Recommended shops in Andorra
Discussion
Shortly we’ll be driving through France on our way to Valencia, and have decided to make a lunchtime stop at Andorra.
Can anyone recommend anywhere decent to both eat and do some duty-free shopping in Andorra?
Also how keen are the local Police on searching vehicles for occupants carrying over the duty-free limit?
In advance, many thanks
Can anyone recommend anywhere decent to both eat and do some duty-free shopping in Andorra?
Also how keen are the local Police on searching vehicles for occupants carrying over the duty-free limit?
In advance, many thanks
WosMyName said:
I have seen one of those Border control reality documentary series about Andorra and they were stopping some and fining people over their allowance .
I don't know how real it all was or what nationalities they might target .
We’ll be in a U.K. registered van, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a pull. Several sites I’ve read online have mentioned that the border control can be strict. I just wondered if anyone had any real world experience?I don't know how real it all was or what nationalities they might target .
El Pas de la Casa is the main place people stop for Duty free, it's on the French side of Andorra. It's not so much the Andorran border guards, it's the French and Spanish guards just over the border. I got pulled on the French side, cost me around £1k, 20 years ago though. Don't know how much its changed since.
I was in a UK registered car, so you will most likely get pulled in a UK registered van.
I was in a UK registered car, so you will most likely get pulled in a UK registered van.
I use a place close to the Spanish border, think it's called the Riverside Centre. Huge underground carpark but has a 2m hieght limit, but there is surface parking as well. Gin is around 3.30e a litre for the cheap Spanish stuff with Beefeater 40%ABV at around 10e as examples. On my last trip I transfered 12 litres of cheap gin into two 6litre water bottles.....no not really, honest injun....no issues at the border into France, the customs guys/gals were on a smoke break.
At Dieppe, the 'spare' water bottles were in the passenger footwell with a couple of fleeces over the top, not even looked at.
On the odd occasion that I have been stopped, once they see that the van is a camper, they seem to lose interest.
Do not forget to arrive in Andorra with a near empty fuel tank!
At Dieppe, the 'spare' water bottles were in the passenger footwell with a couple of fleeces over the top, not even looked at.
On the odd occasion that I have been stopped, once they see that the van is a camper, they seem to lose interest.
Do not forget to arrive in Andorra with a near empty fuel tank!
ferret50 said:
I use a place close to the Spanish border, think it's called the Riverside Centre. Huge underground carpark but has a 2m hieght limit, but there is surface parking as well. Gin is around 3.30e a litre for the cheap Spanish stuff with Beefeater 40%ABV at around 10e as examples. On my last trip I transfered 12 litres of cheap gin into two 6litre water bottles.....no not really, honest injun....no issues at the border into France, the customs guys/gals were on a smoke break.
At Dieppe, the 'spare' water bottles were in the passenger footwell with a couple of fleeces over the top, not even looked at.
On the odd occasion that I have been stopped, once they see that the van is a camper, they seem to lose interest.
Do not forget to arrive in Andorra with a near empty fuel tank!
Ahh, thanks for reminding me about the fuel At Dieppe, the 'spare' water bottles were in the passenger footwell with a couple of fleeces over the top, not even looked at.
On the odd occasion that I have been stopped, once they see that the van is a camper, they seem to lose interest.
Do not forget to arrive in Andorra with a near empty fuel tank!
Duty free?
The whole EU is now duty free, for us non EU citizens.
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/tax-free-shopping/
Theres even phone apps that do the refund for you.
The whole EU is now duty free, for us non EU citizens.
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/tax-free-shopping/
Theres even phone apps that do the refund for you.
Border queues can be lengthy
Charges to use your phone are extortionate - it's very unlikely that your roaming covers it.
There may be better routes than the ones I've taken from France & Spain, but I've always been stuck behind lorries which struggle on the hills up to Andorra. I'd allow extra time for your journey.
Charges to use your phone are extortionate - it's very unlikely that your roaming covers it.
There may be better routes than the ones I've taken from France & Spain, but I've always been stuck behind lorries which struggle on the hills up to Andorra. I'd allow extra time for your journey.
105.4 said:
Ahh, thanks for reminding me about the fuel
There's a huge filling station just over the border from France on the r/h side of the road, but as you drive through Andorra there are no shortage of places to fill up, just check the price on display. Again, I use the Riverside Centre's place to tank up. Prices are around two thirds of France/Spainm and like Spain, often attended service.On a similar theme, in Spain, look out for 'Easygas' brand name, red signs, attended service and notably cheaper than anywhere else.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff