Recently back from a skiing trip to Andorra, our very own Performance Marketing Manager Alex set out onto the slopes of El Tarter. With snow falling at the start of the holiday, the slopes were in excellent condition for Alex and the group to ski and board the days away, making the most of the huge variety of runs on offer.
Visiting Andorra for the second time, Alex said: “This was my second time to Andorra after going for a long weekend at university, although I hadn't stayed in El Tarter before which felt much more village-like.
“Andorra offered everything, and really proved itself as an excellent all-rounder. Picturesque blue runs, a variety of red runs through gulleys and trees, plus plenty of challenging black runs including two Giant Slalom World Cup runs. My friend and I also found some excellent off-piste in the freeride marked areas, with guiding available.
"El Tarter itself surprised me. It really is a pretty alpine village, tree-lined, with wooden chalets and cobbled streets. There's also a handful of restaurants, bars and coffee shops for lunch off the mountain or early evening après - sadly people don't always associate this with Andorra."
Travelling with a group of friends, Alex wanted to make sure his money was well spent, and with Andorra being virtually tax free, it seemed the obvious choice. He said: “With the current economic climate a group of 7 friends and I decided on Andorra, hoping our money would go a little further, and we were right... with on the mountain coffee (Cortado for me) costing around €2.25, a beer €6, and a bottle of champagne on the slopes only €58 (needless to say we ended up having two bottles in the sunshine).
“We stayed in the Neilson Chalet Hotel Casale, which included breakfast (great hash browns), afternoon tea with cake plus a three-course evening meal with wine included. There is also a great lounge and bar area for card games and drinks in the evening.”
An experienced skier and snowboarder, Alex certainly knows what to look for in a skiing holiday, and it’s fair to say that this trip to El Tarter impressed. He said: "Don't get me wrong, I love skiing in France, with such dramatic panoramic views and its high peaks. But Andorra has definitely left its mark - I was charmed by the relaxed and laid back Spanish feel, with beautiful scenery such as lakes, tree-lined descents and rocky mountain peaks.
“I would definitely go back. Grandvalira is a great ski area, with 210km of pistes to explore, several villages to ski to and a variable amount of runs and backdrops. Value for money is also something which, currently, Andorra offers in abundance.”
So take Alex’s word for it. Book a holiday to Andorra today, and see for yourself what makes El Tarter so special.
If you haven’t visited Andorra and still think that it’s just for beginners or a budget option, then think again.
Sitting high in the snow-capped Pyrénées, the resort of El Tarter is a true all-rounder. This skiresort in Andorra has a lot to offer for people of all abilities, and we tell you why.
Andorra's Grandvalira has128 runs across210km of pistes to choose from, but which ones should you absolutely not miss? Our handy guide will give you four of the best blue, red and black runs in the area.
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