Lake Tahoe help

[J'aime Paris]

We've been invited to a wedding in the Lake Tahoe area at a place called Gar Woods. Wedding is May 20th.

Never been to Lake Tahoe. Not familiar with the area at all.
We could fly into Sacramento or Reno (less expensive) and rent a car.

Where should we stay? 2 adults and DD19
Ideally we like 4 star or higher, near some fun/entertainment, a pool is a plus.

Thank you for any help!

 

[mnrose]

Fly into Reno. It's closer (smaller airport too). But, it can be a little hair raising flying in and out because of the mountains.
Hyatt Regency in Incline might be very nice. It's not terribly far to the place of your wedding, and is truly a 4 star. About 20 minutes. Or check out the Hyatt Residence Club located right next door. 2BR2BA units.

Has everything on your list. Beautiful setting. We've stayed several times and just loved it.

Lots to do if you favor outdoor activities (hiking, etc) or gambling.

 

[bcla]

Had to look it up the location, which is on the north side. Most of what people think of a Lake Tahoe is the south area - especially South Lake Tahoe, California and Stateline, Nevada with four major casinos. In the north there isn't that much entertainment per se. Truckee isn't bad, but it doesn't really have any kind of luxury accommodations. I don't recall if Cal-Neva has reopened.

The Hyatt Regency was mentioned. Other than that there are some pretty nice hotels (probably four star or higher) around the ski resorts, and the hotels are of course operating year round. Here are a few places:

https://www.destinationhotels.com/squawcreek
https://welkresorts.com/northstar-lodge/
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/lake-tahoe#Resort

Of course you could just stay in one of the hotel-casinos in Stateline and drive there. It should take about 40 minutes and it's s spectacular drive through Emerald Bay.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Oh boy there are a few hotels , we stayed at one that had the pool indoors and it was so nice. It is right near the casino's.

There is the Marriott's Timber Lodge. I believe the one we stayed at was right next door.

There is a outdoor shopping mall right there as well.

The Lodge at Edgewood.

There are some very nice ones.
Are you wanting to stay close to the Gar Woods?
You have the tram to ride also. There is Zephyr Cove where you can enjoy swimming.
There is the boats that you can do for dining.

Look at Groupon.com, livingsocials.com for ideas and discounts for the area as well.

 

[tvguy]

Gar Woods is a very nice, north west short of Lake Tahoe. Reno is about an hour drive away, Sacramento is about 2 hours.
The Hyatt Regency mnrose mentioned seems like a good choice.
If you don't mind an hour drive to the wedding, Stateline is a hub of activity at the south end of the lake, and a ton of hotels there.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Had to look it up the location, which is on the north side. Most of what people think of a Lake Tahoe is the south area - especially South Lake Tahoe, California and Stateline, Nevada with four major casinos. In the north there isn't that much entertainment per se. Truckee isn't bad, but it doesn't really have any kind of luxury accommodations. I don't recall if Cal-Neva has reopened.

The Hyatt Regency was mentioned. Other than that there are some pretty nice hotels (probably four star or higher) around the ski resorts, and the hotels are of course operating year round. Here are a few places:

https://www.destinationhotels.com/squawcreek
https://welkresorts.com/northstar-lodge/
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/lake-tahoe#Resort

Of course you could just stay in one of the hotel-casinos in Stateline and drive there. It should take about 40 minutes and it's s spectacular drive through Emerald Bay.

I was trying to recall if Gar Woods was located on the North shore. But I listed some very nice hotels near the Casinos for them. I really want to go in the winter this year myself

 

[bcla]

Fly into Reno. It's closer (smaller airport too). But, it can be a little hair raising flying in and out because of the mountains.
Hyatt Regency in Incline might be very nice. It's not terribly far to the place of your wedding, and is truly a 4 star. About 20 minutes. Or check out the Hyatt Residence Club located right next door. 2BR2BA units.

Has everything on your list. Beautiful setting. We've stayed several times and just loved it.

Lots to do if you favor outdoor activities (hiking, etc) or gambling.

Been to that Hyatt. The hunting lodge feel is a little bit odd with the mounted heads. Other than that it was pretty nice.

Not sure about Reno being that scary. It's a pretty big airport and it's a really flat area in the valley. But I've only flown in years ago with Reno Air on a connecting flight. I've been there just to rent a car though. The one thing is that the car rental rates are generally pretty good in Reno, and the location is right in the parking garage.

 

[mnrose]

Been to that Hyatt. The hunting lodge feel is a little bit odd with the mounted heads. Other than that it was pretty nice.

Not sure about Reno being that scary. It's a pretty big airport and it's a really flat area in the valley. But I've only flown in years ago with Reno Air on a connecting flight. I've been there just to rent a car though. The one thing is that the car rental rates are generally pretty good in Reno, and the location is right in the parking garage.

