Andorra Skiing

Hi,

I am going away 9-10th January for a week and looking for something cheap, good skiing and decent nightlife (dont want much ay!).

I have been told some many things, someone has just mentioned Pas de le Casa in Andorra but upon reading reviews seemed a bit s**t, any advice on this would be appreciated as its doing my head in trying to choose a decent place for 8 lads.

We like a night out but also love our skiing.

Cheers.

What is the most important thing, the skiing, nightlife or value?

Hi,

Probably in this order 1.skiing, 2. cheap, 3. nightlife.

I'd probably go to Italy then. The reason why I say Italy is that unless you are all experts the skiing in most resorts has plenty to keep most occupied and it's much cheaper for a food and drink,€4.50 for a pint and €10 or less for a good pizza is usually about right. Lift passes are a bit cheaper too.
For the skiing La Thuile and Champlouc are very good but a bit quiet at night. I went to La Thuile in March this year with a gang of lads and it was quiet at night but we loved the mountain and the good value food and beer. Sauze d' Olux is lively at night and has great skiing if there is enough snow cover and has the plus of a large area for a week. Cervinia is another good bet with some really good restaurants and not too expensive either. Livigno is a great resort for beginners and early intermediate but the transfer is very long and the piste are rather tame.

In France for a lads trip Les Deux Alpes is cheaper than most French resorts and is good craic at night too. Morzine is great for a lads trip too.

Someone with more experience of Austria should be able to fill you in but generally it's cheaper than France too.

I have been to Pas de las Casa on 4 occasions now and also going back end of Feb 16. We are also a group of 8 guys and we have looked at other places including Italy and cannot find anything that is better value than Pas, Skiing excellent for beginners to good intermediates with excellent and modern chairs and lifts. As I said I have been 4 times now and due back next year and have never had any issues with the snow, although I have not been January however any pictures that I have seen for January suggest there would be no issues. The size of the area is also great and there is plenty of areas to explore. The night life is also amazing value, loads of happy hours, crazy hours €1 a litre of Estrella Dam in some places. Food in the resort is very good with plenty of choices. Its also a tax free country so alcohol is very cheap to buy, when i was last there a 4 litre bottle of absolut vodka for about €12. We got our week for less than £700 half board and including ski carriage and lift pass (£220 for this alone). I would highly recommend Pas as the value for money cant be matched anywhere that we have looked at. as with anywhere just be wary of snow conditions that early in the season.

Because I have a minimum of three trips planned this winter, and that France and Colorado will be mega cost, I have cut my Austrian January low cost down to ultra low cost.

For the Austrian trip, I will still get my normal free return flight. This is the final year of free flights, since some European dogsbody decided that credit card flight points should cease.
I will pay a fair bit under €30 for a room.
Budget for €10/12 per evening meal.
Spend a bit more on a lift pass in order to access a wider ski area.

Go to Pas you wont be disapointed, if you want a little less nightlife head over the Mountain to Soldeu El Tarter, Grandvalira is a really expansive ski area, with every box ticked.