Just wondering if anyone has any helpful and insightful information about traveling from Barcelona to Andorra for the World Cup! Thanks!!!
Barcelona to Andorra
- Thread starter BRIANBUELL
- Start date
theres a bus service that will deliver you to your hotel that runs from the airport in barcelona, andorrabybus.com or something along those lines.
thats what im catching, cost me 40euros or something.
kieran
thats what im catching, cost me 40euros or something.
kieran
Sweet thanks! Maybe I'll see you on the bus?
If you can hire a car that would probably be the best option, the drive is very nice and simple.
If you're flying to Toulouse you just follow the signposts to Foix and then it will be marked as Andorre. It may be marked from the start but I haven't been in awhile.
Be careful getting back because the customs going into Spain are dicks, I had to strip my car down because they were so sure I had some beer with me (I didn't) So be careful with the cheap prices.
If you're flying to Toulouse you just follow the signposts to Foix and then it will be marked as Andorre. It may be marked from the start but I haven't been in awhile.
Be careful getting back because the customs going into Spain are dicks, I had to strip my car down because they were so sure I had some beer with me (I didn't) So be careful with the cheap prices.
We will be arriving at 10:30!
I traveled from Barcelona to Andorra twice- once for the Maxiavalanche, and once for the Maxxis Cup, both in spring of 2006.
I did the special Andorra Bus one time, and another time did a different (Altea... I think) bus line.
Both bus lines are a pain in the ass. You are NOT technically allowed to bring a bike on the bus. However, if you're traveling either super late at night, or on a weekday, the bus probably won't be full, and you can probably sweet talk your bike's way on-board. If that's not happening, just get the bus driver kinda alone and slip him 5 or 10 euros, and you'll be ok. Probably.
However, if they don't know it's a bike, they won't hassle you. I cut my bike boxes down a lot so that they just barely covered the tops of my wheels. I put tires in my backpack. The boxes were about the size of a BMX frame box- tiny. I packed super light for both trips, with just a tiny bike box and a backpack.
This was my experience, and things might be slightly different/changed since 2006, but traveling around Spain with a bike sucks. You aren't allowed to bring them on any train, and most buses try to tell you bikes aren't allowed. The cut-down-box technique, along with a few 5 euro bills and taking late night routes, will make it all possible though.
Good luck, and don't rule out hitchhiking/finding people on www.foromtb.com to give you rides. I just emailed a guy who gave me a ride back into Spain after the Maxiavalanche. He has a van, and he might be able to give ya'll a ride.
Do you speak Spanish? How many people in your party?
I did the special Andorra Bus one time, and another time did a different (Altea... I think) bus line.
Both bus lines are a pain in the ass. You are NOT technically allowed to bring a bike on the bus. However, if you're traveling either super late at night, or on a weekday, the bus probably won't be full, and you can probably sweet talk your bike's way on-board. If that's not happening, just get the bus driver kinda alone and slip him 5 or 10 euros, and you'll be ok. Probably.
However, if they don't know it's a bike, they won't hassle you. I cut my bike boxes down a lot so that they just barely covered the tops of my wheels. I put tires in my backpack. The boxes were about the size of a BMX frame box- tiny. I packed super light for both trips, with just a tiny bike box and a backpack.
This was my experience, and things might be slightly different/changed since 2006, but traveling around Spain with a bike sucks. You aren't allowed to bring them on any train, and most buses try to tell you bikes aren't allowed. The cut-down-box technique, along with a few 5 euro bills and taking late night routes, will make it all possible though.
Good luck, and don't rule out hitchhiking/finding people on www.foromtb.com to give you rides. I just emailed a guy who gave me a ride back into Spain after the Maxiavalanche. He has a van, and he might be able to give ya'll a ride.
Do you speak Spanish? How many people in your party?
Oh yeah- renting a car is super easy, and driving in Spain is nothing but pure joy.
Expect to spend close to 200 euro for a car for the weekend, and expect to have to pull your bike out of the box to get it inside the tiny euro-mobile, but a car makes for a super easy trip.
Oh yeah, the bus only takes you to the main first town in Andorra, (Andorra la Vella) and you need to hitchhike/bus up to the town at the base of Vallnord- about a 20 minute drive/hour long ride.
I spent a week after the Maxxis Cup just riding the mountain and camping out by the river- pure homeless bike bum status.
