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Ridge Sierra questions

Tacoma

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I have been offered a summer exchange here through SFX. I can tell it's not fancy but it is the exact week we want and the location seems quite good. A few questions, does the shuttle run in the summer and if so how often? Apparently we can use the pool etc at the Ridge Tahoe and they have internet as well. I was wondering if it is walking distance between the 2 resorts or if we'll have to drive the kids. They will be 15 and 13 so I'm not worried about them on their own. There is enough to do in Tahoe in the sumer to keep us busy I assume.

Thanks
Joan
 

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My only objection to this resort is that it actually isn't in South Shore Lake Tahoe. It's up on the mountain ridge between Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley with Carson Valley views. It's primarily a ski destination - everything else you have to drive to. I prefer being closer to the lake.

For lots of info. about the resort use the search function (Search this Forum button) and search for "Ridge Tahoe." And don't forget to read the TUG reviews.
 

Phill12

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I have been offered a summer exchange here through SFX. I can tell it's not fancy but it is the exact week we want and the location seems quite good. A few questions, does the shuttle run in the summer and if so how often? Apparently we can use the pool etc at the Ridge Tahoe and they have internet as well. I was wondering if it is walking distance between the 2 resorts or if we'll have to drive the kids. They will be 15 and 13 so I'm not worried about them on their own. There is enough to do in Tahoe in the sumer to keep us busy I assume.

Thanks
Joan


Joan, unless you want to be in middle of town and people and casino's all the time you will love the Ridge area!

We own two units at the Ridge Tahoe and have for years. We even go up for bonus time couple times a year.:cool:

I have never been to the Ridge Sierra so can not tell you anything about it but you will need to drive the kids through the gate and up a steep hill to Ridge Tahoe Club House.

They also have a bus that runs around all the resorts and they could ride it to the club house and back.

Last couple years the Bus service started charging $5.00 a person to the casino's per person each way but after everyone complaining so much and not using it is now free!:rolleyes:

This was just to much when you had a family with kids and wanted to ride to town and paying $40-$50 round trip so it is now free.

I looked up our new updates as a owner and it states to call for pickup and they drive into your area. Problem and I don't know if it was just left off but Ridge Sierra not listed but other four resorts are and they are around each other. You drive pass all of these going to the Ridge because few years ago the county made it a one way so all traffic going to the Ridge has to drive pass these other resorts to get there.

If your happy with Ridge Sierra that is good but if you want to spend a lot of time inside the Ridge Tahoe you might try and stay there first!

I know that these smaller exchange companies seem to have only the outside resorts and not the Ridge Tahoe though!:shrug:

What we love about the Ridge too is you can spend the day up there and not in the town with everyone else and kick back and enjoy.

Many days we stay and enjoy lunch,pool, spa and go to Carson City, Reno or Virginis City.

Also great place to eat is at Wally's down hill (Carson City side). Down hill and take first left to Wally's Resort for dinner about 15 minute drive from Ridge!

Also Chart House 10 min drive half way down hill toward Lake Tahoe on right side. We do this and come back to the Ridge and enjoy couple drinks in the bar and just relax! We do this every fourth of July and enjoy fireworks show from there :banana:

You will love it! PHIL
 
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mayson12

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I'm shocked that SFX even took a Ridge Sierra exchange. I exchanged there once through DAE and was so appalled by the state of the unit, I cancelled the exchange before we checked in. We did spend some time at the Ridge Tahoe using their internet to find a last-minute rental in the area and I would stay there in a heartbeat. Great amenities. Although it is a bit far from the lake, casino's, etc. there are beautiful views of the valley. Ridge Tahoe was head and shoulders nicer than Ridge Sierra.

I don't know if Ridge Sierra has finished renovating their units, but the one were assigned was small, dark, dingy, with furniture and appliances straight out of the 70s. I shudder just thinking about it. If you don't care AT ALL about the decor or state of the complex, then you should be fine at Ridge Sierra. We paid almost $1000 for the 1br side of the Tahoe Vacation Resort since it was 4th of July week, and never regretted not staying at Ridge Sierra.

Good luck with your decision.
 

Phill12

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I'm still not sure what is going on with Ridge Sierra because it seems to be just missing from all Ridge Tahoe comments for owners too!

