Advice on trip

the best deals to hire boards or skis ( and yes you do have to rent separately) are on the small shops on the back streets. prices go higher as you approach the ticket office. look for small family owned rental shops and you´ll get a 15euro dealfor skis, boots and poles. on the station you ll pay 3 times that.

as for the ski, the grandvalira. all the towns from encamp to pas de la casa are connected with lifts.
nightlife.. hmm... im afraid you r in the wrong country :-)

Figo.
I went with my mate in early December just gone. Rolled up in the car and stopped right outside an aprthotel in Pas de le Casa. It was 50 m from the ski station. Lots of night life. Irish bars etc. It was also cheap. We got a four bed apartment with small cooker etc. for 50 euros for the night. Link below.
http://www.aparthotelcondor.com/ingles/Condor_IN_home.htm
Enjoy. Hope there is snow coz i'm back there for a week in Feb.
Lordh