Pas de la Casa - Grandvalira

Pas de la Casa - Grandvalira: reviews

• skiclub.co.uk visitor (17 March 2010)

  One rule with this place make sure you go when there is plenty of snow.

  
  I've skied La Plagne,Trois Vallees, Val d'Isere and Sauze d'Oux and in the current economic environment, and if the snow is good this place should be on your list. Prices range from 1.50 to 4 euros for a pint,13 euros for a rump steak, 10 euros for a good bottle of red.

  
  Food on the mountain very poor but at the bottom of the slopes there are some lovely restaurants. Pistes are very quiet away from the main run home to passa and there are NO queues.

  
  We paid 450pp (excluding beer and food) with Thomas Cook and stayed in Crest Pas Apartments - everyone had a decent bed, 2 bathrooms between 6 of us, 2 wardrobes and a very easy to clean apartment. We left our skis in some lockers for 20 euros pp for the week to save the walk up hill. We were a bit out of town but for a family you could close the window and the building soaked up the noise.

  
  Plenty of runs for you to learn on and plenty to keep advanced intermediates happy. This place may not be superb for experts but I think other areas make it up. The locals are so glad for your business unlike other places.

  
  We learnt a lesson on holiday, because of the volume of powder some inexperienced off piste skiers/boarders were skiing above us and set an avalanche off worth about 30 tons of snow. Lluckily it was soaked up before the majority of the piste. After heavy snow falls it's worth keeping an eye on people on the off piste tracks.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (09 March 2009)

  Just returned from a great week in Pas de la Casa with a healthy dose of snow and a not so healthy dose of après ski! Great atmosphere in the resort with a good mix of nationalities although Spanish and English were the clear majorities. I was in a group of 20 somethings so couldn't say what it was like from a family perspective but I'd would think it's best suited to groups of young adults and there's a great nightlife. Classy it's not but it's definitely cheap and cheerful! Lots of big, wide pistes mean that there's not a lot of variety but there are some great bowls and forests for off piste. Heaps of lifts too and a really wide spread ski area. The ski/snowboard school is really well organised and has very good instructors though it should be noted that beginners ski school is in the morning and intermediates in the afternoon so mixed groups may end up not having much skiing time together. Stayed in the Apartments Crest Pas which were very basic and not the cleanest but fine for a place to rest your head for a couple of hours. This is the first resort (of maybe 6 that I've been to overall) that I would consider returning to, mostly due to the low prices, friendly atmosphere and good après ski.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (21 January 2008)

  Just back for first time from Andorra after countless other ski trips and would reccommend for beginners and early intermediates. My five year old loved the big wide pistes and the runs back to the village vary from almost flat to an easy red. Although no mega hard runs it is quite a big area and some nice bowls for off piste if it snows.

  The village is busy and bit tacky but we thought the restaurants were quite good and certainly no worse than a lot of french super resorts. Quite a bit to do for a non skier.

  We stayed at the himalaya which was an odd mix. The staff were very friendly, the rooms were big and quite plush and the pool is good but then all meals are buffet although actually quite nice.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Claire (12 November 2007)

  Pas de la Casa (with the Grandvalira region included) continues to provide good skiing and snowboarding. The area is probably best suited beginners and intermediates. There are plenty of après-ski options in the village and in Grau Roig over the mountain. You can take part in husky-dog sledding, Alpine Rescue training, snowshoe walking through a forest, swimming in the village pool and snowmobile driving etc. If you're prepared to travel, the Caldea spa is a definite 'must' to visit (realistically 40 minutes away in Escaldes-Engordany) and the ice rink in Canillo (about 25 mins away) is a fun option too but set off at about 3pm because the traffic down the valley towards Andorra la Vella gets heavy from around 4pm.

  The resort is not beautiful, but there are worse! The village is built in a basin shape at the bottom of all the main lifts and there are plenty of bars lining the final run into Pas. The nightlife can be equated to Magaluf on snow, but its cheap, cheerful and there are several half-decent restaurants.

