Snow better place to ski!

SITTING snugly between France and Spain in the heart of the Pyrenees, Andorra is a small principality that offers its visitors a taste of the finer things in life.

Somewhat unfairly, Andorra is often typecast as a ski destination for beginners. While this is true to some extent, it’s only part of the story of a little country that knows how to punch above its weight in the competitive winter sports holiday market

Andorra has come a long way since its first ski lift was installed in 1952, with two main areas – Grandvalira and Vallnord – now offering 300km of pistes. And apart from the snow, the region’s orientation to the Mediterranean means you have pretty good odds of skiing in glorious sunshine, maximising your chances of returning home with a winter tan.

With Andorra you don’t get the quantity of runs you’ll find in countries such as France or Austria – but you certainly get the quality.

Andorra has invested heavily in its lift infrastructure and snowmaking technology in recent years, giving its resorts a modern, upmarket feel.

Irish visitors to this small but perfectly formed country will be familiar with two of its best known resorts, Soldeu and Arinsal. The former offers a great variety of runs for intermediate skiers, with a few challenging blacks thrown into the mix.

Soldeu is renowned for its high quality accommodation, such as the Sport Village Hotel which even incorporates the main gondola station into its impressive structure.

Arinsal has the appearance of a smaller, quieter town but has enough lively bars and restaurants to keep seasoned après-skiers happy. It also boasts some wonderful wide slopes, which are generally less crowded than what you’d encounter in other European countries – perfect for families and those wishing to improve or perfect their technique.

The resort of Arcalis, which is part of the Val Nord ski area, is famous for its snow reliability and alpine terrain. Despite being the most remote resort in Andorra, it is well worth the slightly longer trip.

Off the slopes, there is much to love about Andorra. Foodies will salivate at the variety of great dishes – a hybrid of Catalan and French influences – to be found in its abundance of fine restaurants, most notably in the capital Andorra La Vella.

Which brings us to the shopping. Andorra is a duty free haven and offers an incredible array of shops, from small boutiques and electrical stores to major outlets. One particular street in Andorra La Vella offers 3km of wall-to-wall shops.

And if all that shopping and skiing wears you out, you can relax your body and mind at the famous spa centre at Caldea, the largest hot spring complex in southern Europe.

Even though you can’t fly directly to Andorra, it’s easily accessible through Barcelona or Toulouse in France (we travelled via an Aer Lingus flight chartered by Topflight).

See www.topflight.ie and www.skiandorra.ad for further info.