If you are thinking about booking a vacation rental in Lake Tahoe in the next few months, you may be thinking about blue bird days, hot beverages in a ski lodge and enjoying the nightlife as the snow falls. All of which sounds pretty dreamy to us! However, if you are booking a Lake Tahoe vacation rental in inclement weather for the first time, be sure to find out the following answers.
Is the vacation rental in Lake Tahoe easy to access?
In most scenarios, the homes are pretty easy to access. Snow removal is a must for our properties so as long as people are not parking in streets and keeping plows and snow removal companies from accessing roads and residences, you should arrive to a driveway that is easy to park in. However, there are some properties that will be trickier to get into. If you are booking a condo on Upper Kingsbury Grade, for example, you may have what seems like a never-ending amount of stairs to climb. Or a property may have a steep driveway. There may be people in your group who can’t navigate that type of entrance in the midst of a storm, which would mean another home would be a better fit. Also beware of ice, on the ground, hanging from the roof, etc.
Where do we park and how many cars can we bring?
In the city of South Lake Tahoe, you are only allowed to bring a certain amount of vehicles with you which is based on the size of the property and how many people it can accommodate by beds. Additionally, when staying at a Lake Tahoe vacation rental, you must park on a paved surface designated at that property. This means you cannot park on a nearby lot or in the street. Street parking will result in a fine from the city and if a snowplow damages your vehicle getting through, their insurance will not cover and you will be at fault. The city prohibits people from parking on the street in the winter as it keeps snowplows from being able to get through and as a result, traffic and emergency vehicles. If you are note sure about where to park and what the rules are, feel free to ask us.
Do I need a 4-wheel drive vehicle?
If you are driving up to the lake during a storm, a 4WD or AWD vehicle with snow tires is recommended. If you have 2WD, CHP will require that you put on chains. They do check, by the way, so don’t assume you can bypass this and just drive slow. The roads up and down are windy and steep so listen when we say it is not worth the risk or getting turned around by law enforcement.
How far is everything?
A majority of our properties are within 10 minutes to all major attractions regardless of what part of town they are in. This means that nightlife, ski resorts, restaurants, grocery stores, trails, spas and even the lake are really close by. During a storm or if there is heavy traffic, you can count on some additional travel time. Just make sure to stick to the main roads and try not to use apps like Waze. That is a really good way of clogging traffic and getting yourself stuck on roads that are no longer in service or are reserved for local residents or private properties.
If you have questions about what to expect, feel free to ask us when booking your Lake Tahoe vacation rental. We would be happy to help!
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