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Learning to ski can be a really fun experience. Now, for this to be the case, it is very important to choose well the place where you will start in this discipline. You will agree with us that it is not the same to start skiing in a resort with many green slopes than in a resort with few green slopes and many red and black slopes.
For this reason, if you are thinking of going skiing to Andorra, remember that the Vallnord Pal-Arinsal ski resort has all the necessary resources to help beginners take their first steps in the snow. On Esquiades.com you will find a variety of offers that include Ski Pass to ski in Andorra and you can choose the ski resort where you want to slide for the first time.
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It is made up of two different ski ski areas:
❄ On the one hand we find Pal . Up to here can be accessed by a cable car located in the town of La Massana and which you can ride as long as you have the hired ski pass. This funicular will leave you directly on the slopes of Pal resort and from here you can access the green and blue slopes. It is important that you know that if you do not have car park at your accommodation and you travel by car to La Massana, to take the funicular you will have to leave your car in blue zone car parks, or in paid indoor car parks.
If you don't want to pay for car park in La Massana , we have another solution for you. There is also the possibility of reaching Pal directly with your car, passing through the town of La Massana and following the road (remember that it is a mountain road, so you may find some snow) until you reach foot of Pal's slopes. Here, car park is free and you will be next to the beginners area.
❄ Another of the ski areas that make up the Vallnord Pal-Arinsal resort, as its name suggests, is Arinsal . To get there, you can do it skiing, since both ski areas are connected to each other by a funicular (included with the pass). That is, you can start skiing in Pal, skiing to Arinsal and then skiing back to Pal.
And here you may ask us: “ What if I want to start skiing directly from Arinsal and spend the whole day there? "Well, we'll tell you that you don't have to worry. To access the Arinsal ski area you simply have to drive to the town of Arinsal and there continue along the mountain road until you reach the car park, which is next to the chair lifts. The Arinsal car park is free , so you can park your car there all day or while your strength resists you skiing.
It is important that you know that Arinsal has more red and black slopes than Pal, so if your intention is to learn to ski, we advise you to do it directly in Pal.
Vallnord Pal-Arinsal offers many opportunities for novice skiers:
❄ The recommendation of Esquiades.com is that, if you have never skied, focus above all on the Pal ski area , since it is the one that offers the most green and blue slopes, which makes it perfect for learning to ski. In Pal you will find areas for beginners, perfect for taking your first steps in the snow.
❄ If you have already skied and prefer to continue progressing with your technique, perhaps you are more interested in the Arinsal ski area , where you will find long blue and red runs . Also, remember that it connects with Pal through a funicular, so you can go skiing and learning between the two valleys. Of course, remember to return to the ski area where you have parked the car!
❄ As we have said, the Pal ski area is ideal for learning to ski , thanks to its soft and wooded mountain. The slopes are very wide, which makes the descents more enjoyable. It is also a good option for those who want to stay near the capital of the Principality, Andorra la Vella.
❄ In addition, it is a very comfortable ski area if you do not want to take the car or if you are staying in La Massana, since it is connected to the town by a funicular. This means of transport leaves skiers in the Caubella area, at an elevation of 1,950 m, where you will find several green runs to practice with skis or snowboard , as well as an area for beginners equipped with conveyor belts.
❄ In order to learn to ski faster , we recommend that you include ski or snowboard lessons in your booking. The Vallnord Pal-Arinsal ski school has professional instructors who will help you develop your technique correctly and will make you improve more easily. In a few hours you will be able to stand up and slide down some of the green slopes.
❄ And if at the end of the day you are confident enough, you can try some of the blue slopes that Pal has, which have a somewhat greater difficulty, they will help you continue to improve and perhaps at the end of your stay you will be encouraged to try a slope red.
❄ Arinsal , for its part, also has an area for beginners and conveyor belts, although smaller than Pal. It also has several green, blue and red slopes so that you can progress little by little. In addition, if you go skiing to Vallnord Pal-Arinsal with children, you will find a playground, where the little ones can have fun while playing with the snow safely.
❄ In this ski area you will also find a ski and snowboard school . The teachers at the Arinsal school will take you to the slopes suitable for your level, they will teach you to slide through the snow and after a few hours of practice, you will be able to go down the low-level slopes without difficulty.
❄ This resort is not only ideal for beginners but also has slopes for the more advanced skiers as it also has 17 red slopes and 4 black ski slopes .
❄ The ideal area for medium and high level skiers and snowboarders is Arinsal, especially in the area of the "La Capa" slope where you will find steep slopes .
❄ In Arinsal there is also the Arinsal Snowpark and extensive areas where freeriders can have a great time.
If you plan to ski with skiers or riders of medium or high level, the Vallnord Pal-Arinsal ski resort is perfectly adapted to the different profiles of skier and snowboarder so that everyone can enjoy skiing in Andorra.
You may have already received advice from friends and what many people say is, "don't buy, rent ." This is excellent advice, as in the beginning, you should focus on gaining confidence on the slopes and buying skis or a snowboard can be quite confusing when you really don't know what you are doing.
As this is your first ski holiday (or your first), you need to wear gear that fits well and works well . The rental store staff are professionals and will make sure you wear the boots that fit your feet. You will also find the skis or snowboard that adapts to your height and will calibrate it to your weight.
