Reno…….. Never hear people when planning vacations talk about going to Reno. USBC is married to it but Vegas is the smarter choice. Most flights to Vegas are also cheaper.
For Reno, you may be better off flying into Sacramento, then renting a car and driving the 130 miles/2hrs to Reno from there. It really isn't a bad drive.
It really isn't, and this is coming from someone local to Sacramento.
Also you do hear of people wanting to make the trip to S. Lake Tahoe, which Reno serves (only 40 minutes away on a good day). You get the best of both worlds at that point: skiing in the mountains, desert nearby, gambling/party scene. And Reno has really started to clean up its act from being down in the dumps. Gambling took a hit there due to Native American casinos popping up in California, killing the need to head up the hill. But Reno is turning the boat. No, it will never compete with Vegas, but it isn't supposed to.
But if it is too expensive to fly into Reno, definitely fly into SMF. Not a bad drive through gold country, and it sure as hell beats flying into Elko, Ely, Wendover, or Stockton.
BL.