The news letter shows the latest updates for the Ridge Tahoe and also outside resorts and nothing listed . :shrug:

Renovations have been done at Ridge Pointe, Ridge Crest and Ridge View and also this is where the shuttle picks up! :banana:

The one thing about these condo's is the fact they are cheaper to buy and rent and are in no way as nice as the units at the Ridge Tahoe.

As I stated on first post anyone planning on spending alot of time using the Ridge Tahoe area would be better off staying inside the gates of the Ridge Tahoe, Naegle, Tower,Terrace, Cascade or Plaza.

One update that will happen is the Gondola to be torned down!
Heavenly Ski Resort just got approval to build new Stagecoach Ski Lodge and Condominum project below the Ridge!


PHIL
 

travelhome

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Phil,

How far is Ridge Tahoe to Carson City, Reno or Virginis City? Any fun activities for kids?

What a surprise that the Gondola will be torn down???!!! I thought Ridge Tahoe is a ski-in-ski-out resort? Will they replace it with sth better?

Tiff
 

Tacoma

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Thanks for the info both of you. Mayson it is of course your review that had me so worried about the place. I did take it however for the reason that it is a 2 bedroom with one of the 2 days we could check in. SFX allowed me to use it as a bonus week for $399 with no upgrade fees for the 2 bedroom. As a teacher almost any other bonus week I would get would be more since they have a 2 bedroom upgrade fee and a holiday week upgrade fee. My deposited week is valid until March 2011 so for the extra $240 I took the gamble. THis is the last week of our drive holiday which includes a TUG straight exchange to San Luis Obispo from July 3-10, then 2 nights at Yosemite for around $125 per night to stay in one of their tents, yikes! SInce we got a Saturday to Saturday exchange we will throw away the first night and if it is absolutely awful we may leave a bit earlier. I also know though that most of the places I've stayed and bought have had terrible reviews from some TUGGERS. I do appreciate everyone's coments but bad decor doesn't phaze me. My kids will miss the internet :bawl: and having to drive them or take the shuttle to the pool at the Ridge Tahoe will be slightly inconvenient but hopefully we will not need the amenities much since this is our first time in the area.
Between backpacking through SE Asia and camping in North America and owning a 1967 trailer in a trailer park in BC my main standards are safe and clean. In fact I have only ever refused to stay at a place once, it was a Ramada near San DIego and as I drove through the neighbourhood I kept thinking to myself I hope this gets better, I hope this gets better. THe place was filthy, everything in the unit was broken, ripped or dirty , and if it wasn't a bullet hole in the window I don't know what it was. Fortunately the internet site I booked through moved us and charged us nothing except the upgrade to a better hotel.
SoftBallad it sounds like the area is gorgeous and we should have enough time to explore. My husband will have a tough time staying at a ski resort when the slopes aren't open. THat crazy guys dream is to snowboard 12 months a year. In fact he's at Sunshine(Banff) today since it opened up yesterday.
I'll try to remember to let you know how it went when we get back.

Thanks again both of you
Joan
 

mayson12

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Joan,
I know you will enjoy the views. Plan lots of activities and I'm sure you'll be fine. We are lucky enough to have a friend with a boat there and being on the lake was lots of fun. I would highly recommend renting a boat for a day. There is a lot to do in the area, so I know you'll have no problem keeping busy and active. Enjoy.

Sandy
 

Phill12

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Joan you will enjoy and as long as you don't walkin like some thinking its a five star hotel and your luggage will be carried to your unit your find!:hysterical:

Like I said earlier there is a shuttle to take you over to the Ridge and when checking in ask if it will pickup at your resort. I have no idea why its no longer listed but you can always spend five minutes and drive up the hill.

You and your family will love the Ridge unless like some you enjoy being in town and dealing with all those people.:wave:


PHIL
 

Phill12

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Phil,

How far is Ridge Tahoe to Carson City, Reno or Virginis City? Any fun activities for kids?

What a surprise that the Gondola will be torn down???!!! I thought Ridge Tahoe is a ski-in-ski-out resort? Will they replace it with sth better?

Tiff


Not sure of miles but it takes about 25 minutes to drive to Carson City. They opened a couple new clubs on this south side of town and we go there and have lunch and really like the newest casino Bodines! A few more miles going into Carson City on left side is other new Fandango Casino and their buffet is very good! There is a large theater behind it up on the hill.:cool:

Reno takes 1--1 1/5 drive time because of driving thru Carson City and traffic! :rolleyes:

We always drive up to the Atlantis and Peppermill and have lunch and keep our casino card working for those comps we use during the year when not in Tahoe. :rofl:

Virginia City is about a 30 min drive up to Virginia City from Carson City and a must if you you have never been there. I have been going there since early fifties when my parents and I lived in Reno and still enjoy it.