Expect to spend close to 200 euro for a car for the weekend, and expect to have to pull your bike out of the box to get it inside the tiny euro-mobile, but a car makes for a super easy trip.
Oh yeah, the bus only takes you to the main first town in Andorra, (Andorra la Vella) and you need to hitchhike/bus up to the town at the base of Vallnord- about a 20 minute drive/hour long ride.
I spent a week after the Maxxis Cup just riding the mountain and camping out by the river- pure homeless bike bum status.
Thanks Jeff for all of the info!!! Sounds like the buses might be a little bit trickier than I expected! We have a group of 5 including myself, renting a car might be the way to go huh. I was hoping to just ride the bus line, but if they don't even allow one dude with a bike box, which is what I actually have, a semi real bike box, than I can;t imagine them allowing five of use, especially mid day. I'll look into renting. How much more was it to rent a car being under the age of 25? My spanish is a little harsh, I can read better than I can speak! If your friend is down to give us a ride, we will be more than happy to pony up a little bit for his troubles!!!
Brian, a couple weeks ago in Austria the under 25 fee for renting a vehicle was 6 Euros, hardly a deterant at all. The first car we rented didnt even charge us the fee. Then when everyone else left and I took out a smaller car just for myself and John Hauer it was only 6 Euros.
If you need a van for 5 people, rent it now, but they may already be gone. The closest 1 or 2 popular airports have all the vans and wagons go away at world cup time due to the teams arriving.
Yeah man, I *could* be wrong about the bus lines to Andorra. It's been 2 years. In fact, I think they might allow bikes, but it wasn't a common thing at all. Both trips to Andorra were stressfull with a lot of finger crossing. But I know for sure that it's really, really hard to use public transportation in Spain with a bike. If the bus does allow bikes to Andorra, getting to the bus station from the airport is another challenge altogether. Taxis work OK, but even then, it's still not an easy task.
If you rent a van/2 cars for your crew, you'll have way less issues, especially since you don't speak Spanish too well. The road signs are really easy to use in Spain, and it's not a far drive at all. Gas is cheap considering the cars get such great mileage. I e-mailed that guy last night, still no response. I'll let you know what he says, and I'll also put a post up on foromtb.com that you guys need a ride and such. It sucks relying on others when you've traveled so far though.
I don't mean to be a downer at all for you guys. I just had a really hard time getting myself around Spain with my bike(s), and I want to be sure you guys have an easier time than I did.
The good news: once you're out of Spain, pretty much all the trains in Europe allow bikes. Pack light, very light, so that you can be self contained while pedaling. This will allow you to scoot around cities a little bit and get from train stations to hotels a LOT easier. Just a tip from the brokest traveler ever!
If you rent a van/2 cars for your crew, you'll have way less issues, especially since you don't speak Spanish too well. The road signs are really easy to use in Spain, and it's not a far drive at all. Gas is cheap considering the cars get such great mileage. I e-mailed that guy last night, still no response. I'll let you know what he says, and I'll also put a post up on foromtb.com that you guys need a ride and such. It sucks relying on others when you've traveled so far though.
I don't mean to be a downer at all for you guys. I just had a really hard time getting myself around Spain with my bike(s), and I want to be sure you guys have an easier time than I did.
The good news: once you're out of Spain, pretty much all the trains in Europe allow bikes. Pack light, very light, so that you can be self contained while pedaling. This will allow you to scoot around cities a little bit and get from train stations to hotels a LOT easier. Just a tip from the brokest traveler ever!
Thanks for all the good info, were definitely on the broke travel plan as well, spending 6 weeks over there with minimal funds.
If you guys want to rent 2 cars I'll pitch in and join you.
I'm over 25 so we should be able to save the under 25 fee.
Maybe we can talk more at AF?
Lars
I'm over 25 so we should be able to save the under 25 fee.
Maybe we can talk more at AF?
Lars
Unfortunately won't be at AF this year, going to the little sisters graduation, then were flying out Monday morning, arriving in Barcelona 10:30 Tuesday. When are you getting in? Were thinking about staying in Barcelona and driving up Wednesday. Then were driving back down to Barcelona to Fly to Scotland on Tuesday for a night flight.
I'll get in at 8:25 on Wed am, US airways.
I'd be stoked to get a ride, and help cover rental costs.
I'd be stoked to get a ride, and help cover rental costs.