Hilton HHonors - Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe - Hotel & Ski Resort Trip Reports and Reviews

Just an FYI and I don't know if it is a coincedence or not, but 6 of us didn't feel too well after eating the complimentary breakfast at the South Lake Tahoe Embassy Suites (the one on Lake Tahoe Blvd) this past weekend.

Other than that, I would reccomend this property, as the staff was very welcoming and cordial. No "Embassy Touch" but I may have arrived too early.

Stayed there at Christmas time - got a nice basket in the room

Breakfast was fine - maybe you got a bad day

I checked into this Hotel yesterday. There was a very long line and no HHonors check-in being used. At check-in told about a very nice full on Lake view suite. Offered it if I would like to pay. Later told it was not available for entire stay. ? Booked premium suite with two double beds. Offered as upgrade king bed "executive" suite. The agent could not get me checked into room so I offered to take a look first. So much for the Lake. The suite had one window to the outside in the rear and I got the Harrahs parking lot. Mountains yes but during the summer with no snow. Not. So I go back downstairs to check-in for the room. The agent once again has trouble checking me in. Finally supposedly done I ask for another key which makes two.

A couple of items. You can valet your car for $13 per day. But drive thru and use the Harrahs lot for free. Also as a HHonors member you should get a card which allows you to drink for free during the managers reception time in the Echo Lounge. Nice and quiet compared to the regular area.

The issue of the second key made the first key inactive. So this becomes a issue. Back in the room I call down to housekeeping for more towels and my Diamond amenity. They have no idea who I am because the room is showing not occupied on her system. So I get on the phone with the GM on these service lapses. Meet him at the front desk. Nice guy takes care of our problems and gives us a voucher for use in the Hotel. Generous. Upon return to the room later in the evening all is taken care of.

Please do not count on a upgrade. Only four suites have full on views. All sides of the hotel have possible noise. The rear parking, the front Hwy 50 street noise, the sides one entry traffic noise and the other a road with construction going on at a older shopping center. The Hotel is 12 years old and typical older style Embassy Suites. The upkeep was very good and the staff was always trying to do a very good job. For some reasons the systems just were not working for me. Enjoy a stay. Lake Tahoe is beautiful. The buffet on 18th floor at Harrahs is a good value. When you are seated ask for seating to the right when walking in. Great views of the Lake. If you have any status with Harrahs use it. Because the lines get long. Move to the front of the line to the right for a exclusive Platinum and Diamond line. No that is not a HHonors Diamond card. Enjoy.

Hmm. I know I had a report on this property, as I recall the little nook with seating etc. and that there is more information on this property. But, not much change to report, other than higher prices, in five years since RTWSTARALLIANCE wrote his report, and I have stayed here several times (usually on business) since that report was posted.

The hotel is nine floors high; the lobby is on the first, the breakfast / afternoon drinks area is on the second floor, along with the large indoor pool. Beware room assignments in the 201 - 208 or 233 numbers in particular, as they are on the breakfast floor. The hotel actually is laid out with three center courts; the central one has the breakfast / cocktails area on the second floor, and the southernmost (mountain side) has an overflow breakfast area that can be opened during periods of high occupancy. x41-x34 and x53-x58 are over the lobby court, as are the "lake view" (Highway 50 traffic, actually, and very noisy on the lower floors,) are x42-x49. x01-14 (as well as x53-x58) overlook the parking lot and Harrah's, x15-x20 the back street / mountains, x21-25, x33-x41 the shopping center side (west) and x21-25 are over construction (not any activity yet as of 8:00 AM Thursday.)

There is one elevator bank of four set in the arm across fromx58 / over the lobby court; these can get slow when crowds are using them, as they serve 464 suites, as I see it, potentially well over a thousand guests. If you are mobility impaired, you will have a slog from the x09-x25 suites overlooking the overflow breakfast area. If there is a preferential view suite, it would be high and x42-x49 with lake views over US 50 and the businesses on the north side of US 50, as the hotel is 1~2 blocks from the actual lake, and literally across the street / directly west of the California - Nevada State line.

The breakfast opens at 7:00 AM, requires a chit (not room key) and with a high occupancy and opened overflow area, at 7:00 sharp there will be a large queue to enter. The queue soon splits into the omelette to order queue and the "whatever we serve today" queue. At a Feb 2009 stay, the buffet queue had a "meat lover's scramble" (scrambled cackleberries with sausage pieces,) biscuits and gravy, bacon, potato chunks and the like.)

Other than the ninth floor, if anyone is assigned a suite over yours, you will have noise. Bath use, etc. from the next door suite penetrates fairly easily; sound-proofing is not their best, er, suit here. Lots of families with children here often. N.B. In winter, there is a ski / board checkroom by the entry, a nice touch. As well, the apparent "concierge" desk is really set up to refer you to the ES timeshare (no HH points for staying there) a couple of miles west.

