Tahoe Ski Trips (formerly known as the Bay Area Ski Bus) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Tip: Reserve your seats early as seats are limited to 55 seats per ski bus trip and gets booked out quickly when there’s snow in the forecast.

If the trip you’d like to book is full, you can still get on the wait list; please call 925-680-4386 (leave a message and remember to mention the discount promo code ‘ snowpals19 ‘ to receive your discount) OR send an

Who is the Tahoe Ski Trips (aka Bay Area Ski Bus) and how long have they been in business?

Tahoe Ski Trips Inc.
Headquarters:
418 N. Buchanan Circle, Unit 9
Pacheco, CA 94553

Phone: 925-680-4386
FAX: 925-687-1433

Tahoe Ski Trips (formerly Bay Area Ski Bus) is also know as Recreation Connection, Inc. is a tour & event management company that specializes in coordinating ski & adventure tours. RC, Inc. opened its doors in 1996 and today runs over 250 trips per year! Founder and CEO, Brian McCooey and Groups Specialist, Tammy Bradley have 40 years of combined experience producing tours and events. Operating with integrity and a commitment to quality, RC, Inc. contracts with the finest transportation companies and recreation outfitters with fantastic reputations and safety records. We focus on the details, while You focus on having Fun! Our quality and service is unmatched.

Bay Area Ski Bus Recreation Connection, Inc. is a member of:

National Tour Association (NTA)
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
California Seller of Travel (CST) #2089580-40

Questions and Answers from the Tahoe Ski Trips (aka Bay Area Ski Bus):

1. How long has the Tahoe Ski Trips been around?
A. The business has been operating since 1996 when it first offered only a half-dozen trips. Today, the Ski Bus can take you to the slopes every Saturday, every Sunday or even during the week from early-December through mid-April. We also fly to fantastic snow playgrounds such as Whistler, Snowbird, Alta, Steamboat, Zermatt, Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail, Telluride, Banff and Jackson Hole!

2. What kind of reputation does the Tahoe Ski Trips have?
The Ski Bus is a classy outfit that runs on-time and pays attention to the details. Read what some of our regulars say about us! This is not a “party bus” with a keg on the bus and loud, obnoxious behavior. We definitely have Fun, but do so with style and class. Adult customers may drink alcohol on the bus, but not excessively. Rude and obnoxious people only ride once!

3. Who goes on these trips?
Wise people who realize the savings and convenience!! 🙂 Tahoe Ski Trips Adult customers range in age from early 20’s to early 60’s, with equal numbers of men and women, couples and singles. We have those who wish to meet other singles or people to ski with. We have single or married folk whose spouses or friends don’t ski, couples and singles who realize a great deal when they see one, people in town on business, people who will not drive in the snow (or who are sick of dealing with chains and the drive up and back) and all of which love the convenience of having us do all the driving while they relax, sleep and watch movies on the way home! 100% Pure Convenience and Fun! TEEN Trips are for 12-17 year olds and FAMILY Trips are for ages 4 and up.

4. What is the Itinerary for the trips?
We basically board the bus between 4 and 5:30am (depending on your pick up location), sleep until 7:30, enjoy continental breakfast and a ski movie ’til 8:15ish, ski from 8:30am to 4:00pm, then head home, watch a movie, enjoy a 30-minute dinner stop and then watch another movie. Return times are approx. 8:30pm in Walnut Creek through 10:00pm in Sunnyvale and San Francisco. Times are subject to change due to weather and road conditions.

5. What if the Weather is bad or stormy?
The Ski Bus travels “snow or shine”. If the road is closed to the scheduled resort, we will re-route to another resort on another freeway. If we cannot reach a ski resort, we will return home and everyone will receive a refund minus a $30 transportation charge. (The bus still costs money). If it is stormy at the resort, any credits on lift tickets will need to be taken up with the resort staff. In over 16 years of hosting ski trips, I can’t tell you how many times the media predicted a “major storm” (it’s news-worthy ya know) and the weather was actually great at the resort. Storms are great – they bring powder! As long as the roads are open and safe, we go!

6. What should I Wear on the Bus?
It depends on what kind of ski pants or bibs you wear and how comfortable they are. Half of the people wear their ski clothes on the bus, half change at the resort. All resorts have coin or credit card lockers. If your ski pants are comfortable and breathable, wear them. We do.

7. What do I need to bring?
Ski or snowboard equipment if you have it, regular clothes and warm ski clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses and goggles, waterproof gloves, cash for meals and/or souvenirs, credit card if you are renting equipment (required) or just in case something breaks. Although videos will be shown on the return home, some people bring a book, a pillow and/or ear plugs. Equipment will be loaded in the bus’ storage bins and a carry-on bag or backpack can accompany you on the bus. Ski and Snowboard bags are RECOMMENDED to avoid scratches. LABEL YOUR EQUIPMENT!

8. Can I Leave my belongings on the bus during the day?
Yes, you may leave anything you wish on the bus, however, you WILL NOT have access to it during the day since the bus will be LOCKED and the driver needs to rest/sleep. We DO NOT recommend leaving any valuables on the bus because we cannot guarantee the integrity of all of our customers:( Wallets, purses, CD players, etc should be brought with you and/or put in a locker in the lodge. THE BAY AREA SKI BUS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS.

9. What about Rentals or Beginning Ski Packages?
If you are a beginner and need to rent equipment and take a lesson, then a beginner’s ski package is for you. For an additional $30-$45, you get a beginner chairs lift ticket, rentals and a 90 minute lesson. Select this package when registering online. If you need Rentals only, you can purchase them when registering for many of our trips for $30-$38. OR you can rent Before you come which will save you time at the resort and give you more ski or riding time!

