A sleepaway camp in Andorra offered our son a chance to ski, make new friends, and experience traveling abroad with his peers.
Here’s a look at what the trip was like, – maybe your kids will be interested too!
Organizational moments
1. About the Trip & First Impressions
Traveling to Andorra
Artem, tell us, how did you feel about traveling alone by plane to another country? How old were you at the time?
– I was 15, and I felt excited because I was going with my friends. We had everything planned out in advanced so I felt confident in going alone.
How did you get there from Strasbourg?
– I took a short flight from Strasbourg to Toulouse, and from there, my friend’s parents drove us to Andorra.
On our way back, we took a long-distance bus to Toulouse and then flew back to Strasbourg.
Did you need a visa or any special permission from your parents to attend the camp?
– No visa, just a few papers to fill out for the ski school.
First impressions
What was your first impression of Andorra when you arrived? Anything that surprised you?
– I was surprised by the amount of mountains as soon as we crossed the border. I was also surprised by just how small the country really is.
Camp & costs
Was the trip expensive? What were the costs – camp fees, flights, ski passes?
– About 760 euros for the ski school (accommodation, meals, lessons, etc), 120 euros for the flight both ways, and 30 euros for a bus ticket.
It wasn’t cheap, but it was well worth it.
How did you learn about this sleepaway camp? What made you want to go?
– My friend found it online while looking for places to ski. I wanted to go because he invited me, and I really wanted to go skiing in general.
2. About the Camp Experience
Camp basics
What was the name of the camp and the ski resort?
– The camp is called UCPA, and the resort is Grandvalira – the largest ski resort in the Pyrenees and one of the biggest in Europe.
What were the age groups at the camp?
– The camp itself is pretty big: there were many age groups, with kids as little as 7 years old. My group was the oldest, 15 to 17 years old.
How many days and nights did you spend there?
– 7 days and 6 nights.
Daily life at camp
What was the daily routine like at the camp? Did you have a favorite part of the day?
– We had breakfast at the camp, then we’d go skiing at around 9 AM when the ski resort opened.
At noon, we ate at a restaurant directly on the slopes, then skied until the resort closed at 4:30 PM.
After that, we’d go back to the camp, hang out, and eventually have dinner. My favorite part of the day was skiing, of course!
How was the accommodation and food? Anything memorable about it?
– The accommodation was nice, and the food was great. I really liked the food they served at the resort restaurant.
What I found interesting is that each evening, a group of four people would cook something for everyone, meaning everyone got a chance to make something.
When it was me and my friends evening to make something, we made baked mac and cheese, burgers and salad which everyone seemed to enjoy!
Meeting new people & camp activities
What kind of kids were at the camp? Did you make any new friends from other countries?
– The kids were really cool, and I enjoyed spending time with them.
All of them came from France but from different cities: some came from Nantes and Paris while other came all the way from Marseille and Nice.
Were there any fun traditions or activities at the camp that stood out?
– For me, it was the games we played in the evenings.
I didn’t expect them to be that fun, but they ended up being well worth it because I got to know the others.
3. About Skiing & Outdoor Activities
How would you describe the skiing in Andorra compared to other places you’ve been?
– It’s very beautiful and the slopes are spacious.
Compared to other places, I noticed that many things, like the lifts, were very new which not every resort has.
I also really liked the fact that the trails were very long: you could go to the very top of the mountain, taking two ski lifts, and then ski all the way down which was practically 2km!
Did you try any new skills or challenges on the slopes?
– I tried going off piste with my friends to find new paths and do jumps.
Since the trails were very big, there were a lot of areas that you could explore.
Besides skiing, what other activities did you get to do? Any favorites?
– At the camp, we were allowed to leave the camp house at basically any time to walk around the city.
I enjoyed this kind of freedom because me and my friends had a great time exploring the city.
4. About Andorra
What’s something interesting you learned about Andorra as a country?
– It’s very mountainous and filled with some of the best ski resorts you can find.
Did you explore any towns or areas outside the camp? What was the atmosphere like?
– We explored the city our camp was situated in. The atmosphere was nice, the place felt very safe and open.
There also were ski shops and rental places everywhere.
How would you describe the people in Andorra – friendly, different from other places you’ve visited?
– They are very friendly and nice, not something you get to see everywhere. They look like Spanish and most of them speak in Spanish rather than French.
5. Sleepaway Camp in Europe: Reflections & Takeaways
What was the most unexpected or surprising part of this experience?
– Getting to ski so much and the freedom to do what we wanted to do.
If you had the chance, would you go back to the same camp next year? Why or why not?
– I would defintely go back because it was really fun, but I would also like to visit some other places too if I get the chance to do so in the future, maybe even next year!
What advice would you give to another teen who’s thinking about going on a similar trip?
– Plan how you’re going to get there and back to feel comfortable with your trip, and just have fun.
Thanks for reading!
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