Tahoe Snow and Sun Tours

Seems like these guys are outta business, which is too bad b/​c they were the nicest, coolest, chillest guys. And their prices were so great, too. Rarely more than a hundred bucks for the bus, lift ticket, and a few free beers and burgers in the parking lot at the end of the day.
Probably went on about 4 or 5 trips with them 4 or 5 years ago and had a great time every time.
Hope you guys come back sometime!
–Andrew

Does anyone know if this company is still running? I am waiting for their schedule so that I can go. So far no response from email and voicemail

Tahoe Snow and Sun is my favorite ski bus! Jamie is really responsive and they have the best prices!

This is hands down the best option for getting up to Tahoe for the day.
I had been driving up for day skiing for years until my 4WD, Antonio, died. I wasn’t all that excited about having to take the bus, but I’ve done a complete 180. Now, I’m not even considering a 4WD thanks to this alternative.
Tahoe Snow & Sun ski bus trips are just a great group of people all about having a good experience in the snow. What I liked the most…
1) Only three stops for picking up people so you minimize time on the bus.
2) Super professional drivers. Bill’s driving was so smooth we were able to comfortably sleep the whole way, until the very end. Though the call of nature was strong, he refused to pull over and persisted with the smooth driving until we were parked. That’s dedication.
3) Great guests on the bus! It was a very nice and chill group of all ages. I had taken buses before that were of the KMEL crowd and once they were up, they made sure everyone was up as well.
4) Jamie, the owner, is awesome, a real stand up guy. He gives a 100% refunds on canceled bus trips due to weather. He also really considers the decision to cancel based on guests comfort. Other buses will keep the trip in force and people can be stuck in the snow and closed roads for hours w/​o recourse. Personally, I’d rather know if it’s not a good idea to head up. I’d be disappointed but at least my day wouldn’t be shot.
5) Great bbq! Jamie himself and our host, April, grilled all the food. There was plenty of it. Lots of drinks, beers included. All for the price of the trip! Which brings me to my last point…
6) What a great value! $ 89 for a trip to Alpine where the tickets are already $ 92/​day. So for less than the price of a ticket you get to ski or ride, sleep all the way there, save wear and tear on your car, get a yummy bbq apres ski with your fellow bus mates, drink all the way home while watching movies or taking another nap.
That’s definitely worth 5 stars.

Awesome, convenient pick-​up locations, sleep on the way up, free bbq, and good movies on the way back. The only way to travel.

Tahoe Sun and Snow is the only Bay Area ski bus company I go with now after experiencing them for the first time this Jan. Why? 1. They use luxury charter buses that are new 2. They are by far less expensive than other companies ($ 99 for bus + Kirkwood lift ticket) 3. They serve absolutely delicious chili that hits the spot after a long day of snowboarding 4. Very organized and punctual 5. More personal experience because you see the same person as your trip guide or serving you chili each weekend ;) Thanks Jamie and Shawn!

This last weekend I went to Kirkwood with the Tahoe Snow and Sun bus for my first time… I had a great time! I went alone, slept half the way there and when I woke up I enjoyed the nature and rural views of the hiway all the way up to the resort. When we got off the bus there was a table already set up with hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies waiting for us, as well as our host with our passes. I brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to snack on after a couple hours… I had a great day on the mountain and when I got back to the bus there was a bbq with hamburgers, chips, hot dogs, soda, and beer! All included! The bus ride back was super fun, with our happy host making us laugh and playing two entertaining movies to make the time fly by. I will say I did get a little car sick from the winding mountain, so if you get sick like me I would recommend some dramamine (I used a does of the children’s dramamine so it wouldn’t make me tired and it was perfect). I love having this opportunity within five minutes of my apartment!
BTW there is a bathroom in the bus.
Things I would do differently: being my first time I didn’t know how to change and all that. I noticed the girls wore their thermal underwear and a sweater on the bus so when we parked, all they had to do was put there pants on (changing in the bathroom bus was like changing in an airplane bathroom)…
Booking my next trip this weekend. only $ 100 for a super awesome day on the mountain!

I take TS&ST bus for day trips to Tahoe quite often. I think it is a great deal!
–First of all, you don’t have to drive anywhere, you can just nap before a long day of skiing/​snowboarding.
–You can also nap after the long day or watch movies on the way back (movies are pretty good, I should add).
–The bus is clean :) (probably like most buses).
–The prices of TS&ST are lower than the prices of other similar companies.
–In addition, you can buy a lift ticket through TS&ST for probably half the price at the window.
–Moreover, the host offers complimentary hot dogs, burgers, chips, beer, and soda before leaving Tahoe (so nice!).
–Most importantly, the customer service is fantastic! They respond to questions, issues, and concerns immediately. They also have an extremely flexible cancellation policy, unlike most other companies.
There is plenty of parking near the pickup locations. In dt SF there is a garage that charges only $ 12 per day, or you can always take a muni which stops half a block away from the pickup spot.
I would strongly recommend it.

I took the Tahoe Snow and Sun Tours bus up to Sierra at Tahoe resort this past Saturday… and let me say, this is such a great deal for for only $ 95! Of course the price varies depending which resort you go to, but I paid $ 95 for the round-​trip bus ride and lift ticket to Sierra at Tahoe. Ski/​board rentals cost an additional $ 40 or so, and round-​trip bus rides only (no lift ticket) are $ 48.
The procedure is very straightforward. Go to their website and sign up for a trip. You arrive at your pick-​up location at your designated time (SF is at 5:20AM at Harrison and Embarcadero). Load your gear into the bottom bins under the bus. Check-​in with your host (ours was a very friendly and perky girl named April). Grab a seat and try to get some sleep for the next few hours. Everyone usually wakes up when the bus stops to put on chains, or the host will wake everyone up to let us know that we’re just a few miles away from the resort. (I was thankful that April gave some helpful tips as well, ie: she told snowboarders which flat trails to avoid). When you arrive at the resort, the bus finds parking and everyone gathers their gear. Complimentary coffee and hot chocolate are offered too. If you paid for a lift ticket and/​or rental voucher, you get them directly from the host after getting off the bus. And now you’re on your way directly to the lifts! (This saves you a lot of time waiting in line for buying tickets.) For the Sierra trip, we arrived at the resort shortly before 9:30AM.
The local Tahoe hosts (Jamie and Shawn) prepare a little afternoon cookout around 3:30PM, by the bus. We were offered hamburgers, hotdogs, granny goose potato chips, beer, and various sodas. It’s basic American «junk food», but it’s a thoughtful and kind gesture to the guests. And it’s free.
The bus departs at 4:30PM, so if you’re not back by then, you’re screwed! Two movies are played during the ride back to the bay area, so it serves as some sort of entertainment. However, I really think we should have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to watch anything. I was so tired that I just wanted to sleep during the ride home, and the volume is pretty loud. However, I was so exhausted after a full day of snowboarding that I was able to sleep through the first movie. We arrived back at the SF location at 7:50PM, which is an hour earlier than advertised on the website… then again, this really depends on which resort you’re coming from and on the weather conditions.
Other facts/​tips for TS&ST:
— Trips are only offered on Saturdays and Sundays, so expect resorts to be busy.
— Sign up at least a week in advance, so you’re guaranteed a spot.
— Pick-​up locations go in the order: San Jose, SF, Berkeley. Drop-​off is the reverse order.
— They give full refunds! (cancellations made 72 hours in advance)
— There’s a bathroom on the bus.
— If you’re a contacts-​wearer, wear glasses instead during the drive up so you can sleep, and then change into your contacts while the bus stops to put on chains (about 10 minutes) so you don’t need to do it at the resort bathrooms.
— The ride is bumpy and uncomfortable to sleep through, so try to get some sleep before the trip.
— You can leave your belongings on the bus. It stays in the parking lot and remains locked during the day (this is the time when the driver sleeps).
Overall, I’m glad I came across this company and gave them a try. I would definitely use TS&ST again in the future because these 1-​day trips are so affordable compared to the price and time you would put in if you were to rent your car, pay for gas, do your own driving, pay for a full-​priced lift ticket, etc.

Tahoe Snow and Sun Tours is a nicely organized trip that’s well worth the money paid for it. The tour people are on time, really nice, and really helpful. On the way to the resort, it is a really quiet trip, which makes it a great time to get some shut eye. There are three pick up locations and different pick up times which are San Jose, San Francisco, and Berkeley. The bus trip is non stop and arrives at the resort at 9:30am. If you happened to need to use the restroom, there’s a restroom on the bus. Lastly, if you have a lesson in the morning, you need to hustle to make it on time.
There’s a little cook out before they leave. Food included are chips, sodas, burgers and hotdogs. It’s really nice that they do this since the resort will totally rip you off on food. For the trip back, two movies are shown so it’s not as easy to sleep if you want to.
Some recommended things to take with you to make the bus trip a lot better are a neck pillow and ear plugs if you’re planning to sleep. One item that’s a must have to make the trip nice for other people is deodorant. The bus gets really smelly when it’s packed with sweaty people.

I have taken Tahoe Snow & Sun (1 time) and Nac Ski Bus (3 times). Overall I prefer Tahoe Snow & Sun. I also know there is Bay Area Ski Bus as well as Snowbomb bus (I think those 2 work together). I don’t take the the others because they are considerably more expensive.
Tahoe Snow & Sun
Pros
— A Number of trips each weekend
— CHEAP (which is prolly most important for most people)
— Well organized
— FOOD included
Cons
— Only Saturday and Sunday Trips
— Because of the way their stops are set up it takes more time to get to/​from the mountain if you are picking up in San Jose. (–1 star)
I just listed the stuff that I feel they could control. Things like the buses are cramped, long rides to/​from the mountain, etc… I think those are things the charter service handles. Also if you go to Alpine make sure to know that since it is difficult to get down from that resort the trip may be pretty damn longer then expected. I think we got back from Alpine at like 11:30 or 12:00. If you want to tip be sure to bring cash.

I can see why TS&ST has received high marks. We were picked up on schedule and in no time we reached NorthStar.
It’s a little difficult to sleep although it’s a huge luxury bus. There’s definitely «more bounce to the ounce.» I managed to nap for a bit with bass infused ear buds, neck pillow and a hat pulled down over my eyes. For all you night owls/​insomniacs there’s Wi-​Fi and outlets so u can surf and get your charge.
After a good day of boarding, me and the crew were discussing, when did chili, chips, soda, salsa and beer equate to BBQ? Because that was what was served at the buses BBQ. I’m not complaining, it was just something to laugh at.
There was an injury, so we had to wait an extra 40 minutes before departing. We had a skilled driver (Bob), who was still able to get us back to the bay by 8PM amidst traffic and rain fall.
TS&ST will be my go-​to transportation when I can’t drive up or catch a ride with a friend.

(Feb 26, 2011) Saturday’s trip was my first ever time up to Tahoe let alone snowboarding, ever. Being a newbie to well… everything to do with skiing, I was hesitant about the early morning of a 5:30 pickup from SF. It certainly was planned out extremely well.
–Get picked up at 5:30 from SF
–Sleep on the way to the mountain or enjoy the sights
–Ski/​Snowboard until thoroughly exhausted and happy
–BBQ before boarding the bus for the trip back (we had pizza, soda and beer. all goooooood stuff)
–Watch two movies on the way back (never heard of them but they were very entertaining to me) They made the trip back feel short!
The service was great, Stan is a great driver, Jamie is a great organizer. Whats that saying about things that come in threes?
I am now officially hooked. For my first time snowboarding, this was the way to do it. This is a day trip I hope to take again and I totally recommend it to newbies like myself. I hope to get a group together for the next trip up.
Oh and the package deal for the ride, lift tickets and rentals was very good value!

This service just might be the best thing since sliced bread was invented.
I went up with the crew two weeks in a row and more than likely will be going next week as well. This is hands down the best way to do day trips!
1– wake up and get to your nearest pickup location
2– get on the bus, sit and fall asleep
3– wake up, get your lift ticket handed to you and hit the slopes
4– have an incredible time snowboarding/​skiing
5– get back for burgers, hot dogs, beer and a bit of social time
6– get on the bus and watch movies or sleep
7– thank the awesome staff for such fantastic operation they have going and go home!
Jamie, April, Greg, Stan… These guys are more than just staff for a great service/​business, they are people just like us who enjoy going up and hitting the slopes.
I hands down recommend you give this service a shot if your interested in day trips to some of the best resorts in tahoe for an extremely reasonable price.
Oh, did I mention they also have WIFI on the bus? Just in case you cannot stay away from facebook, twitter and Unilocal,they have you covered.

I blame the bus driver and the elements for the first bus trip fail, but I’d like to think second times a charm.
I’ve been going on day trips since I’ve started snowboarding but that can get tiring really quickly. You have a great day snowboarding, then reality hits you hard, you still gotta drive all the way back home to the bay area… BUMMER.
With Tahoe Snow And Sun Tours, let someone else do the driving. All you gotta do is wake up at the butt crack of dawn and have a seat in a comfy bus to snooze the entire way!
The lift ticket and bus packages are fairly reasonable. Just a ride to the resort is 45 bucks! that’s a tank of gas getting up there.
The BBQ at the end of the day really hits the spot. Beer, Burgers, Hot Dogs, Chips (Granny GOOSE chips! old school), fire pit and chairs. What more can a guy ask for?
I think in the future frequent riders should have some kind of buy 5 get one free or have a set price for 10 rides for someone who just needs a lift up there.
Bottom line is if you don’t wanna drive let Tahoe snow and sun take you there. Thanks Jamie and Co for a great experience.

Great deal on package! Unless you live close to tahoe just imagine the long drive you have ahead of you and back especially after skiing or snowboarding for 6 hours. This is my 1^st bus ride and I definitely will go again sometime soon.
if you were driving to the Resort: Gas: $ 60 + Lift ticket: $ 60+ Total = $ 120
and if you need rental gear its even more
Tahoe snow and sun tours: $ 82 bucks! (trip and lift ticket included)
Pros:
–Great deal
–BBQ at the end of the trip (BURGERS, HOT DOG, BEER, SODA)
–Sleep
–Wifi connection on the bus
–Movies on the way back
Cons:
–Seats are a little small but i was still able to get comfortable and rest
I think every penny was worth my trip to kirkwood. I had a great time on the trip and enjoyed the services the bus has provided. It has a bathroom so if you need to use it they got one. They played 2 movies which were Social Network and The Town. Too bad I couldnt finish The Town because I got to my stop but overall the service was great and im pretty sure you wont find a better deal than this.

I feel like I’ve gotta support the little guys here. Even though their bus seats seem to be the smallest, they have the best price and very good service. Some of the other (not to be named here haha) services don’t offer nearly as good (or none) food at the end of the trip. The whole operation feels very small scale so these guys seem to be trying a bit harder.
Honestly I’m not really sure how these guys make any money, cause even at bulk rates the tickets aren’t cheap, so I’d guess they make about $ 20 a person really. With a full bus of around 50(?), that’s like $ 1000 a trip. With about 20 trips a season, they only make 20K a year? I’m guessing they have to pay overhead for the driver (nice dude, needs to wear sunglasses while driving though, I worry he’ll get cataracts later in life), and unless they own the buses outright they probably have to pay to rent them too. I hope these guys have day jobs haha.
The guys who reviewed this place with 3 stars partly because of Sandlot being played on the way back is nuts! Sandlot is one of my favorite childhood movies of all time! OF ALL TIME! That movie is the only reason I have a pair of Chuck Taylors. They are magic shoes! Otherwise he’s actually right about the movies being played too loud. Recently when I went on the bus they seemed to have fixed the problem cause now the volume is lower and they put on the subtitles. They also have these nice new 15inch (?) LCD displays now too, which beat out the other buses’ displays by a long shot.
tl;dr Nice bus company. Good food, good service, decent price. Stretch before getting back on the bus before the end of the day!

