05 April 2015 Trip to Andorra - El Tarter (Grandvalira) or Arinsal (Vallnord) please?
As it says on the tin
Looking at a 1-week trip.
Both areas look to have great snow coverage.
Cost is practically the same.
My girlfriend Nerys & I going.
She can ski all grades of piste and is comfortable in red gradient off-piste terrain including trees.
All thoughts and recommendations gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 16-04-15 21:09; edited 2 times in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Having seen the kind of thing you ski, and given your girlfriend's level, I suspect that the Arinsal ski sector will bore you both to tears, so you'd be making good use of the connection over to Pal where there are reasonable reds and good tree skiing, although both sectors are very small. But the main reason for choosing Vallnord would be to have access to Arcalís on the free Vallnord bus (50 mins) yet combining it with the small but active town of Arinsal. (Arcalís is the for the off-piste and tree skiing, the more local, crowdless and authentic atmosphere, and the view from the top of the peak you can walk up to above the Creussans lift exit.)
I'd personally recommend doing Grandvalira, which is much bigger, and then driving to Arcalís for day trips if you have a car. (It can also be done using public transport from Grandvalira to La Massana changing at either Encamp (ideally) or La Vella, and then hopping on the Vallnord bus, but that would be a rigmarole really - though still worth it if there's a bluebird powder day.)
In Grandvalira, El Tarter is pretty and is the best entrance for convenience IMO, but it has very little in the way of services: just two bar-cum-restaurants (although one of them, the piste-side Abarset, is fun on Thurs-Sat apres-ski, with DJs, and the other gets busy later on those same days). Soldeu is an alternative choice with many more services but with a bit of a predictable Brits-on-holiday atmosphere. Soldeu is a 20-minute walk uphill from El Tarter. And if you like chilled-out, Canillo is nice and relaxed, with services, but with a less convenient entrance to skiing due to it being gondola-only back to the village (and not walkable fron the other sectors).
Grandvalira and Vallnord are separate lift passes, but if you're doing DIY you can buy a 5-day (and only 5-day) joint pass from any of the resorts' ticket offices if you give them a passport photo; see www.skiandorra.ad
[Edited to clarify where to buy the joint pass]
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 23-03-15 18:08; edited 1 time in total
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?
Another +1 for Grandvalira - I'd recommend Soldeu as it's located perfectly to access the whole area.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thanks
After all it is free
After all it is free
Booked.
A week's half board in El Tarter with Neilsen for £450
Just need the temps to drop and we'll be styling.
Thanks again.
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.
Any and all recommendations for
lunch
dinner
drinks
guide
gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
If you want lunch on the hill, then the AndBurger place at the top of the Funicamp is pretty good - has a huge outdoor balcony eating area with amazing views across all the nearby mountains - arguably better views than the altitude restaurants I would say.
Obviously not particularly 'local' food (though all the meat is Andorran) but worth it for the views from that terrace on a sunny day!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Great. Thanks.
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.
A visit to the Pessons bar and restaurant is a must. Stunning location and food. The only piste to it is marked red on the map but I would say it is more blue, only rd because its narrow.
Only resort I know where you can get a beer on the slopes for less than in resort!!
Just for info you can get back to El Tarter from the bottom of Pass de la Casse by using only 3 lift; TSD 6 FONT NEGRE,TSD 4 CUBIL and TSD 6 PLA DE LES PEDRES SOLDEU If you ski quickly you can do it in just over an hour.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Excellent. Ta
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Forgot to mention (I'm not affiliated with the site) but if you buy your lift pass from pasdelacasa-andorra.com, it includes passes for a free sandwich lunch (sandwich, fries and a drink) each day at the altitude restaurants and cafes (including that AndBurger I mentioned above) for the same price as just a lift pass costs.
They're in the packages section not I'm the lift pass section.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Cheers
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Mike Pow, just came back from El Tarter and stayed at the Neilson half board hotel in El Tarter, assume you mean Hotel del Clos?
Had a great time, entertainment was good (Lloyd) ski guiding good (Lloyd again!) and food not bad, just could have been warmer. All staff very helpful and accommodating.
You will have a great time. I also vote for the Pessons bar, we had a few good stops there, I even managed to break tmychair to the hilarity of Lloyd and the ski guiding group - described as a slow motion graceful collapse
In addition try the refuge at the top of the Llosada chairlift. Mainly something on toast but the toppings were all freshly cooked and interesting - Catalan version of fast food, but not tapas
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Music to my ears. Many thanks.
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?
Going same week (El tarter Xalet Casale) so watching this thread with interest also. Many thanks everyone for the tips!
Thanks for joint ski pass link..... We are dedicated Arcalis skiers who never quite get round to skiing anywhere in Grand Valira but know we would like to... Next Feb maybe!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Real mix of weather at the moment, but seems to be net gain not net loss
@Mike Pow, Went to El Tarter last season with 1 beginner and 3 inters and all had a ball. Stayed in a Pierre Vacance residence which was probably the best ski accom ive ever stayed in. The town itself is very quiet which was ok for us and we ate at the same restaurant every night as it was the only one we could find but the food was great. It was called Dylans ! Would recommend pre-booking the lift passes with free lunch vouchers which saved us a fortune. Choice of various burgers with fries and even a beer if you so required. We stored our skis and boots right at the bottom of the slope behind the ski hire shop, was about 30 euros for the week and just about squeezed 4 sets of skis,boots and poles in.
The pistes were fantastic and taking the journey over to Pas was quite a trip but some superb open bowls on the way. Even our beginner did it after day 3 !
