 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello,
I am going to Pas de la Casa in Andorra with some friends on Sunday for a week, Does anyone have any good advice for the resort? the best runs? best places for food?
also, whats the snow like as i been reading varried reports!
Thanks
Chris
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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there is a pizza place at the bottom of the Soldeu gondolla that is great (or at least was a couple of years ago)
if you are buying drinks, stick to bottles as they do free hand pours and it is very easy to get wasted without realising how much you are drinking, as one of our party found out.
Ski gear is pretty cheap as a tax haven and sometimes hotels arrange a discount for you at local shops.
if you go for lessons try for ones in the morning as this gives afternoon for fun.
Other things to do are snow mobiles and dog sleding
have fun 
Soldeu links and reports
http://www.geocities.com/daggers_jones/ski2006/index.html
http://www.snowmediazone.com/the_zone/showgallery.php?cat=588
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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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Pas de la Casa is quite a sizeable town and there are literally loads of bars, restaurants and shops. Even with the dodgy exchange rate you should find it quite cheap, being duty free helps...
As far as I remember (it was 10 years ago) I preferred the runs over the other side, down to Grau Roig and Soldeu, they're all quite samey on the Pas side, but I don't remember any of them being particularly scary...
The snow is excellent in the Pyrenees at the moment too (it was rubbish when I went in 1999). Enjoy...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks guys!
what sort of saving should i expect on equipment? i was thinking of buying some skis!
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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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Difficult to say. I remember there being a lot of electronics equipment shops which were a good 25% cheaper than the UK, but this was ten years ago. I don't remember the ski shops being much cheaper and the exchange rate might negate any potential saving. But having said that, they might be starting end of season sales...
One thing I do remember is that however cheap the shops were in Pas, they were a good 10-20% cheaper down the mountain in Andorra La Vella (the capital of Andorra and about an hour away by bus)...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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chrisw84, soldeu used to have a couple of shops at the gondolla base. Got some bits there and worked out well. Not a big fan of Andorra LA Vella, but as queen bodecia, says you might get a deal there.
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chrisw84, you'll have a great time. I bought my board in Andorra and got a good deal, try some stuff out in resort and head to Andorra La Vella (20euro taxi to Pas) to buy it. LOADS of good clothes shops there too
Free pours are never a bad thing
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whats a free pour?!
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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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chrisw84, don't measure the quantity of the spirit, just pour some in a glass
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chrisw84, If you get over to the El Tarter base, 300m down the road on the right is a large ski and ski clothing shop that does about the best deals on equipment. Some of the stuff is last years and can be 50% off worth a trip and don't forget to barter. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just got back from Andorra yesterday. Skiied over to Pas a couple of times and the snow over all Grandvalira was fantastic. Pas was the busiest of the areas so try and ski over to Grau Roig or El Tarter if you like it a quieter. Favourite runs in Pas were Jordi Angles and the timed run below fletxa, see if you can do it under 30s
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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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Theres a really nice easy black over in grau roig called "Mirador", it was my fav slope anyways.
Pas is such a party town, If your going with a TO make sure you do the bar crawl.... its legend! Best night out i've ever had!! Me and 2 mates ended up staying in some lovely french family's chalet that night because they took pity on 3 lovely happy irish lads that couldn't make it back to their apartment. Made us breakfast and everything the next morning! Thanks again to claire and family
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scrubyjoe, Irishman, drink, whatever next. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Need some tips as a solo skier for a DIY round trip to PDLC from the UK please, as in flights or coach, transfers to and from resort plus B&Bs. I have my own gear so i don't need to hire.
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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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cc_7up, I went to Pas in 1999 as a solo traveller but went on a TO trip as I found DIY too difficult/expensive. Flights to Toulouse or Girona were easy enough but I gave up trying to find an affordable transfer. Also I only found one hotel with single rooms and it worked out cheaper to book that hotel via a TO. However, this was 10 years ago, before the Grandvalira lift pass (you had to buy an extension to Soldeu) so things may well be different now. Good luck...
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks Queenie 'miduck' 
Are there any snow coaches to the resorts in Andorra nowadays?
Rob
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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cc_7up,
There are several possibilities for a bus transfer, depends where you fly to though
If it is Barcelona or Toulouse here is one here is just one:
http://www.andorrabybus.com/web/index.php
There are several others though..
Edit: it just occured to me you might mean buses UK-> Andorra... in which case just ignore me..
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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 had a great time in Andorra this year between the 9th and 15th Feb- was lucky to experience a couple of huge snowfalls, resulting in fantastic powder skiing, with waist deep powder on the black runs! There hasn't been any snow since the 12th so I'd imagine the runs are quite packed now but the amount of snowbase is outstanding.
