 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Would be grateful for any advice/feedback on: resort/accommodation/ ski & boot hire/ ski pass or packages for group of 4 intermediate+ skiers in late Feb 2016. Flights to San Fran already booked; planning car hire from airport and looking for ideally 3 bedroom accommodation either short walk or easy bus ride to slopes. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
After last season, it may be worth waiting and following the snow for choice of resort/area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
@deecee2015, There are a lot of ski areas is there any particular one you want to go to, we were there quite a few years ago and stayed one week in the north then moved to South Lake Tahoe staying in a motel and eating at the Casino's. They used to have free buses going to different ski areas but don't know if that still happens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Northstar for intermediates if you like the whole fake village vibe. State line in South Lake if you like a mix of Smokin Aces, stripmall and a big hole in the ground. Calneva resort if you like old school Sinatra/Marilyn vibe and a drive to the slopes.
Squaw would meet your spec for condos walking distance to lifts but not great for intermediates and crappy snowmaking if El Nino fails to deliver.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
With hiring skis at Tahoe I assume it should be easier to stay at the one resort for the 5 day? Ideally we would not wish to drive to slopes but happy to take reliable shuttle if suitable condo/apartment not available within easy walk. Perhaps spoilt with Europe ski in / ski out facilities along with variety of "ski packages". Anyone hazard a guess as to how easy it is to leave decision late and still have choice of suitable accommodation? Are resorts comparable with Alps equivalents in terms of size and "difficulty? Are ski hire/lift pass/accommodation packages available in Tahoe area? And how do resort prices compare with each other and with Europe? Feedback above much appreciated - all very interesting, useful and welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Stay in Tahoe City (a big village-nice, and far from being a city compared with South Lake Tahoe). Tahoe City is about 10 mins from Squaw and Alpine meadows. We rented a lovely house through Tahoe Luxury Properties. There is a bus station in town and it should be easy to rent somewhere within a shortish walk, though most people drive.
HOWEVER...our trip was last January. The snow was sh*t. Without the off piste being even open or vaguely freshly snow covered (no snow for a month by the time we arrived at the end of Jan), going to Tahoe and skiing Squaw and Alpine Meadows was like spending 10 days in a ski resort with 35km of piste. It was warm, we sat in sun in shirt sleeves at the bottom of the mountain. Only half of the pistes open. We decided to drive to South Lake Tahoe to ski Heavenly one day. The cloud was down, limited lifts open. And the ski pass was still another $100 each for the day. We bailed out. No concessions are made on lift pass cost despite the poor snow. South Lake Tahoe is fine if you like casinos, shopping, wide dual carriageways, cars. Tahoe City is much nicer, Squaw is supposed to be hard gnarly skiing, but in reality the piste runs are mostly blue/ easy red by European standards and if you are not into off piste or the conditions are not conducive to that, you will be surprised and disappointed about how small the ski area is. The resort itself is pleasant if rather manufactured in feel. You'd go mad after a week...I think I would have worried about bumping into Mickey Mouse on the way to the lift in the morning,
The moral of the story. We will never go to California to ski again unless it's a last minute job cos they are knee deep in snow. We went last season cos stepson was instructing there. If you do go, I would definitely recommend not staying in the resort, but basing yourself in Tahoe City.
Sorry if that sounds a bit gloomy, but California is suffering a huge drought.
On the plus side- I can certainly recommend the accommodation agents. They had the nicest properties in the Tahoe City area. All done very smoothly and we never even had to visit their offices.
Oh yes...and on the way back to San Fran we went to Folsom Prison and the prison museum. Cool 
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Thu 8-10-15 22:46; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ski hire is expensive by European standards so it pays to shop around. Powderhouse comes highly recommended and will probably be the one I use. Shuttle buses run from all parts of South Lake Tahoe (perhaps the most strung out 'resort' anywhere in the ski world) to the Heavenly lift stations and to neighbouring resorts like Sierra and Kirkwood. There is no town of Heavenly; it's the name of the ski area only. Most of the accommodation in South Lake Tahoe is in motels (some good, some grotty) or 'resort' hotels. The casino buffets are fantastic value to eat. Lift pass prices are expensive by European standards; still investigating but it looks as if it is cheaper to buy a season pass rather than individual days or a seven day pass. Here's hoping El Nino delivers!
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Fri 9-10-15 9:56; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've been to Heavenly three times, on the end of business trips to San Francisco, driving out from SFR in the morning and getting to Heavenly about 4-5 hours later. We stayed at a hotel at the bottom of the slopes, rather than in Heavenly itself, which sits across the state boundary: one side with casinos and alcohol, the other not. This was before the lift out of the town was built. Cheaper accommodation is on the lakeside, but you then have to get up to the lifts. The ski area is typically US, with plenty of groomed slopes and then gated double-diamond runs for experts. Hotel accommodation was reasonable and on-piste food plentiful and reasonably-priced. Average 14 ft. snow when we went but I know that some years the snow has been thin or problematic.
The main problem for Brits is simply getting there: most UK flights get into SFR late afternoon. You might fly to Reno then drive south but Reno flights mostly leave from San José, which is to SFR what Gatwick is to Heathrow - not far on the map but a trek in rush hour. If you drive, then you'll escape immigration (hopefully) a couple of hours after landing late afternoon, then have to pick up the hire car, then navigate out of the Bay Area,and then have 4+ hour drive up into the mountains, the latter part on single carriageway road - you'll be getting there late, basically - definitely organise for more than one driver.
