 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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been to Andorra many times highly recommend either soldeu or arinsal.The blue runs are really blue and the red runs are dark blue at best.both have excellent ski schools and reasonably priced for après ski.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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you'll be fine in andorra
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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did you take lessons in Bulgaria? If not lessons are certainly a good idea; will give you much more confidence. The slopes in Bulgaria sound horribly crowded - being knocked over once is very bad luck, being knocked over several times awful. Sympathies.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Em1986, that resort sounds absolutely horrendous in terms of crowds/accidents  . But great that you had such a fantastic time!
Grandvalira in Andorra will be perfect match for you. Plenty of easy stuff, plenty of scope for progression, and you'll be able to move between all the sectors.
For a base to stay, Soldeu is a functional, perhaps somewhat bland, ski village rather than a pretty historical settlement, though nothing like the commercial horror that is Pas de la Casa - don't stay there - nor the architectural monstrosities that can be found in certain other European resorts. Its (rather modern) buildings are stone/wood, and it has a fun vibe with lively (and very British) apres-ski and nightlife, and some of the bars/hotels have nice sun terraces overlooking the slopes.
The next village down, El Tarter, accesses exactly the same easy beginner-intermediate blues as Soldeu, which you should spend your first day or so on, but has hardly any restaurants/bars outside of the hotels so is probably not what you're looking for in a ski holiday - in fact I'd be surprised if any British TOs go there.
And Canillo is more family-oriented with quiet but nice restaurants and café-bars, but it's less ideal for you in terms of the pistes it serves (ie your daily connections out to and home from the rest of the resort). If Canillo's your thing, you're best off getting the free bus to Soldeu for the first few days.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The English ski school in Andorra is excellent, I think it's one of the best in Europe for both group and private lessons so definitely get yourself booked in and enjoy 
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Thanks! Only 4.5 months to go!!
We are staying at the sport village hotel.... has anyone stayed there before?
Had a trip to the snowdome in the summer and I was suprised at how much I picked up in Bansko .... With 2 hours at the snowdome I was doing quicker turns closer together and picking up much more speed and generally much more confident... I was skiing completely differently to what I was doing in Bansko so I must have learnt something in my week.... 
A little hesitant about this trip as my OH is a dare devil and we are going along this season despite trying to get people to come with us.. we have agreed to go our seperate ways if he wants to do more challenging runs than I feel comfortable with but I know he will try and talk me into running before I can walk.
I can do it .. its just confidence and I plan to build some this trip!!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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We were inSoldeu 2 years ago and are staying at the Piolets in the first week of Jan. a great resort and I am sure you will love it there is a mix of different runs so you won't get bored!
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I know he will try and talk me into running before I can walk.
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tell him to get lost.  It's not "just confidence" you also need a range of different skills safely to tackle more difficult runs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bansko doesn't sound like a pleasant experience at all, I'm amazed you loved it so much despite all that. Hopefully you can find some quieter pistes in Andorra to build your confidence.
Personally I'd spend the week having lessons and let the OH go off and do tougher runs at his own pace. You don't want to end up rowing.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I have never been to Bansko, but if it is anything like Borovets I wouldn't go. Borovets had a blue/green run crossing through the middle of their black, and it was very narrow, so my girlfriend who is a very nervous skiier absolutely hated it.
I have been to Andorra four times now, Pas de la Casa three times and El Tartar once. ET was when I was younger so can't really comment on it. Pas De La Casa I have been the last two years though, and I find it great there. The big problem is there is only one slope that connects the ski area to the resort, which can become quite crowded and difficult to ski in the latter part of the day. Soledeu is situated more in the middle of the Grandvalira though, so seems like more options getting back.
Pas isn't as very pretty place, but if your looking for a good time, and cheap apres ski then it is a good resort, with a very decent ski area. Soledeu seems a lot more family friendly, and if your not really looking for nightlife as well as skiing then it seems like the better resort, as it is defiantly better connected. I went ski school here twice when I was younger and found it great, and my girlfriend went the first year and preferred it to the Bulgarian ski school! You'll have a great time!
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Em1986, I would strongly advise on Soldeu as your base ,it's in the centre of the ski area going you options each day on which way to go, also you can download on the gondola at the end of the day if you don't fancy the bunfight which can happen.
The instruction is excellent, there are many UK or English speaking instructors which helps in the early days of leaning to slide properly.
In the village at night there are some decent restaurants and bars, some lively some not so, I'm considering going again this year to help bring on my 10 yr old son.
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You know it makes sense.
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Most of the incidents you see or were involved in are people who don't know or have never been taught slope rules.
Many schools teach this, but a lot don't and it doesn't matter where u go.
Stopping mid run, not staying at side of runs or piste etc. All can cause incidents
I have been going to Bansko since 2006 , several times each season , both summer and winter , and can say 99% of incidents are due to above, or a lot of crashes caused by self taught people who THOINK they know better than instructors or pros
Went to France and had rude skiers and lifties , paykng over the odds to get abused ...NO THANKS
Also depending on when you went to how busy it can be , but that goes for all resorts in the world
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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In 2013 we did Bansko in January, with all the hassles you talk of (my partners 11 yr old daughter was run over the top of by some English idiot that obviously hadn't skied before. Lucky for him she got up). Went to Grandvalira 2 months later and were gutted we'd spent the money on Bansko, Andorra is so far above Bansko in everyway that you will have an absolute ball. We'll be back for 3rd time in January. Enjoy
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good luck getting to the resort 
Soldeu has had 190cm of snow in the last 7 days!!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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are you going to have lessons this time? Standards of tuition in Andorra sound very high.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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