 Poster: A snowHead
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I am driving to Soldeu on the 6th Jan for a week ..then on to France...are there checks on the border any bans for non vacinated ..( I am but my ski buddy isnt ) really looking forward to my trip round Europe...
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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 pasted some info in Resort Reviews in an Andorra thread I started, see if it helps.
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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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looking good! hopefully stays that way for when I'm there on the 12th December.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| DaveD wrote: |
| I am driving to Soldeu on the 6th Jan for a week ..then on to France...are there checks on the border any bans for non vacinated ..( I am but my ski buddy isnt ) really looking forward to my trip round Europe... |
just drove through from Tarascon to Spain with a camper that looks like a beat up contractor's van. They stopped me at the French border but when I said "camper" they changed their mind and let me through. Waved through at the Spanish border, where I saw a car that was stopped because they had their station wagon filled to the roof with tax free cigarettes. They don't care about corona measures, they care about money.
Same same but different a month ago at the Austrian border btw, the police stopped us, I prepared to show my vax certificate but they just wanted to verify we weren't shipping refugees...
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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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…and more… and webcam suggests Pas is open 
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Ski Touring today in Ax-3-Domaines I can confirm it's snowing, lots. Over to Baqueira next week for some lift assisted skiing, at last. I'll report back then on snow conditions and travel document requirements for movement between France and Spain.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@Onnem, that’s a lot more snow than we’ve had here in Andorra!
It’s been snowing, and there’s enough to ski on when the season opens on Friday.
@DaveD, I’ve put some info on the resort review thread about COVID measures. In summary, there are no restrictions at the border you’re free to come and go. I’ve driven through both borders in recent months in vans and cars and not been stopped once.
There are some restrictions and requirements for being indoors in public - masks are required. You’ll also need a COVID pass to get into bars and restaurants, and possibly lifts.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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I live quite low (1250m) and it’s been hammering it down for the last couple of hours. 
I think this is my new favourite website. Webcams at a good number of the major road junctions in Andorra. Probably quite boring when it’s not snowing, but when it is… https://www.mobilitat.ad/totes-les-cameres
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Poster: A snowHead
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I’m working, so won’t get out until Saturday, but everything is opening up. Pas and GraubRoig opens today with the rest of the Grandvalira following on Friday. Arcalis opens tomorrow and Vallnord on Friday. Looks like they’re all open up a touch early.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@hammerite, with any luck Saturday will be my first days skiing in Soldeu...
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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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| hammerite wrote: |
| I think this is my new favourite website. Webcams at a good number of the major road junctions in Andorra. Probably quite boring when it’s not snowing, but when it is… https://www.mobilitat.ad/totes-les-cameres |
Very useful, bookmarked.
I was surprised that Arinsal doesn't have a resort-level webcam - always nice to see if there's snow right down to the village - but I suppose it's less of an issue for them because the skiing is higher up the mountain.
Aside from the ever-growing panic about whether or not we'll make it out on the 19th, I'm second guessing myself that we should have done Soldeu/El Tarter..... mind you, it's the kids' first time skiing so they probably won't be fussed about amount of terrain, and I'll probably be like Bambi on ice so maybe Arinsal/Pal is just right.
Just gotta figure out how we get Xmas pressie in the suitcases.....
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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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My son is gutted, he decided against the Swansea Uni ski trip to Andorra the week after next as his mate who had done a season out there said he didn't think there'd be enough snow that early in the season.
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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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| dunc999 wrote: |
| My son is gutted, he decided against the Swansea Uni ski trip to Andorra the week after next as his mate who had done a season out there said he didn't think there'd be enough snow that early in the season. |
Does seem a good amount so far, and more to come over tthe weekend - 50cm at least by the looks of the forecast.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@dunc999, do you know which resort they are going to?
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Pas De La Casa - 10th-18th Dec 400 of them 
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Thanks, I'll give it a wide berth 
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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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@Specialman, I drove up to Arinsal yesterday afternoon to have a nose around. I drove up to the chairlift. There’s plenty of snow to be able to ski back down. I took a photo and will try and get it on here later when I’m not at work.
Re: Christmas presents… take small ones with you. Any big ones leave at home. We used to tell Jnr that Santa’s delivered twice because he knows we have a luggage limit for getting back home. One year he just had a couple of very small presents to open on the day. When we got back something like 28th Dec Jnr walked into the kitchen to something covered in dustbin sacks… a new bike. There’s no way I was taking that out!
