 Poster: A snowHead
|
Im hoping to make a trip next year to the US and hope to take in Las Vagas and also get a bit of snow action in at Lake Tahoe.
Has anyone on here been out there before? Anyone got any advise or information which would be useful for planning this trip?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I cannot recommend Heavenly (Lake Tahoe) enough. We got married there - plenty of snow, plenty for non-skiers to keep amused and the Casinos for the night life. Has it all in my books!!! http://www.skiheavenly.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Went to Squaw valley a couple of years ago and IMO it's the best place I have ever been, also went to Heavenly and Northstar when i was there ( northstar is good when storm blows in as it all in the trees). Heavenly a lot more commerical bordering on Blackpool esq, where as Sqauw is a lot more apline feel and ski ski out factiliies
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| acanno wrote: |
| .... Heavenly a lot more commerical bordering on Blackpool esq,.... |
Heavenly's pistes are better though, and definitely better groomed 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also accommodation is being covered here: http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=23669
I would add that we did similar to your plan - Out of heathrow for 3 and a bit days in vegas then internal flights up to Reno and a hire car to tahoe, flew back out of San Francisco so had a speedy city break at the end too!
Because the casinos there are AMAZING! Yes its gaudy but its worth seeing just once in your life to have your sense of scale completely blown away! I did the flights separately through Opodo the internal flights were very easyjetesque so you may not be able to link them directly with the others ( I'm pretty sure we flew American Airlines and then westjet up to reno). We fell for the 'free' tickets to a show - I dont regret it but the 4hour time share presentation definately meant we earned our seats at Mama Mia - you need to make a very careful time/cost analysis. Do ALL the rollercoasters..brilliant and timetable a visit to treasure island to see the pirate battle - it runs 4 or 5 times each night in the early evening. Stayed in the Luxor - pretty good but i would consider an extra $10 a night to be in the center of the strip and save on taxis. The monorail is good but for two works out the same as a cab 
If you want to see a show I reccomend booking prior to leaving the UK. All the Casinos have websites and there are often promos/bargains to be had. Only gamble what you can afford to loose! Oh and the mini-coaches are a good way to get to/from the airport rather than a cab if you are cost concious. If you are more culture concious than me flying to the Canyon will save you a mega drive depending on how much time you have.
Trips to go INto Alcatraz should also be booked prior to leaving the UK online, its easy to get out to the island but not so easy to get the tickets to go in.
And finally be prepared for people to look at you funny when you are dragging your skis around behind you in the desert!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excellent information just the kinda stuff I was looking for. The plan right now is for about 5 days Vegas 5 Days lake Tahoe and a week in florida. I really need to see how expensive/how practical it all will be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I agree with accono Squaw is the place to go but I'm biased..... If you do go check out my site Unofficial Squaw Valley USA, or just give us a shout when you get to the area. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think squawski, is right Squaw Valley is better than Heavenly. Heavenly is good for the views and nice cruising through the trees but Squaw has more challenging and interesting skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Squaw Valley also has quite good view of the lake too.
But I wouldn't exactly say Squaw is any better or worse than Heavenly skiing wise. Seems the few times I was there the upper mountain was closed due to weather. What's left in Squaw isn't much. Heavenly has more varied terrain for families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Check out one of the Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas - I hadn't seen anything similar before and thought it was amazing. I expected to hate Vegas, but loved it for its uniqueness. If you're in the money stay at The Wynn. Its the newest hotel and in Vegas terms the newest is the nicest (they knock most of them down after about 15years to rebuild). We stayed at the Luxor (the Pyramid) but it was very tired, smokey and slot machiney and felt a bit Thompson. And wasn't much cheaper than the Wynn. The Wynn was much more glamorous - and has some amazing restaurants. Venetian and Bellagio were quite smart to go and gamble in. Have fun - cool holiday plan!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| abc wrote: |
| Seems the few times I was there the upper mountain was closed due to weather. |
I know weather is somewhat of a "how long is a piece of string?" question, but hearing about airport closures Stateside as well, during the winter, I wondered if there is any particular time to go skiing at Lake Tahoe that is better than any other? My experience of planning ski holidays so far is limited to avoiding the French Alps during the school holidays!
A group of us decided over the weekend that we'd like to go to Lake Tahoe next season (one of the guys had been in summer and raved about how nice it was and is desperate to go back in the ski season), but skiing in the US is a new one on me, and I'm not quite sure when to plump for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
We went in March & it was brilliant!! My fave ski area was Mount Rose - it was v quiet but he slopes didn't go slushy in the afternoon. If you stay in Heavenly, try to stay near the state line or you have to drive/bus/taxi to go out at night.
