Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few questions we've been asked. Have a question about the Bead Unique Tahoe Mountain Bead Retreat? Ask here! Don't miss out on Retreat News! Sign Up to receive our retreat bulletin.

Online Registration Procedure

1. Go to Register Page
2. Click on yellow Register button
3. Fill in form
4. Click Step 2 button to submit your information. A thank you page will pop up if you sucessfully submitted your info.
5. VERY IMPORTANT - click on your browser's "back" button to return to the registration page.
6. Click on Step 3 - Click to Pay button to enter your credit card payment information.
7. Follow shopping cart instructions. You will receive a Thank You screen with your order number.
8. Within 1-2 business days, you will receive an email from us (coordinator@beaduniqueretreats.com) confirming that your credit card has been processed and you have successfully enrolled. If your credit card was not approved, we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
   

General Retreat Questions

What is included in the cost of the Retreat? (Early registration fee is $550.00 for the first 30 days of online registration.)

 Your $585.00 Retreat fee includes:

• 3 full-day classes with world-renowned teachers Sherry Serafini, Marcia DeCoster, and Beki Haley.
• Free extra workshops taught by Pamela Hawkins (editor of Bead Unique Magazine) and CREATE YOUR STYLE Ambassador Laura Timmons. All supplies and kits will be FREE and supplied by Retreat sponsors.
• Meet the Teachers Dessert Social and Retreat Welcoming Reception
• Daily lunches specially prepared by various restaurants with the Village at Squaw Valley
• Morning snack breaks
• Afternoon snack breaks
• Refreshments offered throughout the day
• A gift tote full of beady goodies donated by extra special people in the beading industry
• Raffle prizes throughout the entire event
• 2 Hospitality Suites available
• A private exhibit of beads and beading supplies
• Specialty kits offered by your Retreat teachers. CRYSTALLIZED™—Swarovski Elements will be sponsoring product for many of these kits, which will then be available to retreat attendees only at a reduced rate. Kit fees are payable directly to your teacher.
• A custom bead mat
• Closing Event with a champagne/sparkling cider toast

Will I have time to sightsee during the Retreat?
Your days will be packed with events, and while we will have evening events, you are not required to participate after 5pm. We recommend that you look into either arriving early or staying a bit later after the Retreat ends. The Lake Tahoe area has so much to offer, but you'll be so busy with the Retreat that you might not have enough time to see as much as you'd like of the area. Please see our Itinerary for a complete timeline of events. Also, click here to see more info about Tahoe and Squaw Valley events.

What beads should I bring to the Retreat?
All supplies for the Thursday Free Unique Workshops will be provided by our sponsors.

Many of the supplies for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday classes are also being provided by our wonderful sponsors. As such, there will not be a supply list available. The teachers will each be providing kits in several colorways.

Should I bring a task lamp?
The lighting in the Mountain Stream rooms is fabulous! However, we'll be working with small beads and extra lighting will help alleviate tired and strained eyes. So, if you have a traveling task lamp, you should bring it along as well as a short extension cord. (You might need it if you're beading in your room or in the hospitality rooms.)

Will there be breaks during the day?
Yes! There will be morning and afternoon snack breaks as well as a 1 ½ hour lunch break. We encourage you to get up and stretch often.

Is there a convenient place to get food?
The Village at Squaw Valley has several wonderful restaurants as well as a fully stocked grocery store. Each of the lodging rooms has a full kitchen should you opt to cook your own meals. You can also check out the Lake Tahoe/Truckee Area Information page for a listing of some of the eateries in nearby Truckee or Tahoe City.

Will there be a place to visit with each other outside of the classroom?
Most certainly! We will have two Hospitality Suites available for visiting, sharing, beading, and lots of laughs! There will also be many planned activities like our raffles taking place in the Hospitality Suites.

Where is the best place to stay for this Retreat?
Staying right in the Village at Squaw Valley will certainly be your best option. They have offered attendees of this Retreat fabulously reduced rates for their accommodations. Please see the Hotel & Travel Accommodations page for complete details.

I'll be flying in for the Retreat; do you have information for me?
The Lake Tahoe Airport is the closet airport to the Retreat. The Village at Squaw Valley has a resource page for travel accommodations here: http://www.thevillageatsquaw.com/gettinghere/Transportation/index.htm
The North Lake Tahoe Express can shuttle you from the airport directly to the front door of the Village!

Should I rent a car?
The Tahoe Lake area is amazingly beautiful and diverse, so if you're planning on arriving prior to, or staying for any time after the event, you might want to consider this. Check out our Travel page for information about rental car companies as well as the many sightseeing opportunities Lake Tahoe has to offer.

Can I bring my family or friends?
We encourage you to bring along others on this trip as the Lake Tahoe area has so much to offer; however, the workshops, lunches, morning and afternoon breaks, and the Meet the Teachers event are only open to paid attendees. If your family or friends would like to join you for lunch, they would need to cover their own charges.

What is the weather like in Lake Tahoe in October?
You'll be surprised at how beautiful the weather is during this time of year, considering that you're in the Sierra Mountains at an average altitude of 6,500 feet. Days are usually sunny and warm and average in the mid 60s to 70s. The evenings can cool down quite a bit and average in the mid 30s to low 40s. Bring sunscreen AND a jacket!

Note: Be sure to sign up for our bulletin! We'll keep you updated on the weather forecast the closer we get to the Retreat. Sign Up to receive our retreat bulletin.