Steals and Deals

Valentine's Day packages

Squaw Creek getaway
Resort at Squaw Creek offers the Ultimate Valentine's Getaway with two night’s accommodations in a deluxe guestroom, Sparkles and Sweets Champagne amenity delivered upon arrival, two one-day adult lift tickets to Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, two 50-minute spa treatments at the Spa at Squaw Creek, dinner for two on Valentine’s evening from the special gourmet prix-fixe menu in Six Peaks Grille, and nightly turndown service. The two-night getaway starts at $999 per room, based on double occupancy, and is available for the nights of Feb. 13 and 14. Room upgrades are available for an additional cost; resort fees and taxes are additional. For reservations, call (800) 401-9501 or go to visitsquawcreek.com and use promo code VDAYRSC.

Valentine getaway at West Shore Cafe
The West Shore Café & Inn offers the Romantic Getaway package on Feb. 14. From $179, Romantic Getaway includes lodging at West Shore Café & Inn, as well as a choice of either two adult lift tickets valid at Homewood Mountain Resort or a $50 dining credit valid at the Café. The dining credit may be used any day, including Valentine’s Day. As well, West Shore Café will be offered special shared plates along with its new winter menu on Feb. 14. The four-course, prix-fix menu will be available for $100 per couple. Valentine’s Day dinner and lodging reservations are recommended, and may be made by calling (530) 525-5200.

Beginner packages

Granlibakken beginner package
Granlibakken offers a Beginner Learn to Ski or Snowboard package for $70 ($65 for snowboarding) and includes lesson, lift ticket and equipment rental. Visit granlibakken.com.

HMR ski, ride month
Homewood Mountain Resort is hosting Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month in for first-time skiers and snowboarders ages 13+ for $44, which includes a 2.5-hour beginner lesson, beginner lift ticket and all-day equipment rentals. The package is valid daily.
New skiers and riders looking to establish a solid foundation can upgrade the Learn-to-Ski & Ride package and receive two additional days of 2.5-hour lessons, beginner lift tickets and rental equipment for $71. Use the lesson packages on any days during the 2011-12 season. Packages must be purchased online at skihomewood.com.

Spa treatments

Free medi-spa treatments
Enter Sierra Cosmetic Laser’s New Year’s Resolution Makeover Contest by Feb. 15 for a chance to win a medi-spa package. Dr. Haven Ritchie of Sierra Cosmetic Laser is offering a consultation, laser treatment, massage, facial, spray tan and a free vial of Latisse to one winner. To enter, send a letter describing yourself and explaining why you deserve to win. Contest letters may be submitted to ali@switchbackpr.com or mailed to Switchback PR + Marketing, 10075 West River St., Suite 206, Truckee, CA 96161. The winner must agree to be featured in a future article as the winner of the contest. For more information, visit sierracosmeticlaser.com, call (530) 587-0198 or see Sierra Cosmetic Laser and Spa on Facebook.

Lodging & ski packages

Family ski, stay packages
Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista offers lakefront lodging combined with discounted ski lift tickets to any resort in North Lake Tahoe, including Squaw Valley, Northstar California, Alpine Meadows or Diamond Peak. The Diamond Peak Family Fun package includes lodging in a lakefront suite, continental breakfast and lift tickets for the entire family, starting at an affordable $238 per night; two adult lift tickets must be purchased per visit with a two-night minimum stay required. For reservations, visit mlrtahoe.com or call (800) 824-6381.

Cedar House Sport Hotel deals
A variety of specialty priced packages are available at Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee. The lodging deals are not valid during peak holiday periods, and reservations may be made by calling (866) 582-5655. Visit cedarhousesporthotel.com for details.
Tahoe resort season passholders can enjoy an upgraded room and breakfast at Stella for $160 per night Sunday through Thursday. Or, take advantage of the Stay and Ski Midweek Packages including breakfast for $173 per person, based on double occupancy, with tickets for Squaw/Alpine Meadows, Northstar or Sugar Bowl, or $110 per person, double occupancy for the Cross-Country Package at Tahoe Cross Country or Tahoe Donner Cross Country.
Pay rack rate for Friday and Saturday nights, and enjoy a complimentary night on Thursday or Sunday with the Winter Weekend deal. Beat the traffic by arriving on Thursday evening or stay through Monday morning.

Cal Neva lodging, ski deals
Cal Neva is offering the Ski & Stay package for $79 for midweek lodging and a lift ticket to Diamond Peak based on double occupancy with a two-night minimum stay. Weekend packages also are available. To make reservations, call (800) 351-9355.

