Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season

1. Make Advanced Reservations

Reserve rental equipment, adult lessons and lesson packages, children's lesson packages or child care online in advance to ensure availability and be more prepared for your visit!  Reservations need to be made 24 hours or more in advance.

2. Arrive early and leave before 3:00 p.m. or after 6:00 p.m. to beat the crowds

Arrive early and get closer parking spots, best selection of rental gear and fresh tracks!  If you don't leave before 3:00 p.m., we recommend hanging out in the Village and enjoy Northstar® Resort's après ski scene. Take a few laps on our skating rink.  Skating is free and skate rentals are just $5.  Head to the Baxter's Bistro & Lounge, The Chocolate Bar, TC's Pub, Rubicon Pizza Company, Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar or the Cabana Bars in the Village for great après ski specials.

Note Extended Rental Shop and Children's Center hours

Rentals
The Village Rental Shop is open daily 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and will be extending hours of operation until 6:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays through late March. We recommend for guests with rental reservations and lesson package reservations during holiday periods to come check-in and pick up your equipment and/or lesson package lift tickets one day prior to your reservation.  We offer pre-sell and rental pick up from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. daily, excluding February 12 - 22. From February 12 - 22, we will offer pre-sell and rental pick up from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.. Also 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through March 27, 2010.

Kid's Ski + Board School
Our Kid's Ski + Board School will be extending the hours of operation during holiday periods. We recommend for guests with Children's Lesson reservations for holiday periods to come in anytime after 12:00 p.m. the day before your child's lesson to get rental boots fitted and paperwork completed.  For more information on children's lessons and reservations, please contact the Kid's Ski + Board School at 530.562.3470 or 1.800.GO.NORTH.

3. Utilize Drop Off Zones, Free Parking for shopping/dining, and Valet Parking.

Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort offers two traffic drop-off zones – one for busses and shuttles and the other for private vehicles, which helps to smooth out traffic flow and avoid congestion. Private vehicles can pull up to the Village and either take advantage of Northstar Resort’s valet parking service, or unload their passengers and all of their gear before they go park the car.  We also offer free 2-hour parking directly across from The Village for guests shopping and dining in the Village.  » More on Parking 

4. Take advantage of FREE Shuttle Service or Carpool

Northstar Resort offers convenient on-site shuttle service to lodging guests and self-park customers. And, guests staying nearby can board one of Northstar Resort’s complimentary shuttles servicing North Lake Tahoe, Reno or Truckee and be dropped off and picked up at the Village entrance.

Night shuttle service will be offered hourly to and from Truckee and the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, servicing Northstar Resort, as well as a new Reno/Tahoe airport shuttle, the North Lake Tahoe Express.  » More on Shuttles 

Carpool with someone you know or make new friends.  Either way you save gas, carbon emission and a whole lot of money.

5. Go directly to the lifts with Quad Paks and save $21/day!

Purchase a Northstar Resort Quad-Pak and ski/ride any four days during the 2009.10 Lake Tahoe winter season (no blackout dates) for less than $63 per lift ticket.  Save up to $87 total for four days of skiing/riding.

6. Ride the Village Express to Mid-Mountain.

Intermediate or better skiers and riders can avoid the crowd in the Gondola line that tends to form during the holidays and take the Village Express chair instead. This high-speed quad is located behind the Gondola building and quickly drops guests off at mid-mountain in minutes.

7. Ski More, Wait Less with the Fast Pass Priority Lane Ticket or Vertical Plus

• Fast Pass: Don't waste any time waiting in lift lines! Access the priority "Fast Pass" lane with a one-day Fast Pass ticket for only $20 sold at any ticket window, the Demo Tent at mid-mountain, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Ski School, and in the Vertical Plus lift lines (cash only). A valid lift ticket or season pass is also required.
  
• Vertical Plus Membership:  Members can earn great awards for skiing/riding as well as access priority lift lines and enjoy other great member benefits!

8. Eat Lunch before 11:30 a.m. or After 2 p.m. in the Village.

After a full breakfast at the Lodge at Big Springs, guests can pick up a snack-to-go to power them through the noon hour and eat a late lunch once the crowds have dissipated. When everyone else is on the mountain, head to TC's Pub, Earthly Delights, North of the Boarder, The Chocolate Bar, Baxter's Bistro & Lounge, Euro Snack, Rubicon Pizza Company or Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar in the Village at Northstar™ – always a best bet for avoiding the lunch rush.  » More on Dining Options 

9. Take advantage of Early Bird Private Lessons and save.

Start the day off right with a private lesson, and then spend the rest of the day practicing what you learned. One-hour “Rise and Shine” private lessons are available from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. daily. Other times are available for general private lessons. Private lesson reservations are recommended. Call the Ski & Snowboard School at 530.562.3470 for details.  Group Ski Lessons and Snowboard Lessons are also available.

10. Consider a 3-Day or Weekly Private Locker Membership

Our weekly and 3-day Platinum Level Private Locker memberships offer hassle-free, conveniently accessed ski and gear storage in the Village at Northstar™ with exclusive members-only benefits like a private family locker room with room for up to four (4) people, valet ski/board check, concierge service, and more!

11. Enjoy FREE Overnight Ski/Board Storage or Convenient Private Lockers

Free yourself from the hassle of schlepping your gear around.   After a day of skiing or riding, store your skis or snowboard in Northstar Resort's FREE overnight ski and snowboard storage located behind The Chocolate Bar.

Northstar Resort also offers convenient 3-day, weekly or seasonal Private Locker Memberships, that come with special member-only benefits such as first tracks, endless tunes and more!  Day lockers and storage are also available for storing smaller items such as jackets, lunches and purses.

12. Take Advantage of Afternoon Rates

• Double Whammy passholders with holiday blackout dates can purchase full-day lift tickets at the afternoon rates.
• Any ticket holder can turn in a single-day lift ticket by 12:30 p.m. to the Tickets & Season Pass Office in the Village at Northstar and receive a partial credit coupon for your next all-day visit!
  

Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort wishes you a wonderful holiday season!