Ski Squaw With Teens On A Budget

Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, is an impressive place to visit. High above Lake Tahoe with the California sunshine on your face, I can see why people come from all over the country to visit. 

But skiing is not cheap and Squaw is not cheap either. However, there are some workarounds that can save you some money. First, be sure to check out airbnb.com for your accomodations. If you use my link, you will save $40 on your first booking. We stayed in Tahoe City and that was quite convenient. There is a Safeway and Savemart in town so you can buy food and cook at home. 

At Squaw, lessons are expensive. You might be better off booking a lesson at Homewood or another smaller ski area. And then skiing Squaw for a day just for the experience. Plus take advantage of the FREE carpool parking near the gondola. 

Also get your rentals in town like at Tahoe Dave's instead of at the resort. That will save you another $20 per person. Tell Tahoe Dave that you want the online discount and he will give you 10% off. 

When you buy your lift tickets, buy them at least 2 days in advance online. You will get a discount of $20-$50 per ticket. Woohoo! 

Your lift ticket includes the aerial tram. Take the tram up to the bunny hill to get your feet wet and then from there you can explore the mountain. If you ride the tram another day, it will cost you $25-$45 per person so take advantage of the lift ticket. 

Be sure to ride the funitel down at the end of the day. It is also included in your lift ticket. 

My personal highlight was the ski in/ski out Starbucks located on top of the mountain at Gold Coast. 

The Village At Squaw has lots of shopping, restaurants and cafes. We also caught a free live concert, listened to the DJ and snacked on a yummy crepe. 

All around great atmosphere and fun day!