@pieman666, I’m likely to be skiing from Soldeu on Saturday too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| pieman666 wrote: |
| Thanks, I'll give it a wide berth |
Don't blame you!! He is desperately trying to find out if there are any cancellations.
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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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| hammerite wrote: |
@Specialman, I drove up to Arinsal yesterday afternoon to have a nose around. I drove up to the chairlift. There’s plenty of snow to be able to ski back down. I took a photo and will try and get it on here later when I’m not at work.
Re: Christmas presents… take small ones with you. Any big ones leave at home. We used to tell Jnr that Santa’s delivered twice because he knows we have a luggage limit for getting back home. One year he just had a couple of very small presents to open on the day. When we got back something like 28th Dec Jnr walked into the kitchen to something covered in dustbin sacks… a new bike. There’s no way I was taking that out!
@pieman666, I’m likely to be skiing from Soldeu on Saturday too. |
Good news that the run back down (Josep Serra??) is pisted, means a lot of vertical in one hit.
And great minds think alike....We've elected to have our Christmas Day on the 18th to open main pressies - told our youngest that Santa is being extra special by coming early just for her - then have a nice lunch and head up to Manchester for the overnight at the airport after we've sorted a test for the 12yo. Lots of useful small presents going out with us in luggage, stuff to keep the kids occupied on evenings. Mind you, Xmas day is our last day in resorts so we may change things around a little, we'll play it by ear. Anyway, we're staying at the Princessa Parc, so there's bowling, games and a kids club apparently, so shouldn't be left wanting for entertainment.
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OMG! Baqueira looks immense right now!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@mortonia, fantastic, just three more sleeps for me...
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Poster: A snowHead
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Three sleeps for me too!
Collected season pass last night. Got some free socks!? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Free socks! can't be bad. Ski socks I presume?
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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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@pieman666, They’re ski sock length, but I’d say more compression type socks. I’ve not bought ski socks for years though, so maybe thick ones aren’t the order of the day any more!
I also got what seems like a stack of parking tickets. I need to look through how to use them!
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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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El Tarter always used to be free parking. Soldeu is paid for but inside and so good in bad weather so worth seeing if they work there.
Ski socks are thin now, so sounds like that's what they are!
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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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What is the drive like from Toulouse to Soldeu/El Tarter? Shared transfer times dont seem to work for our flight times.
It seems like there is plenty of parking choices.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Redmaximo, it’s ok. Motorway/dual carriageway for a good proportion up until Tarascon. It’s then a slower road from Tarascon to Ax Les Thermes. After that you hit the climb proper to get up to Pas. It’s not ridiculously steep, but it is wind-y. In good conditions it’s fine, in not so good conditions I’d imagine it would be unpleasant. Once you get into Andorra you go through the tunnel and then head down the hill to El Tarter.
If travelling at peak tourist time, you might get stuck at the border.
One thing to take into account is the probable need for a Covid test to enter France. No test required for Spain, and I’d say the journey in is much easier from Barcelona airport.
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@Redmaximo, also in general as the Spanish side enters Andorra at a lower height the roads are cleared more quickly after snow fall than the French side.
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| pieman666 wrote: |
| @Redmaximo, also in general as the Spanish side enters Andorra at a lower height the roads are cleared more quickly after snow fall than the French side. |
Yes, not only is it much lower, but the snow line is usually much higher towards Spain than it is once you get into the valleys beyond Andorra La Vella. I get snow where I live at 1,250m, yet above ALV the snow line can be 1,400m (just 6km away from mine). It gets higher the closer to Spain you get. The Spanish border does tend to be a bit busier than the French one though.
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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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Thanks everyone. We are getting the hire car in france. Just checked out the road on google maps, looks quite fun.
I guess its hard to tell, as no one can predict the weather, But do you normally need to use snow chains ?
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I have driven from Spain through ALV to El Tarter 4 or 5 times in a 4x4 with summer tyres and never needed chains. It’s a main road, they are fast at clearing it. The problem can be if your accommodation is up a side road, which can be very steep and will wait for time to be cleared if after heavy snow. So you’ll have 10km no problem and 300m of problem! Maybe you can pick up cheap snow socks from a garage on the way if webcams suggest it’s dumping as you arrive.
Are you aware of mobile phone bill shock? Be careful!
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FAQ