Have also been to Las Vegas (different trip, before I could ski) - would definitely recommend Sun Dance helicopters for Grand Canyon trip. They also do a flight over the strip at night which my parents have done & said it was good.
Enjoy!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
going to heavenly in 2 weeks. I know ski jackets in the states are cheap, so want to get a new one. however i was told that clothes in tahoe/heavenly were expensive. anyone discover a good gear shop in south tahoe?
thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
andy b, ooh, please make sure you report back. Dying to know more about it, now I've got a couple of brochures and browsed a couple of websites. Really, really want to go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Depending on when you go you can even ski just outside Vegas at Las Vegas Ski area. Its small but quite good fun for a day. Brianhead in Utah is a little further but a bigger resort and nobody is ever there midweek. If you drive to Grand Canyon from Vegas you can ski at Arizona Snowbowl just outside Flagstaff. You get an amazing view of the canyon as you ride the chairlifts there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
19 days till I'm there!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| andy b wrote: |
going to heavenly in 2 weeks. I know ski jackets in the states are cheap, so want to get a new one. however i was told that clothes in tahoe/heavenly were expensive. anyone discover a good gear shop in south tahoe?
thanks |
Really depends on what you mean by good - lots of shops, an "outlet store" which isn't actually that good but might have what you want and some serious backcountry kit stores. Then there's Reno where you can hit the bigger chain stores like REI. If you want to wear Glen Plake endorsed gear there's the Predator store in Tahoe City too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
hi, think I will take in the one of the REI stores. seems pretty good value based on prices in website.
happy to feed back whats it like. snow shouldnt be a problem. they had over 2m in 48 hours !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hi all,
quick review of trip. flew into LA with virgin (one night with family). following day we got a flight with alaska airways to reno. (they lost my ski boots and my wifes suitcase although they did get them to us at 3am) from reno it is an hour and half bus transfer to south shore lake tahoe. we managed to get a deal whereby we stayed as harveys (one of the casinos) which included a lift pass and $75 food voucher.
your pick your ski pass up each day from hotel reception. advanatge of this is you pick and choose where you want to ski each day. there were buses from the hotel to sierra, squaw and kirkwood.
we were there for only 3 days so skied heavenly first and third day and sierra in the middle. Heavenly is a great resort but it is in the whole an intermediates resort. - unless you go off piste. however the days we were there it was warm and the through the tree runs were looking a bit uninviting, particularly as they were totally tracked out. Nevada side of the resort is better imho but you dont have the stunning lake views.
I liked sierra. you can ski it all in day but lots of fun to be had.
some nice touches are water dispenses with cups in restaurants so you arent obliged to spend money just to have a drink. free clean toilets. pretty cheap grub. bowl of chilli was £3. strength of pound v dollar, plus the fact that the things are cheaper anyway. bought a spyder jacket (very french ski instructor I know) for a third of the price in snow and rock.
a couple of minor things - there seemed to be a lot of old slow lifts. and we only came across one lift that had a foot rest. there is one lift in heavenly that is 15 mins. when you have your legs swinging below with ski attached it soons becomes unpleasant.
on day 4 we hired a car and went to see my sister in santa cruz, hence the pretty short visit. I wouldnt recommend that you skiied just heavenly over the week, but with so many resorts an hour or so drive away, there is plenty to do. talking to the locals they told me that this year is the worst for snow since some time in the 70's or 80's (depended on who you spoke to).
weirdest experience is walking through a casino with your boots and ski's passing all the tables and fruit machines.
top few days though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
andy b, Sounds a good trip,have just booked with Virgin for Feb 2008 staying at the Forest Suites in Heavenly.apparently they are right by the Gondola
Any idea how the casinos are with kids,i am going with my boys who will be 16 and 14,obviously they can't bet,but are they able to watch whilst dad losses all his money?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hi liam, fraid not. quite strict about that sort of thing. however Harveys (assuming same for harrahs) have big amusement arcades. so providing you provide cash for your kids to waste on shooting aliens etc, you should get at least an hour or two to waste your own cash. how knows you may win. me, I am not called the jonah of the the roulette tables for nothing 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
As Andy says they are very strict about kids being near or on what they call the gambling floor ie the tables etc. If they get caught flouting the rules then the licence could be in jeopardy, which is big bucks, so they take this seriously.
They also used to be iffy about kids being near the slots as well.
That said the casino industry in both Las Vegas and Reno made a big play to get families to visit ie get the mums and dads gambling so the casinos usually have a lot of family entertainment options where you can if you wish, park the kids and then go to lose your money.
There are usually good family dining options in the casinos as well, for the same reason that they want to attract families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Tks guys,guess i can always leave them outside in the car with a can of lemonade and a bag of crisps 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
