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Tahoe/Kirkwood accommodation+info

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Me + 2 mates are considering a 10 day trip to Tahoe in Jan 2010. We are keen on spending a few days in a resort for slopeside convenience and have heard good things about Kirkwood so might go there, then will base ourselves in Tahoe City for the rest of the hol for day trips to Squaw/Alpine/Northstar etc.

Can anyone recommend accommodation in Tahoe City?

Ditto Kirkwood? Is it $$$ to stay there?

How much for a 3 day Kirkwood lift pass?

Answers to those Qs and any other relevant Tahoe info would be much appreciated. Smile
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Kweed is quality terrain but its literally off the grid so you pay a premium to stay there & have nothing going on at night (+the risk of power outages if their own generators break down). Its an easy enough drive and absolutely stunning from South Lake if you get up early enough & like driving in snow. However 3 in a condo is probably decent enough for a mid week ski n stay deal. Don't really know accomodation in Tahoe City though there are a few motel/hotels plus condos, Truckee is equally convenient for all 3 resorts (except the back way into Alpine.
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 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?
I liked Kirkwood a lot but I wouldn't stay there - for reasons as posted above, plus the accomodation is all owned by the resort, too, it seems.

I must say I found all the driving around in Tahoe to be a massive pain in the neck - my accommodation advice would be to locate a nice bar /restaurant and get somewhere near it.
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firebug, agreed we would definitely want to be within walking distance of a few bars/restaurants in Tahoe City or Truckee. Any recommendations?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Unfortunately not - we had to stay in South Lake Tahoe because it was New Year and the accomodation was literally half the price there. I'd stay in Truckee another time, I think.

If you do end up near South Lake we found a great little bar in Meyers

http://www.thedividedsky.com/
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Tahoe City looks like a "nice place" by the lake but what about Truckee?
Looking at map it has a big highway and railway line running through it. Is it very industrial?

Seeing as my preferred north lake resorts would be Alpine and Squaw think I prefer the look of Tahoe City as a base. But willing to be persuaded otherwise. Especially if info can be provided about decent/cheap places to stay.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
hd

We stayed in South Lake Tahoe. Some years ago now so can't remember the name of the place - however you are spoiled for choice from very cheap Bates-style Toofy Grin motels to flashy, expensive casino hotels and everything in between.

The novelty is that the town is on the California/Nevada border with casinos/gambling and lively nightlife in the Nevada bit.

There's good access to the Heavenly skiing and all in all not a bad place to stay.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Truckee itself old town is an old goldrush railway town, quite quaint then there's some newer stuff along Donner Lake road and some very nice houses in the woods so I80 isn't really an issue (& facilitates easy access to/from Sacramento/Reno). Expedia/trip advisor etc will have all the hotels.
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Truckee is not industrial at all - it is more quaint western frontier town in atmosphere than anything else, and it is not very big, although there are lots of 2nd homes in Tahoe Donner and Donner Lake areas. I can't actually think which hotels are within walking distance of downtown that are reasonably priced - there's not that much to the downtown area. There's a Holiday Inn Express and a Days Inn (I think it's a Days Inn) on the west side of town which essentially is closer to Squaw and about three other motel/hotels on Brockway and Old Brockway one of which is a Best Western. There's also a nice hotel called the Sport Chalet on Old Brockway. These are closer to Northstar than anywhere else. Northstar has it's own village and accomodation (including the Ritz when it opens), as does Squaw, and Squaw also has a couple of larger hotels and more restaurants. There is no accomodation at Alpine, and there's only one road in/out. In Tahoe City there is an AmeriInn, and a place called the Peppertree (I think). Truckee is officially 13 miles from the end of Squaw Valley Rd and Tahoe City is 5 miles. It takes me about 20 minutes to drive from the main part of Truckee to the Squaw parking lot, except on a snow day when the speed limit is 25mph. It takes 10 minutes from Tahoe City. There are also lots of houses to rent in the area.

For Kirkwood I'd stay in South Lake Tahoe in one of the casinos - they all seem to run shuttle buses to the resort. Although you may want to hire a car/suv - everything is spread out except at the base of the Heavenly Gondola! I don't know any of the lift prices for any of the resorts, sorry (I either have a pass or have discounted tickets).

Personally I think Squaw is the best place to ski! snowHead
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
It's looking like Squaw will now be the main focus of our trip. snowHead

I've been hunting for accommodation in or near Squaw that is reasonably priced and I quite like the look of this place.

I emailed the owner to find out more about the exact location of the condo and he replied as follows:

Quote:
The ski lifts are not quite walking distance, at least not if you are
wearing ski boots. However, there is a shuttle that will pick you up
just outside of the Condo parking lot and take you directly to the lifts
in the Valley. Otherwise, it is a five minute drive. You can also pick
up the Squaw Creek lift at the Resort at Squaw Creek which is about a
half mile from the condo. I believe you can also catch the shuttle to
the Resort and start your day from there. From the resort, you take one
lift up, ski down, and end up at the main Squaw Village area with the
lifts, gondolas, and tram.


Being snowboarders perhaps it is walkable to the nearest lift in soft boots, and within reasonable staggering distance from the bars later so that one of us doesn't have to drive and not drink???