  The hotels tend to be 3*ish in general, although there are a few pricier ones. I'd recommend the Nordic Hotel at the bottom of the black in El Tarter for several reasons: Its very very pleasant and conveniently located, it looks good, they do a mean hot chocolate and finally, in the massive Grandvalira region, it really doesn't matter where you stay because you can use your skis as transport and ski over to Pas anyway.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (15 March 2007)

  Stayed at Font D'argent hotel w/c 5/3. Great week skiing. Pistes were good and we had snow mid-week. Love the resort was there last year - try L'Husky for lunch good people good prices. The hotel was the best, and we could not fault it. Hot ski lockers in the basement for skis and WARM boots were definitely a bonus! Maybe i'll try somewhere different next year, but i will always remember how great Pas was.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (23 February 2007)

  I Skied Pas de la Casa in Jan 2003. Long transfer. Very basic accommodation.Good Apres/cheapish. Skiing very learner/intermediate based, and with lots of runs appearing to be exactly the same there was nothing very challenging. It is not particularly attractive resort - either in the town or on the piste - and after deciding that Skiing was boring we all learnt to snowboard from day three which perked us up abit!!! Compared to other resorts I have been to in Austria, France and Italy very poor skiing and landscapes. There was a stack of snow though. If you can get a cheap deal this resort is probably ideal for first or second timers who want plenty of easy slopes to practise on. The tax free shopping is good too.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (22 February 2007)

  Stayed in Pas de la Casa for Xmas and new year 06/07. Myself and my two mates stayed in the Hotel Parma for 10 nights and had a great time. The rooms were clean and tidy the staff excellent and the food very good. We didnt use the ski lockers in the hotel as they were to small, so we hired out lockers in ski shop opposite main ski lift for a couple of euros a day.

  We had enough snow for our 10 days, even though only 50% of the resort was open. When its all open it must be a great resort, with miles of ski area to cover.

  We jumped on the free bus to Soldeu, which takes about 10 minutes to get there (you can ski to there when theres enough snow) and had a great day there to. The apre-ski in Pas is great, with free shots galore! The clubs are open till dawn and every night is busy.

  The transfer from Barcelona took us 3 hours, but it was well worth it!!If your 21 or 51, Pas is the place to go to. We'll definetly go back soon.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (16 February 2007)

  Just returned from Pas, 12-15 Feb 2007.

  Slopes were in fairly good condition, with slight snowfall on the 14th, meaning we had a good few days of skiing/boarding, with only a little ice on the top of the slopes.

  Stayed at the Catsby Hotel, being 21, did exactly what I wanted out of the hotel, which was a comfortable bed and good location to both lifts and pubs.

  At Pas, the Food I can only say was average and overpriced. If you want a good breakfast to prepare you for the day ahead, go and see Johno and Claire at paddy's for a hearty English/Irish Breakfast, reasonably priced with a good atmosphere all day and all night.

  Apres Ski, quite simply brilliant, For live entertainment take a trip to la marselles, Matt and Kevin will entertain you all night with their fantastic Live set. Talk to Jim, and Nick at the bar, ask for a barman special ( Pint, 3 quarters full of spirits, topped up with juice for only 6euros). It'll knock ur Ski socks off! and if ur lucky they'll set the whole bar on fire for you, to down shots through. Fantastic.

