Child friendly family hotels in Andorra

Posted in Andorra information / Uncategorised by Steve Barron on 11/11/2024

Andorra is one of the favourite ski destinations in Europe for families.  Whether your family has younger or older children, your family dynamic is perfectly catered for in Andorra.

We all know how important it is that the children are catered for in order that the family holiday is exactly what we all hoped for.  In general, Andorra is family-friendly in most hotels, but some families may need that extra touch for their children, especially in the case of younger children, so that parents can also enjoy their holiday to the maximum.

We all need to keep in mind that budget also plays an important part in choosing your hotel and resort of preference.  If you want “free” child care to the maximum in your hotel, you must remember that, at the end of the day, this will cost you in the location and category of your hotel.  There are also many hotels that have facilities for children that are far more budget friendly, but without the “free” monitored child care.

The resort that you choose is also important when it comes to families.  The most popular being Arinsal, which is known to be the “mecca” for a lot of family holidays in Andorra. The ski schools, kindergartens and slopes, in general, lend perfectly to a family ski holiday.  There are, however, other locations such as La Massana and Soldeu that are equally equipped and popular.  Pas de la Casa, being one of the larger resorts in Andorra, also has family friendly hotels, but tends to lean more towards older children.  It is important to mention that, to date, the only resorts that offer group snowboard lessons for children under 12 are Soldeu, El Tarter and Canillo.  The other resorts are from 12 years and older.

When choosing your hotel, there are various factors to be considered, apart from the facilities in each hotel, like proximity to the gondolas and ski schools and the ages of the children, budget  and requirements for your family.  Whilst most hotels in Andorra are family orientated, we have listed below some of the most popular with our clients in each of our most popular resorts.  It is important, however, to remember that almost all of the hotels in Andorra are family-friendly.  These are just some of the more emblematic child/family-friendly:

RESORT: ARINSAL (Vallnord)

Princesa Parc Mountain Resort & Spa.

Made up of the Princesa Parc (4*) and Princesa Parc Excellence (5*) – a two-in-one hotel.  The Princesa Parc is probably the most popular hotel in Arinsal, and one of the most popular in the whole of Andorra, when it comes to families.  The two parts of this hotel have shared facilities including a children’s play area, indoor pool & spa as well as an indoor bowling alley and games room.   The Princesa Parc is strategically placed very close to the gondola and to the centre of Arinsal, which is well known for its kindergarten, Snow Garden & Ski School, very much focused on family holidays.  One of the few hotels that offers a “drinks & spa” option with half board to help the family budget with no hidden extras.  The rooms, in general, are very spacious and there are even “themed” rooms especially for families with smaller children.  An absolute favourite amongst many clients that return year after year for the excellent service/facilities and ideal location.

Ushuai Mountain Hotel

The Ushuai Mountain Hotel is one of the few ski-in ski-out hotels in Andorra.  Located right next to the ski chair taking you up to the ski station in Arinsal, this hotel has everything to offer for families.  The proximity of the chair lift is ideal for families with children and the rooms are both comfortable and very spacious.  There is a spa area for relaxation as well as a great children’s indoor play room to keep the little ones entertained after a day on the slopes.  This hotel continues to be popular with many families for this reason.

RESORT: LA MASSANA (Vallnord)

Magic Ski Hotel & Hotel Magic La Massana

These sister hotels, located very close to each other, continue to be great favourites with families in the resort (town) of La Massana.   The Magic Ski is actually built around the gondola in La Massana taking you directly to the ski station of Pal (which is part of the Vallnord ski area of Andorra, connecting Arinsal, Pal & Arcalis).  The Hotel Magic La Massana is less than 50 metres away, so both are strategically located for access to the gondola and ski stations, which is ideal for families, especially with smaller children.  Both of these hotels have indoor pools and spa/wellness facilities as well as gyms.  As in most hotels in Andorra, use of the spa areas come with local charges so families must be aware of this.  Both hotels have children’s play areas (free of charge) and the rooms are spacious for families with children.  These hotels continue to be firm favourites with families because of their location, facilities and budget friendly rates.  La Massana, being more of a “small town” rather  than just a ski resort, also offers other activities for families, like the Comic museum and the Iron Forge museum.  Its proximity to the capital city of Andorra La Vella on public transport also ensures its popularity for a family ski holiday to include other activities.

RESORT: SOLDEU (Grandvalira)

Soldeu, as a resort, is possibly the most “up-market” ski resort in Andorra when it comes to category and pricing.  Due to its location in the centre of the Grandvalira ski area, and famous for its wide slopes, it gives the perfect destination for families, especially for families with children and/or beginners.  Although Soldeu is not as budget-friendly as Arinsal, it certainly has some of the best family catered hotels in the whole of Andorra and continues to be extremely popular.

