Andorra La Vella, Andorra

THE 3s of ANDORRA — Scenery + Shopping Spree

Nestled in the in Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, the principality of Andorra boasts of awe inspiring views capable of converting mere spectators into nature lovers. It is just so difficult to ignore the majestic mountain ranges surrounding the city center of Andorra La Vella. Not even its hustle and bustle, typical of any capital city, can ruin it.

Apart from being a country blessed with spectacular views, Andorra is a shopping mecca huddled between France and Spain. The country boasts of a tax-haven status allowing duty-free shopping everywhere. I was blown away by the number of outlet stores found in major districts in and around the capital. I managed to enter a few of them and each place is filled with a hodge-podge of items. They do sell anything and everything such as perfume for around 25% less than the average retail price in my home base, France.

Unfortunately, we did not have the luxury of time to discover in-depth the cultural heritage of Andorra through its museums and monuments.This is an argument I will definitely use to justify another visit.

NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS

2 – the number of days of stay in the country and the number of travelers in this trip.

200 EUR – cost of transportation by car from Geneva, Switzerland to Andorra including gasoline and toll fees.

53 EUR – lodging cost per day in a 3 star hotel located at around 8 kms from Andorra La Vella.

12 EUR – average cost per person of a local dish called Paella.

10 EUR – cost of a bottle of Marques de Riscal wine, typically worth 15 EUR in local supermarkets in France and Spain.

65 EUR – bargain price of a bottle of Hermes perfume which normally retails for roughly EUR 89 in France.

328 EUR – overall cost of this trip based on the following:

Transportation = 200 EUR
Hotel = 53 EUR
Food (restaurant) = 75 EUR