 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking for a little bit of advice about where to do a season in the Pyrenees.
We're two 30somethings, not particularly bothered about nightlife other than a restaurant or two. I am a software developer who may or may not be working remotely (yet to be decided) - my girlfriend has work opportunities which would see her travel to Toulouse / Perpignan but also with some remote work. Fast internet is probably required. Skiing-wise, I'm enthusiastic but a bit poo-poo, with about 12 weeks since 2012, she's cautious and better than me ;( and has been skiing since she was a teenager. She also speaks French, neither of us speak Catalan or Castilian.
I tend to find a nice long detachable lift and just lap it when skiing. She likes to explore different areas and travel a bit.
On the shortlist, I've had:
- Neiges Catalanes, maybe based on Les Angles. Close to Perpignan, a number of resorts on the season lift pass. French speaking. A bit worried about snow quality though!
- Andorra, no idea where to base ourselves, I think there's a lift pass for all of Andorra? Any visa requirements for a long stay?
- Baqueira / Vielha - looks to have good snow making and decent vertical / length of runs, but the season pass is €990 (!!!!!)
I intend to fit winter tyres to the car and drive out so we'll have a car. Slightly complicating this is that we may not be in the area until mid January (when my current contract ends), and possibly not until the start of February as we may need to base ourselves in the Massif Central for a few weeks beforehand.
Also we're currently in Vielha (for different non-snow related seasons), heading towards Puigcerda, so could make a few easy detours!
Any comments or advice would be great - quite possibly I've missed obvious ones?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Pas de la casa in Andorra is high for the Pyrenees and right on the border so a lot of French speakers as well. It's part of the Grandvalira area which has 200km of runs. You could also stay in La Vella the capital which is approx 45mins down the mountain. I've not been to Vallnord the other resort but I believe it's about an hours drive from the capital so it's still viable to visit 1 if staying in the other.
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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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Many resorts in the Pyrenees have snow records better than many alpine resorts. By far the biggest snow depths recorded in Europe were in the pyrenees last year. Andorra offers the biggest range of skiing, some of it not as developed and commercialised as you'd think.
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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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Many resorts in the Pyrenees have snow records better than many alpine resorts. By far the biggest snow depths recorded in Europe were in the pyrenees last year. Andorra offers the biggest range of skiing, some of it not as developed and commercialised as you'd think.
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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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@driz, my OH did a couple of seasons in Baqueira, and rather liked it. Mind you she was a lot younger then, there were more nightclubs and she took full advantage of the Spanish lifestyle... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I forgot to mention how insanely cheap the booze is in Andorra as it's a duty free tax haven, I think I'd develop a serious problem staying there for any length of time 
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@driz, there are a few recent threads on this but I've done Baqueira isnt a bad choice.
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Les Angles is Ok - you'll run out of new runs fairly fast but it has nice views lots of nice small resorts within an easy drive eg less than an hour from each other (Puyvalador etc) . Also easy to get down to say Perpignan and not far from Andorra either
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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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I quite like Les Angles and Formigueres is just down the road, small but seems to get dumped with snow! Great for progressing your off-piste stuff.
Close to Carcassonne as well as Perpignan for flight options.
Will you be skiing in the Massif Central?
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Bit of a trip report / scouting report here. I'm now back from Catalonia, where we took the route Lleida -> Vielha -> La Seu D'Urgell -> Llivia -> Cardona.
Did location scouting missions to Baqueira, Boi / Taull, Port Aine, La Molina / Masella, Nuria, and Les Angles.
Wasn't all that keen on Vielha as a town, seemed to be in a very deep hole compared to surrounds and felt a bit dark and damp even in October with good weather. Baqueira as a resort looked good though - did the drive over the Port de la Bonaigua a few times and it's certainly more steep mountainy than some of the other places! Are these passes kept open during winter? How is the pass to France from there... similar or a bit lower?
We ended up really enjoying Llivia and Puigcerda, and from there I did a recon to Les Angles via Font Romeu just to check out roads etc - seems like a fairly easy drive so I think the plan will be to find an apartment somewhere in this area. Being in a very large plateau (?) means it felt a lot less dark, too.
A season pass is only €550 for Neiges Catalanes which would probably keep us busy enough. Difficult to justify the €990 for Baqueira-Beret, even if I suspect the skiing / lift system might be better... Could even add a weekday ATONATEU pass for FGC resorts and go to some of the other places mentioned above (eg La Molina) and still have change from the BaqBer rate.
I am also very tempted by Pas de la Casa and Andorra - thanks for this suggestion - and it's also in this general area. I think the deciding factor will be what we can find accommodation-wise.
Re: Massif Central - yeah, planning to ski here too. Probably a week at Mont Dore / Puy de Sancy and a week at Le Lioran. Fingers crossed for a proper cold winter.
This all makes the assumption that the work stuff comes off, otherwise it'll probably be a Tirol Snow Card and off to Austria!
Thanks for all the feedback!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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If Andorra, then definitely base yourself in a resort inthe Grandvalira ski area, as the area is huge. Personally, I'm a big fan of Soldeu - a bit more chilled out than Pas (but has enough bars and restaurants to keep things fun!)
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