bgsnmky

We are going to Tahoe for the first time..and thru some wonderful responses on this site, are probably going to fly into Sacramento. We might take Amtrak to Reno and are would like some feedback on if we will need a car once we are there.

The plan is to spend a lot of time together (5th year anniversary trip)...enjoy the scenary, snowmobile (maybe ski) and gamble.

what do you think??? Would we be missing out on too much if we don't have a car? can we get to a snowmobile place without a car. Are there shuttles or do the bigger hotels have shuttles or tours that pick you up.

Thanks for any help...

saps

I think you mean Amtrak bus to South Lake Tahoe not Reno...correct?

bgsnmky

yes, and I just found out it is a bus..so we probably won't do that.

FainaAgain

Don't let anyone confuse you! There IS Amtrak train between Sacramento and Reno. Check out California Zephyr if you don't believe me! Yeah, expensive, but who am I to tell anybody what to spend.

There is NO train to South Tahoe, only a connecting Amtrak bus.

Never been to Tahoe in winter, so can't tell if a car is really needed. In summer, there are buses, and tour buses, and boat rides.

janisj

Faina is right - there is a train to Reno, and to Truckee as well. But that post on the other thread was about the Amtrak bus to SLT.

The train from Sacramento would be quite complicated - land at SMF, no public transport from the airport so you'd have to take a taxi into downtown Sac to the Amtrak station, then train to Reno, then a shuttle from reno to SLT. That journey would take you alllllllll day and then some.

Just fly into Reno or Sacramento and drive up. Bay far the easiest, and cheapest . . . . .

janisj

darn typos "By far the easiest and cheapest"

bgsnmky

Thanks again for all the quick replies. Now I just have to decide on South or North lake Tahoe. I will do some more reasearch....

Jolie

Don't know if you are staying in the north or south area of the lake, but from Reno you can take a shuttle bus to most major hotels (about 1.15 - 1.5 hours, depending on road conditions) or drive.

From your hotel, there are (usually free) shuttles running to/from the nearby resorts. For north side, it might be Mount Rose, Northstar, Alpine, or Squaw. For south area, it could be Heavenly, Sierra, Kirkwood, or Squaw.

The only snowmobile I tried in Tahoe was Zephyr Cove Snomobiles, and they had pick-up/drop-off service to our south shore hotel.

If you want to ski at the smaller resorts without shuttle service (like Sugar Bowl), you would probably need a car.