10. What are the Light Refreshments that are included with the price?
In the morning, we serve a continental-style breakfast: bagels with cream cheese &/or muffins, juice and yogurt. When you return to the bus after a full day of skiing or boarding, we will have soda, water, hot cocoa with whip cream and cookies waiting for you! Lunch and dinner are on you. At the dinner stop, there are usually 3-4 choices for food.

11. What kinds of videos will we see?
The Ski Bus usually has 3-5 movies for the customers to vote on, typically PG-R for Adult Trips, PG and PG-13 for Teen Trips and G-PG for Family Trips. For those who wish to sleep on the way home, bring ear plugs.

12. Is the Bus Company safe and reputable?
We only use bus companies which have fantastic safety records, top-of-the-line equipment and safe, competent and screened drivers.

13. What if I need to cancel, can I get a refund?
For the one-day trips, if you cancel more than 5 days prior to the trip you will receive a credit towards a future trip. If you cancel within 5 days of the trip, there are NO Refunds. Cancellations credits (that can be used for a future trip through the end of April 2009) will be: $40 for Adults, $30 for Teens, $20 for Seniors and $10 for Children. NO REFUNDS/Credits for “Bus Only” registrations, cancellations within 24 hours of the trip or “No-Shows”. For multi-day trips, see trip pages.

14. What kind of lodging will we expect on the multi-day trips?
We stay at quality hotels that would be considered moderate or “middle-of-the-road”. (During a survey of our customers, some wanted “cheap”, some wanted “high-class” and the majority wanted “moderate and clean”). Each hotel has clean, good size rooms, hot tubs and restaurants within walking distance.

15. Can I bring my kids?
The Ski Bus offers Adult trips for those 18 & over, Teen trips (12-17 years) and Family trips for ages 4 and up. We do not mix children in the adult trips because, 1. they are often excited & can be noisy, especially during early morning sleep time and 2. we show PG-13 (and sometimes R ) rated videos that are not appropriate for them. Parents CAN ride on the Teen bus trips OR the Family bus trips.

16. Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing?
XC and snowshoeing is available on trips to Northstar, Kirkwood (via shuttle) and Squaw (via shuttle). Since there is no shuttle from Sugar Bowl to Royal Gorge anymore, we do not promote XC on Sugar Bowl trips. Experienced XC skiers CAN ski from Sugar Bowl to RG and back. For all trips, XC skiers will sign up for the “bus only” ($59) and then purchase their own trail pass at the XC center. Customers are responsible for planning their return shuttle from the XC center in order to back @ the bus before departure.

(A) Discount only valid for NEW registrants. How do I register for ski bus trips and where do I enter the ‘ snowpals19 ‘ promo code?

Step 1: Browse the ski bus trip schedule/calendar and select which day you’d like to book. Register for a new account to book a ski trip.

Step 2: At payment check out, look for the promo discount code entry box; enter ‘ snowpals19 ‘ – must be all in lower case as you see here to get your discount.

(B) How do I qualify to get the discount using ‘ snowpals19 ‘ discount code?

To receive the discount, ski trips must be purchased in advance.
1. Reserve your seat(s) early considering Bay Area Ski Bus Trip gets booked out quickly.

2. Enter the promo code: ‘ snowpals19 ‘ (must be all lower case) for yourself and/or others. Discount only valid for NEW registrants. Register for a new account to book a ski trip.

PLEASE NOTE: discounts will not be honored for those who call-in/e-mail AFTER they register.

(C) BAY AREA SKI BUS PICK-UP LOCATIONS

  • SUNNYVALE – 125 E El Camino Real Sunnyvale, CA 94086 look for Sports Authority on the left
  • SAN FRANCISCO – Potrero Hill Sports Basement @ 16th St.
  • SAN FRANCISCO – 120 Bay St.
  • OAKLAND – Rockridge BART
  • PLEASANTON – BART, WEST end of Parking Lot, SOUTH of 580
  • SAN RAFAEL- Park-n-Ride
  • WALNUT CREEK – Walnut Creek BART, PICK UP IS AT THE NORTH WEST CORNER, NORTH of parking structure
  • CONCORD – 2003 Diamond Blvd., Concord, CA 94520 turn right into the Chevron Concord. Park in any available space
  • FOSTER CITY – 2250 Bridgepointe Pkwy Foster City, CA 94404 Park between Sports Authority and Mimi’s Café
  • OAKLAND: Oakland – Rockridge BART, West end, West of College Ave

View a Google Map of the Bay Area Ski Bus pick-up locations.

(D) Pick up, Drop off times and Ski Bus Trip Schedule:

4:00am to 5:30am – Board the bus (time varies depending on your pick up location); sleep until 7:30am.
7:30am – Continental breakfast and ski movie
8:30am – Arrive at ski resort
8:40am to 4:00pm – Full day of skiing or snowboarding
4:30pm – Depart from ski resort (watch movies on the return trip)
6:30pm – 30-minute dinner stop at a plaza with two to three Fast Food choices plus a supermarket at each stop
8:30pm – Return to the Bay Area; return times are approximately 8:30pm in Walnut Creek through 10:00pm in Sunnyvale and San Francisco.

–> Do you need snow sports winter attire, gear, ski & snowboard rentals, tune-ups, and/or shop services? Check out the sale, clearance items and rentals at REI and REI Outlet.

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View Tahoe Ski Trips videos and photos on their Facebook page.

Tahoe Ski Trips (formerly Bay Area Ski Bus) Video on YouTube

Click on the play button to watch a YouTube Video of what a typical Tahoe Ski Bus Trip is like:

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