3411 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, California, United States | (530) 541-6722
Located on Lake Tahoe with a pier and a beach
Rooms have flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, coffeemakers, and balconies or patios
Lakeside restaurant, a tavern, and beach bar with cabana service on-site
Heated outdoor pool and hot tub
Small gym with cardio equipment
Beach volleyball, kayaks, paddleboards, boat trips, and Jet Ski rentals
Fire pits, poolside movies, and luaus
11 meeting spaces, including a lakeside event tent
Business center with two computers and a printer
Pet-friendly rooms available (for a fee)
Laundry room
Free parking
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Not within walking distance of ski resorts
Rooms lack microwaves, and not all have mini-fridges
Fees for beach chairs and umbrellas
Food and bar service gets mixed reviews
Room maintenance and housekeeping could be better
The 262-room, lower-middle-range Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe offers a reasonably priced lakeside location with a beach. The property includes a 1,000-foot pier, water-sports rentals, a beach bar, an on-site tavern, lakeside restaurant, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and a small gym. But it's located at the southern entrance to South Lake Tahoe, meaning it's closer to grocery store strip malls than the Heavenly gondola, and is not within walking distance of ski resorts, making it more suited to summertime than wintertime. Outdoor movies and luaus provide family-friendly entertainment, and indoor/outdoor event space is available. Basic sea-themed rooms have flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, and coffeemakers, but lack microwaves and not all have mini-fridges. For rooms with more extras and a more central location, consider the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel at Heavenly.
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Scene
Lower-middle-range hotel on Lake Tahoe with modern decor
The Beach Retreat & Lodge’s location right on Lake Tahoe attracts families and couples seeking a budget-friendly waterfront location. The atmosphere is relaxed with a family-friendly vibe. Hammocks hang between pine trees growing on the edge of the sandy beach, where there are blue lounge chairs and yellow striped umbrellas. Jet Skis and boats are docked by the hotel's 1,000-foot pier, and the shallowness of the lake means guests can walk through the water to the end of the pier. In the evening, guests might be found roasting s’mores on outdoor fire pits and swimming as they watch weekly poolside “dive-in” movies. Five buildings sit on this seven-acre property, which was last renovated from 2012 to 2014. The stone exterior is quaint with neon signs from The Tavern glowing in side windows. The lobby is a combination of modern and rustic log-cabin furnishings, including pinewood picnic tables for patrons of The Tavern.
Location
Directly on Lake Tahoe, with a beach and pier
From its location in south Lake Tahoe, the hotel sits on the water’s edge with a beach and a pier. In the warmer months, the location is convenient for travelers who want to take advantage of the water-sports rentals and boat trips. Across from the hotel is a Safeway. Cafes, restaurants, and the Bijou Shopping Center are within a five-minute walk. The Bijou Golf Course is about a two-minute drive, and the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is about a 10-minute drive. The more happening area of Lake Tahoe, with casinos and Heavenly gondola, is a five-minute drive away. Driving to the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey's takes 10 minutes. Emerald Bay State Park is a 30-minute drive, as is the Mount Tallac hiking trail. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is about an hour and 10-minute drive.
Rooms
Simple rooms with sailing decor, flat-screen TVs, gas fireplaces, and beach views in some
Interior designs evoke the spirit of sailing with red-striped pillows, pinewood furniture and molding, circular mirrors, and artwork that reads "All Hands on Deck." French doors provide natural light and lead to patios or balconies that face the beach or gardens. The hotel offers rooms with king or two double beds. By Lake Tahoe standards, rooms are small, and don’t have microwaves. All rooms have flat-screen TVs mounted above gas fireplaces, air-conditioning, irons/ironing boards, free Wi-Fi, and Keurig coffeemakers with Starbucks products. Mini-fridges are available in select rooms. Basic bathrooms with white-tile floors have shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel available in dispensers. Select rooms allow pets for a fee, and cribs are available on request.
Features
Two restaurants, a beach bar, outdoor pool and hot tub, small gym, event space, and free Wi-Fi
Facilities at the Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe center on the property’s lakeside location. The Boathouse sits above the pier offering lunch and dinner menus and live entertainment. Picnic tables are in The Tavern, a dining room decorated like a lodge that also has a terrace. The Tiki Hut and Beach Club is a popular spot for cocktails on the beach, offering cabana service. A heated outdoor pool -- with blue lounge chairs and umbrellas -- also has a hot tub. A lovely sky mural is painted above a small gym with cardio equipment. Two conference centers have 10,000-square-feet of meeting space, including an event tent that sits lakeside. Two computers and a printer are also in the business center, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout.
