Lake Tahoe first timer - questions

On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:12:07 -0500, "- Bobb -"
wrote:

Normally I go to Vegas, but thinking of visiting Reno/Lake Tahoe for
once, so ...... looking for feedback.
Very basic question - fly into Reno - do were need to rent a car ?, or are
there shuttles to get to "strip area". Another - is Tahoe one
"destination" and Reno another ? If so, Reno is "just gambling", and Tahoe
is gambling as well as skiing destination ?

We are NOT skiers, but don't mind the snow.
I looked via Google, and found links like:
http://www.tahoeactivities.com/nightlife.cfm

but looking for firsthand advice on:
where to stay,
where to play,
where to eat.

We like NICE but not too much $$$ , in a handy location.
( In vegas terms , would like "Paris"/ "Mirage" type
accomodations/atmosphere. )

In addition to the casino hotel properties, there are places like the
Marriott Grand Residence Club. It's in SLT, right across the stateline
from the casino district. (3 minute walk to Harrahs or Harveys).

Yeah, it's a timeshare resort, but they do have rentals, and as a
paying guest, you won't be subjected to the timeshare hard sell.
http://www.grandresidenceclub.com/en...oe/default.jsp
Click on Nightly Accomodations for details.

The Marriott is located right at the base of the new Heavenly Gondola.
Shopping, theaters, & several restaurants in the complex.
http://www.theshopsatheavenlyvillage.com/

"Larry L. Kraus" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"- Bobb -" wrote:

Normally I go to Vegas, but thinking of visiting Reno/Lake Tahoe for
once, so ...... looking for feedback.
Very basic question - fly into Reno - do were need to rent a car ?, or
are
there shuttles to get to "strip area". Another - is Tahoe one
"destination" and Reno another ? If so, Reno is "just gambling", and
Tahoe
is gambling as well as skiing destination ?

We are NOT skiers, but don't mind the snow.
I looked via Google, and found links like:
http://www.tahoeactivities.com/nightlife.cfm

but looking for firsthand advice on:
where to stay,
where to play,
where to eat.

We like NICE but not too much $$$ , in a handy location.
( In vegas terms , would like "Paris"/ "Mirage" type
accomodations/atmosphere. )

Lake Tahoe during the ski season is fairly expensive. Others have
mentioned the South Lake area, so I would like to put in a word for the
North Lake. Incline Village/Crystal Bay is much smaller than the South
Lake (Stateline). There are four casinos there (Hyatt, Cal-Neva Resort,
Tahoe Biltmore, and the Crystal Bay Club). The Hyatt and Cal-Neva also
are reasonably good hotels. If you are a high level player, these
probably aren't what you are looking for; however, if you are a
recreational player, you might find the laid-back atmosphere to be what
you are looking for.

From the South Shore, you can also make very easy day trips to Virginia
City and Carson City.

As others have said about Reno, it bears some resemblance to downtown
LV. There are some nice places and some less-than nice places. You
will have no trouble finding $3 blackjack games at almost anytime of the
day, but they will all be "Reno Rules." (Usually double only on 10 or
11, dealer hits the soft 17.)

I just returned from Reno a week ago and it was fun. I certainly
recommend you consider it further.

Larry L. Kraus
Tyler, TX

Thanks to everyone so far .. I'll keep investigating.
Some asked "what I'd like" - my fault I should have mentioned:

First of all, we're not high stakes players - going "just to see it"
(what's different there than Vegas? )
We are $5 craps / BJ/ video poker players but aren't ones to be the tables
all day. Normally in Vegas, we'd play tourist /walk the
strip/downtown -just being nosy / seeing what's new since last trip while
gambling a bit along the way. As for 'living it up' - if we're at Venetian
for lunch/dinner it's the Grand Lux not down back at 'specialty
restaurants'. The main part of a Vegas trip is that we like going to the
shows at night.

If Reno is like downtown Vegas, it is safe to assume not many headliner
shows ? I saw Kenny Loggins scheduled in Reno at Harrah's for one night -
that would be fine, but is that a "typical night" ? It looks like a show
is only once or twice a month ? Other casinos like that too ? Or is there
"always someone in town "? To go to Reno and ONLY gamble, we would be
bored after one day. THAT's why I was thinking /asking about Lake Tahoe.
If only gambling in Reno, perhaps we'd spend one day at start/end of trip
there on the way to/from the airport. ??

