ski & snowboard

Stock up on items from music to jewelry (and everything in between) in the tax-free country of Andorra. In this quaint small principality located between France and Spain, visitors outnumber residents to take advantage of tax-free shopping, great ski resorts, and the beautiful mountains, lakes, and valleys planted in the middle of the Pyrenees.

Real Travel bloggers enjoyed Andorra’s hot springs, cheap drinks and night life, dramatic scenery, and outdoor activities. Andorra’s capital is Andorra la vella, the largest city with the highest concentration of the country’s 2000 shops. As the Journeyers, put it: “The place is clean, pretty, and unbelievably full of stores.”

Other Real Travel bloggers suggest drinks at El Cau in the Andorran village of Arinsal, Anyos Park where the locals are extremely friendly to kids, and skiing wherever you see fit.

Here’s what Mikey 08 had to say about his outing in Andorra:

“After a drive from Avignon, and a lunch pit stop in a village in the foot of the Pyrenees, we traveled up through the beautiful mountains, until we reached the tiny principality of Andorra. It has a Swiss feel about the place, and also reminds me of Aviemore in Scotland. Our campsite it wedged at the foot of a steep, high mountain, with only a river and road, before another steep mountain goes up the other side. It´s very cloudy here and also rains a couple of times. After pitching our tents, I venture into the local area for a look around. There are houses perched on top of the mountains, and I have no idea how they get into town for the shops. Maybe they abseil? There´s a local pool, so I spend the early evening going for a swim. Our group went out for dinner at a lovely little Andorran restaurant. How many people can say they´ve been to one of those?”

Do some shopping and embrace the small villages of Andorra on your next drive through the Pyrenees mountains.

For more trip information, visit:

Andorra Hotels
Andorra Attractions
www.cyberandorra.com

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Not too many ski regions allow you the ability to cross as many borders as does skiing in the Alps. You can hit the mountain from any angle (or country, shall I say) and experience the unique cultures of France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and other Eastern European countries.

While skiing is the main daily activity in towns like Les Gets and Livigno, food is looked at as more than just a means of refueling for the slopes. Most European countries take great pride in their culinary cultures and you will not be disappointed with the entrees in any rest stop along the way. Just make sure not to enjoy too much wine before you’re done with the runs for the day.

To spend a season in the Alps, there are unique ways to stay cheaply around the resorts. Real Travel blogger Nat B. explains an interesting job her friends worked to live in the Alps-near Geneva, Switzerland- for the winter season:

“Jeff and I arrived on Tuesday afternoon and met Jade and Vaugny at their chalet. They are working as chalet hosts - which mean they each have a chalet with a couple of English families and they have to act as hosts, cook the food, clean the chalet, sit down for dinner with the families and provide conversation etc so they both have about 5 hours during the day when they can go out for a ski…very hard life!”

Though averaging one million visitors per year means the Alps do get crowded, you can rest assured that people are coming for a reason. With the proper research and preparation, a winter in the Alps will be a manageable one that you’ll never forget.

For useful suggestions and tips, visit:
Switzerland Hotels
France Hotels
Austria Hotels
A great resource about unique ski town features of each Alps country:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-11-28-ski-europe_x.htm

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