Pal/arinsal

There's three of us going on 16th of march to arinsal, whats the snow conditions like? just wondering what nightlife is like, we went to pas last year and I know it won't be as lively but if anyone has some info id be grateful, oh and we are staying in the st gothard hotel anyone stayed there before?

Not been there recently but visited for a day when I did a season at Pas...

Honestly found it a bit limited. The whole place had a remote, isolated feel about it. Clearly this is not want you want to hear....
Hopefully it is now hooked up with the rest of Andorra's all-encompassing ski area

If you can, there is a tucked away resort called 'Arcalis' in the very NW of the country. There is no resort there; only lifts and hence no crowds. The riding is great there and you can spot your lines from the lifts all day.

I was there 6-13th jan, snow was limited until we got a dump 2nd to last day. But even then the wind was too high for lift into pal to be open. I would advose taking the free bus trip to arcalis (outside main gondola in arinsal 10.30 and 14.30)early on in your stay as the skiing and views there far exceed the skiing in arinsal and it's only a 35-40 min trip. We didn't go until the 4th day in our hol and missed some great skiing.

Nightlife: el cau (cow) give away toasties with every drink from 3-6 which sets one up well for a good steamboad. El derbi is a good pub for sport and there's a mexican restaurant which had great food down a little street opposite main gondola can't remember it's name?

Have fun!! any other questions i'll try and help out?

brez

Hi hackett87, I was there a few years ago. As said the Skiing on the Arinsal side is not extensive.

Oppposite the gondola, right of Hotel Montane, about 50m uphill along a side street was a very good little bar that looks like it's built into the rock face on the inside. Can't remember it's name but a very cosy, lively but not rowdy atmosphere, got free shots there.
Off course the Irish Bar is worth a visit, very busy and lively.


IIRC St. Gothards is down the hill, about 300m from the main nightlife area around the gondola.

You can check snow conditions here

http://andorrawebcams.andorramania.com/pal.php

CORRECTIONS

> Advise not advose
> Steamboat not steamboad (to get hammered!) any other errors i've failed to note which must be down to my inept.

Anyway enjoy arinsal, it's a great place!!

Had a wicked holiday in Arinsal Jan 2006. 1 first time boarder, 1 first time skiier and 2 very experienced skiiers. Pro's and con's: Not much space for the beginners to learn on nursery slopes but there's a bar at the bottom for dutch courage and sunbathing! For experienced skiiers, skiing is a little limited but enough for a week, using Pal and Arcalis. It was more of a relaxed ski holiday than a HARD skiing holiday!
Lots of beer involved and vodka (£5 a litre for Smirnoff - worth a trip to the capital)Duty free -Don't try and bring too much back, our coach was stopped at the boarder and every suitcase was searched!
Apres ski - Quo Vadis was fab! Good food, cheap and huge portions - the nachos are the best in the world! Show ski videos taken on the slopes that day, very amusing. Lots of competitions to win Skis / T-shirts etc. Good music,lovely and warm,fab staff, don't mind you traipsing in wearing ski boots. Tip- if you intend to sit down get in v.early! Serve Smirnoff! (El Cau had "cheap" vodka and at Andorra prices that's unforgiveable!!!)
There's also a spa and a bowling alley in the Princessa Parc Hotel.

Bellap wrote:

but there's a bar at the bottom for dutch courage and sunbathing!
...

...
-Don't try and bring too much back, our coach was stopped at the boarder and every suitcase was searched!
 

Bellap, Was this the bar

Happy days indeed.

I went Feb 2006. On the way back our coach wasn't searched so you take your chances. Things might be different now. I think the time of day may have something to do with it. On the way home we reached the border before 8 am so the border patrol probably couldn't be bothered at that time of day to check, maybe.

our coach wasn't searched at the border in jan but that doesn't guarantee you wont get searched at the 2 airports. Definately not worth the risk in my opinion. That bar was great, i remember being sat with a san mig down there in awe at the fact that on a moday lunchtime i was drinking beer surrounded by mountains and getting ready for more skiing!! A very differnt euphoria to writing up health and safety audits!!

That is truly the meaning of skiing!