Andorra Ski Holidays Family Friendly For 2007/8 Season
Keywords: Andorra, Ordino, hotels in Andorra, holidays, ski, vacations
Ski holiday country Andorra has transformed her holiday image over the last 20 years from a ‘poor man’s Switzerland’ to a fully functional ski country able to compete with other European countries during the December to April European ski season.
So successful has the transformation been that nearly ten million tourists visit the country each year, with a blip this year after later than normal snow fall.
And for next year’s ski season Andorra has opened a new family friendly ski park in Arinsal, moving away further still from her old image of a cheap and cheerful ski holiday for 18-30 year olds to one that caters well for all.
The snow park includes a conveyor belt and a game zone, designed to give children confidence before they ski and use the chair lifts.
Well known ski villages in Andorra include Soldeu and Ordino as well as Arinsal.
Other new developments in Andorra for the 2007 ski season include a 540 space underground car park in La Massana close to the cable car, and an extension of the beginners area in Arinsal.
Commenting on the new facilities, an Andorra travel guide claims that the investment in Andorra’s infrastructure is ongoing, and will allow Andorra to compete with other ski areas in Europe for years to come.
As well as being a top ski destination, Andorra is also a tax haven, with many people moving to the country to benefit from her income tax free status.
Buying a property in Andorra is often seen as a route to residency, which entitles people to live in Andorra and benefit from her tax haven status.
To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time. Residency normally takes between three and six months to be approved.
Once residency is granted, residents are supposed to spend six months a year in Andorra, but this isn’t policed.
One of the drawbacks for those looking to become a resident in a tax haven when considering Andorra has been that the country has no airport of its own, and is unlikely to have in the future given that it is located in the Pyrenees. The nearest airports are Barcelona and Toulouse.
Recent improvements in the road from Barcelona to Andorra though have cut the travelling time by some thirty minutes to two hours fifteen minutes.
YourAndorra is a travel guide for Andorra and can be found at www.yourandorra.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Andorra Bucks The Certainties Of Life (1)
It betters the US by nearly six years. As well as having a stress free economic life the people of Andorra enjoy fresh mountain air, with some of her peaks reaching nearly 10,000 feet.
Ski Runs Close Early In Andorra - Worst Season For 20 Years (2)
One of the drawbacks for those looking to become a resident in a tax haven when considering Andorra has been that the country has no airport of its own, and is unlikely to have ine future given that it is located in the Pyrenees.
Cosmopolitan Mix For Malta Tourism A Step Closer (3)
With the arrival of more holidaymakers, the possibility of increased property sales to overseas buyers becomes more of a reality as well, so the real estate sector as well as the holiday market is keeping a keen eye on arrival figures for the months ahead.
Malta Holiday Island Again Praised For Safety (4)
The first three months of 2007 all showed year on year improvements in the number of tourists visiting Malta. Much of the increase in visitor numbers has come about since the Malta government reluctantly agreed to allow low cost airlines to fly from the UK and Ireland, traditionally Malta's strongest market for holidays.
Menorca - Holiday Island Wrapped In History (5)
However, the island, despite its gentle appearance, has a history rich in battles and military history. The British have long found Menorca to be one of the most popular holiday spots, though few know of its illustrious, if occasionly dubious, military history.
Late Snow Hits Andorra Ski Resort Visitor Numbers (6)
But while the snow has started falling as early as the last week of October in previous years, none has fallen so far for the 2007 ski holiday season. 'The snow making machines have been working overtime since the beginning of the season', comment a local travel guide, continuing 'They have allowed a depth of around 20cm of snow for popular Andorra ski resorts like Soldeu, but while it's an effective substitute for many skiiers it's still not the real thing.
Caribbean Cruise Holiday Of A Lifetime (7)
Give yourself the opportunity to experience the vacation of a lifetime. Cruising has become widespread and cruise liner has grown considerably but each vacationer has diverse need so there are many different packages for each and a holiday is a time for unwinding, enjoyment and revitalization.
How To Choose The Best International Travel Medical Insurance For You (8)
Whatever compromise in your plan you choose to make between risks and costs, shop around not only for cheap international travel medical insurance plans, but also for a reputable company that gives you total information, has open view functioning and does not evade any of your questions.
New Hotels For Heathrow (9)
London is the number one city destination for international travel, with 2006 being a record year for overseas visitors to the capital and London hotels have experienced their strongest performance levels since the late 1990s.
A Traveller's Guide To Barbados (10)
There are calypso competitions and fairs around the island, culminating in a carnival-esque costume parade of Kadooment day, which is always held on the first Monday of August. Daniel Johansson writes for the travel related market.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Airline Says No To 2007 Malta Flights (1)
But hopes that popular low cost airline easyJet would provide further impetus for the Malta holiday trade seems to have been dashed with reports in the island's press that talks have stalled, and a proposed London Gatwick route has been shelved.
Malta Looks For New 2007 Holiday Markets (2)
'With lower fares, Malta becomes a destination viable for 3 and 4 days trips a few times a year from the UK, and that will attract buyers to look at Malta in the same way they do France and Spain when considering where to buy a holiday home abroad.
Andorra Aims For New 2007 Tourists (3)
The season was so bad for 2006/7 that the ski slopes were closed three weeks earlier than normal. Andorra is now looking to market her best assets, the Pyrenees mountains, to spring, summer and autumn tourists to try and make up the winter shortfall.
Spanish Holidays Off To Flying Start For 2007 (4)
Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Mallorca. Property prices in Mallorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too on Mallorca.
Battling For First: The Bahrain 2007 Grand Prix (5)
Fans of F1 racing were treated to speeds in excess of 200 kilometers per hour, as well as hair raising turns and squealing tyres as drivers fought for lead positions in last Sunday's race.
Ski Resorts Fight Poor 2007 Season With New Facilities (6)
While the snow would often start in early November before this season, disastrously no sustained snow periods arrived until March. No official figures have been released yet as to how many tourists visited this year, but some officials are reported to be guessing at a year on year fall of ten per cent.
Mallorca Tourists Sail In For 2007 (7)
The actual bay of Palma is ideally suited for the Cup races, and is some ten miles (nearly 15 kilometres) wide, with a naturally occuring wind - vital for good yachting!
Brits Have A Monaco Grand Prix Fantasy (8)
This year has seen the most open championship in some years, following the retirement of ace German driver Michael Schumacher. Seven times World Champion Michael Schumacher retired from racing at the end of the 2006 season, and his departure has increased the possibility of no individual driver dominating for some time to come.
Taste Of Honey For Malta Tourists (9)
But outside of the UK holiday market, Malta hasn't enjoyed the same levels of visitors from other European countries such as Italy and Germany, compared to her competitor Spanish islands of Mallorca and Tenerife.
Summer Snow Brings 2008 Ski Season Hope (10)
Andorra is a ski country and a well known tax haven, and traditionally the year gets off to a flying start with many serious skiers. But this year proved to be different, with the worst snow falls for twenty years and a distinct lack of tourists.
Permalink to Andorra Ski Holidays Family Friendly For 2007/8 Season