When it comes to a luxury skiing vacation, Lake Tahoe sometimes gets a bad rap. True, Tahoe isn’t Aspen, but if you haven’t skied at California’s most beautiful lake in a few years, you may be surprised at how much luxury awaits.
North Shore:
Lake Tahoe is about to get its first five-diamond hotel, when the $300 million, 170-room Ritz-Carlton Highlands Lake Tahoe opens at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in December 2009. Until then, your best bet for ski-in/ski-out lodging and pampering is The Resort at Squaw Creek, which has its own tram that whisks you to the world-famous slopes of Squaw Valley USA. More than 400 guest rooms and suites, including some two-story penthouses, are situated around the grounds, as well as five restaurants, a spa, and an outdoor ice-skating rink. The mountain-view from the lobby, and the vast majority of the rooms, is a stunner.
Farther to the east in Incline Village, the four-diamond Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort caters to the well-heeled snow bunny crowd. The 1920s-era hotel features the Grand Lodge Casino, a heated pool, a fitness club, and the 20,000-square-foot Stillwater Spa - Tahoe's largest day spa offering all the latest feel-good treatments. Six restaurants feed hungry skiers, including the Lone Eagle Grille with its massive rock fireplaces, open-beamed ceiling, and enviable lake view. Forget skiing--you may never want to leave this place. The Hyatt's 449 rooms come with all the usual four-star hotel amenities, but the six suites on the upper floors of the 12-story tower are the most luxurious. For the most privacy, book one of the 24 one- and two-bedroom lakefront cottages with fireplaces and private decks. The cottages were remodeled in 2007 and now have designer carpets, 42-inch flat-screen televisions, chenille sofas, and Italian leather chairs. Don't miss the wonderful breakfast buffet at the resort's Sierra Cafe. If you choose this is your base camp, the closest ski resorts are Diamond Peak and Mount Rose--both worthy of a day-trip. A shuttle bus can take you farther afield to Northstar or Squaw Valley.
South Shore:
If you think that South Lake Tahoe and neighboring Stateline offer nothing but cheap motels for the 20-something boarder crowd, think again. A snowball’s throw from Heavenly’s ski gondola, Marriott’s Timber Lodge offers everything you’d expect at an upscale “condotel” resort: an impressive fitness facility, two on-site spas providing all the latest treatments, the hip Fire and Ice Restaurant, a heated outdoor pool, and three outdoor Jacuzzis. The lobby lounge is a stunner, with a huge rock fireplace, massive timbers, and dark leather and log furniture. The 340 guest rooms and one-, two- and three-bedroom “villas” also have mountain-style décor, plus all the comforts of home: full kitchens, washers and dryers, jetted tubs, and the like. Once you are here, you can walk everywhere you want to go. Park your car once and forget it. On the other side of the gondola is the Marriott Grand Residence Club, an equally fine choice for a quality stay.
If you’re the bed-and-breakfast type, book one of five rooms or three cabins at the Black Bear Inn, a luxurious B&B that was built in the 1990s, but has an old-style Tahoe look. The inn was constructed to take advantage of Tahoe's beauty, with huge picture windows, river rock fireplaces, exposed wood beams, and tasteful mountain-style decor and landscaping. Wine and cheese are served at sunset. Lavish breakfasts are served in the common dining room. If you stay in one of the cabins, your morning meal is brought to your door each morning. While here, you can ski at Heavenly (five minutes away), or take a longer drive to Kirkwood or Sierra-at-Tahoe.
Photos courtesy of (from top to bottom): John Zellmer; Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort; Black Bear Inn
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