Skiing in Tahoe

A snowHead

I'm looking to go skiing in the area around South Lake Tahoe. Hotels are looking very expensive in the winter there. Just wondering if people have any suggestions/tips where to stay? We will be renting a car so happy to stay a bit away from the resorts.

A snowHead

You're the 2nd person I heard from that found hotel in S Tahoe very expensive this year.

The majority of off-slope lodging are in the village of South Lake Tahoe. Since you have a car, you can look into staying on the Nevada side, which historically are less dear. Sometimes, the casinos may have deals that beats regular hotel/motel.

Another option is Condos and AirBnB that are not on the main village. Keep in mind though, parking on the base can get difficult past 9am on weekends.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I haven't stayed at South Lake Tahoe in years. I usually go to Mammoth Lakes these days. I would look into AirBnB, VRBO or HomeToGo.

You should check out https://www.skitalk.com/ It's a forum like this one, but in America. People in Tahoe or fans of the area often post on the site. You'd get plenty of friendly advice there.

As for skiing, along with Heavenly, I would give Kirkwood a shot. It's about 45 minutes south of the lake and is on the smallish side, but has great snow. Excellent for a day trip. And of course there is Palisade Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley), which shares a shuttle to and from Alpine.

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There are some cheaper motels in and around SLT but I suspect there may have even been some price taking there. Don't know the shakeout of the fires either.

The "secret" option is to stay in Minden/ Gardenerville and use the back access to Heavenly up Kingsbury Grade. Also about even on the drive to Kirkwood. Course that's not a tourist town but has some decent features like excellent Basque restaurants.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I'm off to SLT in January. I did a lot of research to get the best (i.e. cheapest) deal on accommodation.

Outside of deals in the casinos (none of which coincided with my trip), the cheapest I found was The Bluelake Inn, which is very close to the Heavenly gondola.

I can't say if it's any good, as I've not been yet. But from the reviews, it seems OK for a 2* motel.

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When we went, all the cheaper motels were on the California side of the state line. You literally crossed the street and the huge casinos were on the Nevada side of the state line - everything Nevada side was much more expensive. You do need a car to get from here to the lifts though really. The casinos offer Homer Simpson style all you can eat buffets for not very much money.

You can sometimes get 3 or 4 night deals at the casinos - Harahs was one I remember, and some of the deals include lift passes. However we booked 3 nights in the Motel 6 for our arrival, and then spent one evening looking for suitable accommodation for the rest of our trip. The Motel 6 was a cheap and cheerful place - owned by the same lot that now own Formula1/Ibis/Mercure in France. Motel 6 is sort of at the high end of Etap or low end of the Ibis standard. Super 8 is slightly better - more like a good Ibis. There were lots of other independent motels - just look around and see what you fancy.

I think we did 3 nights SLT, then 4 nights Mammoth, then back for another 4 nights SLT. Its about a 3 hour drive SLT->Mammoth, but June Mountain is enroute, so you can pop in there on the way back.

Loads of resorts around SLT - our favourites were Kirkwood and Alpine Meadow. Homewood is also good for a long half day on arrival or departure.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I don't think SLT's lodging prices are any different than anywhere else in ski country....at least in western NA. SLT has all the typical lodging options, including the casino hotels which can be pretty affordable. You could also trade proximity for value and stay in Reno, where there are endless options, and ski at either North or South Shore. Dunno if Covid killed it, but there used to be a ferry from SLT to Tahoe City, a beautiful way to go ski somewhere else for a day.

After all it is free

Well pre covid anyway, one of the advantages of around Lake Tahoe for a ski holiday was that despite the ski areas, winter is very much low season for Tahoe, where as many ski locations the peak of the ski season is very much the highest of high season.

If your going to SLT, have a look at the Tahoe Value Pass, currently $439 so 4 days pays for it vs the rack rate. It’s valid Sunday to Friday at Northstar and Kirkwood in addition to heavenly 7 days a week (but there are some holiday blackouts). Pre covid Vail Resorts run a weekly shuttle to Kirkwood and Northstar from SLT, so even without a car you could get 2 days away from Heavenly for some variety and there’s regular shuttles to Sierra at Tahoe too, though it remains to be seen if the Caldor Fire has any impact on it’s operations this winter as unlike Kirkwood and Heavenly where the fire was kept at bay it run through parts of Sierra at Tahoe.

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Thanks for all your input. Yea hotel prices have gone up significantly. The same hotel we stayed in near Heavenly last year doubled their prices this year!

Yea thinking of getting the Tahoe Value Pass too.

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@euanovsky,

In 2019 (literally just before lockdown) we stayed in the Forrest Suites Resort. 8 of us shared 2, 2 bed-roomed suites.

