Which resort in Andorra is best for families

Posted in Andorra information / Ski Tips by Brett Tudor on 29/11/2024

Andorra is a firm favourite for families that are both experienced and novices.  It is particularly popular with British and Irish families who can fly to Barcelona or Toulouse in approximately 2 hours, cutting out the need for long haul flights.   Shuttle transfers from both of these airports are regular making it an easy ski destination which is often a priority when travelling with children.

The larger ski resorts in Andorra cater perfectly for families offering ski-schools and kindergartens for children of all ages and skiing ability.  From kindergarten for our tiny tots, and Snow Garden for the little beginners and onto  the group lessons for the older children who are either starting or already have some experience,  Andorra really does offer it all and that is why it is considered one of the most family-friendly ski destinations in Europe.  The kindergartens and ski-schools also give you, the parents,  some free time to cover the pistes at your own pace without worrying about the kids.  There is a choice of half-day care and even full-day care where the kids are introduced to the snow with games and activities by specialised monitors and so, rest assured, that the little ones are also having a great holiday.

For you to choose a resort you need to take into consideration various factors.  The age of the children, skiing ability, amenities and budget are all factors that are important when choosing your family ski holiday.

Soldeu and El Tarter, which are adjoining resorts in Grandvalira, are definitely one of the most popular areas for families.  Most of the hotels in this area are of a higher standard and the amenities cater perfectly for families.  Some of the hotels also offer “kids clubs” to entertain the children when they are not on the pistes, giving you extra free time to enjoy the après ski!!  A number of the hotels have indoor pools, spas & fitness facilities which are very popular, but take note that some will charge extra for the use of these.  Soldeu is quite a compact resort which also means that it is not usually far to walk for the gondolas and ski lifts which is an important factor when travelling with smaller children.   The hotels that are further away often have a free shuttle service to take you there.  There are many self-catering apartments and studios which are also popular with some families that don’t want to be restricted by eating times when there are smaller children and babies.  The resorts boast very popular ski and snow-board schools catering for absolutely everyone in your family, whatever their age and ability.  Soldeu and El Tarter, whilst being  very popular, are not always the most economical resorts in Andorra, so, if budget is a large factor for your family, you may have to consider other options

Arinsal, which is located in the Vallnord ski area, is renowned as a family friendly resort.  It is a picturesque village that offers great ski-schools for all ages and abilities.  Kindergarten for the very little ones is also a possibility.   There are a range of slopes for both beginners and experienced skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.  There are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes giving a friendly and lively atmosphere for aprês ski.  There are often outside activities in the village for the whole family to enjoy.   There are a variety of hotels of all different categories and also plenty of self-catering apartments.  If you are travelling with younger children it is a good idea to look for the higher category hotels that have children’s amenities.   The Princesa Parc Mountain Resort sister hotels are considered the flagship hotels of Arinsal and have plenty of amenities for the whole family, including  modern spa, fitness and wellbeing facilities, an indoor bowling alley and games room for the children.  Again, remember that many hotels will charge for the use of the spa facilities, although some hotels, like the Princesa Parc also offer packages to upgrade your stay to include this.  In general Arinsal is lighter on the family budget than Soldeu /El Tarter, which can be an  important factor when choosing your resort

La Massana

La Massana is the administrative capital of the Parish of La Massana (including Arinsal, Anyos, Erts ….) in the ski area of Vallnord.  La Massana has much more of a small town vibe for those families that also want to discover a bit more of the Andorran culture.  There are a variety of hotels and self-catering apartments in La Massana of different categories, with the Magic Ski La Massana, a large 4 star hotel, actually built around the La Massana gondola which takes you to the Pal area of Vallnord.  La Massana, is a budget friendly resort with good public transport links and a variety of supermarkets, shops, bars and restaurants.  La Massana offers ski-schools for all ages and abilities.  The capital, Andorra La Vella is a short bus ride away, should you want to do some duty free shopping and take the kids to the Caldea Spa, which is the largest in Southern Europe.  The “Rossell Forge” museum, which offers guided tours around the old iron forge and gives demonstrations of how the iron was forged in the past, and also the “La Massana Comic Museum” are added attractions for families when not on the pistes.

Pas de la Casa

A higher altitude resort in the Grandvalira area, Pas de la Casa is a very popular ski resort.  Pas de la Casa is possibly the largest ski resort in Andorra, with a lot of French influence, being much nearer to the French border.  Pas de la Casa offers ski schools for all ages and abilities as well as the added attraction of plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.  It has a small-town feel and is undoubtedly the liveliest ski resort in Andorra attracting a variety of skiers from families to large groups.  There is plenty of choice of accommodation in both hotels and self-catering apartments.  It is important for families with young children to choose their accommodation carefully to ensure that the little ones are catered for.  Pas de la Casa is a very popular resort for families with older and teenage children who enjoy the apres ski.   Pas de la Casa and Soldeu are probably the most popular resorts for the experienced skiing and snowboarding families because of the size and variety of the ski areas. It is important to mention that group snowboarding lessons are only available from 12 years old in the Grandvalira areas.

Families should take into consideration that when booking for Pas de la Casa, a transfer time from Barcelona is longer and should possibly contemplate flying into Toulouse, which is much nearer and a shorter transfer time.

As a family, it is important that you reserve your accommodation in plenty of time to ensure that you get the facilities and amenities that you want from your ski holiday, and bear in mind that some of the more popular family-friendly hotels can get booked out quite quickly.