HotelChatter

As much as we like the idea of skiing, you’d probably find us holed up in front of the fireplace in our guestroom (they all have them), or perhaps gazing out at the snow-dusted woods from a massage table in the spa.

The exterior reminds us of The Shining’s Overlook Hotel, which is apt, as the R-C Highlands was actually inspired by Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge, the set for the movie's exteriors. The Ritz-Carlton Highlands is said to be pedestrian-friendly, and there’s underground parking and the requisite Gondola to take you down to the Village-at-Northstar.

If you’ve got enough cash to splurge on fractional ownership, The Ritz-Carlton Club, Lake Tahoe opens on December 18. There are 25 two-, three- and four-bedroom club residences available, with prices starting in the low $100,000s.

A mountain-view guest room at the hotel will cost you $349 a night this weekend, and there is a $25 daily resort fee which covers wired or WiFi internet access, local and toll-free calls, a daily newspaper, shuttle or Gondola rides, and access to the fitness center, spa and pool.

P.S. You can follow the Ritz-Carlton PR Twitter account to scope out Twitpic photos of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, although so far we haven't seen any shots of the hotel, just some very happy-looking people in suits.