  Pas De La Casa is the place to be, I may even go again this season.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (13 February 2007)

  I just wanted to leap to the defence of the Hotel Camelot too. We were there 04/02/07 - 11/02/07, and ok, the food's not fantastic, but if you're in Pas for the food then you're mental. It had almost everything I want in a ski resort hotel: it's close to the slopes; it's warm inside; it has a nice small bar area with friendly staff and punters; it has constant hot water and showers so strong they give you a massage after a hard day's downhilling; it has easily reached lockers. I'm not bothered about evening meals, as I'll go out on the apres, and during the day I'll eat where I'm skiing. The breakfast was continental, so as long as you're not expecting an American-style steak and waffle banquet you won't be disappointed. My only quibble would be a lack of drying facilities, just one small radiator in each room, but that kicked out a bundle of heat. As for the skiing? Well for 3 of us it was the first time in 17 years that we'd been, and only the second time ever, and the slopes were fine for us. For the rest of our group (regular skiiers), the fact that some of the link runs weren't open restricted them, but they still enjoyed it. I think we're all going back again next year. And I have never been anywhere where they serve so many free drinks.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (07 February 2007)

  Just returned from pas, and we had an excellent all round holiday. Of course we were worried about the lack of snow, but it was far better than we expected and managed to ski many hours every day. My main reason for writing is to defend the Camelot Hotel where we stayed. The rooms were small but very clean and always warm, the bathroom was imaculate and always had hot water. The bar was very good and the pizzas there were fantastic. The breakfast was more than adequate and for the price of 6euros you could get a full english breakfast which was fantasic. the ski lockers were in the basement of the hotel, you had the same locker number as your room, very easy. The hotel is so close to the slopes that we would often but your skis and boots back in your ski locker and then return to the bars on the slopes and relax. we would definately consider returning to pas and the hotel.

  A few places we enjoyed to eat were, Black Pearl for a meat fondue, vertigo for unbelieveably top class food, but still cheap. ksb is a bar over looking the slopes brillant steaks cooked on an open fire. and our favorate happy hour bar was on the slopes called Pas 83, staff very welcoming and had an open fire.

  I hope some of this will help you if you are planning to go to Pas de la casa

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Chas Bernert (17 January 2007)

  We went to Pas for the first time this year and were a little unsure of what to expect. The enticement to give it a go was the new links between all of the resorts. We were fairly unfortunate with the snow (there was hardly any), but the snow cannons did keep the main runs open, although the links between the resorts were closed. We had effectively skied the available region by lunchtime on the first day! The runs back to the resort were pretty busy and hectic for most of the day.

  However, if there was a lot of snow then it looked like it could be a lot of fun for a beginner/intermediate, with quite a big area to explore, and I would consider the area again.

  I think it’s pretty well documented that the transfers from the airports are pretty long even under good conditions, which gave our rep plenty of time to ‘scare’ people into booking ski packs, restaurants and ‘party passes’ with him.

  I was disappointed that we weren’t offered a ‘good will’ refund on the lift pass considering so little skiing was available.

  The Husky Restaurant was fantastic in the evening, and the place under the red sun canopy adjacent to the main lift area was by far the best place we found for lunch (didn’t try the Husky for lunch just in case it didn’t live up to the dinner!)

  The Black Pearl (Pirate bar) was also pretty reasonable for food. The chap with the long hair and beard is actually pretty friendly. It also seemed the most relaxed bar that we went it (a Spanish laid back feel, and not many Brits ventured in – too busy on the Party Pass!).

  Other good restaurants were just opposite the Black Pearl and up from Burger King – a small fronted bar with some wooden handrailing out side, and another next to the Underground and Pizza shop (it looks like a bar from outside)– have one of the beef dishes, they looked fantastic and I was told by gloating friends that they were!

  The Underground bar was good fun and the Manager/owner is quite a character, closing it because his wife had made him choose between the bar and her. We later found out he hasn’t even got a girlfriend and isn’t married, but is eccentric! True to his word he did buy everyone that was in his bar a drink in KYU!!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (16 January 2007)

  hi we just got back from pas, we went new years eve. we went same time last year, 20 of us. I think pas is great last year loads of snow but this year there was none so skiing was hard. We stayed at alasks last year which was superb.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (14 November 2006)

  This is 3rd year in a row going back.

  Feb 04 Blissard and storms 3 days skiing. But great craic at night. Himalaia Hotel food mediocre. Accomodation was good and warm.

  March 05 Incredible weather, incredible night life, and food in Himalaia Hotel great.

