English speakers.

The only downside is that it’s a little harder to reach. Perched high in the spectacular Pyrenees, Andorra has no railway lines or, indeed, airports. The nearest station is the Gare d'Andorre-L'Hospitalet terminus, sat across the border in France. Thankfully, this is only a twenty-minute drive away—arguably better than some Alpine resorts.

Despite not being a member of the EU, Andorra uses the Euro. Locals speak Catalan, as well as French and Spanish (for strange historic reasons, the country has two heads of state: Spanish Bishop and the French President).

Highlights

• Fantastic range of skiing on a network linking seven villages
• No language problems whatsoever
• Plenty of excellent beginners' slopes
• Impressive choice of accommodation, with plenty of new development
• Cheap and lively après-ski scene 
• Great Catalan cuisine
  
  

Lowlights

• The resort’s move upmarket has pushed up the prices (relative to what they used to be)
• The shuttle bus service between the villages can sometimes be unreliable
• Non-ski activities are pretty limited in some of the base villages, requiring a shuttle bus to the valley’s more populous ends