Hi Ronael,

We are a full english breakfast ski mad family run hotel in andorra, you might want to look at our website or contact us from there, we are offering free ski hire on this year's prices, but possibly too late for you to change ??

www.hotelpalarine.com

email me at hotelpalarine@gmail.com

Have a great ski anyway !

Jerry

Jerry...not supposed to advertise on this site

I've not been to Andorra, but have been sking several times, most recently we did it ourselves to Bulgaria.

If you have never skied before you will need lessons, so the first thing to do is to find a good ski school - they will be able to provide you with all the equipment, lift passes, etc. Even if you don't want lessons they will still be able to provide you with the lift pass and equipment. Sometimes they offer a 'ski pack' which offers really good value.

Start by googling various phrases, something like 'ski school Andorra' or 'ski lessons in Andorra' and then work through the options.

Have a wonderful time - I didn't start skiing until my 40s and I love it - can't wait to go again! Post back and tell us how you find Andorra - maybe I'll get there one of these days!

If your accomodation is not mountainside, then you will need to get to the slopes. Do not book classes or forfaits until you know which mountain you will be skiing.

Since you are beginners, you may not need a forfait at all for the first few days as you may be spending time on a free "bunny hill".

Once you know which slopes are nearest your lodging,then you can look into group leesons for all of you in your language. You will have a great time and meet people making your holiday even more fun.

Start doing specific for ski exercises now to help overcome and prevent what could be a fairly uncomfortable first few days..



google "ski exercises"

We're staying in Soldeau - we've read that it's a good central spot, close to the slopes with plenty of English speaking instructors. Thanks for the tips on the ski excersizes!! We've all been doing a lot of walking in an effort to get a bit fitter for our holiday. It seems though, that skiing gives a whole new meaning to the word 'excersize'. Thanks Jerryhow - we've already booked our accommodation at excellent rates via Grandavalira.
Thanks everyone for your help. Still need to hear from someone who's been to Andorra skiing and knows all of the ins and outs as far as hire/passes etc.
Thanks

I've no idea whether anyone delivers your skis to your hotel. But in your case I'd very strongly recommend you don't even think of taking anyone up on such an offer.

Skiing requires immense pressures on your feet and ankles. It's absolutely essential you have boots you're comfortable in - and if it's your first time, you take advice from someone about the allowances you need to make for feet swelling etc.

This means sitting in a shop with someone who knows what they're talking about trying lots of different boots on (using the socks you'll be wearing on the slopes) till you find a comfortable pair. And, however pimply and callow the five year old hire shop assistant serving you in most resorts might look (and be), they know infinitely more about ski boots than you do.

There are also similar considerations about skis, where the right length is a function of your weight, height, experience and intentions. You'll almost certainly select an inappropriate length and your instructor will suggest you take them back and change: but you're better off getting face to face advice in the first instance so you choose a less inappropriate length. Too long or too short can BOTH undermine a beginner's confidence.

Once you've been skiing a bit you'll know the right sizes and can probably order remotely (though personally I'd never use boots I hadn't tried on: every maker's last differs).

Whatever the deal in your resort, pre-booking kit will usually save you at most 10%.

For liftpasses, it's usually not a good idea for a beginner to prebook until they've selected a ski school and discussed practicalities with the tutor.

Many European resorts (including most of Andorra) have immense domaines skiables that include access to adjacent resort lift systems. A lift pass for the whole domaine for a week can run into hundreds of euros - but many beginners simply won't be able to use the whole piste network, or might want to take a few afternoons off. Buying daypasses to limited bits of the network might cost little more than €20 a day, and halfday passes are sometimes available for less. Saving 10% by prebooking a €250 pass you won't use fully is an idiotic economy if you end up skiing for four mornings on the lower slopes.

There's a guide (probably with last season's prices) to the Andorra system at www.ifyouski.com/resorts/View/?ObjectID=306004&template=skipass

You might find the best thing to do is to choose and book your lessons in advance. Most schools will advise on a suitable lift pass, and you'll then be able to buy it the day before your first lesson, thus avoiding the 0730 chaos. It's usually a good idea to take two passport-size photos with you before you leave home: resort machines often choose the wrong moment to break down or develop a huge queue

I suppose you have already read plenty of websites like this one.

http://skiandorra.co.uk/soldeuresortinformation_55188.html

Your ski school will be able to help you as sometimes passes and classes are together. Also, do not buy any pass until you are sure you NEED it.

As I mentined before, it is quite possible you and /or the children will be on FREE bunny slopes the first day/s.

One of the best exercises for skiing and in general are "squats". Do several sets of 10-12 with your feet shoulder width apart keping your chest/face facing forward, not down.

You can also hold your arms straight out parallel to the floor in front workig them at the same time.