I’ve heard a lot about Lake Tahoe since I’m here in the US and because I’m snowboarding for many years already, I thought it was time to check it out myself. From San Jose, where I live, you can reach Lake Tahoe in under 4 hours. In the wintertime, you better go with a 4WD or at least with the snow chains because the US50 can be heavily snow covered. Also the streets in the Village, we stayed in South Lake Tahoe, can be snow and ice covered.
Hotel
We were in Tahoe just one week before the main season started. Nevertheless, the Hotel prices were surprisingly low. We got a decent Hotel for under $40 and there are many more in this price range all over the place. Just try to get one close to the Gondola, so you don’t have to use your car to go there.
Heavenly Ski Resort
The worst right at the beginning: this is the most expensive Ski Resort that I’ve ever been to! I’m from Switzerland so I’m actually used to high prices, but that was just too much. I expected high prices because I looked them up on their Homepage before we went there, but when we bought the tickets there, they were even more expensive than the published ones. At the end we payed more than $250 for a 3 day pass. And that’s not all, if you decide to go by car and park there, you pay another $25 a day for that! Tip from me: just park at the Harrah’s Casino, that is right next to the gondola and parking is free there.
View over the Ski runs and the Lake
Except of the price, the Resort is very nice. There are enough lifts available so the waiting time is never too long. When I was there, the snow was just amazing and the view from almost every place on the mountain is astonishing! On one side of the mountain you can see over the Californian part of the Lake and on the other side of the mountain it almost feels as you could see over whole Nevada.
If you are a Snowboard or Ski beginner, there is a lift just for you that is especially slow and the staff takes care about you and slows it even more down if you have problems getting in or out. The ski run there is so flat that really everyone can try their first turns there.
If you’re a more advanced rider, there are double black runs for you. I tried them and I have to say that they are really challenging, even if you have several years of experience already.
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is a very nice village. There are some sport shops where you can rent a Snowboard or Skis, some Bars, many Restaurants and there are a couple of Casinos located on the Nevada side of the Village. The big problem, like everywhere in the US: everything is just too far away from the other places. A few Bars and Restaurant as well as the Casinos are in walking distance from the Gondola, but if you want to explore more places you have to drive with the car.
Apres Ski
Mc P's Irish Pub & Grill
OK, as I wrote earlier, I’m from Switzerland which is not really known as a big Apres Ski place, but you can normally find at least one or two Bars where you can party after a day at the mountain. Don’t expect that in South Lake Tahoe! There is a nice Bar, the Mc P’s Irish Pub & Grill, right next to the bottom station of the Gondola. They even have a Fireplace outside where you can get warm in cold nights. But here we go: no one is there! I have no idea where all the people go after the lifts are getting closed. It’s just sure that they don’t go partying…
OK, Apres Ski: minus 10 points!! 
Overall Experience
Overall, I had a great time in Tahoe! I give some minus points for the lift ticket prices and the missing Apres Ski Parties. On the plus side is certainly the great view from the top of the mountain and the cheap accommodation. And at the end keep in mind that if you go with some good friends, you will have fun everywhere! In this sense: Enjoy your time in Tahoe!
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