Truthfully some of the suites are a little tired, but a reasonable breakfast was included, and it was only a couple of hundred yards from the gondola. Maybe worth a look.

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You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Scooter in Seattle, yea exactly my thoughts to me an hour or even a bit more is acceptable. When I was working out in the US I once drove 7 hours one way just to go skiing in the weekend. The proximity to ski resorts is mainly to keep my OH happy...what we do for love ~~of skiing~~!

@abc, We plan to get the Tahoe Value pass so will be going to Kirkwood, Heavenly and Northstar (though that's on the other side of the lake!)

A snowHead

A snowHead

@euanovsky, if you have in mind of skiing Kirkwood, then all those talk about staying at Reno will not work!

South Lake Tahoe is probably the largest bed base that can access Kirkwood, short of staying AT Kirkwood. But given you're doing more than just Heavenly, it makes sense to stay off-slope.

SLT used to have really good value-for-price winter lodging, because all the lodging catering to summer visitors. But these days, a lot of people are working remotely. A good many of them are staying in Tahoe instead of going back and forth to the Bay Area. That must have taken up some of the available lodging.

That said, I just don't see that being the real factor. After all, Tahoe in the winter is not very interesting for non-skiers. Weather is not as pleasant as the Bay Area in the winter, by a long shot. So I don't think it's the remote working crowd that's impacting the price.

Lodging in all tourist destination had gone up significantly. I never delved into the reason behind. Just noticed that being the case. Looks like South Lake Tahoe is no exception.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

How long are you looking to stay in SLT? AirBnB and VRBO are good to check if you're after 28+ nights, as you get monthly rate discount. We stayed there last year for entire month of January - loved it. We stayed in Tahoe Keys right on the Lake. Looked straight across to Gun Barrel lift. Three bedroom townhouse nicely furnished and set up cost us $4000. Six miles to Gun Barrel lift.

For a just a night or two I stay at the Big Pine Mountain House, within walking distance to the gondola downtown SLT. Very inexpensive, and very basic. Their website is showing whacky pricing right now, so don't rely on that. In general, midweek rates up there for motel rooms are very reasonable if you don't mind staying somewhere pretty basic.

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If you are worried about prices of accommodation, you may want to do some research into ski passes and food/drink on the Mountain! Never in my life have I felt so overcharged for skiing than i did when I stayed at Heavenly. I cut short my trip and headed over to Utah for some skiing instead

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Ricklovesthepowder, s'all good with an Epic pass. It's just short duration tourists that get royally screwed.

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When we were there, the boat options were :

or

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Judwin, that bottom one is San Francisco Bay Very Happy

After all it is free

@Tom_Ski, Sadly probably just between 7 to 10 days. We would like to be there for 2 weeks ideally but timing wise it just wouldn't work.

@DaddyLouLou, I'm also thinking of going in January but the first week/10 days of Jan. Are you flying into Reno? We are looking to either fly to Reno or SF.

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@euanovsky, Flying into SF. In SLT for 10 days, followed by 4 days in SF on the way back.

Flights are getting interesting, as United have just* cancelled our flight, and moved us onto a later one. When I was looking and booking this (back in March), BA were flying 2 A380s, United 2 777s and 2 Virgin flights (can't remember what aircraft). BA have switched to 777s, United have dropped a flight and Virgin are on 787s.

* I don't know when they cancelled it - they didn't tell me. I found out by accident.

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You know it makes sense.

We flew into SFO - it's the only place with direct flights from the UK. Reno, Sacremento, San Jose or Oakland are all possible if you're happy with connecting flights, but every time I've looked (pre Covid) these have been much more expensive than SFO direct. You should also be careful with connecting flights through northern mid west cities - Minneapolis, Chicago etc - It can and does snow there which will cause flight delays.

We went in January (the day after the Charlton vs YTFC FA Cup game) and stayed the night in SFO, and then drove up the hill the next morning, travelling via I80 and Tahoe City and stopping at Homewood for a half day to blow the cobwebs out of the system. It's an easy 3-4 hour drive providing the weather cooperates. There can be problems on I80 if the weather is bad though.

January is also Superbowl knockout stage time, and Martin Luther King Day (US Bank holiday) and the 'resorts' can get very busy for those weekends. Check there are no big American Rules Rounders or Netball competitions as well - even state level college games can fill up the Motels quickly.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Definite merits in flying into RNO as importantly you are the right side of the Sierra vs storm effects on roads and volume of weekend related traffic. However almost certainly there will be cost uplift if it involves you flying into SFO or LAX and back s/h to RNO. Possibly if you hit upon a fare sale which is equalised cost to anywhere in Western US then you might get a reasonable fare but US airlines bread and butter is making money on the domestic side given number of cities to be served.

