Poster: A snowHead
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hi there looking to take my wife and two children (who have never skied b4 )to arinsal on 17thapril for a week according to any imfo i can find the slopes are due to close in arinsal on the 23rd depending on weather although acrolis ? is supposed to stay open till 29th ( same ski pass ) is this too much of a gamble so close to season end ?? what do you experts think ? also should i book ski's ,passes here or wait until arrival ???any help or advice mucxh appreciated thx for looking
p.s.-anyone know of any good accomodation or any to stay clear of ?? have been looking at the xalet besoli but cant decide if its ok for kids , cheer s again
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jackas, friends who regulrly go to Andorra say it's too hot and sunny that late in the season. I've never been though
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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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I was skiing there right through to May, but that was a good few years ago and even then the conditions at that time of year were not the best - wouldn't be ideal for beginners (you don't want to put them off for life with morning ice and afternoon slush!).
That late in the season if you want a chance of reasonable conditions that beginners might enjoy I would play safe and stick to the high, snow-sure French resorts (though still no guarantees!). Or you could leave it late to book and wait to see where the snow is holding up.
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do you think ordeno - arcalis be any better do you think? Thnx for ur advice
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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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Arcalis is certainly higher, and traditionally has the better conditions, but there is (or at least was) no 'resort' there, and thus no accommodation. You would have to stay down in Ordino or La Massana, which are a drive away from the skiing (I don't remember there being a ski bus, but that may have changed).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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how far away is arcalis from arinsal would it be too far for a daily journey if that were the case ?we will ahve a car ,problem is this is the only week we can go so am rally trying to find a way round it but dont want it to be a waste of time , thx for the info
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I dont know about that late in the season - you may be better off high up in France.
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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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Yes that seems to be general opinion, but have struggled to find accom so etheir it is fully booked or the hotels have maybee closed!!
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jackas, Easter weekend I think.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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[quote="jackas"]
jackas wrote: |
how far away is arcalis from arinsal would it be too far for a daily journey if that were the case ? |
Andorra is tiny, nowhere is far away. The only problem is Andorra City which can suffer from traffic congestion but the road from Pal-Arinsal to Arcalis is dead quiet.
I've been the last week of the season - somewhere around the end of April. It snowed at the weekend and Arinsal was a real blast on the Saturday and Sunday. It then closed (despite having great snow - what a waste) and we moved to Pas for a day. Pas then closed as the owner's son had been killed in an avalanche and everything shut down. We went up to Arclasis for the day which was fantastic, great between the pistes skiing. La Coma is very wild whereas the Arclasis side is pretty rugged with lots of little couloirs and gorges to ski through.
To be honest by the end of the week Grau-Roig, although skiable at altitude, was getting very wet at the car-park level. We didn't ski Soldeu as it closed the same weekend as Pal.
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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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We've been to Arinsal twice now (last week in March 05 and 2nd week in Jan 06) as have had beginners with us for the last couple of years. We leave them to learn in Arinsal and go off to Pal and Arcalis for better skiing. We then take them with us by the end of the week.
The last week in March was fine - bit slushy in pm, but still 75% pistes open.
Arcalis is fantastic and empty and yes there is a ski bus but not from Arinsal directly. You would have to get the free bus to La Massana (2km) and then the ski bus to Arcalis (14km?). These run about 5 times per day (each way) and take 50 mins. Alternatively you could get a taxi at a cost of approx 27 euro from arinsal - takes 20-25mins. Make sure you get off the bus/taxi at the second drop off point if you want the nursery slopes or its a long walk!
It would be better to stay in La Massana (has direct gondola to Pal), but then you have to get beginners to get to ski school in Arinsal by 9:30! Its not far only 2km by free bus, but still not as easy as walking from the hotel!
We have stayed at Aparthotel Sant Andreu which was clean and comfortable - food was good for kids but not v exciting! Also stayed at Xalet Verdu - nice hotel, v helpful staff - food was very catalan, fine if you like meat! Good buffet and breakfast tho. There are quite a few nice restaurants in Arinsal to try if not to your liking.
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Sebee, welcome to snowHeads .
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