 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I've been tasked with organising a Snowboarding Holiday for myself and 5 mates. 4 of us have got approx 1 week of boarding behind them and the other 2 around 8 weeks. We're on a bit of a budget and the 3 cheapest deals we could find are to Soldeu, Pas de la Casa and LDA.
The problem is that 3 of us want to go to LDA (which is the cheapest deal by £20) but the other 3 would like to go to Andorra on the basis that its cheaper once we get out there and its better for the begginers.....and no one is willing to give in...
Now I agree that the terrain in Andorra is excellent for begginers but I think LDA is better geared up for Boarders...and also has some good pistes for beginners....and Andorra isn't as cheap as people make out.
I think one of the deciding factors is going to be the price of lessons which in Andorra are about 100 EURO for 15 hours..(group lessons)...now I'm expected the LDA lesson prices to be a bit more...but not significatly?...can anyone give me any pointers on this?
Anyway, what I really want from you is.....where would you go? (in my situation?)
Please help me decide...i can't take anymore of this!! 
I'll go with whichever resort gets the most recommendations from snowheads!
Thanks in advance
Richard.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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joydivision, can't help as I'm not a boarder and have only been to one of those resorts, but I would say that if you have been tasked with organising the holiday YOU should weigh up all the options and then decide what you think is best. Others can like it or lump it, and then when it's their turn to arrange the holiday they can decide where to go!
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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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joydivision, grab any brochure and they will give you a real idea of prices for both lessons and eating out etc.
For example, in Pas the Learn to board pack - 6 day lift pass, board/boot hire for six days and tution for 3 days is £199.
In LDA the same package is £231 but you get tuition for the full six days.
I am in agreement that Andorra is not really as cheap as most people make out - it might have been but it isnt now. It wasnt really Ibiza on ice as some people have also quoted. Mind you, we are from Newcastle so we are used to noisey pubs etc.
But as rob says - if you are the organiser you have the final decision.
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joydivision, Ive been to Pas twice and its great, havent been since 2003 though (  ) butI love it- huge ski area now, plenty of good boarding to be had across the Gran Valira.
* Lessons are MUCH cheaper than in France from my experience.
* Ive never been to LDA but heard good things about the nightlife!
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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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Better skiing and infrastructure in LDA - top 3 resorts in France, but Andorra should beat it for apre-ski etc.
Depends on what is more important but LDA by a mile for me..!!
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I've been to both Pas and les Deux Alpes and would take Soldeu over the other either of them. However - if you want to party (and don't mind a god awful concrete monstrosity for a base) pas is cheap and very very cheerful. Facilities and lessons etc were excellent when we were there - perfect slopes for early intermediates. I would recommend it to anyone, and despite water poiisioning on my trip had a great time, which given we all spent 2 days throwing up is a testament to how good the skiing was...and that was in slush in march. Never had any queues either - bliss! If you want easy, confidence building, not too busy cruising runs it's a great spot. I loved the fact I never needed to check the piste map because almost all the runs are within the reach of an intermediate skier. If you want pretty 'alpine' village, then soldeu it is - same slopes, prettier buildings, but less convienient base...
LDA is, hmm, an aquired taste...it always seems to have a great rep but I hated it on my first trip. However I am going back this year(seriously cheap xmas deal) so we'll see if I like it any better this time ;-D LDA downsides: Long spread out town so getting anywhere is a bit of a hike. No runs to the village for anyone below black run level, and they are real blacks - not just for the piste map to look pretty! Queues for the gondolas. Very very busy mid mountain, and no real choice of runs, all pretty much down one face which therefore gets super busy, especially when the glacier/other resorts are closed due to snow/high wind. And it really is quite a small resort, we skied it out in about 4 days on our second ever ski trip! On the plus side, the board park is excellent as are boarding facilities generally, there aren't many drags, the grooming is good and the easiest slopes are actually the ones on the glacier with the good snow - when the lift is open (closes in wind) they are fantastic for blue run skiers/boarders. Other than the nasty mid section it's not generally too busy either and as you aren't skiing back to village level (unless you fancy those blacks) and people are distributed along the long valley it avoids the icy home run most places get.
Sure you'll have a great time wherever you go...but personally I'd be heading for soldeu or pas...
aj xx
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ajhainey, stop telling people about Soldeu.
NOTE: Its crap go to Pas or LDA !
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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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Hello again....
Thanks for all the info and opinions....just to let you know that we have decided on Pas...to be fair there wasn't much in it...both resorts have their advantages....and both have good night life...but we decided on Pas bacause of the accessibilty of the easier runs...I've actually been to both resorts before, and I preferred LDA, but found that that black run down to the resort at the end of a long day, a bit too much...and thats with 8 weeks boarding behind me....I think the lads with only one week behind them may have struggled a bit with LDA....
I might go back to LDA for my 2nd holiday!
so, the countdown has begun....only 76 days to go!!!... 
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joydivision, check the location of where you are staying compared to the lifts !!! Some can be quite a hike - at the end of the day !!
We stayed in the Magic Pas last year and found it fine for location, food, central etc etc etc.
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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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ajhainey, There is a green "road" from the mid station to the resort, so you can ski home that way if you don't fancy dying on the Valentin....
It's unfair to say the midstation is really busy and there's nowhere to ski. If you read the piste map and move 100yds away from a lift you will have the place to yourself, even in the busiest weeks. Also, there's another mountain behind the village, which offers superb reds and blues into the village and is largely underused. There's some choice tree skiing down to Bons and Mont de Lans on either side of the valley, and never any queues! Les 2 Alpes is not for motorway piste skiers, but if you want something challenging that makes you better rather than making you look good, its a "no-brainer!"
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You know it makes sense.
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joydivision, Ooh which are your apartments, I was in the gala last year
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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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Nadenoodlee, We're staying at a place called Frontera Blanca Apartments...Its a cheap and cheerful option!...do you know them?....from what I can gather its right in the centre of the shopping area...we would have liked to be about to ski in/out but it wasn't really an option on our budget...
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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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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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ajhainey, Whoops, sorry! You're absolutely right in everything you say above. Didn't mean to sound like I was laying into you - the nature of these written communications is you tend to read stuff verbatim and it sounds a bit harsher than it would if you were talking face to face. Hope easiski's promise bears fruit - i'm sure it will!! 
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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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FAQ
...on my last evening there myself and my brother in-law almost missed our transfer at 04:00 in the morning due to the excellent hospitality of the guys behind the bar...we only bought 2 drinks all night! 
