Travel and Practicalities
TRAVEL
Air Travel
The Tahoe region is accessible through several airports, all of which are served by the major airlines. The closest airport is Reno, NV (RNO). Several companies offer shuttle services to Granlibakken from the Reno airport. All the major US car rental companies offer service at the Reno airport. Granlibakken is a 40-minute drive from Reno on Interstate 80.
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Alternative airports include Sacramento (SAC, 2 hours drive from Granlibakken) and San Francisco (SFO, 3.5-4 hour drive). Rental cars are available at both locations. Note that both Sacramento and San Francisco are located on the western side of Sierra Nevada, so to get to the Tahoe area you will need to drive over the 7,100 ft high Donner Summit pass on Interstate 80. It is a major freeway, but it can present delays in bad weather.
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Ground Transportation
There are shuttle companies offering rides from Reno airport to the resort. We also plan to organize a daily shuttle bus from the conference to one of the ski resorts. Unless you plan to walk to Tahoe City, you will need a rental car to explore the region and access most of the recreational opportunities (see important information about winter car rentals in the next section). Car rentals are available in all the major airports, and also at the small private Truckee airport (20 min from Granlibakken). Uber and taxi services are also available, but they are not as quick as those in major US metropolitan areas. Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART) also runs bus service throughout the area.
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PRACTICALITIES
Weather and Clothing
The conference is scheduled for winter time, and you will likely spend some time outdoors during the free afternoon time slots, so bring winter clothing and warm sturdy shoes with good traction. Tahoe region is famous for getting lots of snow, so expect to have snow and ice on the ground.
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Driving and snow chains
All rental cars normally come with all-season tires rated for snow. If a snowstorm happens to hit the region, unless you have a 4WD/AWD car, you may be required to put snow chains on your vehicle. If you driving a 2WD car over the Donner Pass on I-80 in a snowstorm, CalTrans will set up chain control checkpoints and will not let you through unless you have chains on your car. We recommend checking the weather forecast before you travel, and if significant snow is expected, we recommend that you either book a 4WD car, or stop by one of the automotive stores on the way from the airport and buy a set of chains for your vehicle (note that most stores allow you to return the chains if they are unused).
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Food and beverages
Lunch will not be provided at the conference. If you are planning to ski, food is available at the base of ski resorts or on the mountain. For non-skiers, Tahoe City and Truckee offer a good selection of sit-down restaurants, some of which offer a view of the lake or the mountains. We will provide recommendations at the conference. Note that the legal drinking age in the US is 21, so if you look young, bring an ID document with you. If you are interested in a box lunch option, contact the Granlibakken front desk the day before.
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