 Poster: A snowHead
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Been looking in to Andorra for Feb's ski trip, Has anyone been to Pas de La Casa. Looks good on Youtube and prices seem reasonable.
If you have any news on the resort (good/bad) could you let me know. We are after a semi-lively resort (dont want clubbing, but do want a few bars for a drinks afterskiing) We are between 2530 so somewhere with lots to do, but that doesnt break the bank. Do you think Pas de La Casa would do the trip? Is there anything to do off slopes (skidos, bobsleigh? etc)
thanks for any advice
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jon Ford, I've not stayed in Pas de La Casa but I've skied in the area from Soldeu El Tarter and it's a good ski area. My eldest son skied there with his mates some years ago and he said it was great for partying and it does have a reputation for night life. I don't know about off slope activities but if you get a good deal I would say it looks good for your group.
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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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Jon Ford, I went a while back (1998 I think). Good points are the ski area, which is big, well laid out and generally quite unthreatening. It's good value for money too since Andorra is a duty-free principality. However, if you have the choice, stay in Soldeu rather than Pas De La Casa. Same ski area but a much nicer resort village. Pas is a large ugly, dirty border town. Loads of shops selling cheap electrical gear, absolutely loads of bars with never-ending happy hours and the resultant drunken youths. From what I could see the accommodation wasn't really up to normal Alpine levels either. Certainly the hotel I stayed in described itself as 3 star but compared to some 3 star hotels I have stayed in Italy, would probably struggle to gain one star. I couldn't help thinking it was cheap for a reason. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the holiday and the skiing, but I have never been back to Andorra since then.
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I like Pas. Had some great snow there a few years back (see my snowMedia pics) and also been there in a snow drought. If the snow is good all the links are open and you can ski for ages but they close the Soldeu link (which shuts everywhere else) if there is not a lot of snow. This then is seriously limiting.
Also on the down side getting back to Pas involves a very congested run of about 300m (before it opens out) which gets chopped up and moguled and is IMHO dangerous. I actually prefer going down a black to return as its not very busy. So if you have any beginers, or nervous skiers they will not thank you.
I usually stay on the Avenida D'Encamp as it's literally cross the road to the lifts. If you stay further down the resort you have to walk up each day and back at night.
Good bars and shopping, but it's not the cheap place it used to be. We did the whole thing ourselves a couple of times and tour op another so If you want any specific info pm me with your email
I may go back this 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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| Jon Ford wrote: |
| If you have any news on the resort (good/bad) could you let me know. We are after a semi-lively resort (dont want clubbing, but do want a few bars for a drinks afterskiing) We are between 2530 so somewhere with lots to do, but that doesnt break the bank |
If I'm reading that as 25-30yo, then you might be too old, lol.
Didn't stay in Pas, like others, stayed in Soldeu, but as in anywhere I go I always get talking to people, and many were staying in Pas, and we ourselves spent some time there. It's mainly a party town, packed with cheap SC apartments and loud late night clubs. The people I spoke to staying there were mainly there for that, skiin'/boardin' being secondary.
Judging by the requirements in your post, I can't help feeling you might be better off in Soldeu, IMO. Some clubs and plenty of bars, but a little less puerile.
Thr GrandValira area, to me is uninspiring, quite boring and mostly featureless. It is a big area, and you get the sense of travelling, but in many ways that's the problem. But as you haven't stated your snow requirements/experience, you as a party might find it ok, as many do. The "locals" are nice enough, but lift queues can get a bit scrummy, though the lift system itself is pretty good.
TBH, I went to Austria this year for the first time, and although that was far from perfect, if I was looking for a trip to Europe primarily based on budget, I'd go there. F'rinstance, we found the beer/snap costs comparable, and mostly better quality. Andorra is not the value (often its USP) as many would have you believe, Austria, IMO, offering better overall "value", IME.
JMO, John.
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Others will disagree, but I thought the ski area was pretty good. I thought the area as a whole was ruined by the punters. The place is full of rowdy gobshites that will crash into you, all the restaurants are full (and I do mean full) of cigarette smoke, and the nightlife may be brilliant, but I'd rather be in any of the other ski resorts I've ever been to for socialising.
Sorry to say I won't be going back. Also beware the Andorran system of star rating. It bears no resemblance to the real world.
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I've been looking at Pas myself as I have a friend who lives in Toulouse where we were planning to base- 4 of us @26 y/o.
Having serious doubts about it as I keep seeing comments like Monium's. 
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Went when I was 18 and it was great - would I go back now? absolutely not.
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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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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| Went when I was 18 and it was great - would I go back now? absolutely not. |
Thinking about it, this is bang on. I would have gone there when I was 18 and loved it. Not now though. And I'm only 28...
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Monium, I have to agree on the smokiness in the bars, even though there was no smoking ban in most skiing countries when I went to Andorra, the bars there seemed much worse. I see on Wikipedia that they are still discussing a ban in bars and restaurants.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| geepee wrote: |
| Monium, I have to agree on the smokiness in the bars, even though there was no smoking ban in most skiing countries when I went to Andorra, the bars there seemed much worse. I see on Wikipedia that they are still discussing a ban in bars and restaurants. |
I think they've got to do something - at least having some non-smoking areas in the restaurants would be good. I am a smoker and it bothered me. The hotel was stained from all the tar in the reception area, and there was a smell of smoke 24/7. We are fairly tolerant of these things, but I have a lot of friends who just couldn't have stayed or eaten in these places. They'd have walked out.