  Feb 06 Here we come !! Himalaia again.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (10 September 2006)

  I visited this resort in february 2005. Having had 3 and a half days off skiing due to severe weather, we finally hit the piste to find monstrous queues at the lifts, inevitable really in such a vast resort. Having said this, queing seemed worthwile as the pistes were fabulous. The apres ski is more suited to younger people with Pas' slightly tacky finish and tax free alcohol. I enjoyed my holiday very much and would probably take the risk of going back in the years to come.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Emma Cross (26 April 2006)

  Been to pas twice now and enjoyed both times (Jan 05 and Jan 06). First time we stayed at the Himalaia and would reccomend it as very close to the shortcut to the slopes, food was very good and hotel was warm and comfortable with large rooms. Second time we stayed at the Manzano apts (meant to be the Alaska but Tour op cocked up) that are a bit further up the hill but would not stay there again. The staff were excellent though and really friendly but the rooms were quite small and the floors and walls were are tiled so could be a bit chilly. We are intermediate skiers and found that Pas is a really good place to build confidence and technique as the runs are long and wide. You can get some milage in as the area is massive and as long as you can ski a red (steep ish but very wide) you will have no problems going over the mountain at Pas to the rest of the ski area. Coming back is the same although directa1 does get relly busy near home time. Instructors are excellent and private lessons are not that expensive. Pas itself is ok with a few shops selling perfume cosmetics, cigs, booze etc... really cheap, but Andorra La Vella is good for cheap designer clothes. It's not the prettiest place in the world, but the the skiing and shopping make up for that. All of the restaurants in Pas tend to have the same menu but the nicest food by far was at L'Husky restraunt just up from the chemist. Nightlife is excellent if you like a good drink and the Milwauke bar is really good but the resort is not just full of young people so dont let the descriptions in brochures put you off. Transfers can be a bit of a nightmare though. The first time we went we flew into Tolouse and it took about 4 hrs as the weather was ok. Second time we flew into Gerona and the transfer should have been about 4 1/2 hrs but took nearly 7 as the weather was bad. We were lucky though as the route into Andorra from France had been closed due to the weather so some people who flew into Tolouse had to put up with a 10 hr transfer !!! I really enjoyed both of my holidays in Pas and although i am planning to ski in different areas in the next few seasons i would come back here.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Listell McLean (09 March 2006)

  Really good purpose built resort. At first you may think that you are somewhere in Russia but thats just the look. The piste themselves are really good for beginners and intermediates however if you're looking for something really challenging you may struggle. The nightlife is something out of the ordinary. Do not come here if you want quiet nights. It's quality, I have never been to a place wher i've received so many free drinks. A must place to go is The Underground club. Thanks to all of the guys there for some quality memories, i'll be back soon. If you want spirits, cigs or audio/visual equipment, come here, IT'S SO CHEAP! Cheaper than anywhere i've ever experienced!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• ROY HAMMOND (20 February 2006)

  We stayed at the Catsby Hotel, was just what we wanted, food was alright never kept waiting, staff were cheerful, nice bar downstairs to have a drink and play pool with the other residents, happy hour ,sky sports, room to store your skis, only 5 mins to lifts, what more do you want your only there a week, oh and the skiing was great.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Jason W (16 February 2006)

  Had a fab 3 days skiing in Pas De La Casa in late Jan 2006. Glad to say that we avoided the Apocolypse Now! horror stories (confirmed by my brother & his group who were billeted at the awful Camelot - the whole group were sick and gave up on the dreadful food) of long transfers and dodgy hotels by booking a cheap flight to Toulouse, (2hr transfer by hire car) and made our own hotel arrangments. We stayed at the Font D'Argent Hotel which was excellent value for money, with modern, well kept rooms, heated ski boot stalks in the locker room, lovely food, loads of facilties, and only 100 yards or so to the main lifts. The skiing itself was great with good lifts and lots of wide smooth sweeping reds runs to keep you occupied. The large number of terrain parks dotted around the Granvalaria were also great 'cos they inlulded beginner versions for old farts like me. My main criticisim is that the slopes were a little tame and (some) Andorrans a tad surley, although they haven't reached French standards yet! On the costs side it may not be as cheap as it was but in the main we seemed to be paying £2.50 for large beers. Have fun!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Spenc (15 February 2006)

