Lake Tahoe Hotels & Travel Information

Lake Tahoe offers two basic types of hotels -- Casinos and non-casinos. Here's the scoop:

Harrah's Hotel and Casino - Harrah's is the nicest of the casino hotels in South Lake Tahoe's casino area. The service at Harrah's leaves something to be desired, but it's one of the nicest casino's in town and the rooms, while older, are nicer than other places we have visited.

The Hyatt Hotel and Casino - The Hyatt, tucked away on the Northeast end of the Lake, is one of the nicer casino hotels, and it is perfect if you are looking for relaxation rather than crowds. The Hyatt's location is pretty secluded from other activity around the Lake, but the hotel is nice and newly renovated, it offers its own beach, and it is much quieter than the big casinos in South Lake Tahoe.

Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino - Caesar's Palace is another large hotel and casino in South Lake Tahoe. While we like the casino and the location, the hotel rooms could use some work.

Cal-Neva Casino Resort - Stay away from this place. Located on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, the Cal-Neva straddles the state line between California and Nevada. While the location is good if you are looking to stay on the North Shore, the casino is a joke. It closes in the mornings, has only four blackjack tables open in primetime, and the maximum blackjack wager is $100. The rooms are in dire need of renovation, and often have peeling wallpaper, water stains on the walls, and bugs in the rooms. The service is decent, and the prices are right, but we don't recommend this hotel unless you are desperate.

Mariott - One of the newer hotels in the Lake Tahoe area, the Mariott is very nice for those who don't wish to have a casino in their hotel.

Lake Tahoe State Park Campgrounds - In addition to nice hotels, Tahoe offers multiple camping options for those who want to "rough it."

Lake Tahoe Restaurants:

When it comes to "fine dining," you will likely find Lake Tahoe lacking. The one bright spot is Wolfdale's Cuisine Unique in Tahoe City on the Northwest end of the Lake. This is a top-notch restaurant with an inventive chef. Try the fish and chips, lamb shank, or filet mignon. All are highly recommended. Of course, our favorite dish was the caprese salad, made with the famous fresh California tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and a delicious pesto. Dinner for four will run around $360, including a $120 bottle of wine and tip.

Beyond Wolfdale's, the dining choices are slim. Most of the larger hotels have restaurants, but we have found them to be mediocre at best. The Blue Agave Mexican restaurant in Tahoe City was good for the price, as was the Fire Hall Cafe on the west side of the Lake, just north of Emerald Bay.

While the food is just average, many visitors enjoy a dinner cruise on the lake. The Dixie Queen, which leaves from Zephyr Cove on the Southeast side of the lake is the best option here.

Things to Do in Lake Tahoe:

There are thousands of things to do to occupy your time while in the Lake Tahoe area. We recommend that you don't miss the following:

Rafting down the Truckee River.

Hiking down to Vikingsholm on Emerald Bay. Once you've toured the historic castle, you should hike as much of the Rubicon trail as you can. It's a beautiful tour around Emerald Bay, the most scenic portion of Lake Tahoe.

Rent a power boat and cruise the shoreline. Lake Tahoe is ringed by a series of rocky cliffs, beaches, and coves, most with water in shades of blue or green reminiscent of the Caribbean. The only way to appreciate the clarity of the water is to cruise around the lake.

Play in the casinos. We recommend Harrah's and Caesar's.

Snow ski at Heavenly. The view looking down at the lake from the top of Heavenly is, well, heavenly.

Take one of the many hikes around the lake. We have yet to find one that disappointed us.

Destination Lake Tahoe -- Lake Tahoe Hotels and Local Information.