Are you nervous about what could happen if you couldn’t make your trip and what are some covered reasons for Trip Cancellation/Interruption?
There are many different types of trip insurance available, but Trip Cancellation and Interruption protection is the most important benefit you should look for. If your trip has to be cancelled for covered reasons such as illness, accident, death of a family member or traveling companion, jury duty, weather conditions which cause delay/ cancellation of travel or fire or flood in your home, this coverage protects your investment and will reimburse the normally non-refundable payments you make for your vacation rental, airline tickets and other covered travel related fees.

If you miss your planned departure for a covered reason, you may also be covered for additional travel expenses to reach your destination. If you have to interrupt a trip due to a covered illness, this insurance will cover your transportation home. Please see InsureMyTrip.com for details on this coverage.
 

DIRECTIONS
From San Francisco Airport:
1)  Start out going WEST on  departing flights towards DOMESTIC TERMINAL EXIT by turning left = .19 miles
2)  Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto DOMESTIC TERMINAL EXIT = .04 miles
3)  Stay straight to go onto DOMESTIC TERMINAL EXIT = .17 miles
4)  Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto AIRPORT EXIT = .15 miles
5)  Take the US-101 N/I-380 W ramp towards I-280/SAN FRANCISCO / SAN BRUNO = .12 miles
6)  Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp = .22 miles
7)  Merge onto US-101 N = 11.03 miles
8)  Take I-80 E towards BAY BRIDGE / OAKLAND / SEVENTH ST / US-101 N = .09 miles
9)  Merge onto I-80 E = 81.18 miles
10)  Take CAPITAL CITY FRWY towards SACRAMENTO / SOUTH LAKE TAHOE = .15 miles
11)  Merge onto CAPITAL CITY FRWY = 5.05 miles
12)  Stay straight to go onto US-50 E = about 110 miles.  Go past all the casinos (Harrah’s, Harvey’s, Horizon, Caesar’s and Lakeside Inn).  You will see Roundhill Shopping Center, with Safeway grocery store on your right, about a mile up the road.  Another 4 miles and you will see Zephyr Cove Resort on the left.  The entrance to Skyland is about a mile past the stop light at the Resort.  When you see the fence with brick columns topped by carriage lanterns and scalloped wood fence, you will know that the entrance is near.  There is a left turn lane to make the turn safer.
13)  Turn LEFT into Skyland at Tahoe St.
14)  Make an RIGHT on Lynn Way.

