Vegas - Reno

Hi

I'm travelling to the US next June with around 9 friends. The plan is to start off in Vegas (have booked my PE ticket with miles, of course!), head off to Lake Tahoe and then return to London via SFO.

I am looking to book a one way flight from Vegas to Reno (nearest airport to Tahoe) on 9 June, and I was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction on the following:

1. I can find a flight on the web with America West for around $68. I don't think I'll get miles for this though - any suggestions for airlines that operate this route that will earn me miles?

2. Will I have problems boooking the flight via a US website (where I found the AM flight? I think some only accept US credit cards? If so, a UK travel agent will book us on the same flight, but for £65...

3. Any recommendations for car hire from Reno Airport?

As this is my first post I'd just like to add that I think this is a very useful site and I hope I have raised this question in the correct forum!

Cheers

Dez

[preiffer]

Hi Dez, and welcome [y]


Actually, the nearest airport to Tahoe is South Lake Tahoe airport itself, but I'm not sure you'll like the "luxury" onboard a flight there, and it'll be a little more than $68.

1) Yes, America West are a partner of VS', so each way would earn you 500 miles providing it's America West Operated (I have a feeling their "new" flights run by US Air post merger don't qualify).

Just checked - they are "pure" HP (America West) flights, so no worries


2) America West's website seems to have problems with UK cards other than American Express. (Others on here have experienced this.) VS can book the flights for you, and add it onto your trip, or you can also use Travelocity/Expedia, etc.


3) Avis/Dollar/Alamo - they're all pretty OK. Dave's probably the best person to answer this one though...

Thanks Preiffer for your speedy response.

Other friends are taking a cessna to South Lake Tahoe from Vegas, but unfortunately only one of us can fly and there isn't enough room for everyone! I may have to ask the pilot to make several round trips!

I'll contact VS about the flights, seems easier to book everything together.

Thanks again - I'll look out for any suggestions on car hire from Dave

Dez

Thinking about it, I'm tempted to drive (sorry if this is not the correct thing to say on v-flyer!). It's only 400 miles and it could be a fun drive through the desert? I know that the speed limit is lower in the US, but I can't see this taking much more than 5 hours, which might end up quicker than the door to door time of flying to Reno & then driving from there. Plus I get to pretend that i'm in the Cannonball (v sad, sorry!). Any thoughts?

Originally posted by Dez
Thinking about it, I'm tempted to drive (sorry if this is not the correct thing to say on v-flyer!). It's only 400 miles and it could be a fun drive through the desert? I know that the speed limit is lower in the US, but I can't see this taking much more than 5 hours, which might end up quicker than the door to door time of flying to Reno & then driving from there.

Hi Dez,

Drove from Vegas to Lake Tahoe once, the drive is a great one, but from memory it took nearer 7 hours than 5 as the roads are single lane for a lot of the distance and not what you would call 'straight line'.

Likewise the distance between Vegas and Yosemite is only 548 miles (via Bakersfield) but that took close on 10 hours with a stop off on our last trip.

Try the Rand Mcnally website and it will give you a route plan with approx times - usually pretty accurate.

Given the choice again though, I would still drive as the scenery was well worth it [y]

[Scrooge]

how did I miss this thread,im losing my touch..[:#]

Oh well anyhow's,yep you could take HP up to Reno or southwest (no miles).

I wouldn't drive it,it's a long boring drive,done it twice and now im a little older I fly everytime.There are a couple of interesting place's on the way up there Lake,This and of course This,though I do not encourage a visit to the lastone [:w]


For the car rental just checki the rate's,from what i've seen Avis offer's the best deal's but that can change at anytime.

Jon & Jetwet - thanks a lot for the information and advice. Dreamland looks like a cool place for a stop off.

Maybe I could splash out & hire a sportscar to make the drive a bit more fun....As I have friends making the same journey by plane (some by HP, thanks to Preiffer's advice, and others in a cessna) we could have a race - sticking to the speed limit of course....