- Accommodation
- Transport
- Nutrition
- Attractions and entertainment
- Purchases
A miniature European state located in the eastern Pyrenees, the Principality of Andorra is a favorite place for fans of winter holidays. The mountains of this fabulously beautiful country are the second highest after the Swiss ones. And the climate allows you to practice any kind of skiing six months a year. Every skier considers it obligatory to visit these attractive places at least once.
Andorra is famous not only for its ski slopes. Like any mountainous country, it has its own thermal springs. Local mineral waters are rich in potassium, magnesium, sulfur, sulfates and numerous minerals. Since ancient Roman times, joint and skin diseases have been treated here. And today the center of thermal waters of Andorra is a famous European balneological resort.
And the third reason why tourists tend to Andorra is duty-free trade throughout the country. Advantageous shopping is a great bonus for skiing and spa treatments. It is this bonus that makes it difficult to plan your trip budget. Let's try to roughly determine how much money you need to take with you to Andorra.
Andorra, located between Spain and France, does not have its own currency and is included in the euro zone. Prices are in Euros on restaurant menus and in shops. But in most cases, you can pay in dollars.
The euro should be changed immediately, before the trip. In hotels, these services are not provided or the course is not profitable. In the country, it is better to make an exchange at banks and special exchange offices. Cards are accepted everywhere.
Accommodation
In the country, the location of hotels is directly related to the ski slopes. Hotels in the capital, Andorra la Vella, and its suburb of Escaldes are conveniently located for their equal distance from all ski stations.
- For a double room in a 2 * hotel in the capital, they ask from 27 euros per day.
- For the same number in the "three-ruble note" already have to pay from 36 euros.
- A room in a five-star hotel will cost from 75 euros.
- A villa in the vicinity of Escaldes can be rented for 150 euros per day.
You can choose hotels in mountain villages or small towns. Plus - low prices, minus - the lack of entertainment in the big city. It takes 5 to 15 minutes to get to the skiing spots.
The most expensive and, accordingly, popular are the hotels near the mountain. In the town of Encamp, the cable car takes skiers to the top of Mount Collada d'Enradort in less than a quarter of an hour. A day in a double room in a standard two-star hotel will cost from 30 euros, and daily rent of luxury apartments for two starts from 300 euros. Canillo also has a cable car, two new tracks have been laid. In the same town there is an Ice Palace with an indoor skating rink. Hockey and figure skating are held here during the day. And at night - youth discos on ice. The popularity of the place dictates the prices: for an overnight stay in the Canillo hostel, you will have to pay from 36 euros.
The only disadvantage of such places is that the ski area is limited to one or two mountain slopes, you still have to go to the rest.
Transport
The first transport will be the one that takes you from Barcelona airport to your hotel. From the first and second terminals of the international airport, buses leave several times a day from 6 to 22-23 hours. Price - from 30 euros. The bus route goes through the Estacio de Sants railway station, where a mandatory stop is made. So, if you get to Barcelona by train, you can get to Andorra by the same bus.
Some hotels offer a shuttle service. For a large company, you can order a 12-16 seater minibus. Such a transfer will cost 530-630 euros for everyone. Lovers of comfort and families with small children can order a car, the cost of a transfer starts from 300 euros and depends on the degree of representativeness of the car.
Buses are the main mode of transport in the country. They connect all ski resorts and settlements and run from 9 am to 6 pm. The average fare, it depends on the distance, is 2-4 euros. It should be borne in mind that ski and snowboard boots are not allowed into the cabin, and ski equipment will have to be placed in the luggage compartment of the bus.
Special ski buses run from the town to the ski lift; tickets cost from 1 to 2 euros. Where the cable car runs, you can reach the upper slopes in 20 minutes. The trip will cost 10 euros for adults and 6 euros for children.
Taxis in Andorra also run not only within cities, but also between cities and ski lifts. A trip around the capital costs an average of 6-8 euros, more expensive at night. You can get to the ski stations by taxi for 20-25 euros.
If you are determined to rent a car, it is cheaper to do so in Spain. Car rental companies are located near all airport terminals. This is convenient because when you fly back, you can leave the car at the same counter.
The cost of renting a car is influenced by many factors - from the category and type of car to the rental period. Prices start at € 30 per day for a regular car. The rental price usually includes insurance and other taxes. A prerequisite for the rental is the provision of a credit or debit card with a minimum of EUR 500. Some companies take a deposit of 100 euros, which is returned when the car is returned. A liter of gasoline at gas stations in Andorra costs from 1 euro.