From Reno / Tahoe Airport:
1)  Start out going West on E PLUMB LN towards DURHAM RD by turning right
2)  Turn LEFT to take the US-395 S ramp toward CARSON CITY.
3)  Merge onto US-395 S
4)  Take the US-395 S exit- exit number 578 - towards VIRIGINIA CITY / CARSON CITY / SO LAKE TAHOE.
5)  Merge onto US-395
6)  Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-50
7)  Continue up the hill past Spooner Summit and the highway will veer off to the left.  You will be passing Glenbrook and Cave Rock before you see the fence which indicates the entrance to Skyland.  The fence has brick columns with carriage lamps on the top and then the wood fence scallops between the columns.  When you see the fence, start slowing down and you should see a sign that says Tahoe St.  Turn RIGHT into the development.
8)  Make an RIGHT on Lynn Way, which is the second street.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
1)  Please make an entry in the floral guest boot which I have left on the coffee table.  We would love to have a record of where you are from, why you decided to visit beautiful Lake Tahoe, what you did while you visited, and if you have any recommendations for future guests.  Thanks in advance.
2)   We have just purchased a propane barbecue for your enjoyment. If you are barbecuing at night, the light switch for the outside lights is in the dining room by the patio sliding door.  There is a light right above the barbecue and it makes it easy to see what you are doing.
3)  The animals in the yard come out early, about 6:30 - 7:00 a.m., and are fun to watch.  The assortment of birds, squirrels and chipmunks make your early morning cup of coffee fun.  We will try to leave bird seed in the coat closet, which they absolutely love.  You don’t need to sprinkle very much, and the best viewing is from the “stream bed” and around the surrounding plants to the trees.  Just broadcast the seed.
4)  The colored spa towels are on the vanity in each of the bathrooms and are a little larger than the bath towels, which are cream and white, depending on the bathroom.
5)  The linens for the sofa bed are in the credenza in the living room.
6)  We have purchased an assortment of VCR tapes, some of which you might like.
7)  There are numerous paperback books for those who like to relax with a book.  Please don’t take them, unless you replace with a different paperback.
8)  The thermostats are located upstairs, in the master bedroom to the right of the mirror, and in the living room to the right of the fire place.  Downstairs it is in the middle bedroom over the bed. For your information, I have learned that this type of baseboard heating is very efficient, unlike forced air with its cold air return and drafts, so in the winter, it is very comfortable set even at 68 degrees.  At home, with our forced air heater, I keep my thermostat at 70 and even then can sometimes be cold.
9)  There is extra toilet paper in each of the bathroom cabinets.
10)  It is very important to note that it is imperative that you take a shower before going into the spa.  If the spa is entered too many times with lotions, sun screen, etc., it makes the chemicals lose their potency and when the spa is serviced again, instead of just adding the chemicals, the spa company has to completely drain the spa and possibly even scour it down.  For this reason, if the spa needs to be drained, the extra cost of $40 will be deducted from your security deposit!
11)  There are appliance instruction manuals and telephone books in the top drawer of the bar in the kitchen.
12)  Our neighbors are full time residents.  Please respect their neighborhood by being quiet at a reasonable time.
13)  We have had problems getting good reception on the stereo for AM and FM because of the location of the house in relation to the stations and the hills, so it might be a good idea to bring along your favorite CDs if you like to listen to music.
14)  There is a restrictor on the light switch in the entry hall so that you know not to turn it off. We have the outside lights on a light sensor so that they come on automatically at dark for the safety of our guests, so we would appreciate you not turning this switch off. Thanks
15)  For those using the lock box, it is located on the post on the front porch.  If you go to the front door and look back towards the street, you can easily see it on the post.
16)  We have purchased a new glass top stove.  For those who have not cleaned this type of  stovetop, you need to use the cream liquid which is under the sink, or Zud.  NEVER use and abrasive on this surface or it will scratch.  Also, be careful not to drop anything on the top.  Housekeeping has been informed to look for any chip in the glass, because it then runs, like a windshield, and has to be replaced. (I have had my glass top at home for 12 years with no problems, but I learned of this from a friend who has a rental in the Tahoe Keys.  She is on her second replacement cooktop!) The replacement is in excess of the security deposit, so please be careful!
17)  The house is fully stocked with linens so there is no need to bring sheets, blankets, or towels.  The kitchen has a full supply of pots and pans, dishes, glasses, utensils, etc.  There is a dishwasher, microwave, coffee pot, can opener,  blender, toaster, hand mixer, etc. We supply the house with a set of spices, wax paper, Seran wrap, and foil, as well as dishwasher detergent and liquid detergent. We try to keep these items fully stocked, however there are times when these items are used up without our knowledge. If something is not there, please let us know so that we can restock. Please tell us via a phone call or e-mail and not the guest book since sometimes there are weeks or more that go by before I read it.
 18)  The bathrooms have liquid soap at the sinks, bar soap in each bath tub, toilet paper, Kleenex, and plenty of towels.
19)  Please tell us via a phone call or e-mail and not the guest book about any problems since sometimes there are weeks that go by before I have access to the house. In the same way, please do not leave a note in the house since the housekeepers speak Spanish, and although they can speak some English, most of the time notes are thrown away.
20)  We have had problems with the green garbage receptacle with neighboring visitors using it, filling it to overflowing and then animals (especially bears) getting into it and spreading the garbage all over the street. For that reason, we discontinued our garbage pickup and we ask our guests to bag up their garbage and leave it in the garage for housekeeping to dispose of.
21)  Housekeeping problems may be addressed by calling me, or by calling Ruben Zavala at (530) 544-3664, or his pager (530) 494-2055.
22)  Spa problems may be addressed by Tahoe Pool Service & Supply at (530)  541-4958.
23)  Whenever there is a housekeeping problem or spa problem, please let us know so that we can address the situation. If there is something amiss, we need to know.
24)  Please have a wonderful time in this home, but at the same time please respect this home and also the neighbors!  All the neighbors are aware that this is a rental and have been instructed to call us (or the police if we can’t be reached) in the case of any rowdiness.  I know you understand why we have to protect our neighbor’s rights . There is now a large financial penalty to the owners for noise pollution caused by guests between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. If we are informed of a problem by the homeowners’ association or the police, the entire $400 security deposit will be forfeited. Please understand that Lake Tahoe is trying to balance the interests of the local residents with the desires of the vacation renters who are in Lake Tahoe for an enjoyable getaway.
25) Please sign the guest book, telling us about all your great memories, where you’re from, etc.,  but please do not remove it from the house. It is very special to the owners and it also for the benefit of those who come later.

