Andorra Park Hotel ★★★★★

When the more considerate members of my family show concern about my joining them on our annual skiing holiday, I am grateful, but I nod and smile and say it’s ok, which of course it is! I arrive, stock up my electronic reader with stacks of books and look forward to endless days in the pool and spa in glorious peace, as well as wonderful views and being pampered in five-star luxury… what’s not to like?

This trip took us to the wonderful Andorra Park Hotel and I think it was the best yet. The position at the top of the hill afforded us great views and very quick access to the nightlife and shopping life of the city via the elevator at Pyrenées Shopping, and for those of us who wanted the thrills and spills of skiing and snow-biking, the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle service to the Telecabina La Massana for a day of excitement.

You arrive at a long low building with snow-covered eaves surrounded by icy trees, and you find yourself in a huge foyer and lounge area furnished with soft and inviting leather settees and an air of quietly assured luxury. My husband and I enter our room, which is large with parquet flooring, and has a lounge area with a classic large sofa and coffee table, as well as floor-length windows which open onto our own terrace overlooking the lawns, rockery and lake and the mountains beyond. We are surrounded by five-star luxuries like a mini-bar, air-conditioning and 24-hour room service. I can’t wait to check out the hydromassage tub in our bathroom! A few days of pampering and relaxing awaits me and I suspect a few days of exhilaration and terror in equal measures are waiting for him!

The hotel has two restaurants. Breakfast is served in the Raco del Park, a light airy space with a great buffet choice of hot and cold foods and whatever you fancy in the way of beverages. You could spot the skiers among us because they had no hesitation in stocking up on the scrumptious-looking pastries. Some evenings we went out for dinner, but mostly we ate in the hotel’s És Andorra Restaurant. This is fine dining in lovely surroundings with delicate pink filigree chandeliers and lovely damask upholstery. On our final evening we stayed here, having concluded we really did have the best of Andorra right inside our hotel.

I loved the pool with its full-length windows looking out onto the frosty grass and snowy peaks – it was almost like swimming in the open air but a lot warmer! I loved the spa as well, and spent happy days having a massage and lounging in the Jacuzzi. The children loved the kids’ playroom, which has a climbing wall and tunnel, and the energetic ones loved their skiing, the gym and most of all the five-star surroundings. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Andorra Park Hotel for giving us the best place to stay in Andorra!