Parc Piolets & Spa Hotel

This recently refurbished 5* hotel, whilst not in everybody’s budget, is a fabulous destination for families.  The children’s play area, which has a large “free of charge” monitored children’s play area, is great for the little ones to let off any extra steam that they have after a day on the slopes and gives the parents a well-deserved break to enjoy their “ relax” time in an amazing spa and wellness centre or even just a couple of hours of apres-ski “hands-free”!  The rooms are a good size and everything you need at your door-step.  Although not that close to the gondola in Soldeu, there is a continuous shuttle bus, which saves the exertion of walking for the whole family.

Sport Hotel

The Sport Hotel in Soldeu has one of the most impressive children’s play areas of any of the hotels in Andorra.  Children (and parents) will be impressed by the facilities here.  There is a very large, free-of-charge, monitored children’s club which allows the little ones (of all ages) to let off their excess energy whilst the parents have the luxury of a little bit of “down-time”.  The Sport Hotel has the added bonus of being “attached” to the Sports Village, from where the gondola is located, and also the amazing spa of the Sports Hermitage Hotel.  This hotel continues to be very popular for its facilities and service, bringing back clients year after year.

Piolets Soldeu Centre

Another family favourite due to its location near to the gondolas and its facilities, the Piolets Soldeu Centre attracts families with children of all ages.  The facilities include an indoor pool and spa area as well as children’s play area.  As in many hotels, you should take note that there are specific times for children to use the pool facilities and these should normally be booked at reception beforehand.  There will usually be local charges for the use of the pool area.  Close to the gondola at less than 5 minutes walking distance keeps it very popular.

RESORT:  EL TARTER (Grandvalira)

El Tarter is a smaller resort, but adjoined to the Grandvalira ski area and has all of the ski facilities for families (ski-school, snow garden etc).   Very close to Soldeu, El Tarter has many self-catering apartments on offer but also has a few, popular family-friendly hotels to offer for those that prefer a “catered” holiday.

Nordic Hotel & Apartments

This emblematic hotel is a firm favourite and almost-guaranteed repeater for anyone that stays there.  It boasts a “ski to door” location at the foot of El Tarter, very close to the gondola. This hotel offers the ability for self-catering in the apartments (adjoined) with the benefit of catering (bed & breakfast or half board) of a hotel.  So, for families, it is an ideal location.    This hotel offers an indoor pool, spa & wellness (free of charge for hotel guests) as well as an indoor bowling alley.  Another favourite for repeat clients and always popular with families for its combination of location and facilities.

Euroski Mountain Resort Hotel

The Euroski Mountain Resort is nestled in the Vall d’Incles (between El Tarter and Soldeu).  Although not in the centre of either resort, the hotel has everything to give a family a fabulous ski holiday.  There is a great child’s play area and one of the larger indoor pools to be found in any hotels (over 3 years old only).  As in most hotels this will come at an extra cost.  At the same time, the Euroski is one of the most budget friendly hotels in the area for its category, giving you access to Grandvalira and all that it has to offer.  Spectacular views from the pool are a bonus here.  There is a regular, free of charge, shuttle service to El Tarter gondola to save those little (and longer) legs.

RESORT – PAS DE LA CASA (Grandvalira)

Although Pas de la Casa is known to be the most “lively” resort in Andorra, with its many bars, restaurants, shopping and nightlife, it also caters very well for families, especially those with older children and teenagers.  Attention, however, should be paid when looking for self-catering apartments because many of these are situated away from the gondola/ski lifts (which can lend to a longer than wanted walk) and often cater for groups which don’t always lend to a family-friendly environment, especially when there are younger  children.  There are, however, a few hotels that cater well for families with children and Pas de la Casa continues to be a very popular resort due to its accessibility to the slopes of Grandvalira and its fabulous ski and snowboard schools.

GRAND PAS HOTEL

This hotel has recently been under new management and seems to have taken on board a family-friendly focus.  Located at just 50 metres from the ski station it can boast an ideal location.  The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and spa area, again with local charges, and has a lovely lounge area and children’s play zone.  The rooms are quite spacious and ideal for families.  A firm favourite for those that love Pas de la Casa and all that it has to offer.

HOTEL MAGIC PAS

The Hotel Magic Pas is one of the most popular hotels in Pas de la Casa, with its spacious rooms, spa area and ideal location (approximately 100m from the chair lifts).  As with most hotels in Pas de la Casa, you will not find many facilities designed specifically for small children, however it is a firm favourite with many families, especially those with slightly older children.