As for the snow activities, I was told that it's more beautiful there in
winter so to go then. ( AND since we were looking to go to Vegas in the
next few months.) If going to Reno/Tahoe to play tourist ( aside from
gambling), should we wait until warm weather ??? And if NOT a skier, how
much time to allow to see /drive around/ take a tour of Lake Tahoe area ?

To get to see it all, would one night in Reno be enough and 2? 3? 4? in
Tahoe ? North Tahoe vs South Tahoe , is that a matter of a drive around
the lake or is there a distinct reason for either. I got the impression
that one end is for the skiers , so - to do it on the cheap - would we be
OK STAYING at the other end and just commuting or is it too bad a drive in
winter ? So we should spend a day ( or two) in each ??

Thanks again.

Matt, had they improved the rooms @ the Sands Regency any from 2001? I
had the Charlie's Angels suite the when I was there, and I don't mean
that Jacklyn Smith & Cheryl Ladd were in the room entertain me. The
room looked like it was furnished by a Aaron Spelling or Stephen J.
Cannel TV show from 1978 with many cigarette burns.

The rooms are still a dump and I don't see where they have improved
them... but the chrome tube furniture was gone. Or at least was not in
our room. In 2001 the rooms had 70's era chrome tube furniture with
worn out padding. This time, just worn out regular hotel room
furniture.

Maybe some still have the 70s stuff, but what I had felt more like
late 80s to me.

Matt

"Matt@bigempire" wrote:

Also, the cheapo crowd has another good site atwww.cheaporeno.com.

Thanks for the mention. Actually, we have nothing to do with that
site. The real CheapoReno is http://www.cheapotravel.com/reno/

Matt


By golly, he's right. I checked the site I mentioned and it is a rip-off
commercial site that pales in comparison. Either my recollection let me
down or I accessed Matt's site before by googling and clicking and didn't
make note of the URL.

Either way, Bob - ignore my recommendation and go with the original.

Matt - I apologize for adding to the confusion. Keep up the good work.

wrote:
"Matt@bigempire" wrote:


Also, the cheapo crowd has another good site atwww.cheaporeno.com.

Thanks for the mention. Actually, we have nothing to do with that
site. The real CheapoReno is http://www.cheapotravel.com/reno/

Matt


By golly, he's right. I checked the site I mentioned and it is a rip-off
commercial site that pales in comparison. Either my recollection let me
down or I accessed Matt's site before by googling and clicking and didn't
make note of the URL.

Either way, Bob - ignore my recommendation and go with the original.

Matt - I apologize for adding to the confusion. Keep up the good work.



Yeah, but that other site has hotter chicks and more information on
"Cheapoo".

-Burt

--
"I don't want to be your clown anymore. I don't want to do your donkey
work."

Binzer to Dan Tanna in Vega$ episode 19 "Doubtful Target"

In article ,
- Bobb - wrote:
Normally I go to Vegas, but thinking of visiting Reno/Lake Tahoe for
once, so ...... looking for feedback.

I was in Reno most of last week for a conference, and I have a place near
Tahoe. The guy who NNTP (the protocol used to transport Usent nessages
lives near the shore of Tahoe.

Very basic question - fly into Reno - do were need to rent a car ?,

To get between Tahoe and Reno? It tends to be more convenient to have a
car, but you don't say when. If it's summer most of the larger resort
casino hotels in Reno have arrangements that can point you to.

or are there shuttles to get to "strip area".

What strip area?
Reno is a poor second cousin to Las Vegas.
I'm flying into Boulder City maybe Thursday.

Another - is Tahoe one "destination" and Reno another ?

Tahoe is usually reached from Reno on one of 3 major roads:
The hump (I think 831 or some NV number) has the highest open pass in
the Sierra (8900 ft.) and occasionally closes in winter for short
periods of time and goes to Incline. US50 goes through Carson City (NV's
Capitol and a good sized city in its own right) to South Shore.
I80 can be taken to Truckee ad then either CA89 or CA267 goes to North shore.
Count on an hour or more driving in good weather.

If so, Reno is "just gambling", and Tahoe
is gambling as well as skiing destination ?