A snowHead

Definite merits in flying into RNO as importantly you are the right side of the Sierra vs storm effects on roads and volume of weekend related traffic. However almost certainly there will be cost uplift if it involves you flying into SFO or LAX and back s/h to RNO. Possibly if you hit upon a fare sale which is equalised cost to anywhere in Western US then you might get a reasonable fare but US airlines bread and butter is making money on the domestic side given number of cities to be served.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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Oakland Airport was great when Norwegian ran a service ex LGW there briefly - small, quick process on immigration then pick up your rental car and you were already across the bay so maybe 40 mins drivetime saved on SFO in peak early evening traffic. The main problems with SFO is you're the wrong side of the bay from where you want to go and traffic gets crazy particular times e,g for Bay Bridge or coming back on a Sunday through Emeryville.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

SFO can be nightmare with traffic.
We went to Tahoe during the summer months a few years back. Stayed in Half moon bay after arrival, then on to Napa Valley for a few nights. followed by Tahoe. It was still a long (& boring) drive from Napa & traffic got heavy the nearer you got to Tahoe.
Personally, I would look at a connection to Reno - Probably start with Virgin Atlantic to Atlanta or Vegas?

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As someone else has mentioned, Minden / Gardnerville can be much cheaper than SLT, with a nicer room for the price. A lot of the cheaper motel type places in SLT (eg Black Jack Inn) can be pretty grim in terms of heating cos it'll be an AC unit with single glazed windows and a leaky door. You can have the heating on and not sleep because of the noise of the fan, or have the heating off and not sleep because it gets very cold.

Very brief one word reviews of places I've stayed at over various weekends:
- SLT: Stardust Lodge: good location, decent quality
- SLT: Alpenrose Inn: bit of a walk to gondola, decent quality
- SLT: Black Jack Inn: good location, cold
- SLT: 7 Seas Inn: bit of a walk, but amazing! pricey. With gas heating instead of AC. But now turned into airbnb 'condos'. Sad

- Minden: Carson Valley Inn: nice room, attached to a tiny casino. Cheap ($160 for 2 nights).

I'd stay at all of them again for a weekend if there was a storm forecast. I'd probably only stay at the Black Jack Inn if there was nothing else though. If you go with the Minden option, aiming to be in the carpark by 815am on the Nevada side of Heavenly will make your parking experience much easier.

It's been a while since I've been there though as I went with Ikon and skied Alpine+Palisades [Squaw] the last 2 seasons.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Never dealt with the traffic issues out of SFO, have used the BART to go somewhere else on arrival! Does depend on arrival times and whether you've flown direct to SFO in one hop or had connecting flights and hours at another airport on route without an overnight break, but Sacramento isn't a bad option to stop off for a night or two, can transit via the BART to Richmond and change onto Amtrak into the old town district of Sacramento.

Then have the option to hire a car there or travel onwards to Tahoe with the Amtrak Capitol Corridor bus connections. It's a pretty easy drive out of Sacramento onwards to US50 to South Lake, but the bus is a good option if you'd be the driver and just want to sit back and take in the view!

Accidently had some unplanned non public track bashing into a turnback siding and BART yard north of Richmond station on one occasion when got a ski bag completely wedged under a seat and didn't manage to get off in time! Embarassed

After all it is free

Thank you for all your input.

For those who are interested we ended up booking a return flight from LHR to LAX and a return flight (a separate booking) from LAX to RNO. This works out to be the best for us both in terms of value and the number of connecting flights needed. Rented a SUV (well rented the SUV class anyway not sure if we will be given a SUV) and will stay in a hotel within walkable distance to the Heavenly gondola for two weeks.

We considered a few alternatives e.g.:
LHR to SFO then drive from SFO to SLT - this works out slight more expensive on our dates
LHR to SMF then drive - this works out to be very expensive
Stay in Minden/Gardenerville instead of SLT but decided once we factored in the price differential (not too big in our case) and petrol and parking costs (not to mention the need to drive early every morning) it's not worth it.

Flight is changeable or refundable to flight credit. Car rental and hotel are fully refundable. The only thing not refundable is the Tahoe value pass. A lot more expensive than skiing two weeks in Europe but hope it's going to be great! We will be going early Jan.

The only thing I'm slightly concerned is that we only have 4 hours overlay in LAX on the way back. But we will be coming out from a domestic flight so hopefully that's enough!

Also does anyone know how it works with the Tahoe value pass? Me and my OH both have the last year epic pass with us. Will they just load the Tahoe pass to our existing epic pass? This is what they did the year before when we renewed (though we renewed the same product)

Help!!

Skiing in Tahoe

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