  We stayed at the Manzano apartments at the top of the hill near the K2 hotel. You will be asked for security money 140 euros and made to clean and tidy the room before you leave so they can check it. You will need to leave the room 1 hour before pick up, great access to the slopes 100 yards away. Beer is 4 Euro a pint £2.70 happy hour 4 till 6 its buy one get 1 free so that was good. Food there was very poor and we ate at loads of places but all very bad, until we found next to milwalkis on the right BAR - GRILL best food in town and good value too, best place to drink was milwalki then too billboard night club near paddys. I did feel once we landed there people were ripping us off it is not cheap there the booze is cheap in the shops but not at the bar. Electrical goods we worked out to be almost the same price as the UK. Bottled booze and fags are cheap there thats all. Loads of knives and replica guns, pepper spray and zap guns on sale. Loads of ski hire shops cheap with good service. Skiing was fantastic recommended for beginners so great slopes. 40 - 1 ratio man to women not good :( When you get off the coach near the police station a truck will take your bags to your hotel and throw them on the floor then drive off to the next drop. If you can take a bag with wheels and walk up of you can. They were very rough and stood on my mates snow board to get higher in the van "yikes". But it was a good place to go just a shame about the 4 hour transfer there and back on the coach. On the journey, there was a brief stop at a night club to get ripped off with cold coffee and dodgy buttys. We were there 4th feb till 11th feb. All the best

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Alex Speller (30 January 2006)

  I was based at the Aparthotel Olympiades. Myself and a group of freinds have just returned from a weeks ski/boarding in Andorra, the snow at the begining of the week was icy in places but ended with a three day blizzard of pure deep powder. For those who havent boarded before the lessons given to a member of our group were of excellent value for money, 15 hours for just 98 Euro's !!! The Grand Vilera ski pass opens you too one of the largest ski areas I have experienced with ample runs for intermediate and begginers, for those who consider themselves expert skiers there is not a great deal too do although the black runs that are available are clean and well groomed. With the wide open ski area there is an extensive amount of off piste to do and three funparks including one halfpipe, a few kickers and plenty of rails. The apres ski is very lively with ample night clubs and bars with theme nights to cover all tastes. West End and Billboard are the main clubs with the Underground fun pub well worth a check. Shopping for those who like there are hifi/electrical goods with great with prices around 25% cheaper than the the rest of europe. With in-car electrical items in abundance I regreted not taking more spending money. As a group we had a great week with some unforgetable evenings out and powdery off piste conditions. We hope you have a great time there too.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• David Eaves (08 January 2006)

  Had a good weeks skiing in Pas, but stayed with Crystal at Camelot - location of hotel great but brochure details defer - on arrival asked for 100 Euro room deposit, no ski locker -had to store ski's & boots in room, small but friendly bar consisted of about 8 chairs around two tables at reception, food very poor can best be described as a poor wedding buffet, gave up on eating breakfasts and meals on day 2, great snack bar opposite hotel slopeside was good for breakfast and thankfully lots of choice in evenings, on early departure (4 hour transfer) no breakfast and not even offered a drink ! after 3 letters eventually got an acknowledgement from Crystal and £75 between two of us to cover of food costs !