Can any Squaw please regulars advise:
Does it sound like a good location for easy access to the lifts, restaurants/bars in Squaw and to other resorts e.g. Alpine?
How good is the shuttle service? Until how late does it run?
Would we be much better off staying in the Squaw village? (but much more expensive there)

We would stay somewhere cheaper e.g. in tahoe city but my mates are notoriously bad early risers so would be good to be within walking distance of the lifts so that I can score 1st tracks on powder days without having to wait for them to get in the car... Evil or Very Mad
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Squaw valley road is not that long but its rare to see pedestrians on it, personally I'd rather not walk it given the Bay Area drivers concentrating more on their Grande Hazelnut Lattes than the road. The Squaw Creek lift is good & gets you up to teh top of Red Dog (and has some fab tree skiing) . There's always the TART option if you stay in Tahoe City
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 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.
The shuttle that is mentioned has to be the Squaw Creek Resort shuttle (having looked at the photos for the location). That shuttle runs either every 15 or 30 minutes depending on time of day and time of season, and goes to and from Squaw Creek to Squaw's cable car building - the main entrance to the village. You're in a great location as far as using the bars at the Resort (Squaw Creek), and they are very good for getting taxis etc for Tahoe City and Truckee. Later in the evening they often run an on demand service where you call and they come and get you.
There is a shuttle that runs from Squaw to Alpine every morning, but I'm not sure of the times.
TART wise, there is a service to Tahoe City every hour which does continue quite late as a night bus service. The service to Truckee is also hourly but the last bus is at about 5:10 during the winter which is a right pain.
Everyone in the area is used to hitchhikers!
The night life in Squaw is not like it is in the UK, or Europe - generally people change into street shoes as soon as they have finished on the slopes, and start drinking then. Mid-week everything starts to quieten down by 9pm since everyone has headed to their own parties in their hotels etc. Weekends do go on much later, but also the partying can start earlier with Squaw sponsored stuff generally starting in the Plaza Bar or Bar 1 at 2pm.

The place to be during the week is the Chammy (otherwise known as the Loft Bar/ Le Chamois) - it's where all the locals hang out.

If you really want to get up early I can pick you up, but that would mean being ready by 7:30am Shocked snowHead
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I love Kirkwood but always stay with friends so can't comment on the accommodation: it is very quiet during the week so go at the weekend if you want more life (busier slopes but really not uncomfortably so).
Check out www.kirkwood.com for details of the passes - from memory I think you're better off buying a 2-day and 1-day if there for 3 days. They often have deals though.
If you're driving to KW from San Francisco be warned that the Carson Pass on Highway 88 is often closed for avalanche control (i've been caught out before and had to stay overnight en route) and you need 4WD / snowchains.
I've also stayed in Truckee when skiing the otehr side of the lake - it is really quaint, old-style America. We stayed in a lovely little guest house but can't remember its name - fab breakfasts.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
This seems to be the area to discuss Lake Tahoe so hope someone can help. In the last week of Feb I'm skiing in Heavenly for a week and then for the next week in Squaw Valley, transferring on the Sunday. Does anyone have any recommendations as the best way (read cheapest) to get from Reno airport to Heavenly on 21 Feb at around 6pm, then on 28 Feb from Heavenly to Squaw Valley and then on the 7th March from Squaw to Reno Airport. Accommodation is all sorted and just need to sort out transfers for myself. Hiring a car doesn't seem worth it. Am aware of the South Tahoe Express but the times aren't that great after 5 and if delayed I'm stuffed. Also some shuttles don't appear to run on Sundays. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Cheers
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
krainsb wrote:
This seems to be the area to discuss Lake Tahoe so hope someone can help. In the last week of Feb I'm skiing in Heavenly for a week and then for the next week in Squaw Valley, transferring on the Sunday. Does anyone have any recommendations as the best way (read cheapest) to get from Reno airport to Heavenly on 21 Feb at around 6pm, then on 28 Feb from Heavenly to Squaw Valley and then on the 7th March from Squaw to Reno Airport. Accommodation is all sorted and just need to sort out transfers for myself. Hiring a car doesn't seem worth it. Am aware of the South Tahoe Express but the times aren't that great after 5 and if delayed I'm stuffed. Also some shuttles don't appear to run on Sundays. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Cheers
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
krainsb, Squaw to/from Reno Naorth Lake Tahoe Express. Not aware of any buses from SLT to North shore but there may be some -every US torist rents a car Having a car is definitely worth it - SLT is very spread out and a car is handy for just ordinary shopping restaurants etc as well as to get to other resorts
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Thanks for the comment Fatbob. Was hoping to avoid the added expense of a car as i don't have the numbers to spread the cost. We're staying at the foot of the gondola in Heavenly and are ski in/ski out in Squaw. We weren't thinking of going elsewhere so not sure we would need the car. I don't know the area (never even been to the US before) at all so any knowledge from anyone would also be helpful.
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 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?
krainsb, Plenty of reasons and numerous resorts to warrant hiring as vehicle
Quote:

We weren't thinking of going elsewhere


This doesnt seem right considering the area you are travelling to Smile When we were there for 2 weeks we hit 8 different resorts - thats part of the appeal of heading to the Tahoe area Toofy Grin
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There's a shuttle from SLT to squaw every morning so that could be an option. Another possible option could be a taxi - it shouldn't be too expensive. How many are in your group? Perhaps your local friendly snowhead could be persuaded to help out?!
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