snow conditions like in Pas de la Casa

This will be our groups third visit to Pas de la casa, we have been in March on 2 previous occasions and back this March. We book Andorra as its a great mix of skiing and apres ski, has a wide variety of runs over a huge ski area and the price. Currently over the whole resort 85% of runs are open and 60 of 65 lifts are open. Only runs below about 2000 meters are struggling.

Snocannon wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Can I ask why anyone would choose Andorra over the Alps?
Not being facetious or sarcastic, I'd be really interested to know.

Tony,
Try pricing a family of 4 adults and one child out of Ireland to anywhere in Alps versus Andorra......and the reason should hit you fairly soon. Also Soldeu ticks every level in any ski resort, Soldeu is good fun at night, great food, beer and Hotels. I was in Soldeu last Feb when Sol in Austria was green. So you takes your chances with the white stuff.
Heading to Soldeu on 22nd, yeee haaaa ! That's an Indian Snow Dance Cry )

I havent had to price up that combination, but I bet I could find somewhere on a par price wise with Andorra in the Alps, and with (IMO) better skiing and probably a better chance of snow.
I'm in no way biased against Andorra, but prices appear on a par with much of the alps these days, and apres isnt a lot cheaper than some places.
Interesting you compare Soldeu with Soll - 2 totally different kinds of resort with hugely different altitude. Funnily enough, Soll is buried in snow right now whilst Soldeu is, well, struggling.
Anyway, not intending to wee on your chips, so have a great time. But maybe I should rise to that challenge of finding something similarly (or cheaper) priced, if you let me know the budget?

I havent had to price up that combination, but I bet I could find somewhere on a par price wise with Andorra in the Alps, and with (IMO) better skiing and probably a better chance of snow.
I'm in no way biased against Andorra, but prices appear on a par with much of the alps these days, and apres isnt a lot cheaper than some places.
Interesting you compare Soldeu with Soll - 2 totally different kinds of resort with hugely different altitude. Funnily enough, Soll is buried in snow right now whilst Soldeu is, well, struggling.
Anyway, not intending to wee on your chips, so have a great time. But maybe I should rise to that challenge of finding something similarly (or cheaper) priced, if you let me know the budget?

Tony, You've made your mind up on Andorra, you asked for a reason, I gave you our biggest reason, but not the sole reason by a long shot. Sure you will get a cheaper holiday in the Alps, but will we (all 5) like it ?? We went to Soll (hence the comparison)in 2010 and was OK only, but Soldeu won on all counts last year, and so this year we've voted with our skiis. As I said while in Soldeu last year we heard of how bad conditions were in Soll at the same time..... Nirvana does'nt exist. :(

Snocannon wrote:

I havent had to price up that combination, but I bet I could find somewhere on a par price wise with Andorra in the Alps, and with (IMO) better skiing and probably a better chance of snow.
I'm in no way biased against Andorra, but prices appear on a par with much of the alps these days, and apres isnt a lot cheaper than some places.
Interesting you compare Soldeu with Soll - 2 totally different kinds of resort with hugely different altitude. Funnily enough, Soll is buried in snow right now whilst Soldeu is, well, struggling.
Anyway, not intending to wee on your chips, so have a great time. But maybe I should rise to that challenge of finding something similarly (or cheaper) priced, if you let me know the budget?

Tony, You've made your mind up on Andorra, you asked for a reason, I gave you our biggest reason, but not the sole reason by a long shot. Sure you will get a cheaper holiday in the Alps, but will we (all 5) like it ?? We went to Soll (hence the comparison)in 2010 and was OK only, but Soldeu won on all counts last year, and so this year we've voted with our skiis. As I said while in Soldeu last year we heard of how bad conditions were in Soll at the same time..... Nirvana does'nt exist. :(

If you're pleased then thats all that matters. Soll as I said is somewhere ive never considered purely for its altitude and potential to struggle with snow, so perhaps unfair to compare. Maybe if you compared somewhere with Soldeu's altitude with places in the Alps you might find a completely different story.
For example, last season whilst many people I know struggled with snow (Morzine, Saalbach, 3 valleys) I was bombing about on perfect pistes and having some of the best skiing of my life. Resort: St Moritz, altitude of village: 1900m.
Nirvana has to be researched )

According to the historical snow reports for the past 18 years, Soldeu consistently has deeper snow on it's lower slopes than St Moritz. There's not much in it really only about 15cms, but it is more.

snowb4ndit wrote:According to the historical snow reports for the past 18 years, Soldeu consistently has deeper snow on it's lower slopes than St Moritz. There's not much in it really only about 15cms, but it is more.

Thats a far better comparison in that case than Soll.

Snocannon - I note you have picked up that Tony H has very entrenched and closed minded opinions!!! :evil:

I was in Soldeu last February in waist deep powder when Austria was green below 1500m. You will have a great time in Grandvalira. I'm taking the snow there on the 29th!!!!

Tony - I seem to remember you swearing yourself off France not so long ago, how does that fit with your trip to Alpe D'Huez this weekend?

Brucie wrote:Snocannon - I note you have picked up that Tony H has very entrenched and closed minded opinions!!! :evil:


Tony - I seem to remember you swearing yourself off France not so long ago, how does that fit with your trip to Alpe D'Huez this weekend?

Not at all, Brucie. I am opinionated, for sure, but I dont have a closed mind. I am capable of making calculated decisions, hence why there are certain places I would not consider for a ski trip.

As for France, I've visited there each year in the past 5 years skiing, and whilst I would prefer to visit other countries given a choice, when it comes to booking a holiday I go with the best deal to the best area which suits my own needs.
I've found in Serre Che my new favourite ski resort and will be going back there again.

I do have issues with a number of things connected with French skiing; the price of food for one, the rudeness of French skiers compared to most other nationalities for another.

A mate of mine literally refuses to go to France. I persuaded him to come to Serre Che 4 years ago, and he hated it. I think this had something to do with coming down with flu which left him bed ridden for 2 days, and not being able to get out of Monetier for the first day due to lift closures. But he claims France is "rubbish" and vows never to ski there again. Personally i think thats stupid, and there are a number of French ski resorts I would be happy to visit.
I'm going back to Alpe d'Huez because the deal was fantastic, and because we only skied 4 out of 6 days last time, so I have a score to settle with the weather!!!

I think the banter about France mainly stems from Wickers "hatred" of Austria and refusal to return after a bad experience. I am lucky enough to be going to St Anton with him in March, so we will see what he makes of it.

As for me, whilst I'd have preferred to be going to Italy or Switzerland this time, I am very pleased to be going to ADH. Fortunately we do catered, so we dont have to be fleeced in the supermnarket or the restaurants at night, as French prices are (in the main) the highest in the Alps....and before anyone kicks off, I do appreciate there are "super resorts" where prices would be higher, for example St Moritz or Zermatt maybe.

Anyway, again I digress.

I fully hope those going to Andorra have a fantastic time. Its just not a place I would choose for a weeks holiday for skiing, much the same as Finland for other reasons.