Although not as say challenging as Alpe D'Huez or Chamonix, there are some decent blacks around the Canillo and El Tarter side in particular, and the amount of snowbase at the moment means it is a good time to enjoy them- the Avet from the top of the Tosa del Espiolets down to El Tarter is long and picturesque and the black run in Canillo if you can get over there and back in a day is also good. There's more trees the further right you go, making for more interesting runs.
I would certainly high recommend the ski school- in Soldeu El Tarter there are a huge numbers of quality English speaking instructors- got taught by a mad Glaswegian called Stuart. While the lift passes may be slightly overpriced I would say that the lessons are the best value of the Grandvalira- for barely over £100 you can have 15 hours of group lessons (5x3), and there is little 'follow me', more good emphasis on useful techniques that are logical to practice. The amount of powder was a great opportunity for me to learn the technique required to ski in it! Haven't used the Pas de la Casa ski school itself but I imagine it is of similar quality to Soldeu-El Tarter.
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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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exactly how long is the transfer from Toulouse?
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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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Toulouse to Pas De La Casa is about 3 hours I think. Soldeu/El Tarter/Encamp a bit further on...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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queen bodecia, nearer 4 or if theres lots of snow and an avalanche - try 9hrs
Have to say the transfer has never bothered me and I've done it 4 times. JUST SLEEP!
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chrisw84,
In a car I do Toulouse-Pas de la casa in a couple of hours...
Very easy now. As of 2/3 years ago, it is motorway/dual carriage-way pretty much to the foot of the mountain...
Edit: obviously if you hit snow as per Nadenoodle it's gonna take a while..
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pas is a sh!theap, but Soldeu is great.
of course sometimes a sh!theap is ok, like Benidirm - does exactly what the people who visit want to do - I have enjoyed it a few times (and benidorm) but would always choose Soldeu nowadays.
they dont call it Mandorra for nothing, everywhere you go at night is a total sausage fest!
(edit) sorry, that sounds really negative - bars are busy busy at night but it was strange how little female activity was knocking about, bit like being in a bookies! must be as strange for any lasses as it is for lads? however, if your not that ar sed about the apres, the skiing is fantastic and there are plenty of decent food places.
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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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its not even a sh!theap really - just a bit... rough? 
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AHH NOW!! Pas is lovely! Not architecturally but the buzz around the place is great. Its a young persons ski town and designed for the cheap (not so much anymore) and energetic. Loads of late night clubs and party bars. If your under 30 or young at heart you'll love it. I will concede that it is not the place for the experienced skiier that likes a bit of luxury and first class food.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Pas is a bit of an eyesore, has to be said. But in amongst the smelly fast food joints and rowdy bars, there are a few nice watering holes and the hotel I stayed in was far nicer inside than out...
I agree with the previous comment about the plethora of noisy young men (often English) which I found quite daunting as a solo woman, but I didn't witness any actual trouble or thuggery...
However, all those comments aside, the skiing is great and with the Grandvalira list pass area, the extent is now huge. Add to that the duty free prices and even with an unfavourable exchange rate, Andorra starts to make sense...
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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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allready booked from snowbrainer.com ! seemed cheap enough!
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You know it makes sense.
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i was thinking of buying some blades while i was there, anyone recommend ?
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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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| chrisw84 wrote: |
| i was thinking of buying some blades while i was there, anyone recommend ? |
Yes, left and right 
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Poster: A snowHead
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chrisw84, dont. Unless you are also going to wear a one piece and bum bag.
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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'm off to Pas on 29th March. It will be my third trip there. Its not like the big alpine resorts (I got back from La Plagne last night) but its a great social place and that makes it a great fun holiday if going in a group. There are some decent runs to be found and some that are just great fun to fast cruise (Cami de Pessons epitomises these and joins up near the bottom of Mirador, also our morning warm up was always Pastora which a nice picturesque easy cruiser). If the snow is good, there is some off piste to be had too.
The resort is blues/easy reds and you shouldn't go there looking for death defying blacks. Its a good fun resort and is ideal for mixed ability groups looking for some good night life too.
The transfer from Toulouse is a bit of a nightmare and is a solid 4 hours. At least 45 minutes of this will be spent in a coach stop, owned by the coach companies, where you will be charged fortunes for a cheese or ham roll. Although our TO price includes transfers, we are hiring a car and saving 2 hours on the transfer time. This will also let us board on the afternoon of arrival, getting in just after 12, rather than at 2pm and then walking up to the hotel with all the luggage, queuing to check in, mates then queuing to hire gear... you get the picture. A hire car between 4 of us worked out at £50 each and we can then always drive up to Arinsal for a day, if we want to.
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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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haha ill take notes over the blades! not long now! and snow forecasted for next week! woohoo!!
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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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not looking forward to the coach, although hoping it will be quiet because of the credit crunch!
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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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Chris Buy food at the airport, it will be much cheaper. Take your iPod and sleep against your coat.
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FAQ
