Spent our last two nights here as a mixture of shopping and hiking in the mountains. The location is excellent. Just a two minute walk downhill into the main shopping hub which offers everything from the usual tourist 'tat' to high end luxury brands. There are shops to suit every budget.

The hotel itself is a large slab of archictectural concrete set against the backdrop of the mountains. There are sweeping views from the balcony of parts of Andorra-la-Vella below and the mountains above.

The rooms were very clean and well appointed. Here, the interior design has been well thought-out with contrasting minimalist flair, efficient functionality and touches of luxury. Dark hardwoods delineate the room whilst the large bathroom is an absolute joy: jacuzzi bath, walk-in shower, separate WC all enveloped in richly textured travertine marble - stunning! The bed was massive - essentially two singles together. Nespresso machine was a nice touch with two sachets, but no tea option or milk available - I'm certain reception would have sorted this however. Large screen TV was nice, but the choice of channels very limited (only one UK channel - BBC News). Free Wi-Fi was useful although the signal was quite poor.

The amenities are plentiful including, outdoor tennis court, golf practice area and outdoor swimming pool. Inside there is a large heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and poolside showers. There is also a very handy ice mountain outside the sauna - ideal for cooling down those tired muscles after a day in the hills. Upstairs boasts a pretty comprehensive gym, but we did not get chance to use it. The 'Sports Area' facility is open most of the day. There is a requirement to use a bathing cap when using the pool. The hotel brochure has a long list of 'complimentary' services, such as massage, facials etc. However, all of these are fee dependent - as you would expect. The term 'complimentary' we found to be a little misleading.

There is a restaurant on site which caters for most, however we decided to venture into town for the majority of our meals. Breakfast was a €12 supplement, I believe, but the choice was staggering. An extremely generous buffet breakfast which catered for all: bacon, eggs, and other hot options, plus a variety of cold meats. A variety of teas, coffees (via Nespresso machine). Continental options were also vast: cereals, pastries, fruit juices etc.

We found the staff extremely helpful and the majority have very good English; we did try our best to use as much Catalan as we could.

Parking is a €18 per day premium which we felt to be expensive, however it is underground and secure. Travelling around Andorra by car is quite straightforward, but it doesn't pay to be fainthearted! Fuel is extremely cheap, so plan your trip to arrive with as little fuel as possible, then fill your tank before setting off elsewhere.

Unless you are skiing, I would say two or three days is the maximum you need here. A highlight is walking to the top of Pic de Casamanya at 2742m.

A word of warning: despite Andorra's tax incentives, prices are not as cheap as one would expect. Most brands are quite inflated in price and it is worth paying some caution before hitting the high street. The electronics stores are in abundance, but good deals are very few and far between. If you have a smartphone, check prices online before handing over your euros.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this hotel to anybody staying in Andorra. Does it deserve the 5 star rating, I think probably not given some other 5 star hotels I have visited, but it is still quite luxurious.