Recommend a ski spot

tmfs · #1 11-08-2006, 07:21 AM

The gf and I have never been skiing before and we want to take a ski tirp during the middle of december. What's some good spots to go for beginners.

A few criteria that I was thinking about:
1. Driving distance to vegas would be nice
2. A good night life
3. We're not too price sensitive

I was looking at the Reno/Tahoe area but was unsure. Any help would be appreciated.

TheMetetron · #2 11-08-2006, 07:41 AM

Swiss Alps?

Seriously, depends what you are looking for. www.skilasvegas.com is approx an hour from Vegas. Tahoe is going to be 7 hours, but the skiing is going to be sooo much better. Depends if you want a day trip or a weekend/week trip?

tmfs · #3 11-08-2006, 07:43 AM

It's going to be about a week long trip, preferably something like 3-4 days skiing and then 2-3 days in vegas. Spending one day driving aslong a reasonable distance is fine.

edfurlong · #4 11-08-2006, 07:44 AM

Squaw Valley is pretty amazing, the old lady will love whatever that hotel is there. Nightlife, not so much as far as I remember, but I was underage and it was a long time ago, so I could be off on that.

Its also a bit farther than the Reno area.

TheMetetron · #5 11-08-2006, 07:48 AM

Definitely go to Lake Tahoe. You have casinos and some nightlife, but the skiing will be the best you can find anywhere nearby. Tahoe is seriously a world-renowned skiing destination, you won't be disappointed. Look into renting a cabin for a week... you and the SO will love it. The drive will be about 7 hours each way.

evil twin · #6 11-08-2006, 08:17 AM

I cast another vote for Tahoe. Best collection of ski/board resorts I've ever been to.

bnorthro · #7 11-08-2006, 09:47 AM

I grew up in Tahoe. It's gotten pretty nice lately and there's a lot more going on down by the casinos in South Lake then there used to. Stay away from Heavenly unless you want a $$$$$ ticket and tons of long lines/crowds. Check out Kirkwood for a smaller, less crowded mountain that (IMO) has much better terrain than Heavenly.

dinopoker · #8 11-08-2006, 12:09 PM

Tahoe is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth and the skiing is excellent. My favorite is Sunshine Village near Banff, though, but that's not exactly driving distance for you.

tmfs · #9 11-09-2006, 12:27 AM

Thanks for the replies, I was looking at a package where you to stay at the MontBleu casino with lift tickets to the Sierra at Tahoe mountain. Can anyone comment on the good or bad of these two.

tdarko · #10 11-09-2006, 12:45 AM

Lake Tahoe really is beautiful and fits your criteria of being close to Vegas. Squaw Valley is a great resort.

For the future though:

For the skiing, if you go for a tough mountain with great skiing the two best in the states are Aspen Mountain (if in Aspen I would stay away from Snowmass, too many frickin' people and its really a crappy mountain) and Taos which is tough little mountain.

One of my favorite places is Sunshine Village near Banff, Alberta. A neat mountain, always sunny, you ski above the clouds at the peak. The mountain is a little less than a half hour from the town of Banff which has the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, I wouldn't stay anywhere else.

These are my favorite places to ski.