Couiza to Andorra?
 

We're thinking of joining friends on a trip to France in October. We would end our part of the trip in Couiza. DH is wanting to add Andorra from Couiza. This will be mid October. I have no idea about Andorra. All I can find is that people go there to ski and to shop. Anything else? Would it be a tough drive?
Thanks

Anyone? Anyone?

The shortest drive would be Couiza, Quillan, Belcaire, Ax-les-Thermes and Andorra. You'll arrive in Pas de las Casas which is a giant parking place + supermarkets and shops. From Couiza to Ax you will be driving on country roads and from Ax up to Andorra on winding and mountain roads.
Andorra is very small and very nice once you leave the shopping areas. Ordino is worth a trip.

Hi,
I was in Andorra for several days a couple of years ago during summer. Andorra is a good place for hiking and as you yourself noted - shopping. Apart from that, not much to do, drab restaurants. Perhaps things have changed and I would assume the place to be more lively during winter, but I doubt it will be more to do in autumn which is even more off-season, I would assume.

We enjoy Andorra for these reasons: shopping for food and wine; spending a day at Caldea, which is a fantastic, beautiful thermoludic spa (be sure to reserve in advance); dining at La Borda, a restaurant in Le Seu d'Urgell, Spain, just outside of Andorra; hiking as others have noted. This year we are going to spend a day in Valle de Nuria, a beautiful valley you reach by train that is in the Pyrennees in Spain just outside Andorra. Also, a place to dine that is a destination restaurant for many Spaniards is Restaurant Boix in Martinent de Cerdanya. Yes, besides Caldea, shopping is the ticket in Andorra....

Caldea's website is www.caldea.ad

Check it out!

ttt

Thanks for all your replies. They have been very helpful. My DH hates shopping so I'm thinking he doesn't really understand that is big there. If he does want to go of course I can't be accountable for not shopping...

With the drive from Couiza I get the feeling going to Andorra would be better to stay overnight, not just a day trip? Is it worth sticking two more days on the trip?

Can anyone recommend a place to stay in the "non-shopping" area? Smaller, more intimate place, approx. 100-150 eu?
Since it's up in the mountains, I would imagine nice foliage at that time of year (hopefully)

Do you have a suggestion for an alternative? Some place magical that isn't a drive up into the mountains from Couiza for a few days?
We will have come down from through the Loire and Dordogne. Thanks.

"With the drive from Couiza I get the feeling going to Andorra would be better to stay overnight, not just a day trip? Is it worth sticking two more days on the trip?"

There are lots of interesting places near Couiza including the Cathar Castles, Carcassonne, Minerve, Lagrasse and the Med (Collioure).

Personally, I would not spend 2 days in Andorra if I only had a few days in the area. If you really want to go, try to get there early before the crowds i.e. 9am at the latest.
Andorra is not part of the EU and the customs officers take their job very seriously :-)

Thank you very much. I thought Andorra's money was the Euro so I thought it was part of the EU. The Andorra thing just threw me for a loop. I was looking for info on Andorra Spain and then my DH tells me it's its' own principality.

I appreciate all the replies. I'm sure there will be more than enough around Couiza to make us happy. I think Andorra will be on another trip.

"Thank you very much. I thought Andorra's money was the Euro so I thought it was part of the EU. The Andorra thing just threw me for a loop. I was looking for info on Andorra Spain and then my DH tells me it's its' own principality".

Oh they'll take Euros, no problem. And yes it's a principality the two "rulers" of which are the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell and the President of the French Republic (both called co-princes d'Andorre). There is no such thing as Andorra Spain or Andorra France. The Andorrans are very proud of their nationality.