Cost Estimate

We make an event-filled long weekend in Tahoe affordable by renting a large house and dividing the cost up among the whole group of folks.  We also end up doing a lot of grilling and eating at the house, so we don't have many other food expenses.  (In fact, those on a tight budget could get by without any additional expenses.)

Summary
Rough cost estimate for 4 days, 3 nights in Lake Tahoe:
$175 to $260 - Group costs (see below) (varies widely with house occupancy %)
$220 - Airfare to Reno (rough average)
  $36 - Transport from RNO to Tahoe
  $30 - Expenses out in Tahoe (e.g. meals in town)(rough guess)(Indiv. costs)
  $30 - Cabs to and from town (rough guess)(Indiv. costs)
$490 to $570 - Est. total/person including all of above
$270 to $350 - Est. total/person if you fly w/ FF miles
$240 to $310 - Est. total/person if you drive to Tahoe (avoiding flight and shuttle)
$175 to $260 - Est. total/person if you drive and don't getting anything in town or getting there
In years past the total costs incurred per person (excluding gambling but including airfare) ranged from about $400 to $650.

Details
Group costs include:
Accommodations w/ many amenities including hot tub (3 nights)
Groceries for BBQs and other meals at the house (~$400 worth in 2004)
Beer, wine and some liquor at the house (~$300 worth in 2003)
Sunset party boat rental and picnic (see photos)
Pedal boats, kayaks, windsurfer (included with house in 2004)
Hiking (free)

The group cost per person  was ~$260 in both 2002 and 2003. 
Note: the final amount is heavily dependant on size of house and % occupied.

Airfare (for those not w/in driving distance of Tahoe):
Everyone is on their own for this.  Some have found great deals in past years and others have used frequent flyer miles.  See the Getting There page for more info about where you might be able to find good fares online.

RNO-Tahoe and local Tahoe transportation costs:
Some folks will be have to get transportation from the airport in Reno to Lake Tahoe.  Some will take the Tahoe Casino Express ($36 round trip), while others might go in a rental car (if we decide that it would make sense for us to get one (both to decrease costs from/to RNO and also for transport around Tahoe.  Other folks will be driving.  I'm not sure exactly how I'll do it, but I think I'll try to make it so that everyone who flies and needs transport from the airport (TCE or rental car) will pay the same amount.  Those who drive to Tahoe will cover their own gas.  I might adjust this methodology somewhat, but I'll do it only if I think doing so will make everything more fair.

Individual costs:
Airfare (or other transport) to NV or CA (folks flying in paid between $180 and $310 in 2003)
Meals or drinks out in Tahoe (if any)
Gambling (losses or gains, if any) (wide ranges in 2002 and 2003)
Cabs between house and casinos (we usually just chip in for the cabs we take and it probably cost about $30 per person in 2003)

Please see the Payment Process page for more info on how I'll collect each person's share of the Group Costs and for the address to which to send your checks.
Please see the General Info page for details about due dates, etc.
If you have any questions, please contact me.