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Gordon Parfitt (08 January 2006)

  Andorra is no longer the cheap alternative to the Alps, it's getting more and more expensive. However, with the Gran Valira, the skiing is excellent. Pas de la Casa is an ugly place, but a great base. Atmosphere was good, and contrary to popular belief its not just for the youngsters. We're 51 and 44, and we had a great time!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Kathryn Field (07 November 2005)

  Skiing is good for confidence building as the pistes are wide. Resort is quiet at all times that are not weekends and holidays. Weather closes in quickly and day trippers can get stranded or face a long journey back via all Andorra and Spain when "la France est fermée"!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Brian O'Hanlon (11 January 2005)

  Pas has a good and varied area for boarding with the inclusion of Grau, its a pity that the resort now atracts the drunken yobs that only seem to come from Britain.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Nick (05 April 2004)

  Returned home from Pas de la Casa a couple of days ago...and to be honest with you I couldn't have been luckier. 3 days before we left there was considerable snow fall (which as you can imagine...I was very pleased with it being close to the end of the season). After a decent day skiing on Mon, the awesome white stuff decided to fall again Mon night and Tuesday. We had another fluttering on Thursday also...so conditions were superb the whole week. The pistes themselves were very reasonably marked with quite a variety in difficulties. My visit to Pas was my third ski holiday this season, the others were Val d'Isere (14/12/03--21/12/03) and Bardonecchia (27/12/03--03/01/04). Admittedly my other trips were early in the season but Pas had everything for my group and I. I have also skied in Alpe D'Huez, Kaprun, La Plagne and various other smaller resorts in Austria. We were a group of 4 lads, all 19. We stayed in Lake Placid Apts, not the greatest place to stay but had a great location being 20-30 metres from the main ski lifts and right in the centre of town. Nightlife was very lively to say the least in my opinion but according to our rep it was quiet (Last week)!!! The locals were very helpful, all spoke english well and unlike just about every other resort ive been to...they were HAPPY when the saw a british person! Prices for everything were great all round, from your electronics in the stores to your pint of Kronenbourg (3E compared to 6.5E in Val!) in the pubs etc. I can see Pas as being a place other than a place for younger brits, i did see many higher stared hotels about also. The only aspect that was a bit annoying was the noise outside our room when WE were not out...quite loud at times! We were on the first floor though above the entrance, so i suppose this was quite likely plus the fact that it was the sort of hotel that many drunken idiots would be returning to (including us...!) Out of all the resorts ive been to, Pas de la Casa is the only one which i would return to. Very all round and its started being arranged already. Happy Skiing.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Tony Dack (29 March 2004)

  Just returned from Pas.It was my second jaunt @ skiing this year (first was in switzerland). Just to let you know what to expect in Pas. The town centre is a bit tacky to say the least and could do with a bit more care & attention from the local street cleaners & bin men! However it's reasonably cheap (especially if you want to by some electrical gear whilst your there) & there are plenty of nice eateries to be found. It's not the "Ibiza" that people make out but it is lively. The skiing area now that Pas has joined with Soldeu is vast and very varied. The lifts are good and queues are'nt big. You won't cover it all in a week. all in all the skiing was great but don't expect a 5 star resort.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Kevin Wallace (24 March 2004)

  The brochures don't lie about Pas so if you choose to go there you shouldn't be surprised about what you get. Or should you? Yes there's lots of bars attracting the younger element and the inevitable noise but the resort does offer some golden nuggets if you seek them out. The food and service at the KSB bar and the Auteuil restaurant was fantastic and surprisingly cheap. So don't despair if the food at your hotel is basic at best. We stayed in the Hotel Pheobus which is a 2 star not a 3 star hotel overlooking the slopes. The skiing is excellent for beginners and lower intermediates but those of a slightly higher standard may be pushed to find new challenges towards the end of the week. If you've been to Austria, Pas will be a disappointment but if you're just after a cheap end of season week and you're prepared to find those nuggets then you will come back with lots of good memories... just don't forget the ear plugs!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Stephen (22 March 2004)

  Just got back from Pas yesterday and I have to say it was fantastic!! great weather and the skiing was fantastic even though it got a bit slushy in the late afternoon. However it has to be the best Apres ski I have witnessed, KYU and Billbord are a must, mind you if you are like us you will find every bar / club a must!!! Not as cheap as I was expecting but still cheaper that it's Alpine counterparts!!! Happy hours are very regular!!!! Already looking to book for next year!!!!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Adam (09 March 2004)

  Pleasantly surprised by first visit... Good ski area with Soldeu and the place would be awesome after a good dump.. acres of off-piste opportunity with good run-outs back onto pistes Check out the Restaurant Autueil, Calle Estret for really good food, service and prices... Pas ain't the cheap place it apparently used to be but this place seems to be stuck in a time warp..

