| You have decided you want to take a winter | | | | Heavenly Resort, just call them vacation |
| vacation in Lake Tahoe, and as all the | | | | packages, but they are essentially the same |
| reviews of the area suggest, it is a good | | | | idea. If you go to skiheavenly.com, not only |
| choice. But now, how do you get the best | | | | can you see a live webcam of the snow and |
| deal? Luckily, for the savvy traveler, "Ski | | | | skiers at Heavenly, you can also search for |
| & Stay" Packages are a staple of most Ski | | | | packages and be redirected to a page that |
| resorts and winter vacationing towns. "Ski | | | | shows all sorts of vacation and savings |
| & Stay" Packages are special deals that | | | | packages that Heavenly is offering. They have |
| hotels, resorts, and even local towns and | | | | a "BIG SNOW PACKAGE" offering five nights |
| businesses put packages together to get | | | | four days at $389. The great thing about the |
| visitors to not only stay in local hotels and | | | | Heavenly website is it also has custom plans |
| eat at local eateries, but visit key area | | | | that you can create working with one of their |
| recreational activities. During the winter | | | | agents and exclusive online deals. |
| months, ski towns, like Lake Tahoe (both | | | | |
| North and South Shore) offer tons of | | | | Not only the resorts offer great packages |
| different tempting ski, snowboarding, | | | | online, but also hotels in nearby Reno and |
| snowboarding, spa, and shopping "Ski & | | | | Carson City also have "Ski & Stay" |
| Stay" packages. | | | | packages that include transportation to the |
| | | | nearest ski resorts, not the mention the |
| The easiest way, for the internet savvy | | | | deals and packages the departments of tourism |
| traveler, to discover a vast array of | | | | for Nevada, California, city of Reno, city of |
| packages it to use your favorite search | | | | Tahoe, and city of Carson City have cooked |
| engine and search: Lake Tahoe Ski & Stay | | | | up... And they all can be accessed through a |
| packages. Literally hundreds of sites pop up. | | | | simple engine search. |
| Lots of the local hotels and time-share | | | | |
| resorts have their own "Ski & Stay" | | | | If you happen not to be internet savvy, that |
| specials on their sites. | | | | does not make your Ski & Stay options |
| | | | non-existent, just a little bit harder to |
| Click on the Squaw Valley link and there you | | | | track down. Most of the hotels, tourism |
| are, on one of Tahoe's most famous resorts | | | | groups, and resorts have little pamphlets |
| and the site of the 1960 Olympic Winter | | | | scattered all over the airport, restaurants, |
| Games. This site has many different packages | | | | and any visitor center in the Reno/Tahoe |
| ranging from the $122.00 per person, per | | | | area. But if you want to plan something |
| night package that includes two days of | | | | before you get there, you could start with |
| unlimited skiing at Squaw Valley and two | | | | calling the Reno/Tahoe tourism board |
| nights stay at America's Best Value Inn in | | | | (officially called Visit Reno Tahoe) and they |
| Tahoe City to the more deluxe Ski, Spa, and | | | | will gladly send you all the pamphlets that |
| Wine Tasting package from $553.00 per person | | | | they have in stock. I called information and |
| for two nights. This package includes two | | | | was given the 800 number and a local number |
| nights of lodging at the base of the Squaw | | | | .800.FOR.RENO (800.367.7366)775.827.7600. |
| Valley Mountain and two days of unlimited | | | | when I called, I was greeted cheerfully and |
| skiing. Breakfast is included each morning | | | | when I said I was looking for pamphlets and |
| and a facial or a massage per person and a | | | | brochures on "Ski & Stay" packages, I was |
| wine-tasting event are included in the price. | | | | told they had plenty of great deals and |
| | | | information they could send me. They then |
| If you visit and look on the main page, | | | | asked a few questions about my interests in |
| there is an advertisement for "Stay & | | | | the area, and my name, address, and phone |
| Ski" packages, click on the link, and you can | | | | number, and that quick and easy, I had a |
| see the packages they are featuring at that | | | | bulging envelope of brochures on their way to |
| time. The day I searched, they had several | | | | my house! Local travel agencies also have |
| packages ranging fro $103 a day per person to | | | | information, but the deals are a little bit |
| an American Express package that offered a | | | | more outdated, and of course, include a |
| free night's stay with the purchase of three. | | | | travel agency commission. But you could |
| North Star was also adding a little sugar to | | | | always go and get a handful of brochures and |
| the package pot by adding a $25.00 gift | | | | then follow up booking and new pricing |
| certificate (per person) to be spent at the | | | | information on your own! |
| resort and lift tickets being exchangeable | | | | |
| for cross-country trail passes. The lodging | | | | Either way you get the "Ski & Stay" |
| also includes access to the recreational | | | | package information, it is a great way to |
| facilities, fitness center, pool, spa, and a | | | | visit Lake Tahoe on a budget and get some |
| game room. | | | | coupons and passes for things that you might |
| | | | not normally visit, making your vacation all |
| Not all the resorts call the packages "Ski | | | | the more memorable and rich! And isn't that |
| & Stay" (even though many do) but | | | | really the point? |