Depends on your interests.
Well Reno is air races. And depending on other adjacent areas conferences.
In Sept. there's Burning Man. (make a left turn in Fernley 30 min East,
make a right turn and you can shoot serious machine guns (belt fed),
flame throwers, and grenade launchers).
You pass Mustang on I80 along the way (similar cat houses exist on
East bound US50 outside Carson City). Oh, there's Virginia City (the real one)
if you into Bonanza tourism, and the fake Ponderosa Ranch at
Tahoe itself S of Incline.

We are NOT skiers, but don't mind the snow.
I looked via Google, and found links like:
http://www.tahoeactivities.com/nightlife.cfm

but looking for firsthand advice on:
where to stay,
where to play,
Play what?
You post insufficient context for people to point for you.
where to eat.

We like NICE but not too much $$$ , in a handy location.
( In vegas terms , would like "Paris"/ "Mirage" type
accomodations/atmosphere. )

I doubt that Reno has anything comparable to Paris or Mirage
(but I'd bet the Atlantis people would say they are; hardly).

Reno is a poor second cousin to Las Vegas.
--

"- Bobb -" wrote in
:
As for the snow activities, I was told that it's more beautiful there in
winter so to go then. ( AND since we were looking to go to Vegas in the
next few months.) If going to Reno/Tahoe to play tourist ( aside from
gambling), should we wait until warm weather ??? And if NOT a skier, how
much time to allow to see /drive around/ take a tour of Lake Tahoe area ?


Remember that winter in the mountains can create a lot of snow in a short
amount of time. You need to be prepared for very poor and changeable road
conditions at any time. If you're not in to snow sports, then winter driving
is probably a not a good idea. You can still see snow in the mountains
during the spring.

On 19 Nov 2007 13:46:46 -0800, (Eugene Miya)
wrote:


Tahoe is usually reached from Reno on one of 3 major roads:
The hump (I think 831 or some NV number) has the highest open pass in
the Sierra (8900 ft.) and occasionally closes in winter for short
periods of time and goes to Incline.
That would be NV 431, the Mount Rose Highway.

if you into Bonanza tourism, and the fake Ponderosa Ranch at
Tahoe itself S of Incline.
On September 27, 2004, Sacramento, California's KXTV Channel 10 News
reported that the Ponderosa Ranch's gates had closed for good, after
the land was sold to Incline Village developer David Duffield.

NV 431, the Mount Rose Highway.

Bonanza tourism, and the fake Ponderosa Ranch at Tahoe itself S of Incline.
In article ,
QX wrote:
On September 27, 2004, Sacramento, California's KXTV Channel 10 News
reported that the Ponderosa Ranch's gates had closed for good, after
the land was sold to Incline Village developer David Duffield.

The weird, non-conventional thing about the burning Pondersoa map was
the top orientation was East not North. And for all the times they
spoke about going to Virginia City which is further than Carson city,
it's a non-trivia drop down into the Carson Valley and back way up to
Virginia City.

--

Renamed topic -- Was: Lake Tahoe first timer - questions

"- Bobb -" wrote in message
...
Normally I go to Vegas, but thinking of visiting Reno/Lake Tahoe for
once, so ...... looking for feedback.
Very basic question - fly into Reno - do were need to rent a car ?, or
are there shuttles to get to "strip area". Another - is Tahoe one
"destination" and Reno another ? If so, Reno is "just gambling", and
Tahoe is gambling as well as skiing destination ?


Thanks for the replies ... consensus seems to be wait for warmer weather
to go to Lake Tahoe/Reno, SO ... let me rephrase the question:
" Where would you go with a free domestic ticket on USAir between now and
March ? Certain time to go ? Certain event to attend ?

I live on the East coast and have a voucher ( voluntarily bumped) for free
flight on USAir that I need to use by mid-March. I don't mind changing
planes for one stop but don't want to have to make 2 or 3 connections.
I'd like to get the most I can from a free ticket, so I think that I'd
prefer Western US (where it's warmer than Boston) AND since east coast
flights are comparatively cheap. I've driven the coastline from OR/WA line
to San Diego. I visit Vegas and San Jose/ San Francisco annually, so maybe
someplace new. Where, when and why ?