The real killer is cigar and pipe smokers - the amount of smoke and the strength of it is like nothing else, and happens everywhere.
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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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jeez.
made my decision even easier 
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| Monium wrote: |
| And I'm only 28... |
Snap
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You know it makes sense.
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I went a few years ago - me and a mate and our kids . We got a very cheap deal with Crystal in a chalet-hotel ( £250 all-in for the week ).
Instruction was excellent , and fun. But the on slope basic food - burgers, chips etc was rubbish and very expensive.
So we went for the best places to eat we could find and it was very , very good and worth the high cost .
I would not think of it as a cheap place ( nothing like it was in the 1980s when we were out clubbing every night and they didn't bother with spirits measures - bartenders just poured tons in . Food rubbish then .)
John
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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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Hello!
I'm also interested to go skiing in Andorra. Which airport will be the best/nearest?
Liz
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Poster: A snowHead
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lisa.m, La Prat / Barcelona
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yeh I'm also going.
Will I rue the decision? Stay tuned (for 8 months) to find out!
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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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As with all ski towns it is exactly what you make of it. The ski area is relatively easy cruising and you can cover distance. If you are progressing from beginner to intermediate I think it is a great ski area.
Booze is cheap (in the supermarkets at least, not necessarily the bars) and, if you know what is what, there are some bargains in both perfumery, cosmetics and electrical goods due to its duty free status.
Some bars are lively, some are pretty dead. Some are dominated by kids, some are full of smoke.
Don't worry about it. Thousands of people ski there every year.
(Of course there are other reasons why I wouldn't go there but mostly to do with the very long transfer and my ever growing requirement for luxury rather than budget offerings rather than the resort itself).
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In Andorra Arcalis is the best area for advanced skier, alot of good offpist and not alot of skier there 
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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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I lhad my first ski holiday in Pas in 1990's - didn't know any better and loved it. Tuition - even with hindsight - was very good. With 15 years experience I'd agree with Tiger - but a shame they don't slosh unmeasured spririts into your glass anymore - that certainly dampened any criticism of the place....
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I lived in Toulouse for three years, and skiied the area quite a few times. I stayed in Soldeu, Pas De La Casa is pretty grim, but I agree can be cheap if you use the supermarkets. In France, there is a saying that people go to Pas for the 3S's, sun, snow and sex!! Every time I skiied there, the temperature was 18', and there was alot of water around. The food on the slopes was not inspiring, burgers etc. Soldeu is a better option, much nicer and they still have happy hours etc, and if you feel the need for a duty free shop, there is a bus. A few years ago, there was so much snow that tour operators busses were stuck in it, and the punters did not get their suitcases for four days. (the people were rescued by piste bashers)
Once on our trip were were stopped by customs on the french border and asked if we had any duty free. (English car) We said no, all we had bought was bread and some chocolate. (True) They searched the car very thoroughly,(guns and all), we obviously looked very dodgy. And then they waved us goodbye...
But we did enjoy the skiing!
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Went to Pas last year. The skiing is ok for intermediates but nothing to really challenge. In PAs you are at the end of the ski area so there is some distance to cover to get to te better areas over by Soldeu. I didn,t think th
Ere was much vertical in the area and you spend alot of time on lifts and it is very barren, not much tress in the Pas sector. It was very warm but they do keep the snow in fantastic shape. The village of Pas was a bit ugly but there is lots going on. Quite a few Brit style chavvy bars but if you hunt around there are some fantastic local bars and restaurants.
Would I rush back.......No but i went with a group of guys on a last minute cheap deal. It is a good place if you can get something cheap for a week and you want to cover alot of mileage on the piste as off piste is limited.
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We went to Pas at Easter last year as a family holiday. Had a great time, like others have said the ski area is good for beginner to intermediates. you're never too far from the slopes in Pas. We didn't have to queue once while we were there.
Food on the slopes isn't great.
Our hotel and the food in it were fine though. Pas isn't pretty, but wandering round the shops provides something to do in the evenings. We didn't really see much of the clubby/boozy side of things, but having an 8yo with us we were in bed by 10pm most nights.
You can get some very good deals if you want a tuition/lift pass/ski hire package.
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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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Like others have said it's definately what you make of it - there are some bars that aren't great, but others that are absolutely fantastic - Underground has a really good vibe from apres ski onwards but can get a bit messy later on, KSB has weekly party nights that attract a bit more of an older crowd (when I say older, I mean older than the 18-25 crowd) with really good DJs, and Deja Beer is down in a cellar and done out really well with a beer tap on your table and serve really good tapas. That's just a few of many.
As for activities in Pas, there's a big leisure centre with a pool and spa area, plus there are loads of other activities such as bum boarding, quiz nights etc. and over the top of the mountain in Grau Roig they have skidoos, husky sledding, even paintballing!
If you want something a bit more mature and bit easier on the eye than Pas then take a look at Soldeu which as others have said is the same ski are but a bit nicer (although smaller) town and the standard of accommodation there is better too.
Hope this helps!
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