Timber Lodge

[jdunn1]

Hi everyone. I have a ski week on hold at timberlodge (feb 12-19) and I wanted to know if there is free parking at the resort. I thought I read self parking is free at timber lodge, but not at the grand residences? Also, is there an indoor pool? If not, is it a quick run from the pool to a locker room or something to get changed?

What is within walking distance to timberlodge? Looks like the ski lift is right outside the lobby? Are there places to eat or shop or gamble within an easy walking distance?

I have been to Colorado to ski before and liked the villages around Keystone and Breckinridge and Vail. Does the village area around timer lodge compare to the Colorado resorts.

Thanks. I'm very excited. If I take the exchange, it will be my six year old's first ski trip out west. He loves pools (what five/six year old doesn't) does timberlodge heat the pool enough so it is comfortable, even in the winter. Some ski resorts heat their pools better than others and I was wondering how Timberlodge works.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I have pictures of the resort in my signature. Just click the link...

I don't normally go in the winter so, I can't answer all of your questions. The pool is outside. To get to the locker rooms from the pool you need to go through a gate. I wouldn't say it is a million miles away but it isn't exactly close. The Gondola is right outside the resort for Heavenly. Within walking distance there is the casinos, Raley's (grocery store), Wolfgang Express, ice cream, ice skating rink, tons of shops, cafes and other restaurants. You can find a more extensive list here: http://www.theshopsatheavenly.com/

I've never been to the Colorado resorts so I cannot compare for you...

If I had to guess, I'd say that the economy in Tahoe might be harder hit than Colorado. Tahoe also has not been fully built out as intended. So, the area probably looks different. But we love Tahoe for the lakes and beauty especially from when you see the view from the Gondola.

 

[westie8213]

We are also from NE Ohio and stayed at Grand Residence in late August which is right next door to Timber Lodge. We posted a short review on Page 2 titled Grand Residence vs Timber Lodge. We can answer any questions at our email address which "sticey@aol.com"

 

[wvacations]

Parking is free if you are on an exchange. It is valet parking and they are fairly quick in getting your car. The pool is heated year round. I have seen people swiming in the winter. It will be pretty cold when you get out! There is a Gondola right off the lobby that takes you up to Heavenly Ski Resort. I don't ski but my son (15 years old) does and it is great that he can just walk out and get up to the resort and come back when he is done. Plenty of places to eat within wlaking or short drive. Raleys Grocery store with in walking. 4 Casinos right next door. Harrah's is less than a 3 block walk. Of course the Caisnos have nightly entertainment.

Have fun!

 

[jdunn1]

Thanks everyone. I am excited. My five year old (although he will be six in February) loves to swim outside in the winter. A good many ski resorts I have stayed at have a small indoor pool connected to the outisde pool so you do not actually have to get out of the pool outside. Not a big deal at all but in looking at the pictures I couldn't figure out if you could run inside after you get out the pool, without having to go around the hotel.

I've stayed in the River Run (The Springs Complex) sectionof Keystone and really enjoyed the shopps and places to eat mixed in around all the condos. Timerlodge seems very much like what I am used to, except there are casinos.

Can Timberlodge guests use the Marriott Grande Residence pool? If so, is that pool better or have an indoor section to it? I'm sure this will all make perfect sense when I am there but it is fun to find out in advance, too.

Will I have any problem driving to the resort from the Reno airpot. I read a lot of the TUG reviews and many of the posts talk about needing chains on your tires to get there. Now, I have driven a few times from Denver airport to VAIL and even been stopped on the freeway for a half an hour becuase the freeway got closed while a blizzard passed, and never needed chains. Is the drive to Timber Ridge really that bad?

 

[DeniseM]

You should absolutely rent a 4WD - there is likely to be a lot of snow, and there is a steep grade between Reno and Tahoe. If you don't have a 4WD or put on chains, the Highway Patrol will not let you through. We go to Tahoe frequently and almost always need the 4WD that time of year, for at least part of the trip.

The resort is right in the heart of the Tahoe "strip" - surrounded by shops, casinos, and restaurants. There is a large grocery store one block away.

This is a picture I took on Feb. 15, 2011 - on the highway from Tahoe to Sacramento - the snow from Reno to Tahoe won't be as bad, but it give you an idea of why you need 4WD.

BTW - we were in Reno and Taho over the weekend, and there is already about a foot of snow on this same pass.

 

[lweverett]

Might consider not getting a car. There is a bus from the Reno airport that will take you right to the resort. If you go up the gondola to ski you are in an intermediate ski zone. If you need to start on beginner slopes you can get a bus to the Heavenly ski area.

 

[jdunn1]

You guys are the best. I never thought about the bus. I really will not need a car since I can walk to everything. My only concern would be catching a bus back to the airport.