There are different ranges or categories of ski or snowboard equipment and their names vary since each brand or store may call them differently. However, what you should know is that there are generally three categories of ski and snowboard equipment:
1. Bronze / Economy: This type of equipment is suitable for beginners and is the most affordable option.
2. Silver / Evolution: This kit is for those who want to improve their skills and are looking for better quality skis or snowboard to gain speed in races.
3. Gold / Performance - This is for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The equipment is considered high-end and therefore the most expensive option. People who opt for this option are those who usually have their own equipment but for some reason have not.
If you're a beginner, the range that best fits is the most basic, that is, the bronze / economy since they meet the essential minimums to be able to start to gain confidence on the slopes at a perfectly controllable speed your first few downs.
In some resorts the use of helmets is mandatory for children under 16 years of age . For this reason, we recommend that you check the data of the ski resort before visiting it. If this is your first time on the slopes, our recommendation is to use protection to feel safe.
Children usually have their helmets included in the equipment rental, however, adults will have to pay a small surcharge.
The Esquiades.com team has been working with Andorran ski resorts for many years and we put available a wide variety of stores located throughout Andorra. In addition, we give you the possibility to choose the store so that you can pick up your equipment in the one that best suits you. Are you looking for a equipment rental store in Andorra that is close to your hotel or apartment? With Esquiades.com you will have one a few meters from you. If, on the other hand, you prefer the rental shop to be close to the access to the ski slopes, at Esquiades.com it will also be possible.
In this section we are going to recommend the best hotels and apartments located in the Vallnord Pal-Arinsal ski resort if it is your first ski holiday. It is important that you bear in mind that if you book ski and snowboard lessons and also add equipment rental to your booking, you'll want to be located fairly close to the slopes to avoid wasting time as you'll want to maximise your time on the slopes. Therefore, the most convenient hotels and apartaments to ski in Vallnord Pal-Arinsal are:
It is a small hostel in the centre of La Massana that has 16 bedrooms (without private bathroom). It is a good choice if you are looking for something simple and cheap since you will want to focus all your attention on making the most of your first experience on the slopes. Your ski holiday with Esquiades.com includes breakfast.
If you are looking for a charming accommodation, this is it! This hostel opened in 2019 and its rustic decoration and friendly staff will make you not want to leave. There are bedrooms of different capacities all of them with shared bathroom and a communal kitchen. It is in a very quiet area of La Massana.
This hotel is in the centre of La Massana so you will be a few meters from bars and restaurants . The bedrooms are all modern and have heating, private bathroom and WiFi. With Esquiades.com you can book your ski holiday with breakfast or half board. The food is rated 8/10! In addition, it has an Irish pub where you can have a drink before or after dinner. If you are looking to relax after skiing, you can buy tickets to the hotel spa at reception.
All these hotels and apartments are a few meters from the La Massana cable-car that will drop you off at the Pal ski area, right in front of the Pal ski and snowboard school. By the access to the cable car you will find the Esports Pic Negre 11 equipment rental shop, a collaborator of Esquiades.com.
Browse through ski deals with hotel or apartments in La Massana
This hotel is practically directly on the slopes since the Arinsal cable car is 100 meters away. It is a small and simple hotel and the staff is super friendly. Your ski holiday with Esquiades.com includes breakfast, which is buffet style. It is surrounded by several bars and restaurants so if you stay here you will be in the middle of the après-ski area.
These modern and cozy apartments are ideal if you are looking for something that is affordable while being close to the ski slopes. It has 17 apartments with different capacities (from 2 to 6 people). All of them are fully equipped with full bathroom, safe, heating, WiFi, bedding and kitchen.
If one day you want to have breakfast outside the apartment, at the Polar Base Restaurant they offer a special price for the apartment guests.
It is a small mountain hotel in Arinsal just 100 meters from the cable-car that leaves you on the slopes. The bedrooms have full bathroom, heating, TV, safe and telephone. If you book your ski holiday with Esquiades.com, you have included the breakfast served at the Polar Base restaurant (opposite the hotel).
Right next to the hotel is the bar "The Derby Irish Pub" , the place with the best après-ski atmosphere where you can have a few imported beers after skiing.
All these hotels and apartments are close to the Arinsal ski and snowboard school and the equipment rental shop Esports Sant Moritz and Pic Negre 2 (both collaborate with Esquiades.com).
Check out the best ski deals with hotel and apartments in Arinsal
❄ Before going on your ski holiday to Vallnord Pal-Arinsal it is important to check the state of the roads and the weather forecast in Vallnord Pal-Arinsal for the next few days. In this way, you will avoid more than one unforeseen event and you will know what clothes to wear.
❄ It is also important to know the type of snow there is and the number of slopes open to the public. You can consult all this in our section dedicated to the state of the slopes of Vallnord Pal-Arinsal. For novice skiers or first-time snowboarders, we recommend avoiding spring or hard snow types, as they require a higher level of skiing.
❄ Last but not least, we recommend that you take a look at the reviews about the Vallnord Pal-Arinsal resort that you will find on Esquiades.com. In this way, you will be able to see what other skiers like you think and you will find a large number of useful tips for your next ski holiday.