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The beatufil Lake Tahoe report

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The beatufil Lake Tahoe report

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Old Jun 1st, 2006, 02:24 PM
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The beatufil Lake Tahoe report

During the long weekend we went to the South Lake Tahoe. I caught a good rate of $69 at Harvey’s, and expected a shabby room with mismatched furniture.

The rooms were so good, my father’s wife attempted to kiss me, first time in maybe 30 years!

Medium sized newly remodeled room, Lake Tower, 2 beds (I asked for 2), safe, iron, desk, etc… But the bathroom deserves a special mentioning! You walk into a room with a large counter around a sink, mirrored walk-in closet, then another room with another sink and more counter space, bathtub on one side, walk-in shower on another, and one more small room with the toilet and a 2nd phone in the john!

I don’t know why it feels so good to talk to my elderly father from the bathroom! No, I didn’t ask him which phone he’s on

I couldn’t believe such a room would be sold so cheap, till the last moment I thought there will be a problem at the check-out, no, not a mistake, they even asked me if I liked it.

The weather was perfect! T-shirt in the sun, light sweater in the shade, not too hot. It was snowing just 2 days ago, but we hardly saw any snow up in the mountains. Lilacs blooming everywhere.

Great view from the 18th floor Harrah’s buffet. We went there for the view, but my carnivorous crew loved the breakfast too. They must be great Atkins’s followers – meat, eggs, yogurt, all kind of fruit and veggies. Poor carbs, represented only by potatoes and croissants, I’m not exaggerating! And call me spoiled, but the coffee was kinda watery.

While there, we like to eat at least once at the Hard Rock café. No, we don’t buy their t-shirts. We just like to see what the youth digest I like the “theme” or “view” places. The food was fine, good cocktails, some songs were interesting, all the memorabilia on the wall…

We took Amtrak bus-train-bus from San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe and back. And everything was… ON TIME! Who knew

There is no more Caesar’s. It’s now MontBlue or something like it. Don’t know if opened, I only saw a different name displayed.

The best part of our trip was the bus tour around the lake. Discover Lake Tahoe mini-van was nearly full, I was so glad I made reservations from home!

It was on time by our hotel, the driver was great, lots of information, safe driving, my favorite stop was the Winter Olympics site Squaw Valley (of course!). The lunch stop was a bit too long, 2 hours instead of the scheduled 1.5 hours.

If going with this tour, don’t schedule anything right after the tour, as ours was an hour late coming back to the hotel. We didn’t mind!

We had only one full day, so that bus tour was all our sightseeing, plus some walking around, plus gambling (pennies, nickels, we won maybe $20-30 over what we’d put in).

Next time we’ll stay a day longer to take 2 boat tours to see different parts of the lake and mountains from the water.
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Old Jun 1st, 2006, 02:30 PM
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Shame on my gray hair, I misspelled the topic

Of course it's "beautiful" and next time one less "mai tai" or "bahama mama" I promise
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Old Jun 1st, 2006, 03:22 PM
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Another terrific report from the great traveller, Faina!

So glad to hear you had such a terrific time - and you came out ahead of the money-gobbling machines to boot!

Thank you for such a wonderfully humorous report!

BTW: I thought of you when in New Mexico last month. Lots of Indian casinos everywhere - there's six just around Albuquerque alone (so I was told). More casinos for Faina to explore! ><
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Old Jun 1st, 2006, 04:30 PM
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Lovely trip report Faina! I am so glad you had a beautiful time. Andyour room at Harvey's sounds wonderful. Did you wave to me when you came up I-80 Thanks for sharing your time at Lake Tahoe with us.
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Old Jun 1st, 2006, 06:19 PM
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Aww, thank you Faina!
your fathers wife attempted to kiss you...is that a good thing?
It sounds like you got a a great room! or at least the bathroom does lol.
I haven't been to Lake Tahoe in Soooo long! but we stayed at Harveys and spent the day gambling and when we came out, it was snowing like crazy!
Being from NC, I loved it!
I bet the boat ride on the lake is something, hurry up and go back so you can tell about it !
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Old Jun 1st, 2006, 08:35 PM
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Faina,

Nice trip report. We've stayed at Harvey's many times, and I just love the Lake Tower rooms. You didn't mention the little TV in the tub/shower room in front of the bathtub. We've always had one. You got a terrific rate for the long weekend.

