Andorra & Spain

Getting there

One of the best parts about doing a trip to Spain or Andorra is the opportunity it affords to spend some time in one of the great Spanish cities. For Spain and Andorra, the handiest point of entry is Barcelona. Carriers to Barcelona include easyJet (easyJet.com), Swiss Air (swiss.com), KLM (klm.com), Air France (airfrance.com), Lufthansa (lufthansa.com), Iberia (Iberia.com) and British Airways (ba.com). Another option is to fly into Bilbao and spend some time in San Sebastián before heading into the mountains. Airlines flying into Bilbao include easyJet, British Airways, Alitalia (alitalia.com), Air France and Lufthansa. Other airport options include Biarritz (easyJet, Air France, BMI.com, BA and Lufthansa) and Toulouse (BA, KLM, Air France, Alitalia).

Red tape

Spain is a fully paid-up EU member, so member nationals only need a valid passport to travel to and from the country. Other foreign nationals can stay for 90 days on a valid passport. A few exceptions require a visa – check spain.info for more information. Note that all flight entries now require strict submissions of extra information on top of your booking. Your airline keep you informed and should include an additional form for you to fill in on the booking. Andorra is not a member of the EU, but in most cases a valid passport is enough to gain entry.

Health

Spain is governed by European health standards, so EU residents should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaces the old E1-11 form. In Spanish resorts or towns, try to find an on-call pharmacy, which will be open round the clock. Health insurance is highly recommended for any trip as an additional safety net. Andorra is not an EU member so the EHIC is not valid for health cover while in the country. Health insurance is pretty much obligatory if you're going to make the trip.

Eating

Eating in Spain is a huge social occasion, and one of the main draws for any rider thinking of making the trip. Tapas (pintxos in Euskadi) culture rules across Spain, and it's a cheap, social way of taking care of the après-ski munchies and the evening meal. The bustling tapas bars fill up with families and locals in the early evening, and it's a great experience to get stuck in with a glass of vino tinto and a plate full of pintxos. Dishes range from tortilla (a potato and egg omelette) to more local delicacies of which seafood is a primary ingredient. Grab a plate from the barman, load it up and either make a note of how many you've taken or ask him to tot it up for you. In the Pyrenees, the local cuisine is an even more mouth-watering prospect, and in the Val d'Aran in particular it is almost impossible to get a bad meal. A good rule of thumb when it comes to choosing a restaurant is that if there are locals present, dive in. Be warned though – locals here share the worldwide Latin habit of dining late, with most restaurants only get going at around 2200. Breakfast can be a bit of a disappointment, thanks to the puzzling Iberian predilection for liberally dousing their pastries in sugar and cloyingly sweet chocolate. In Andorra, it's pretty much the same story, although in the larger resort areas the British angle is well taken care of with fry-ups, roast dinners and other UK mainstays available in the ex-pat bars – although that would be to miss the point somewhat. If you're serious about food, check out Iberia.

Crime & safety

Crime is not a massive problem although when it comes to Spain there are a few precautions worth taking. Among the European nations, Spain has suffered from a higher than average level of terrorist activity, although that is on a downward slope following a change of government. In popular Spanish cities such as Barcelona and San Sebastian, tourists are targeted by street criminals fairly regularly. In both Spanish and Andorran resorts, board or ski theft from outside restaurants or apartment balconies is on the increase, so keep an eye on your set-up or use a lock if you're super paranoid. In Spain, report anything lost or stolen to the Policia Nacional, who handle urban crimes. The Guardia Civil handle roads, borders and law and order away from towns, while the Policia Local/Municipal also deal with some criminal investigations. In Euskadi, nationalistic sentiments are still very prevalent so be sensitive to this situation when interacting with locals. Drunkenly singing 'Y Viva Espana' in the street is unlikely to go down well. This also applies to the Catalonians, who are equally anti-Spanish and also hate being lumped in with the Castilians.

Language

Spanish is the main language in Spain, while in Andorra Catalan is the main language, although most Andorrans speak Spanish as well. In Andorra, English is relatively well understood, but in Spain it is not widely spoken, so make an effort to learn some key phrases. In the Basque area of the Northern Pyrenees (known as Euskadi), Euskara is also spoken or written down as well as Spanish. It's worth noting that Catalonia is a largely autonomous part of the country, proud of their language and culture and not that happy to be lumped in with the rest of Spain.

Getting around

Although there are public transport facilities (see below) driving is probably the easiest way of making this trip. The Spanish and Andorrans drive on the right, and a full driving licence (photo type or International Driving Permit) is required plus liability insurance – you need a 'green card' certificate to prove this. You also need to carry two warning triangles by law and it's worth noting that there is a new law in effect that requires all drivers to have a reflective vest in their cars, which should be donned every time one leaves the car while on a highway. Fines for not having one are steep, so all rental companies now provide one. In Spain, roads are generally good. New and improved road links are opening regularly, and the motorway network is expanding rapidly right across the country. Make sure your papers are in order, because unless your Spanish is top notch you're going to have a hard time understanding what is going on should you be pulled over.

Car hire

Most major hire car companies (easycar.com, hertz.com, avis.com) have offices in airports and cities. Usual age restrictions apply.

Public transport

Public transport is possible – to get to Andorra, try novatel@andorrabybus.com, who run bus services from Barcelona and Toulouse. Eurolines also run services from Barcelona airport to Andorra (info@autocars-nadal.ad). Once in Andorra La Vella, buses run across the principality – check the andorra.ad/ang/transports/index site for more on each of these options. In Spain, the rail network is worth a look, although they are likely to charge for ski carriage. RENEF (renfe.es) is useful for major routes. Try euskotren.es for options from the Basque country.

Opening hours

Everything grinds to a halt at lunchtime in Spain, which typically lasts for a few hours from 1400 till 1700. Shops tend to close around 2000, and are open from Monday to Saturday. Larger supermarkets have longer opening hours. Andorran shops follow similar opening hours.

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