Andorra

Why Andorra? Andorra is not a highly visited country, especially by Americans. In terms of international tourist arrivals, the World Bank reports Andorra only ahead of countries that you mostl likely have also not been to, like Montenegro, Luxembourg, and Bosnia. It’s a little trickier to get to - let’s be honest, we went there because it was a seperate country and we’re trying to collect them all. Nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, this small principality offers a unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences that can make for a remarkable family vacation. Here are a few reasons why families might choose to travel to Andorra: Majestic Mountain Scenery: Andorra is a paradise for nature lovers, with its breathtaking mountain vistas, pristine lakes, and lush valleys. Families can enjoy hiking, biking, or horseback riding through scenic trails, immersing themselves in the picturesque landscapes. Outdoor Adventures: The rugged terrain of Andorra provides ample opportunities for thrilling outdoor adventures. From skiing and snowboarding in winter to zip-lining, rafting, and mountain climbing during the warmer months, families can engage in exciting activities that promote bonding and create lasting memories. Family-Friendly Ski Resorts: Andorra is renowned for its excellent ski resorts, making it an ideal destination for families who enjoy winter sports. The resorts offer a range of slopes suitable for all skill levels, along with dedicated areas for children and beginners, ensuring that everyone can have a great time on the slopes. Tax-Free Shopping: Andorra is known for its duty- free status, which means families can indulge in tax-free shopping for a wide variety of products, including electronics, clothing, cosmetics, and more. This can be a unique and enjoyable experience for families looking for some retail therapy. Cultural Exploration: Despite its small size, Andorra boasts a rich cultural heritage. Families can explore charming medieval villages, visit Romanesque churches, and delve into the local traditions and customs. Andorra la Vella, the capital city, offers modern amenities, shopping centers, and a vibrant culinary scene. Safe and Welcoming Environment: Andorra is known for being a safe and family-friendly destination, with a low crime rate and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Families can feel at ease exploring the country and interacting with the friendly locals. Overall, Andorra offers families an incredible blend of natural beauty, outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and a safe environment, making it a compelling choice for a memorable family vacation. How did We Get There? Because Andorra is a little out of the way, we often get asked how did we get to Andorra? We rented a car from Barcelona and drove. Our rental car agency was at Barcelona Sants train station and it was an easy 3 hour drive up to Andorra. This was a day trip for us - rent the car from the train station in the morning, drive up to Andorra, then drive back and return the car in the evening. Other Options to Get There? The other easy option is to take a bus from Barcelona to Andorra. As I mentioned earlier, Andorra is a commercial shopping hub due to its history as both a tax haven as well as a place where Spainiards could find products from the rest of the world that they could not find in fascist, post-World War II Spain. While liberalization of Spain has granted economic prosperity to northern Spain and Andorra no longer has the economic competitive advantage it previously enjoyed, there is still an infrastructure. You can also get buses from Toulouse, France, if you’re enjoying southern France. As of publication date (2023), I would recommend looking into Flixbus. What did We do there? As I mentioned, we did Andorra on a daytrip. That didn’t leave us much time. I was drawn to the mountainous beauty of Andorra and wanted to hike for a bit. The drive up was beautiful. The mountain valleys we drove through were breathtaking. We spent time checking through the stores for some souvenirs and found all sorts of delicious flavored chips for our picnic (besides the classic European flavors like paprika, we found some ones to remember like fried egg as well as jamon (ham). Our kids still talk about those. We also went on a fabulous hike to the Esglesia de Sant Antoni de la Grella (Church of Saint Anthony of the…Grella :) ) across a beautiful stone arch bridge and along a wonderful stream. More on that hike to come. How did We Prepare? We told our kids that we were going on a pretty hike with a beautiful bridge up to a ruined church and mountain streams. That was enough for our kids, who love those sorts of things. We also had gummies and food for a picnic that we grabbed from Andorra. What do I Still Want to Do There? I want to do all the hikes. I love natural beauty and there is a ton of it here. There are also quite a few hot springs in the area, some of which have been used by hotels, so if I had unlimited time and money, I think it’d be fun to spend a couple days there. This is a quick aside, but we drove by the Montserrat monestary right outside of Barcelona while driving up and I would have liked to visit there. Any crazy stories about Andorra? I will just say that the free car rental insurance with Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card came in extremely handy and saved us some money. I also don’t think that Avis is aware that one tire was replaced on one of their cars. More on that story to come.