To your question about the gondola it will be replaced with shuttle service.

One nice thing about seven days at the Ridge is you have time do all this and still drive around the lake or anything else your family likes!

PHIL
 
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Tacoma

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What is the attraction in VIrginia City? I know nothing about it. Sandy I know if you're looking for a fancy room to relax in some could be disappointing and I do get how nice it is to be in a great timeshare. We loveed our 3 bedroom Depoe Bay this summer. I couldn't believe the rest of the group wanted to leave early since the weather wasn't the beat. I could have relaxed in that beautiful space for days and not cared but in Tahoe I plan to keep busy. I know it would be great renting a boat in Tahoe but they are a ton of cash so knowing us it is unlikely. We own a 4 person seadoo for the lake we have a trailer on in BC and when we go to our timeshare in Kelowna we take that and our firiends boat. So we get lots of lake time in the summers.
I'd like the family to try surfing lessons near San Luis Obispo somewhere. We could have tried near Tofino BC a year and a half ago but that water is freezing. It was a very popular spot for surfing though. We'll almost definitely do San SImeon again since even the kids loved it. We also have to do the long drive to the six flags near Santa Clarita since my son LOVES theme parks and he's finally tall enough for all of the rides. I hope we'll take our bikes and get to do some riding around in both of the areas. THat's the advantage to driving trips you can take tons of stuff. I also know there are a few good links to things to do right on this site. I'm still in the thinking about our trip to CHina at New Years, Las Vegas for spring break and then I'll totally focas on our summer plans. Now that all of the accomodations are booked I hope I can relax for a while.
Thanks for all of the help and advice.

Joan
 

DeniseM

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Virginia City is where they discovered silver in Nevada. If you ever watched the old Bonanza Show, they were always riding into Virginia City. In it's prime, it was bigger than LA and full of new millionaires. They have preserved many of the old buildings, the main street with it's wooden sidewalks, and several historical attractions. It's interesting if you like old historical towns and not a bad drive from Tahoe or Reno, as long as the weather is good. I wouldn't do it in the snow.

Click on my travel page link below my name, and then on my Tahoe Travel Page, for lots of ideas of things to see and do in the area.

Virginia City -
DSCN0905.jpg
 
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mayson12

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What is the attraction in VIrginia City? I know nothing about it. Sandy I know if you're looking for a fancy room to relax in some could be disappointing and I do get how nice it is to be in a great timeshare.

Joan

Since you're already booked, I don't want to expand on my view of the timeshare, but do feel I need to clarify my position. I was never expecting a fancy, or 5-star place. I'd also read reviews and looked at the website and expected something in the 2 1/2 star range. I've stayed in plenty of modest places and had a great time. Also, I'm the type of person who reads tripadvisor and takes bad reviews with a grain of salt, so I'm aware that perhaps my perspective won't be shared by others. I tend to see the bright side of things and make the most of what I have. I have also never left a place early before or since. I know it's silly, but I hate the idea that people reading my opinion are picturing this high-maintenance, prissy, demanding person when that's so far from my actual personality.

That said, Virginia City was a lot of fun for our family, but my boys are a lot younger than your kids. It's a cool little town right out of the old west. We enjoyed the train ride and browsing the main street. I'm sure you can do a search online to get more info. There is so much to do in the Tahoe area, that a week just wasn't enough for us. I know you'll have a great time.

Sandy
 

Tacoma

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Sandy I didn't mean to imply you were high maintenance. :eek: Without knowing someone it's impossible to tell what their standards are and like you said when reading reviews it can be hard to tell what exactly someone is complaining about. In fact as you know some give the resort horrible ratings since they had a pushy timeshare salesperson. I'm sure we'll make do and if it's really awful I'll raise the issue with SFX since they are supposed to only deal with the better quality resorts and weeks. Bottom line it filled in the exact week I needed to complete my already booked vacation and I am always worried nothing else will come up. If I lived a few hours away and could go anytime I would have held out for a better resort. Either way I'm sure we'll enjoy the area and the hospitlaity of our southern neighbours.

Joan
 
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