First time doing a bus trip up to Tahoe and it was a good experience. We left SF at 5:30am and after a quick stop in Berkeley, we arrived at Kirkwood around 9:30. Since we could just sleep on the bus, time flew by quickly and we could enjoy a whole day of skiing without worrying about driving back. Plus, at the end of the day, the company provides some food, mainly bbq food like burgers. The only gripe for the entire trip was that the burger was pretty undercooked. Even after recooking it, the patty was still mushy. The ride back was pretty cool. They showed two movies to keep us entertained.
For $ 82 that includes the bus ride and a lift ticket, this was a pretty good deal. I’d definitely do it again for a day trip. I’ll just have to pass on the burger next time.

I think Gary L. said it best. After all, life is all about the mathematics! With a regular Kirkwood lift ticket being $ 72 and the ticket AND busride with Tahoe Snow and Sun Tours being $ 79 there’s no possible way that my review could be less than 5 stars. Nonetheless, there were several other + points and things to note that I think are important so here they are:
1. VERY punctual — don’t be late! We were picked up in San Francisco and arrived exactly at 5:30 am! The second we got on the bus we started moving so don’t be lollygaggin’ here. Serious stuff. Also, keep in mind that generally the tours are booked to capacity so if you get there just in time it is doubtful that you will find seats close to each other for the entire party. There were some seats that were reserved for other passengers — not sure what that’s all about but I guess somehow that is a possibility?
2. FOOD and BEER — served at 3:30 pm for the Kirkwood package and the bus is set to go at 4:30. Excellent way to get people back to the bus on time! Unfortunately, again, we got there just in time at 4:20 pm and there were no burgers left… lots of beer though! We ended up with 2 slices of cheese and a hungry ride back but I can’t say that they didn’t warn us…
3. Service — very friendly, especially the local group bbq-​ing beside the bus. It’s a small group of people running the you company so it seems like they’re all very invested in offering friendly service.
4. Movies — can’t complain! We watched Iron Man and The Lodger which was an interesting horror movie but a horrible choice considering after drop-​off I had to wait in the Berkeley Marina… in the dark… alone…with my batteryless cell phone.
5. Ride — driver seemed experienced and capable. We went on a very beautiful sunny day so I can’t comment on how it would be in a snowstorm. Took a couple turns a little too fast which was slightly unnerving and went through a back route that was confusing but, ultimately, I think it saved us time on the trip back =)
That’s all! As the most inexpensive and reliable snowbus option I would definitely recommend you choose Tahoe Snow and Sun Tours!

My friend and I decided to take a day trip up to Tahoe on Sunday… didn’t really want to drive, so we looked into other options…
After exploring the three-​four other options available, we settled on Tahoe Snow and Sun, since it was one of the cheaper alternatives and solid reviews from other Unilocalers.
Destination: Kirkwood
Pick-​Up: 5:30am
SF Pick-​up Location: 2^nd/​Harrison next to Gordon Biersch
No delays in our departure: +1
Quick stop in Berkeley: No biggie
Driver took the wrong turn (twice): kinda irked
Driver took almost an hour to put on chains: more irked
(side note: I later heard him talking to someone else that it had to do with different tires on one side)
Arrived kind of late… but you can’t really blame Tahoe S&S
Greeted after a rough day on the mountains with some chili (veggie and meat) and beef barley soup piping hot next to the bus! And they had a mini-​keg too. Definitely hit the spot.
For maybe $ 15 – 20 more than the price of a regular lift ticket… you cannot go wrong with this.