Hyatt, Amtrak packages
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is offering a Ski and Stay package that includes a round-trip Amtrak train ride from Emeryville to Truckee for $399 per night all season. The package includes $100 Amtrak train credit, daily breakfast for two, two adult lift tickets each day of the stay, hotel and train station transportation, 15 percent off Stillwater Spa services and free scheduled shuttles to select ski resorts. Ski tickets are offered to Heavenly, Squaw Valley, Northstar, Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, Homewood and Mount Rose. Call (888) 510-0529.

West Shore Café ski, stay deal
The West Shore Café & Inn offers the Peak to Shore Package, which includes lakefront lodging at the West Shore Café & Inn, as well as skiing and snowboarding at Homewood Mountain Resort starting at $319 per night through May. Each night reserved includes two lift tickets, which are valid any day including holidays, complimentary breakfast, car valet and on-demand shuttle service to and from nearby destinations. Call (530) 525-5200.

Ski, stay deals at Granlibakken
Granlibakken offers Ski and Stay packages to local resorts starting at $139. Visit granlibakken.com.

Lift ticket deals

Free tickets with Tahoe plate
Drivers who purchase a California or Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate before April 15 will receive two free Alpine or Nordic tickets.
More than 96 percent of Lake Tahoe license plate fees go to Tahoe recreation and restoration projects of the California Tahoe Conservancy, the Nevada Division of State Lands and the Tahoe Fund. Lake Tahoe specialty plates generate about $1.5 million annually.
The special resort ticket deal is available only through tahoefund.org, with California Tahoe plates available for $50 and the new Nevada Tahoe plate available for $61.
The free tickets and day passes are valid Sunday through Friday for the 2011-12 season until supplies run out. Standard holiday blackout dates apply to downhill ski areas. Participating resorts are Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Homewood, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Tahoe Donner, Royal Gorge, Tahoe Cross Country and Sierra-at-Tahoe.

Squaw, Alpine ticket deals
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows announce the new Tahoe Super 4 and other great discounted products to get on the ski lifts this winter. Since Squaw and Alpine combined this fall, both resorts can now be accessed by one lift ticket or season pass. The new Squaw/Alpine Express shuttle is running between the two resorts every 20 minutes.
Tahoe Super 4 offers four unrestricted days at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for $289 for adults, $239 for young adults ages 13 to 22, and $119 for kids ages 5 to 12 (less than $30 per day). The Tahoe Super 4 can be used any four days of the 2011-12 winter season at both resorts with no blackout days. The Tahoe Super 4 is available on squaw.com and skialpine.com.
Kids 4 and Under Ski Free: Kids 4 and under can ski and ride for free at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows with a complimentary season pass or pick up a daily lift ticket at any ticket window.
Fly and Ski Free: Enjoy a free afternoon or evening ticket to guests that want to ski or ride on the same day they fly in. Guests can present a same-day airline boarding pass at Tickets and receive a free lift ticket.
Active Duty Military: Receive free lift tickets, excluding holidays, every Sunday to Friday. Present proof of active duty status at Squaw's Tickets, Passes and Snowsports Center at the base of the mountain or Alpine Meadow’s special tickets window in the main lodge.
College students: Ski or ride Squaw Valley and Alpine for $59 on select Sundays through Fridays. To receive the discount, college students can visit squaw.com and fill out the online registration form found in the deals and discounts page.
Shell Two for One Tickets: Until April 16, buy 10 gallons of fuel at participating Shell stations and get a voucher redeemable for one free lift ticket to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows with the purchase of a full price adult lift ticket. Tickets are valid Monday through Friday, non-holiday, and Sunday through Friday in the month of April. See skifreedeals.com for more information.

Kids play free at Squaw Creek
Resort at Squaw Creek is offering the Kid's Ski, Skate, Sled Free package. The nightly packages includes deluxe accommodations, children’s welcome amenity on arrival, free sledding, free ice skating and skate rentals at the resort ice rink and a free child’s lift tickets (12 and under) to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Prices start at $299 per night midweek and $349 weekends, plus taxes and fees valid through April 12. Book at (800) 327-3352 and use code KIDPLAYRSC.