Nutrition
Andorran cuisine is a fusion of French and Spanish culinary traditions. Cheese, meat and seafood are waiting for you. In any case, these will be large portions and delicious dishes. In an inexpensive cafe, lunch costs about 10 euros. You can dine together in a mid-range restaurant (three courses) for 35 euros. Accordingly, the more pretentious the restaurant, the more expensive the menu.
McDonald's and any other fast food establishment is thriving in Andorra. A standard lunch there will cost 5-7 euros, a portion of pizza - 1.5 euros, a burger - 3 euros.
In a small mountainous country, most of the products are imported. And the prices for them are higher, for example, in Moscow. Therefore, cooking yourself from the point of view of economy is futile. Just in case, prices in a more or less inexpensive Andorra 2000 supermarket:
- A 0.33 liter bottle of water costs 1.25 euros.
- But a bottle of water with a capacity of 1.5 liters costs only 40 cents.
- A liter bottle of regular milk - 80 cents.
- A loaf of white bread 0.5 kg - 1.3 euros.
- A kilogram package of rice - 1, 3 euros.
- A kilo of beef tenderloin costs 11-12 euros.
- A kilo of boneless chicken breasts - 7 euros.
- Local, delicious, cheese costs like meat - 11 euros per kg.
- A kilogram of tomato costs 2 euros.
- The same potato weight is 90 cents.
- A kilo of onions will cost 80 cents.
- Lettuce (kg) - 1 euro.
- You will have to pay about two euros for a kilogram of apples.
- For oranges - 1, 6 euros.
- A kilogram of bananas costs 1, 4 euros.
- You will pay an average of 5 euros for a bottle of wine.
- For 0.5 liters of homemade beer - 50 cents.
Attractions and entertainment
Unless you are on a medical tour, the main attraction in any season will be a visit to the Caldea Thermal Mountain Center. After shopping and after skiing, the famous SPA center will allow you to relax and rejuvenate. The most beautiful architectural creation is located at an altitude of over a thousand meters and an area of over 30 thousand square meters. The widest range of services: Indo-Roman baths, Sirocco baths, hammam, showers and geysers, jacuzzis and hydromassages, freezing rain and infrared rays, and much more. The entrance ticket costs from 34 to 37 euros, the children's ticket is 10 euros cheaper. You can buy a subscription for three days for 70 euros, a subscription for five days will cost 103-110 euros.
The family-run ecopark Naturlandia offers snow dog trips, pony rides, ATV rides, bike trails and mountain hikes, descent from Europe's highest toboggan and other exciting adventures. A ticket for an adult in the high season costs 28 euros, in the low season - 22, for a child under 13 years old the cost is 15 and 10 euros, respectively. The visit to the animal park is paid additionally.
A sightseeing tour of Andorra is a must. In addition to exploring the natural beauty and historical heritage, tourists will travel to the Madru-Peraifta-Klarr Valley, whose unique landscape is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A ticket in a sightseeing minibus for an adult costs 60 euros.
The location of the principality between France and Spain allows excursions to any of these countries. The choice is great: a sightseeing tour of Barcelona and Montserrat, acquaintance with Empuriabrava, man-made Catalan Venice, a trip to Carcassonne, where one of the medieval French castles is located. Any of these excursions will cost from 100 to 120 euros. You can order an individual trip, it will cost from 500 euros.
Purchases
The country has long gained fame as a kind of large duty free zone. The principality, twice as large as Moscow, has long been claiming the title of the new capital of European shopping. The main buyers, of course, are residents of neighboring countries. French and Spaniards come to this duty-free zone for weekend shopping.
More than two thousand boutiques and shops in Andorra offer a huge selection of various goods at discounted prices. Branded clothing and footwear, accessories and cosmetics, electronics and household appliances - all of this is of high quality, despite the fact that prices are lower than European ones by 40, 50 and even 60 percent. Prices for alcohol and perfumery are cheaper than in duty free.
Sports equipment, in particular, ski equipment, is also of exceptionally high quality.
Before indulging in unrestrained shopping, it is worth finding out the limits of goods exported from the country without declaring. As a rule, restrictions apply to certain types of goods, as well as weight and value.
Of course, it is impossible to determine the amount that everyone is willing to spend in this consumer eden. We will only indicate the cost of souvenirs for friends and acquaintances.
- T-shirts with country emblems start at 7 euros.
- Lace products from local needlewomen - from 5 euros.
- Charming local handmade dolls - from 3 euros.
- A package of delicious local cheese or Catalan sausage - from 3 euros.
Excluding shopping and excursions, the cost of housing, transport and food will be from 500 to 600 euros per person for ten days. If you arrived without equipment, then, of course, you need to add the rental of ski equipment, as well as the cost of a ski pass.
