 Poster: A snowHead
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anyone been to soldeu during half term before? thinking of going to Andorra or Pyrenees on 16th Feb but not sure if it will be too busy and best to go elsewhere. if so, where?
thanks in advance for any advice
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I don't think it'll be a particular problem at half term; the majority of people in Andorra are Spanish and French, and I don't think they have the same holiday dates. In any case, Grandvalira is big and can accommodate plenty of people.
As for elsewhere, it depends what kind of thing you prioritize in a ski holiday... you'll need to give some clues!
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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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zockel, there will be more Brits, but ok probably less crowded than the T/O French offerings. Have been to Soldeu 3 time at half term, would advise to go away from the main runs and it will be fine. 
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Pyremaniac, geoffknight, thanks for your advice.
although we have been to soldeu before, never at half term so thought it may be too busy. the alternatives we are considering are Font Romeu, Baqueira-Beret or other close French/Spanish resorts in the Pyrenees. Having never been to these others before we don't know whether to give them a try or go back to Soldeu albeit on a busier week. We are tied to 16th to 21st Feb and will have a car for getting around.
Pyremaniac, one thing we are not keen on is busy slopes! maybe you have experience of some of the other resorts which we are considering?
thanks again
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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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zockel, great; they were the three options I had in mind. Font Romeu is probably too small for you on its own, but as part of a joint pass for all of the seven or so Neiges Catalanes resorts it's definitely an interesting choice. There'll be nobody in any of them on weekdays. The resorts are all small, but with character, and the holiday will feel like a mini roadtrip!
Baqueira is definitely another interesting possibility, which will be quieter than Grandvalira at half term because it's much less known in Britain and there are very few TOs there. Grandvalira is great for cruisy motorway pistes and sheer pisted area (with plenty of off-piste too, as you'll have already seen), but Baqueira wins on beautiful/traditional setting, lots of local culture and history, and fantastic off-piste including fairly high-level challenges; it speaks for itself that it's the same surface area as Grandvalira but with only half the amount of pisted kilometers. It's less commercial and is slightly "wilder", and they tend not to bash the pistes very often compared to Andorra, which tends to divide opinion a lot. You'll possibly find it harder to get a cheap all-inclusive package than in Grandvalira, but if you know some Spanish try http://www.esquiades.com/ and http://www.nevasport.com/viajes/ as well as the resort's own website.
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Pyremaniac, thanks for your detailed reply. Will have a look at those websites today and also find out more about the Neiges Catalanes resorts. A few different options to consider now.
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We ski Soldeu, every 1/2 term, a freind has an apartment that we use, so it's a cheap option for us. The main lift out of Soldeu will have a huge queue on monday morning but this soon disappears, followed by chaos checking into ski school. Once you have survived this, the mountain is relatively quiet for 1/2 term week compared to alpine resorts.
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Zockel: Depending on where you are driving from, Neiges Catalanes should be fun. You could stay in Font Romeu or Les Angles and have another four resorts within 20 min driving distance, and then have Grandvalira or Portes Puymerond within an hours drive provided the French Andorran border is open. Les Angles is best for numerous reds, Espace Cambe d'Aze for super quiet, Font Romeu for several blacks, Portes Puymerons for altitude difference.
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Thanks everyone for all of this detailed information. We have decided to try the Neiges Catalanes and really looking forward to exploring some new areas. Booked to stay in Font Romeu and travel out from there.
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Zockel: Good choice! I'm out there from Wed evening to Sat (staying in Corneilla de Conflent in the valley about 30 mins from Mont Louis) so if there is anything you want me to check out on your behalf let me know.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Dr. Will, have a great trip! If you get chance would appreciate a report back afterwards. One question that does spring to mind after looking at the websites - can you get a Neiges Catalanes lift pass for 4 or 5 days? Have only seen 6 or 7 days on internet sale. Thanks
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