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Elliott (17 February 2004)

  Just got back from Pas, what can I say, good boarding, great appartment, excellent apres ski!! Mix with the locals and you will have an excellent holiday. The Underground Bar is a must for anyone under 30 and after a good time.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Mark (16 February 2004)

  Went back to Pas for the second year running and thoroughly enjoyed it again. Went with two other lads in their early twenties and had a great time on the slopes and in the pubs of Mandorra. Everyone was friendly and boarding in the sun is great on well kept pistes. Being back at work is depressing, thinking of going back next year. Stayed at the Catsby and the Cataluna and both were OK.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Andy (03 February 2004)

  I was in in Pas early January 2004 with a few friends and really enjoyed it. We managed to avoid the lager louts in the Sky Sports bars (each to their own), and found a few good pubs, and plenty of reasonable restaurants (excellent prices). I had a really excellent instructor (most of the others seemed fine as well) who's english was fine, and was a refreshing change to one I'd had in a French resort a couple of weeks previously. The snow was getting a bit icy in places, but it was mostly ok, and we really enjoyed skiing half way across the country with the combined Soldeu lift pass - it really is a decent sized area. I'd definitely recommend Pas, and might even be back myself at some stage!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Cat Berisford (21 November 2003)

  I took two children aged 6 and 9 to Pas in March 2003 on a late deal. The weather was either hot or foggy and the snow a bit slushy but both children LOVED their lessons (£49 each), their ski pass was free (if wearing a helmet) and there were no queues. In fact where was everybody? We stayed at the Phoebus so could ski-in ski out. The food and staff were fine. Both children now have three weeks under their belts and I will certainly look out for more late deals next year. For our main holiday my husband's all for France or Austria (he's better than us)but if you asked the children they'd go for Andorra and the "really nice" ski instructors who "spoke English"! It's all about horses for courses and if you're taking children, if they're happy then so will you be.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Tracey (02 November 2003)

  NEVER AGAIN. After enduring a horrendously long transfer from Barcelona we were subjected to the worst hotel I have ever had the misfortune to stay at - The Catalunya - DON'T GO - you have been warned. Broken beds, dirt, filth & totally inedible food. As for the resort... Terrible for beginners (of which there were 3 in our group) - unless you can ski the tricky, icy red back into Pas you are unable to go 'over the top' into the Grau side of the mountain, where the only half decent skiing is to be had. On top of that, they were in school all morning & us all afternoon - not much fun that. Our instructor did not instruct, merely acted like a guide & frequently abandoned the less able skiers in the middle of nowhere. As for the food - What would you like with your chips? Very poor standard throughout the resort. And the fabled nightlife? Most bars were filthy & uninspiring, the cheap prices in no way making up for the lack of charm. If you like to spend your nights surrounded by drunken lagerlouts, frequently throwing up, then Pas is for you. Our Rep summed it up really on the coach travelling up, he told us Pas is known as the Ibiza of The Alps (geography is obviously not his strong point) & believe me that is no compliment. I for one will never be back & this experience has made the rest of Andorra a no-go area, I wouldn't risk it. Stick to The Alps I say.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• sharon Jackson (14 October 2003)

  I have been to Pas twice and would definately recommend it. I stayed at the hotel Himalaya and it was excellent food and clean room. Whatever you do, do not stay at the Catsby.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Nathan Pearman (29 March 2003)