We head up to Tahoe on July 1st, can't wait!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 04:54 AM
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Yes, Ceasars is now Mont Bleu. It opened last week. It's geared toward the youngish...30's to 40's yuppie crowd from what I understand. Very modern decor...it's probably a place I'll never go. Somebody on the board will go there at some point, so a report will be in order. Glad you had a nice weekend Fiana.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 07:40 AM
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Hello, EasyTraveler

LoveItaly, I didn't see you waving back at me

Scarlett, we got there only 2 days after the last snowfall, how's that for timing

Nancy, as we got Internet special rates, we didn't have a 2nd TV. And not even a hairdryer, this was a surprise! Safe, iron, bar - yes, but not a hairdryer! $-)

Actually, in my father's room the safe was not sealed, I called housekeeping, they came up 5 minutes later to replace whatever was taken out and to seal it. No charges on check-out. >-

Crefloors, hopefully next time we'll go there for longer to check out all the hotels and casinos... do they have penny slots at MontBlue
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 08:15 AM
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Hmm..penny slots. You'll have to check that out..a lot of the places DO have them but it might be too "low scales" for this place. Be sure to check it out for me. It just doesn't "read" like my kinda place, but the casinos hold no charm for my anyway. I don't gamble at all except during football season. LOL
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 09:00 AM
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No wonder the board was so quiet and peaceful lately!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 09:11 AM
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Ha ha, next GTG in Sacramento?

Actually, the most shocking was to see the 2 cents slots in Bellagio a year ago!

This time we've gambled, if you can call it gambling at Harveys and Harahs only. They have PLENTY of penny slots!

Most of them have a menu where you can pick if you want to play pennies, nickels, or quarters. So even playing quarters you will look cheap like me

What I like is that they print a ticket, you put it in a "fast cash" machine and get your money. No standing in line!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 09:30 AM
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F'2,
Always looking for a place to stick your "2 cents worth" in, eh?

Did you ride the tram to the top of the High Camp peak at Squaw Valley? Was it open yet? Lotta snow when I flew over Tahoe a few weeks ago.

Mrs Kal and I are still trying to arrange a long weekend at Plumpjack and some hiking/partying at High Camp's
beautiful facility.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 10:28 AM
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Faina,

We used to get half price deals with the Entertainment Book (before Priceline, Internet deals, etc.) We would reserve the highest floor rooms at Harvey's, at most expensive price and only pay half. Maybe those are the ones with second TV. But you should have had a hairdryer in the room.

Your report was great, a nice mini vacation.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 11:25 AM
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I wonder why "one flew over the cuckoo's nest" comes to mind?

2 cents worth... Kal, you are so materialistic! I wouldn't put such a low price on you! Maybe a quarter? If I get change, that is

The Squaw Valley tram was closed. The shops were opened
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 03:09 PM
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F'2,
Ex-nay on the literary reference-scray.

As for being materialistic, once you figure out a way to travel for free, let me know.

When the check came at The Gr Cafe you told us you didn't have any cents?
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 03:22 PM
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A way to travel for free? Marry a millionaire, silly!

Oh, it's too late. Become a senator!!! LOL

Cents? I was saving them for Tahoe!!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2006, 05:51 PM
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I have no "cents"...lost it a long time ago. duh!!!
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Old Jun 19th, 2006, 01:18 PM
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Hi Faina - I've just found this lovely report.

You're quite the train traveler. Isn't it fun! (Aren't you taking it back from Chicago soon?) Were there many folks on it? Just kind of curious as not many people I know in the US travel by train. Might be a fun trip sometime.

I had to laugh at your husband and the cocktail waitress conversing. My new Russian DIL has a Russian friend visiting from "the homeland". Conversation at Father's Day dinner was quite interesting...
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Old Jun 19th, 2006, 01:31 PM
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Kopp, we took the local train "Capitol Corridor" not sure if it starts in San Jose or Oakland going to Sacramento. It was nearly full. Always lots of people, especially during the workdays.

Then a connecting bus to South Tahoe, this one surprisingly was nearly 1/2 full, I thought it's good if there would be 5 passengers.

Maybe now that Greyhound is not serving the area, people use Amtrak buses instead?
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