I used to fly from SFO to Reno several times a year because I represented our business interests in the state of Nevada. I had pilots who actually came on and "announced" that take offs were different so people wouldn't freak. You climb super fast and steep to get over the mountains, which aren't that far at all from Reno. I don't mean "scary" in the sense that it was dangerous, but it definitely would be an airport to avoid of you are a nervous flyer. Landing is the reverse....steeper than normal descents.

 

[mnrose]

Ha....it's not just me.

http://www.ktvn.com/story/19538917/article-reno-home-to-one-of-americas-scariest-airports

 

[bcla]

I used to fly from SFO to Reno several times a year because I represented our business interests in the state of Nevada. I had pilots who actually came on and "announced" that take offs were different so people wouldn't freak. You climb super fast and steep to get over the mountains, which aren't that far at all from Reno. I don't mean "scary" in the sense that it was dangerous, but it definitely would be an airport to avoid of you are a nervous flyer. Landing is the reverse....steeper than normal descents.

I don't freak though. Can't be worse than SNA.

 

[sasywtch]

I would definitely fly into Reno. If you fly in to Sacramento, you have to drive over the Sierras. If you have a few extra days, on your drive from Reno, take a detour to see Virginia City. We always stayed on the south side as that's where most casinos/shows, etc are. I have stayed on the north side but it was my x's boss condo so don't have any help on where to stay on that side. One thing I would definitely do is either take the boat or rent a small boat to see the middle of the lake as it is the deepest blue I have ever seen. Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places.

 

[tvguy]

I would definitely fly into Reno. If you fly in to Sacramento, you have to drive over the Sierras. If you have a few extra days, on your drive from Reno, take a detour to see Virginia City. We always stayed on the south side as that's where most casinos/shows, etc are. I have stayed on the north side but it was my x's boss condo so don't have any help on where to stay on that side. One thing I would definitely do is either take the boat or rent a small boat to see the middle of the lake as it is the deepest blue I have ever seen. Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places.

Yes, Virginia City is a great stop. Tahoe is beautiful too, but the traffic, especially at Stateline is a nightmare. We have a friend whose boss lets us use a house at Zephyr Cover, just so peaceful.............once you get past the traffic......sitting on the porch looking at the lake.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Thank you for all the recommendations! I'm going to take a look at all of them.
We plan to rent a car, so driving to the wedding will be fine.

I'm afraid to check out the "flying into Reno" since I am a bit of a nervous flyer!! Yikes!

 

[VandVsmama]

That isn't that far from Truckee. We stayed in a bed & breakfast once in Truckee while in the area for a ski weekend. The accommodations were very comfortable and the food was good.

 

[bcla]

Thank you for all the recommendations! I'm going to take a look at all of them.
We plan to rent a car, so driving to the wedding will be fine.

I'm afraid to check out the "flying into Reno" since I am a bit of a nervous flyer!! Yikes!

It's not really all that bad. It's certainly not like flying into Lake Tahoe Airport. That's a general aviation airport now, but there used to be scheduled service using 737s or MD-80s. Reno-Tahoe Airport is in a fairly flat area surrounded by Reno. Lake Tahoe Airport is surrounded by trees and mountains.

Here's Reno-Tahoe Airport:

 

[mamacatnv]

I lived in Reno for 20 years, flying in/out never bothered me - the mountains were nothing compared to the winds!

I'd stay at the Squaw Valley Lodge - its about 20 minutes to the wedding location.
Squaw Valley is one of those places that just takes my breath away, it is so stunningly beautiful.
There is also the Resort at Squaw Creek

 

[dina444444]

I went to a wedding last month at the Ritz Carlton at Northstar in Truckee and they had their after brunch at Gar Woods. The Ritz Carlton was very nice and very much luxury accommodations and it was about a 20 minute drive to Gar Woods from there. A number of people that went to the wedding though rented Air BnB units or VRBO places and there were quite a few in Carnelian Bay where Gar Woods is.

 

[bcla]

I'll just say that there might be more flights into Oakland or San Francisco, so you'll probably have more flight options and there can be better prices. SFO does have some rather pricey rental cars much of the time.

The drive isn't that bad, and if you have enough time to spare you could spend a day or two in San Francisco.

 

[dina444444]

I'll just say that there might be more flights into Oakland or San Francisco, so you'll probably have more flight options and there can be better prices. SFO does have some rather pricey rental cars much of the time.

The drive isn't that bad, and if you have enough time to spare you could spend a day or two in San Francisco.

Your looking at 3.5 hour drive versus about a hour from Reno if one were to do that.

 

[bcla]

Your looking at 3.5 hour drive versus about a hour from Reno if one were to do that.

But it's a reasonable option, and one that could be justified with the right combination of fares and flight availability. It's all freeways on the way to Truckee. And of course I'm thinking of a justifying a trip to San Francisco.