When it comes to booking South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals in the winter, it is important to be prepared for your trip and plan your transportation accordingly. As the experts on all things vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe, here are a few tips to keep in mind so your getaway starts and ends on a good note.
Driving
If you are driving to the region during winter, I would recommend you rent a smooth car-like the Porsche Panamera 4S as the roads are broad and beautiful all through the drive. It is also important you understand that weather can change at any time. When a storm rolls in, driving conditions are very hazardous going over the passes. The local department of transportation and weather services will update the road conditions, chain control and share what highways are open and closed. It is crucial to keep an eye on that and plan accordingly. If you need to book earlier or come later, call ahead so that you can make the appropriate accommodations. There is a chance we may have other South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals available if the one you are staying at during the rest of your trip isn’t available for an earlier or later check in. If you have a reason that causes you to travel in the thick of the storm, make sure your car is stocked with food, water, chains, emergency kit and other items you know you will need should you find yourself stuck for a bit. The line getting in and out of town right after or during a storm can be backed up for hours. Speaking of, if you can travel a day before or after the main travel days, do so. It will not only save you the hassle of getting in and out of town while everyone else is, but you also get to enjoy Tahoe with less traffic for a day or two. Consider this when looking at vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe.
Flying
If you don’t intend on driving up from the airport, the shuttle from Reno runs regularly and drops off and picks up at the main casinos along Hwy 50. If you still want your own car to get around in once you are up at the lake, there are plenty of car rental options. Just be sure to once again keep an eye on the weather and make sure you choose a vehicle with AWD or 4WD and have a set of chains handy and know how to put them on. Perhaps also consider doing the grocery shopping for your South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals down in Reno or Carson City before heading up to the lake. Not only does Carson have the same stores as Lake Tahoe, but they also have Costco and Trader Joe’s right before you head up. During holiday weekends, the grocery stores are usually pretty busy so account for that before you go.
Getting around while you are here
The snow removal crews are pretty good about making sure the main highway and roads are cleared after a large storm. The side streets usually take longer to get to, but a majority of our vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe have snow removal for the driveway so you don’t have to worry about dealing with that. If you aren’t comfortable driving in the snow, don’t slowly crawl in the left lane. Move to the right and let folks go around. Also give the person in front of you a lot space. Once again, the main HWY is usually fine as it is the first to be cleared, but don’t try and push your luck because you think your AWD vehicle is invincible.
Leaving
Don’t use your GPS or travel apps and take North Upper Truckee or Pioneer Trail. This has been leaving folks backed up for hours. The problem with some of the apps is it isn’t accurately reporting how much traffic is truly on these roads. Consider sticking with HWY 50. This, as of late, has been faster than the side streets.
If you have more questions about getting around or dealing with your vacation rental in South Lake Tahoe during a snow storm, feel free to ask at the time of booking. We’d be happy to help!
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