Living east of Cleveland in the snow belt, we get lots of snow thanks to Lake Erie, easily over 100 inches a year. Driving in snow doesn't bother me one bit but if a road is closed to cars without chains, then that is different and not something I have experienced.

I'm going to look into the bus.

 

[DeniseM]

Every winter, there are days or nights when the roads around Lake Tahoe close down completely for hours at a time, or even overnight. We were once "stuck" in Truckee for 3 days when the highway closed - but we were "stuck" in a great place so it was a lot of fun.

If your flight arrives after dark, I'd make a back-up cancellable hotel reservation at the Reno airport, just in case. If it's snowing hard, it might be better to drive to Tahoe in the morning.

 

[GaryDouglas]

...looking at the pictures I couldn't figure out if you could run inside after you get out the pool, without having to go around the hotel.

There are multiple entrances to the surrounding buildings...

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Not a big deal at all but in looking at the pictures I couldn't figure out if you could run inside after you get out the pool, without having to go around the hotel.

It might depend on which building you are in. We've only stayed in the Sierra building right above the gym and above the Fire and Ice Restaurant so, I can only speak for one of the buildings. Anyways, there is main entrance into the Sierra building that goes to the lobby and a bank of elevators. The gym is on the 1st floor of the Sierra building. To use the pool which is fenced in you have to walk through a gate that you use your room key to access. You have to walk up a short walkway and stairs to get into the pool area. So, by "not close" I meant that there is no building access within the pool area. You must walk a little. Near the pool there is a door that gives you access to the gym but I can't remember if you could access it from the outside. I saw people walking out of it all the time and also there was a door giving you access to the stairwell. We used the stairwell door all the time. Nice thing is that the stairwell was carpeted. The pool area is surrounded by buildings so it all probably depends on the room that you are assigned. Have you seen the resort map on vacationclub.com?

 

[calberry]

couldn't figure out if you could run inside after you get out the pool, without having to go around the hotel.

Check the picture of the pool area I posted in this thread; http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156607, post #5.

You should really think of Timberlodge as only two buildings, the newer building to the left of the pool in my picture, and the original buildings (all connected by halls) to the right. The entrance to the main building (from the pool area) is right next to Fire and Ice, and the gate from the pool is about 30yds from that entrance (just to the right and behind the yellow umbrella in the picture). For the newer bldg. there are three entrances on the pool side...one in the middle of the bldg. just off camera range to the left of the spas, and one at each end. The ones at the ends are outside pool enclosure.

We were just up at Tahoe last week in a rental house with several other couples, and I took some of them over to the Marriott complex to 'show off'. "It's HUGE" was uttered several times ;-) We had snow a couple of days while we were up there...VERY pretty!!!

Steve

 

[CalBoomer]

Regarding parking, Harrah's parking lot, a stone's throw from Timber Lodge, is basically free. Since the casino is open 24/7, they are never going to ticket potential customers. I have stayed at the Embassy Suites, between Timber Lodge and Harrah's, and have parked there for days on end with no problem. One advantage to having a car there is that you can go to some other great ski areas around the lake. Heavenly, big as it is, can grow a little old over 7 days. Although driving can be problematic, route 50 between SLT and Reno is almost never closed. But you really have to have 4WD because chain controls are frequent and 4WD are exempt from them. South Lake Tahoe is not like the Colorado towns you mention. It is smaller and more of a real year-round place, not as ersatz as Colorado. Lots of casinos, but fewer restaurants and shops. So here are some tips. The buffet on the top floor at Harrah's is a really good deal and great for families with kids. The restaurant at the Edgewood Country Club is open in Winter, I think Wed-Sun, overlooks the lake, and is a fabulous place for a romantic evening--but pretty fancy for kids. The gondola is literally right out the front door--couldn't possibly be more convenient. If you have never been to Heavenly before, try to learn quickly how to commute--via skiing--between the California and Nevada sides of the mountain. Don't get stuck just on the California side. Be sure to bring a camera. There are views like you will never see in Colorado.

 

[calberry]

Regarding parking, Harrah's parking lot, a stone's throw from Timber Lodge, is basically free. Since the casino is open 24/7, they are never going to ticket potential customers. I have stayed at the Embassy Suites, between Timber Lodge and Harrah's, and have parked there for days on end with no problem. One advantage to having a car there is that you can go to some other great ski areas around the lake. Heavenly, big as it is, can grow a little old over 7 days.

Agree...and if you go across the street from Harrah's to Harveys, you can actually park in a covered parking garage for free. We stayed at Harveys for 3 nights last Nov. and there was no validation of our parking at any time. Yes it is a longer walk from Timberlodge, but there is an underground tunnel from Harrahs to Harveys, so if the weather is real bad you can park inside and only have to walk in the 'weather' over to Harrahs...and have a dry car ;-)

Steve