 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, we’re heading to Granvilara for a few days in Feb - and planning to take the gondola up from Encamp. Is it possible to ski down at the end of the day - I’ve only found conflicting reports? And any recommendations/views on the area - we’re all experienced skiers. Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not to encamp, but you could to pass, grau , el tarter, or soldau, then get the bus back to encamp, would take a while 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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Not on a piste, it's easy off piste if the snow is there tho
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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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Thanks, that’s helpful - and explains the differing reviews  Any recommendations/tips for Andorra skiing generally?
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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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be prepared to drink beer and not coke, in the petrol station near the hotel we used it was 35c for a beer and 50c for a coke 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If you've got a car, or arrange a taxi, a day at arcalis is well worth it, good runs, good snow and usually very empty as not a ski resort, no accommodation etc.,
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And it's included on the gv lift pass,
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| Gitty wrote: |
| If you've got a car, or arrange a taxi, a day at arcalis is well worth it, good runs, good snow and usually very empty as not a ski resort, no accommodation etc., |
Thanks, that’s a great tip
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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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Arcalis is worth a day, also Pal/Arinsal, all included on your GV pass. There are busses to get around, someone told me they are free with ski pass but I am not certain on that.
If you have not yet booked your accom check out esquiades.com you can book accom there that includes ski pass/hire etc.
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Great, we’ve booked a car so won’t have to rely on buses
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Granvilara is by far the best ski area, but it's been a bit patchy so far with some of the link runs closed (you can still get around) Arcalis is good for a day but at present the lower section is very icy (at least it was a few days ago) and there aren't that many runs in the top section (also the Freebuses don't go to Arcalis now). Pal is also ok for a day and conditions were pretty good on Friday. Arinsal is good to learn on or if you just want to get a few runs in but soon gets boring (I live in Arinsal).
The Funicamp (big gondola up from Encamp) takes you right into the centre of GV. There are 8 levels of parking under it and you can park all day for 6 euros and change. You can't ski down to it though (if there's enough snow, which there currently isn't, you can off piste to the mid station of the Funicamp but I haven't done it).
If you drive up to El Tartar there's a car park behind the Hotel Nordic which has a chair lift nearby and you can (usually) ski down to that. Soldeu has a big car park too with a gondola (someone told me it's free with a lift pass this year but I'm not convinced about that) and you can ski down to that too.
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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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Roaming charges might be equal to South Africa, be aware!
I put in a couple of trip reports for El Tarter over the years.
Cheap ski gear in Espunyes in ET, and great grilled meat opposite.
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| Orange200 wrote: |
Roaming charges might be equal to South Africa, be aware!
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They are certainly steep and not included in most (all?) European roaming packages. Best advice is turn off roaming, especially data roaming, at the border. Certainly in Arinsal, and I expect all tourist areas, almost every business (cafe, bar, accommodation etc.) has free wifi available. It's worth collecting as many as you can, I've definitely stood outside last nights bar in the morning to hop onto the wifi to look something up. 
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You know it makes sense.
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The best black is Falco. The easiest black is Mirador. The best food on the mountain is at Llac de Pessons. The best views are from Rossinyol run. If there’s fresh snow, there’s a Naturide area off Llosada.
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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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| Tubaski wrote: |
| Orange200 wrote: |
Roaming charges might be equal to South Africa, be aware!
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They are certainly steep and not included in most (all?) European roaming packages. Best advice is turn off roaming, especially data roaming, at the border. Certainly in Arinsal, and I expect all tourist areas, almost every business (cafe, bar, accommodation etc.) has free wifi available. It's worth collecting as many as you can, I've definitely stood outside last nights bar in the morning to hop onto the wifi to look something up. |
the lift pass also gives you access to the resort wifi, I assume repeaters are only around the lift on/off points, but it worked well for us as a group to WhatsApp each other if we picked different routes
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Great help - thanks OSB. We know Andorra a little from summer visits, looking forward to seeing what the winter offers. Roaming costs are certainly something to avoid, will look at the Telecom link and do a snow dance or two!
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