I can recommend the Heavenly website, which is where we found our condo hotel for us three guys sharing one suite and two female colleagues another. The suites were good value, albeit rather odd in having the Jacuzzi in the middle of the apartment, between the lounge and kitchen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
We stayed at the Tahoe Season Resort at the California Base. This meant we just walked across the car park to the chairlift, and didn't need to use a car or get a bus. The hotel rented, stored and groomed our skis daily. Our group's preference was for skiing rather than nightlife, so this may not suit you. We generally got a taxi to/from Heavenly if we wanted to go out in the evening.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer - have lived in US for 30 yrs.
Enjoyed my first trip to Tahoe back in 90s - stayed at heavenly but also skied squaw, kirkwood, alpine.
Went back to squaw for a week about 5 years ago - had totally been changed to condos and newly built 'village' complete with expensive restaurants, lost all the 'hot dog the movie' vibe. But wait - we had a big storm for 2/3 days - trouble is it was an absolute zoo once it cleared, every wannabe off piste 'dude' from northern cal showed up and fought to get to the snow. Even with hiring an instructor so we could jump the lift lines I was lucky to get 2 short runs in untracked snow, they just don't have the acreage to support the demand for fresh snow unlike in europe.
So there you go. Did love Kirkwood for a day though.
Oh and the endless resort TV channel every morning drove us crazy trying to sell condos, cars restaurants.
But enjoy !
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
I've had some great POW in Tahoe on & off over the last 25yrs. After last years disaster season I would seriously have a plan B ready!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rumour has it El Niño has a nice present in store for Tahoe this season but that may be a rumour put about by the mayor.
I once did a ski party leader's course run by a chap who'd skied about 200 resorts worldwide. I asked him 'if he had on last day on Earth to ski, where would it be?'
'Heavenly' was his response. He was obviously there for a powder week too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
No snow there last year and hardly any on the last couple, Cali is in a severe drought. We ended up getting a flight last year from San Fran for 50 dollars to salt lake and had a great time skiing the resorts there. Shame as we had booked lift pass. They only had a few runs open at each resort and that was in March! Hopefully this year will be different.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| cameronphillips2000 wrote: |
Rumour has it El Niño has a nice present in store for Tahoe this season but that may be a rumour put about by the mayor.
I once did a ski party leader's course run by a chap who'd skied about 200 resorts worldwide. I asked him 'if he had on last day on Earth to ski, where would it be?'
'Heavenly' was his response. He was obviously there for a powder week too. |
He only said that to save his favourite stashes at Kirkweed from punter hordes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Went a few years ago in what apparently was worst season in living memory (until last season) 
But you know it only takes a couple of powder days to make a trip and we scored at Squaw and Kirkwood. My advice is when you are planning day trips keep a close eye on Kirkwood it was getting nuked when we were there when everywhere else was dry - great place
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Heavenly opening six days early - on November 14 - along with Northstar. Kirkwood deciding on whether to open early. Decent snowfalls across the Lake Tahoe region in the last week to coincide with the arrival of my Tahoe season pass!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
| cameronphillips2000 wrote: |
Rumour has it El Niño has a nice present in store for Tahoe this season but that may be a rumour put about by the mayor.
I once did a ski party leader's course run by a chap who'd skied about 200 resorts worldwide. I asked him 'if he had on last day on Earth to ski, where would it be?'
'Heavenly' was his response. He was obviously there for a powder week too. |
I'd have to echo that comment. I lived in Sacramento, and later in San Francisco. I've skied all the resorts around there. Heavenly, is, well spectacular.
Snow has been a drama - and I hope El Nino blesses Tahoe. My FB friends in the Bay Area were posting rain, and just saw a web cam from Yosemite that showed a lovely white blanket. That said, it snowed last July in Yosemite!
Also, I'd stay in South Tahoe, close to Heavenly. If you are going in and out of SFO, you could rent from California Ski in Berkely, they are 3 minutes off the freeway, not out of the way at all. Those guys are experts. Conversely, rent in Truckee - or at least price compare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Kirkwood is nice, but OP said intermediate, so I'd stick to Heavenly...
bring your CC. On mountain food is dear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@deecee2015,
my friend that lives in Reno, just posted a pic of her driving through snow on her way to work!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Toadman, totally jealous.... was thinking to do the same, but we've rented a place in Italy with family.... Next year. Is it too soon to pray for snow for Christmas 2016?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Have skied Tahoe frequently over the last 20 years. Base yourself in the north around Tahoe city ( more resorts within 20 30 minutes drive) use AirBnB or VRBO to book a house. Look up sliding on the cheap - for ticket discounts ( ladies ski free at Mount Rose on ladies day!). Ski hire very cheap if you pick up in the bay area ( sports basement in walnut creek - see website) otherwise Tahoe Daves. Dont forget to call in to North Face outlet in SF before you go home. My faves are Northstar, Alpine, Kirkwood but can have cheap days at Homewood, Mount Rose, Sugar Bowl. Will be there in March 2016.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