The run back into El Tarter at the end of the day was always a pleasure with a bit of off piste using the jumps behind the snow cannons. Would definitely recommend and the only downside is the transfer to and from the airport. We hired a car from Girona and it took about 3.5 hours, easy drive and meant no leaving resort at stupid o clock for an afternoon flight. Also there is loads of free parking in El Tarter if your accom doesn't have it.
Im driving to Morillon in the Grand Massif next Thursday and cant wait
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Many thanks dozey69.
Enjoy Morillon
After all it is free
After all it is free
Are there vegetarian and/or fish options with the combined lift pass & food ticket please?
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.
It's just a sandwich menu so sandwich chips and drink so yes I think there were vegi options but fairly limited (i.e cheese I think).
The passes work at lots of places though (full list on the grandvalira website) so they'll likely have different things to offer
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
They do a vegetarian sandwich with roast veg, egg & goats cheese, which is quite nice but does get a little monotonous after a few days. For non vegetarians you can also have the hot sandwiches, bacon, burgers etc, and chicken wings. We have used the deal a few times over the past few years, have usually found it best to eat lunch after 2 pm, after the ski cool rush, big queues otherwise.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Many thanks both
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.
Arrived yesterday.
Gatwick - Barcelona, then coach to the Hotel Del Clos run by Neilson.
Seamless. Very impressed.
Welcome drink and nibbles on arrival.
Room with balcony is massive, and superb view of the slopes.
Dinner and breakfast very good and plentiful.
Bottles of sparkling white €10. Happy days
Off out now to ski. Not a cloud in the ski. Looks like perfect spring conditions.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Many thanks to the snowheads who provided valuable info which was instrumental in booking our holiday.
TR: El Tarter, Grandvalira, Andorra 05-12 April 2015
Got back to Wales on 02 April after a fantastic season on Hokkaido, northern Japan and my good lady Nerys and I were looking for a week of European Spring skiing.
With the help of snowheads and snow-forecast.com we plumped for El Tarter, Grandvalira, Andorra.
Everything open, cool temperatures and sunshine.
And the price was right!
£450 for 7-nights half board accommodation at the Neilsen run Hotel del Clos at El Tarter.
Flew Gatwick to Lleida (outside Barcelona) and then bus transfer up to resort.
3 hr transfer with stop half way at Restaurant Can Valls for around 20 mins.
Glorious sunshine and views on the ride up, and dropped outside the hotel.
We'd booked a balcony room for a £30 supplement. Well worth it to have fresh air and views.
We were in Room 401 which had a more private balcony than the other fourth floor rooms.
Large bedroom, Austrian twin beds, en suite. Very good.
Drinks and nibbles and welcome speech on arrival.
Then bottles of local white sparkling for 10 euros for the rest of the night
Dinner was choice of two starters and two desserts and then buffet for mains, vegetables, salads, bread & cheese.
Coffee or tea.
Very good food, plenty of choice, could be a little warmer.
Breakfast was hot & contintental 7-9 am, then contintental 9-10
Great.
Day 1: Monday 06 April 2015
There was free ski storage at the hotel but we chose to rent a locker at the base of the El Tarter lifts for 48 euros for 6 days.
Short snow free walk from the hotel to the lifts and then we were off.
No queues, even though it was Easter Monday.
Conditions were firm to good with the manmade snow staying dry and chalky all day and the natural snow warming through the afternoon to a sand like consistency by day's end.
Huge ski area - 210 km of piste - with unlimited off-piste beside and between the runs. The corn cycle hadn't kicked in so the off-piste was rock hard and lumpy.
Skied from El Tarter over to Pas De La Casa, back over and down to Canillo, and then down home.
Had lunch over at Font Negre in the sunshine listening to Vintage Reggae Cafe, which set the tone for the trip.
Never spent more than 15 euros each per day for snacks, lunch and drinks.
Great first day.
Day 2: Tuesday 07 April 2015
Much the same as Day 1 but spent more time in the Grau Roig sector.
Lunch at the Hotel Iglu. 12 euros for a large glass of bubbly, a fresh oyster and three strips of raw salmon. Fabulous.
Day 1 & 2 video
Vintage Reggae Cafe with Stereo Dub
SET FIRE TO THE RAIN
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much on Wed 26-08-15 15:09; edited 3 times in total
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Day 3: Wednesday 08 April 2015
Another great day on the slopes and I took a couple of walks.
First the 'Canal d'encampadana' above El Tarter
And then the Cortals route down to Encamp. Got to this chute too late and sideslipped most of it as it went from spring soft to bulletproof and rutted in about 5 minutes
The ski out to the Encamp gondola mid station was great, with an interesting walk on a rope bridge over the river.
Too late to take the gondola back up, so down to Encamp and then the bus back up to El Tarter.
Day 4: Thursday 09 April 2015
Day 3 & 4 video
Vintage Reggae Cafe with General Soundbwoy
HELLO
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Wed 26-08-15 15:12; edited 1 time in total
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I think you chose the right place in Andorra.
The Lass was in Arinsal for that week, and the week before, and reported that the snow was slush....with slush at the top, bottom and middle.
No corn, no ice...just slush.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Phew.
Disappointed that we couldn't do the Neilsen day trip over to Arcalis - not enough people signed up - and would definitely return to the area to ski Grandvalira and Vallnord.
And go heliskiing
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?
Hi all - anyone know if you can go up the bottom cable car as a pedestrian with a push chair? We will have a full lift pass anyway
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
