Lake Tahoe ski package holiday bookings underway

With Lake Tahoe area ski lifts just days away from turning for the first time this ski and ride season, it is not too early to start planning holiday vacations, especially with the wide variety of holiday activities and great vacation packages Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California and Kirkwood Mountain Resort are offering.

“Lake Tahoe is a true destination resort, and with it being only a one hour drive from an international airport and three hours from San Francisco, it’s ideal for a quick weekend getaway,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “Heavenly and Northstar have the two largest snowmaking systems on the West Coast and with Kirkwood receiving the most annual snowfall in the Sierra, you are guaranteed terrific early-season snow conditions no matter which resort you choose.”

Heavenly and Northstar open the 2012-2013 ski and ride season on Nov. 16, with Kirkwood slated to open on Nov. 21. The holiday season will kick off with Noel Nights at Northstar and continue with Heavenly Holidays and Kirkwood’s 40th anniversary celebration.

“Between Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, there is a stellar lineup of entertainment and activities for families to take part in this holiday season,” said Bill Rock, chief operating officer at Northstar. “Reservations agents at all three of our resorts can help find vacation packages that fit vacationers’ needs and take the hassle and headache out of planning a trip to the mountains.”

Celebrate Heavenly Holidays (Dec. 19-31, 2012)
Celebrate the 13 days of Christmas at Heavenly Holidays, a two-week festival for the whole family at the Heavenly Village, featuring professional ice skating shows, ice sculptors, carolers, local artists and a 16-foot snow globe where kids can get their photos taken with Santa. It all starts December 19, 2012 and culminates December 31 with A Heavenly New Year’s Celebration, including live music and a ball drop and fireworks show.

Noel Nights (Dec. 6, 13 and 20, 2012)
The first three Thursday evenings in December, Northstar’s holiday tradition will take place in the Village from 5:00-8:00 p.m. The festivities include s’mores by the fire, complimentary ice skating, hot cocoa, shopping specials, holiday carolers, photos with Santa and more.

Holiday Festivities (Dec. 21-24, 2012)
From December 21-24, the Village at Northstar will feature live music and special photo opportunities with Santa in various locations, daily from 12:00-2:30 p.m.

NYE & Kirkwood’s 40th Birthday Celebrations (Dec. 31, 2012)
Kirkwood celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012-2013 with a full day of festivities on December 31 that leads into a New Year’s celebration with fireworks, music and the annual NYE torchlight parade. The parade is open to intermediate to expert level skiers and snowboarders aged 10 and up. Also offered on New Year’s Eve is a special holiday snow cat tour that takes guests to the top of Chair 2 to watch the fireworks while enjoying champagne or sparkling cider. It is followed up with dinner at the Wall Bar.

There are several vacation packages already available for guests, and with the variety of Vail Resorts season pass offerings, skiing and riding at all three resorts in the same vacation has never been easier.

Heavenly Mountain Resort Buy Five, Get Seven
Spending a full week in Lake Tahoe is cheaper than imaginable with the Buy Five, Get Seven deal from Heavenly Tahoe Vacations. Pay for five nights lodging at Heavenly and receive the sixth and seventh night at no additional cost. Then pay for a four-day ski lift ticket and receive the fifth day free, saving even more. This is the best value for the 2012-2013 ski and ride season at Heavenly! Must book by November 15, 2012; prices will vary and black-out dates apply.

Ski Free, Stay Free
One of Heavenly’s most popular deals is back - Ski Free, Stay Free. Book anywhere from four to 10 nights and get one night of lodging and one day skiing/riding free. As one of the most flexible deals with a large variety of lodging options, there is virtually something for everyone. Valid: November 16, 2012-April 14, 2013. Blackout dates apply; restrictions vary based on length of stay and dates. Other restrictions, taxes and fees may apply.

Contact Heavenly Tahoe Vacations at 1-800-HEAVENLY (800-432-8365). Be sure to ask about Heavenly’s ‘Early Booking Snow Guarantee,’ which offers a refund or change of dates if less than 50 percent of the 97 runs are open seven days prior to arrival and no less than 48 hours prior to arrival. This offer is valid December 15-March 31. www.skiheavenly.com

Northstar California Resort 3-2-1 Countdown to December
Those who want to take advantage of the early season snowfall are invited to book the 3-2-1 Countdown to December package and receive three nights lodging, two days of skiing/riding and a $50 resort gift card for the group with each package booked. This offer is valid daily from December 1-24, 2012 starting at $89 per person, per night. Some restrictions apply. www.northstarcalifornia.com

Kirkwood Mountain Resort: Book Before November 18 and Save up to 35 Percent
Lock in winter stay now at super discounted rates, prices start from just $42 per person (based on double occupancy).* Book online or by calling 1-800-967-7500. Promo code: EARLYBIRD www.kirkwood.com

Book Three Nights, Get the Fourth Free
Treat the family. Book a four-night vacation in any of Kirkwood’s accommodations and receive 25 percent off the entire stay.* Book online or by calling 1-800-967-7500. Promo code: 4NIGHT

*Blackout dates apply; offer may not be combined with any other promotions.

Contact Kirkwood Vacations at 1-800-867-7500 or kirkwoodreservations@vailresorts.com.

Season Pass Deadline – November 18
The Tahoe Local Pass remains unmatched in value, price and experience with access to more than 263 trails, 14 terrain parks and 10,270 acres of some of the best terrain in the world at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in California and Nevada. Ski or ride more than four days in one season and, priced at $459, the Tahoe Local Pass pays for itself, then ski or ride for free the rest of the season. Vail Resorts’ entire season pass lineup offers something for every type of skier and snowboarder, including four different season pass options in Lake Tahoe ranging in price from $419 to $699. The deadline to purchase a season pass is November 18. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.

PEAKS 3-Day Advance Tickets
The PEAKS 3-Day Advance ticket allows guests to save on one-day and multi-day lift tickets when they purchase lift tickets online at least three days in advance of their trip. The three Lake Tahoe resorts offer the “lowest price guarantee” on lift tickets when purchased at least three days in advance online at www.snow.com/lifttickets or through Vail Resorts Central Reservations. This guarantees the price will be the lowest available for that day –and significantly lower over the holiday period– compared to the window rate. The more guests ski during their vacation, the greater the savings – which can be up to 25 percent off of the window rate. In addition, new this season, multi-day lift ticket purchases can provide multi-resort access between the three Tahoe area resorts all season long with some restrictions.

About Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind combination of scenic beauty and exhilarating on-snow experience. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. One of the largest resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4,800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features more than 97 trails for every level of skier or snowboader. For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.

About Northstar California Resort
One of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America, Northstar is host to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, movie theaters, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 97 ski trails spread across 3,170 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, fly-fishing and more.

Northstar is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit
www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.

About Kirkwood
Kirkwood Mountain Resort is one of the nation's top destination resorts. Located just 177 miles from the Bay Area along scenic Highway 88, its base elevation of 7,800-feet, assures skiers more annual snowfall than any other resort in North America. Kirkwood is recognized by winter purists and national media alike for the quality of its snow and terrain variety and is a true skier’s destination. Known for its pristine beauty and action-packed expeditions and events, winter fun includes skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, sled dog tours, and backcountry expeditions. An ideal location for weddings and corporate meetings, the Kirkwood Village includes boutique shopping, live music and dining. For more information about Kirkwood Mountain Resort, visit www.kirkwood.com or call 209.258.6000.