My friends are going to France on Thursday (!!!) and plan to end up in Bilbao, Spain. During their travels, they will be very close to Andorra. Is iit worth going out of your way to go there? Is the shopping really extraordinary? <BR> <BR>Thanks for any info.

We drove across the Pyrenees, with the intent to stop in Andorra for some taxless shopping. The scenery on the way was incredible, but when we got to the shopping area, we kept going. Bus upon bus parked everywhere, throngs of people in and out of shops that looked to have exactly the same stuff. We never even got out of the car.

I spent a day in Andorra and it was the biggest waste of time. We went for the same reason as Elvira, also with the intent of buying some ceramics and leather. We did not see anything there that we couldn't get at home for less money. There were tour buses upon tour buses. The most popular place was Andorra 2000 which is like a Super KMart. Andorra La Vella, the capital, had more fast food restaurants (McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut) than I have ever seen in any city, including those in the U.S. Yes, the scenery is incredible, but not enough to waste a day there.

Ditto!

The main value of going to Andora is to add another country to the list of those visited. My wife described it as one big K-Mart. If you need some new tires for your car, that's the place to go. Not much else. Oh yeah, a new CD player.

I do not think shopping is something extraordinary there, there are some interesting articles but generally well known brands probably average for american prices and a bit cheaper for european ones. Nothing about pottery, leather, etc. Apart from the remote small villages with its romanesque church and superb mountainous landscapes, Caldea spa at Les Escaldes is probably the main sight there or at least a place to spend some hours enjoying great thermal facilities.

My experience is similar - - but I will try to paint the glass half-full, with a slightly different palette. It may not be totally relevant to you, as my experience was for a start across the Pyrenees from Barcelona (headed to Perpignan). <BR> <BR>First of all, Seu d'Urgell is VERY worthwhile - - easily worth an overnight - - and in my case, I didn't get away towards Andorra as quickly as I had intended. There was a surprising "traffic jam" during parts of the climb up to Andorra - - I can't add much to the descriptions of the scenery on the way up which have already been given there. Nor do I have any other positive remarks about my (90 minutes? less?) in Andorra itself. <BR> <BR>But the drive back down the French side was awesome - - perhaps because I was rushing - - I really wantd to make it there in time to turn in my rental car (before 5 pm, as I recall) - - and catch the train onward to Sete. So, my driving made it one hair-raising 2-hour long "E ticket" thrill ride. <BR> <BR>Of course, you could make it (more sanely) from Barcelona to Perpignan in a simple 4 hour coastal drive - - instead of the 32 hours I spent - - but memories of this detour are among some of my best, in the solo Europe traveling category. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Thank you all for your advice. I'll tell them to skip it. <BR> <BR>Sandy

Sandy, <BR>Is Andorra worth a detour for your friends? No. The "great buys" (and what Spaniards flock in droves to Andorra for) are cheap tobacco, gasoline and electronics. There are over 4,000 stores in this duty free bazaar. I agree with the other posters-that the capital, Andorra La Vella,. is the Ginza of the Pyrennes- consumerism run amok. Mile to mile traffic and a souk-like atmosphere. And if they attempt accessing Andorra from the Spanish side on a weekend, they may be stuck in snail’s pace traffic. We’ve been (in July) and experienced the interminable lines. The 9 km from Seu took well over an hr. We didn’t go to shop but instead to see the pretty countryside and search for the picturesque and peaceful Catalán hamlet of Os de Civís, which can only be reached from Santa Julia, Andorra. I see only 2 other reasons to visit Andorra: 1) to spend a few relaxing hrs. of hydrotherapy at the the gigantic, kind of futuristic looking, glass Caldea spa, the "water palace" in Escaldes, that Pedro mentions, where they could soak in Andorra's famous hot springs. It’s actually kind of fun. Or 2) to ski very cheaply in winter at Ordino or Soldeu. The apres-ski scene is reported to rival Ibiza. Instead of Andorra, I’d advise your friends to spend time in the gorgeous Val d’Aran, near the French border, on their way to Bilbao. It’s one of Northern Spain’s most breathtaking areas and never disappoints. <BR> <BR>