NICE TO KNOW PLACES AND ACTIVITIES:
Some of the highlights that we have enjoyed (I will add others as our guests report about their favorites, so please report in):
FOOD:
1)  Our favorite place for reasonable meals is the Lakeside Inn.  Their breakfast special is $2.99 for 2 eggs, choice of 2 strips of bacon or sausage, and choice of pancakes, French toast, or hash browns and toast.  In addition they have a daily special, which is wonderful for $4.99 (Our favorite is prime rib, eggs, hash browns and toast.  Yummy!)  For dinner, they have a wonderful prime rib dinner for $7.99, and other choices which are also reasonably priced.
2)  If you want a special night out, try the Edgewood at the Edgewood Golf Course.  Since it is right on the lake, it has a spectacular view, and the dinners run up to $24.95.  You have to plan in advance for this treat because it books up early!!
3)  Café Fiore is a little hole in the wall with fabulous food.  It’s prices run from the mid teens to the mid 20’s.
4)  The Red Hut is one of the locals favorite stops for breakfast and lunch.  The wait can be long, but there are 2 locations.  One is in South Lake Tahoe on Hwy 50 in California, and the other is on Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, Nv.
5)  Frank’s is in South Lake Tahoe, our by the “Y” and is a good choice if you’re in that area and want breakfast or lunch.
6)  The Beacon is out at Camp Richardson and offers dining inside and outside with views of the lake.
7)  Zephyr Cove Resort in Zephyr Cove, Nv., offers dining inside and ourside with wonderful views of the lake.
ACTIVITIES:
1)  Zephyr Cove Resort offers so many activities and only a mile down the road.  In the summer time they have horse back riding, the M. S. DIXIE II paddle wheeler,  the WOODWIND catamaran, sport fishing charters, parasailing, rentals of boats, jet skis, peddle boats, canoes, and kayaks. In the winter time they have snowmobiles which take you up to Spooner Summit for a breathtaking ride with gorgeous views of the lake (especially if the day is clear and sunny.)
2)  Skyland Private Beach is found by going to Tahoe Dr. turning right and then left at Skyland Dr.  It is on the right side of the street.
3)  The “Y” Outlet shopping is located at the intersection of Hwys 50 and 89.
4)  Nevada Beach is a favorite on the Nevada side of the state line.  It isn’t as crowded as  Regan and Pope Beaches on the California side.
5)  Horizan craft fairs are ongoing throughout the summer on the weekends.  Fun for those one of a kind purchases.
6)  Round Hill Shopping Center craft fairs are held every other weekend.
7)  Make sure you check the Harrah’s and Caeser's web sites for upcoming celebrity attractions and book in advance.
8)  The Visitor’s Center in California has a wonderful nature hike (all year long), and also will give you directions to all kinds of spectacular hikes and other activities. This is located on the right side of Highway 89 heading towards Emerald Bay.  Don’t miss the Tallac Historic Homes.  They are the homes of the early Tahoe settlers such as the Baldwins and the Popes. Try to visit Angora Lake since it is only about a half mile hike, but the rewards of their well-known lemonade at the end of the trail make it truly rewarding.  Cascade Falls are another nice hike and have been recommended to me by the Record family from Indiana.
9)  Vikingsholm is an authentic Viking inspired home built at the turn of the 20th Century.  The tour is really interesting.
10)  The Heavenly Valley Tram Ride is very scenic and in the winter time, if you ride up to the top, they have tubing available which is fun for kids of all ages according to Jo Nell, a 50’s something from Texas.
If you do something you would like passed on to others, PLEASE let me know.
11)  For Nevada information, the Visitor's Center is located in the Round Hill Shopping Center where the Safeway grocery store is located.  They have a huge assortment of fliers of places to see and things to do.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE:
1)  Make sure all the lights are off with the exception of the one light in the corner of the living room by the love seat, and the outside lights upstairs.
2)  Turn the thermostat down to 55 degrees.
3)  Make sure the flue to the fireplace is closed.
4)  In the kitchen, make sure any dirty dishes are placed in the dishwasher and run, and the counters are washed.
5)  In the bedrooms, do not remake the beds since housecleaning does not know how many people have stayed in the house.  If the sofa bed is used, please remove the bedding and leave it on the sofa, again, so housekeeping knows the linens have been used.
6)  In the bathrooms, please pile up the used towels.
7)  We have left laundry detergent, so it would be nice if you could start some of the linens before leaving so that the housekeepers don't overload my new washer.  Thanks!
8)  In the garage, check to make sure there are no personal clothes in the washer / dryer.
9)  Make sure the SPA cover is closed and locked.
10)  The green garbage receptacle that we purchased to keep bears away has been a major problem, so we have discontinued our garbage pickup. Housekeeping will dispose of the trash, so please leave it bagged up in the garage.
11) Lock all the doors and windows. Unplug any small appliances in the kitchen. Please return the keys to the lockbox for the use of the next guests. Thank you in advance!!

We hope you had a wonderful stay, and as they say in the south, “Y’all come back!!”