French Cancellations Hit Andorra Ski Hotels Amid RN-20 Closure

Hotels in Soldeu and El Tarter report ongoing cancellations from French guests on one- and two-night stays due to France's RN-20 closure near Merens, now in its third week. Operators note that overall occupancy remains stable, supported by Spanish visitors and the carnival period, though they express concerns over limited government outreach and call for aid beyond Pas de la Casa.

Properties along the CG-2 road say short trips suffer most, with travellers unwilling to add two hours of detours for brief visits. Cancellations occur without fees, typically initiated by customers via phone. Staff refrain from contacting guests proactively to avoid prompting more pullouts. Longer stays of five or six nights proceed via the alternate route, but arrivals report exhaustion, especially families navigating winding roads.

One El Tarter hotel describes the impact as minor, with repeat family bookings for full weeks holding steady. Some French visitors now fly into Barcelona and enter from Spain; a group of 50 from one family arrived this way on 14 February. "It all hinges on guest profiles and hotel types," staff observed. A vacation apartment complex near Sant Pere del Tarter church has seen unexplained dropouts via Booking.com, raising fears of a worsening trend. A French employee there worries acquaintances mistakenly view Andorra as cut off.

These areas contrast sharply with Pas de la Casa, where shops and eateries face sales drops of 70-80% amid empty streets during peak season. Business owners report desperate liquidity needs, staff layoffs or reduced hours, and transport chaos—cancellations on first trains from L'Hospitalet and supply chain delays stretching market runs to seven hours. Recent government measures like electricity bill rebates and soft loans draw mixed reactions; operators deem them positive but insufficient, especially for lower-village spots reliant on day-trippers. They lament rejections of requests for temporary layoff schemes (ERTOs) and rent reductions, urging flexibility as March and April loom large for accommodations.

Òscar Ramon, president of the Pas de la Casa Neighbors and Merchants Association, highlighted low activity in lower areas despite carnival, warning aid may fall short for struggling small firms. AEAT president Àlex Ruiz said apartments are coping so far but stressed vigilance for future months, which account for 20-25% of budgets. French mayors from L'Hospitalet, Merens, and Ax-les-Thermes echoed mobility woes, demanding reliable rail service amid economic strain on cross-border trade.