Homewood offers ticket deals
Homewood Mountain Resort offers the all-inclusive Kids’ Lesson 10-Pak every day including holidays, which includes instruction, lift ticket, and ski or snowboard equipment. The Kids’ Lesson 10-Pak is ideal for both skiers and snowboarders ages 4 to 12 with 10-Paks available for $550. Or, sign-up for a 3-Pak for $237. Adults also may take advantage for the instructional 3-Pak themselves, for $150. The deal is valid daily. Call (530) 525-2922.
Kids’ lesson packages at Homewood Mountain Resort start at $99, offering a fun way to introduce young skiers and riders to snow sports. Lesson packages include a lift ticket, equipment rental, and a 2.5-hour lesson. Full-day packages also are available. Visit skihomewood.com.
The Homewood Bleu Wave Ski Shuttle Cruise offers guests a round-trip, trans-Tahoe cruise aboard the 72-foot, 49-passenger luxury cruise yacht “Tahoe Bleu Wave” and a full day of skiing/boarding at Homewood Mountain Resort for $99. Each cruise departs from South Lake Tahoe’s Round Hill Pines Beach & Marina and arrives at Homewood’s West Shore Café & Inn. The Homewood Bleu Wave Ski Shuttle Cruise is offered every Friday, Saturday and Monday throughout the ski season. For details, visit tahoebleuwave.org or call (775) 588-9283.

Sugar Bowl CORE, GA Days
Get more value with the purchase of your lift ticket (for ages 13 to 69) or season pass (ages 4 and older) with Sugar Bowl’s General Admission Program. On GA Days, take advantage of a free two-hour group lesson of any level and free standard gear rental for the day. General Admission Days are offered Monday to Friday, non-holiday.
The Daily CORE Pass delivers the best value on lift tickets. It costs $19 to join and gets you $15 off the purchase of the window ticket price every day of the season. You also receive free membership in the CORE Rewards Program, a points-based loyalty and reward program that gives skiers and riders points every time they ski or ride and for every qualifying dollar spent, that can then be redeemed for free items across the resort.

Mt. Rose ticket discounts
To find the best deals on the mountain at Mt. Rose, visit the Web site before a visit with Bonus Mondays for $49, Two ‘Fer Tuesdays, $35 Wednesdays with a lift ticket or pass from another ski resort, $49 Ladies Thursdays (includes ticket, clinic and retail discount) and $69 TGIF Fridays, all available online only. As available online is The Drive Can Wait deal on Sundays with a half-day ticket and $10 food and drink credit. Visit skirose.com for these tickets deals.
At the ticket window, pick up a $138 Family Pack with two all-day lift tickets and two kids’ tickets for ages 17 and under valid daily. Receive a $49 ticket for college students and for anyone when you show your pass from another resort; valid midweek, non-holiday. Military receive $39 lifts for active personnel only. Or, try the Happy Landings, when you ski the same day you fly in, get the second day of skiing free. Must show a boarding pass at Guest Services. Visit skirose.com.

Diamond Peak ticket specials
The Diamond Peak Mini Pass is a multi-day pass that skiers and riders may purchase for two days up to seven days at reduced rates. The Mini Pass is transferable and valid any day with the two-day passes starting at $98.
And, don’t forget to save your boarding pass for half off ski and snowboard rentals at the resort. Bring a boarding pass from your trip to Lake Tahoe (Reno, Sacramento or San Francisco airports) and receive the discount through April. Visit diamondpeak.com.

Boreal deals
Boreal brings back Frickin’ Fridays for $15 for all college students and military personnel every Friday of the season; not valid during holidays. Guests must have valid ID to receive the discounted rate.
The resort also offers the iRide Rewards Card. Sign up online, then buy an adult or teen all-day lift ticket at Boreal for any two days during the season and receive a third day free.
And, enjoy night skiing with any ticket daily until 9 p.m. through the end of the season. Visit rideboreal.com.

Midweek deals at Donner Ski Ranch
Donner Ski Ranch has deals during midweek (except holidays) with discounted lift tickets for $25 from Tuesday to Thursday ($40 with rental equipment with a lesson for an additional $12), non-holidays, and no restrictions on its season passes. Visit donnerskiranch.com.

Tahoe Donner ticket deals
Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area offers great midweek, non-holiday deals with something for everyone. Parents’ Day is every Tuesday with a free lift ticket for parents with a child’s ticket for ages 13 and under. On Wacky Wednesdays, look for deals on Facebook, Twitter or on the Web site. Locals can enjoy $21 adult tickets and $13 children tickets Tuesday to Thursday, and everyone can enjoy discounted tickets on Thursdays. And, Student Discounts are offered Tuesday to Thursday for $21 adults and $13 children. Deals are not offered during holiday periods. Call (530) 587-9444.