Luxury Hotel Review: Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

Last month, I had the chance to stay at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Lake Tahoe over a weekend. This is the most beautiful resort in the Sierras, in my opinion. Despite its name, it is not located in Lake Tahoe, and doesn’t even offer a glimpse of the lake. It is at an altitude of almost 7,000 feet and is nestled into a forested hill. This property is 15 minutes south of Truckee, where you can listen to live Jazz in Moody’s Bistro and Lounge, and 15 minutes north of Lake Tahoe, where you can take a dip in the second-largest alpine lake in the US.

Guests walk up steps from the lower entrance into a lobby with large granite floors. The high ceiling, wood-beam supports, and two-story-tall granite fireplace are incredible. The reception desk is in one corner of the huge lobby.

Most rooms have good views of the mountains, trees and ski lifts from their big windows, and many have step-out balconies. The fluffiest beds are made with feather-bed base and cotton sheets, then are topped with a white comforter and pillows. Each room has a mini bar and complimentary bottled water. The hotel charges a $25 per room resort fee. Room service is available around the clock, and the entire resort is smoke-free. Dogs are permitted for a one-time fee. Some handicapped-accessible rooms are available.

Ritz-Carlton holds a reputation for their fabulous perks in the Club rooms. They have the most impressive breakfast spread, afternoon snacks and delightful happy hour.

Ritz-Carlton’s strong culinary roots show here in their farm-to-table meals. The breakfast buffet has local organic options, plus vegan and gluten-free. The property’s outdoor seating is popular in good weather, summer or winter. The communal Chef’s Table at Manzanita is a rare treat.

You can take a ride in an enclosed six seat gondola with an awesome view. The center of the village is a skating rink (ice in the winter, roller in the summer) and restaurants and shops all over. Free live music and outdoor movies are sometimes scheduled too. In summer, the property becomes a venue for lift-assisted mountain biking. There are also several 18-hole golf courses, hiking, fly-fishing, and boat tours on an area lake. In winter, guests can ski in and ski out from a large patio beside the pool that leads into the ski rental.

A Ritz kids Bears’ Den for guests ages 5-12 offers activities from snowshoeing and snowman-making to scavenger hunts and arts and crafts.

The spa has 16 treatment rooms, a hair salon, a yoga studio, as well as a sauna and steam room.

Andavo Travel is proud to be an exclusive member of Ritz-Carlton STARS, a program established in 2002 for an elite group of Ritz-Carlton’s top-producing travel agencies. Due to this membership, if you book a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe through me (or any other Andavo travel advisor), you will receive the following complimentary amenities:

• A personal welcome by hotel management, as well as a welcome card from the General Manager.
• Pre-registration and express check-in, plus the convenience of obtaining a 4:00 pm late check out upon request.
• Continental breakfast for 2 daily
• Internet access
• A customized amenity, activity or service of the resort’s choosing