  Went to Pas in January with in a group of six lads all about 20. None of us could ski or board when we got there & we all though it was excellent. Weather was great blue skies almost everyday. We did the ski school & got a Spanish instructor who spoke enough working English to have us all on the blacks by Thursday (Proper hard) & by Saturday we were all going down them with a fair amount of confidence. Group was about 10 & everyone seemed to progress well. The going seemed a bit icy & quite hard at times but the slopes into Gran Roig were good, nice powdery runs & lots less people about than Pas side. Nightlife was quality. Everyone does Marseille, Milwaukee, Underground etc but there were some really good smaller bars with great atmosphere, (Much better than the bigger places). After the Monday bar crawl (V.Bad yet V.Good) we found a tiny bar (Oscars? next to Olympia?) only big enough for 20 people max run by two boarders (Jeff & Neil). Loads of free shots & they do the best kebab in Pas. Got carried out of there once or twice... One word of advice on the nightlife, do not I repeat, do not give the police any reason at all to have a problem with you. They will not think twice about giving you the hiding of your life for even V.Small things. (Drinking on the street!!) Plus few it seemed spoke any English, which didn't help matters. The only down point about Pas (at least in January) is the severe lack of women. By the end of the week anything female is looking worthwhile. Though you should usually find one or two to keep your bed warm if you know your stuff. All in all top place though possibly not for your family types. Should be back next year or hopefully in a few weeks if I can get a deal.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Helena Jones (22 March 2003)

  Have been to Pas de la Casa for the last three years in February half-term, and have found the snow,hotel location, lifts, and skiing in general excellent. However, I feel that Pas has become a victim of it's own success and reputation. This year the slopes were busier than I have seen previously with, (god forbid!!) a few lift queues here and there! The biggest problem we found this year were reckless boarders and skiiers, no doubt the same people who kept us awake until 3am everynight both inside and outside the apartment.We also felt that the standard of food in the restaurants was not as good as in previous years-perhaps no body has to try very hard anymore as the resort becomes increasingly popular. I learnt to ski in Pas and the first morning of ski school was a nightmare - totally disorganised and chaotic.We eventually found our instructor who turned out to be a ful English man who tormented me for the whole week but got the job done. Our son went to ski school this year and again it was absolute chaos, with groups that were far too big. He lasted a day and skiied the rest of the week with us. The other bad thing about ski school is that beginners are taught in the morning and intermediates in the afternoon, therefore if you are a mixed ability group you won't see much of each other! The weather has been varied over the years, one year blue skies, t-shirt weather, this year wind chill bad enough to slice your ears off and freeze the contents of your nose! I will always have a soft spot for Pas, but probably won't be returning again, instead we will be looking for a more family orientated resort with a better standard of accommodation-must be getting old!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Chris (20 October 2002)

  I have been to Pas 3 times over the last decade and whilst 10 years ago it was indeed the Butlins of Skiing, I was surprised last year to discover just how much the resort has improved. Whilst the skiing is certainly not the most chalenging, it is ideal for beginners to good intermediates, or simply those who just want to "cruise the blues". Apres-ski is excellent, both for those requiring copious amounts of low priced alcohol and also for those wishing to hunt out the quieter taverna or hostelry. Add to all this the remarkably cheap prices and its duty free status, and Andorra has to be one the best value places to ski in the world.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Alastair Williams (18 February 2002)

  First off, this is the perfect resort for say students or just cheap holiday hunters, because ski/snowbaord wise this place is very good. On the other hand, a lot could be said for the locals and shops! not the friendliest of people live here, not saying they are axe weilding maniacs or anything that drastic! but they arent the most helpful when you need them to be. Pas De La Casa is very much the young persons place because of the many pubs/clubs situated around the resort. The shops offer a wide range of things at good prices, but make sure you check out the quality before buying. The best time to go here snow-wise is around early march according to our ski instructor we had. The snow is great and also the weather would be fantastic if it wasnt liable to turn SO foggy every five minutes that you can't see 10 feet in front of you.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.

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