Just finished a two night stay here using 60k points each. I have stayed at other luxury ski hotels and would like to highlight a few things that may help others. Other comparable properties I have stayed at include Park Hyatt Beaver Creek(PHBC), Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch (RCBG), Waldorf Astoria Park City (WAPC).
Northstar is certainly a nice ski resort, especially for beginners and lower intermediates. We enjoyed our stay here because of the skiing. The hotel itself has no wow factor. While I "only" spent 60k points per night the hotel didn't really provide value for my points the way PCBC, RCBG and WAPC provide.
Here are the details:
- the room decor is odd and has a weird wall paper in the bathroom. It certainly does not feel luxurious. Closer to a 4 star hotel than a luxury hotel. The towels were the worst of any luxury hotel I have stayed at.
- overall the level of service is very low. Nobody to open the front door when you are checking in or out. The tissues in ski valet area not replaced for two whole days (done when I asked). Phone calls to front desk abruptly cut off in middle of request. We didn't get the thin pillows we requested. The front desk welcome drink area was out of cups. When they got the cups, there was no drink in the dispenser. Attention to detail is lackign here.
- the ski valet area is terribly laid out. Unlike PCBC or RCBG, the staff doesn't help you put on your ski boots. For people who are pay > $1000 per night, you tend to expect such things (not me).
- The food in "Living room" (lobby) was terrible with very slow service. This was not a peak holiday period, just a regular winter weekend so I simply cannot excuse them for the slower service.
- The building is not spectacular like WAPC or RCBG.
- Very few things are included in the resort fee unlike RCBG or WAPC. No hot chocolate, no fitness classes. The marshmellow time is for 30 minutes only and they make people line up for a 50 cent marshmellow. Just pathetic. At RCBG, the marshmellow time is 2 hours and you can just come and enjoy as you please.
- the ski in ski out access is not as convenient as PHBC or RCBG. Definitely beter than WAPC.
- the spa area is very generic for a luxury hotel. WAPC or RCBG have really nice spa areas. Also teh spa opens at 9 AM and closes at 8 PM. I might be hard to get in some spa time if you ski bell to bell like me (8:30 am to 4 pm). I do enjoy going to the spa in teh morning but certainly not at the expense of morning magic hour (no crowds on lifts). At RCBG, the spa opens at 8 am so I could get in 30 mins of sauna and steam time before heading to the lift.
- there is nothing aroudn the resort and if you want to go to the Northstart village you will probably ahve to endure a long ride on the gondola. PHBC is right in the center of all action. RCBG is dead as well but has an on demand shuttle. WAPC is equally dead like RC Tahoe.
- you will end up paying for parking as there is really no easy way to get here with public transportation unlike taking an uber to WAPC.
- Northstar is far more crowded than Park City or Beaver Creek. The regular weekend crowds I experienced this weekend were worse than holiday crowds I saw at Beaver Creek.
- As is well known RC does nothing for Platinum members. This applies not just to this property but RCBG as well. At PHBC, you get a $80 breakfast credit. At WAPC, it's a $30 breakfast credit and waived resort/parking fees.
- Park City and Beaver Creek usually have much better snow than North star as well. The ski lessons are cheaper at Beaver Creek than North Star.
I have heard great things about St. Regis Deer Valley as well. My recommendation for people who like to ski is to avoid this hotel if you can and go to other luxury hotels. I plan on going to WAPC and PHBC in future. They atleast have some elite recognition and waive resort fees for points stays.
But then again this is in Tahoe and if you live in California, this is one of the only ski in ski out property available on points. The Marriott vacation club properties in South Lake require a long gondola ride and then a bit of walking to get to the lifts. Hyatt in Incline village is near Diamond Peak ski area but you will have to take a shuttle there.
The only thing this hotel has got going for it is that is one of the few luxury ski in ski out properties in Tahoe. If you are NOT able to go to Utah or Colorado, then choose this property. Otherwise skip.