Suites are pretty typical Embassy Suites, in the "King" or "Double Double" variety, with a sofa bed in the anteroom, and the bathroom opens up into the connector, not the master bedroom, a good thing if you have kids who need to use the bathroom during the night and you prefer to sleep undisturbed, I suspect. The bathrooms are set up for families - four of everything, decent toweling, "bloom simply good" products (not Neutrogena.) The usual in-suite - ironing set, hair drier, coffee set and fridge, two bottles of Fiji water you can purchase for $5.50 each.

Executive summary: a decent stay at South Lake Tahoe, but expect it will be full of resort users and gamblers, and that your status isn't likely to get you much in the way of extras; selecting a good room is key to not having lots of noise, particularly overhead.

In any case, my arrival was pretty typical, plus the mandatory $25.00 (as of 2009) valet parking (they say it takes five minutes to retrieve your car, but this will take longer if there is a queue of people waiting for their cars.) The check-in kiosk was not operating, and from experience I can tell you queues can get very long, and they pay little attention to the dedicated HHonors check area. N.B. Harrah's is still there with their lot, and the walk is short. I was assigned suite 623, and with nobody else nearby, of course, they put a noisy person directly adjacent in 624 - and nobody else in this bank of rooms. :rolleyes:

The WiFi has been interrupted several times and provides (at least in the 620's, where I am, a variable signal. Attempts to use Printeron as advised by the room card allow one only to print to another property, and that service is out of service. So, if you want to print using Printeron in South Lake Tahoe today, forget it - one non-ES location, and it is unavailable. The hotel is definitely more resort than business oriented; those of us on business are a nice sideline, but definitely an afterthought.

Diamond treatment - not much other than free upgraded booze in the bar / "Lounge." Perhaps the clue was a form letter to "JDriver" in my guest packet. I was given a 62x room, at least facing away from the road, but if you stay in late, you will be hit by construction noise from the machinery down below (facing the ski lift.) No water, no snacks (such as they are,) though I did get a card I could use in the Echo Lounge as previously reported, instead of attending the crowded and noisy open bar held afternoons, and of course my breakfast chits. (The "upgraded" suite here has a small window box with seating, and the hotel has 8 floors, other than the four with lake views - which I have seen, but never have been assigned.) This is even less of Diamond perks that I have been granted previously by this hotel, though it has low occupancy at the moment.

Breakfast was decent - they have an open buffet line, and a cooked-to-order line (you receive a numbered plaque, move to the right and stand in a queue behind a matching number to receive your breakfast order.) Pancakes, biscuits and (thin, but made this morning,) sausage gravy, eggs to order, sausage, bacon, etc. and a nice selection of fresh fruits, breads, juices and coffees are also available. Both USA Today and the Sacramento Bee are available at breakfast (and delivered to your room.)

From experience I have had when the hotel is running toward full occupancy, the second floor manager's reception can get very crowded and noisy - at 4:30 PM, hordes can appear. The bar by the restaurant is actually also the HHonors / Echo Lounge, and Golds and Diamonds can get free cocktails and beer, as well as paid snacks and even light and restaurant meals. I have had dinner here, with a couple of glasses of wine or a couple of Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, and the booze was not charged.

I didn't get a chance to try any of the facilities other than above, as I was in later in the evening after my job and dinner, and out for more work. (But as I indicated, this place is not really set up for you if you count on printing, etc. because you are on business.)

If you are registered with Rewards Network / iDine, the nearest place to eat is Murphy's Irish Bar & Grill - only two RN properties left here now (Feb 2009.)

In any case, my arrival was pretty typical, plus the mandatory $20.00 valet parking

How can they charge $20 if you don't have a car? I always use Harrah's lot next door for free.

In my case, I had a hard day the day of arrival and the following one, and the client pays for it and all of my reasonable expenses.

But I now highlighted my entry about the Harrah's parking lot... it's still free. What car?

How can they charge $20 if you don't have a car? I always use Harrah's lot next door for free.

How far is the walk to the ski gondola? Is this the best place to stay if you are skiing in Heavenly? I like the idea of using points.

How far is the walk to the ski gondola? Is this the best place to stay if you are skiing in Heavenly? I like the idea of using points.

Yes this is walking distance to the gondola. I'd say less then 2 blocks. There is a Mariott right next to the gondola if you have points with them also.

Only problem - each night at this embassy suites cost 35,000 points which is not really a great deal unless you have points you need to get rid off.

I thought 35,000 points for this hotel was a pretty good deal as rates are $300 in high season. This makes points spent on Amex worth almost 3% if you include tax. I have not found too many hotels where you get such a decent return. I am wrong?

My most recent stay was Feb 25-26 2009, and has been used to update my post above.

Parking is now USD $25.00, the Echo Lounge still does double duty as the "HHonors Lounge" - you must show your HHonors Gold or Diamond card normally to get love here.

Though I stayed on a Wednesday night, the hotel was thronged, the manager's reception (which I eschewed for the Echo Lounge) was very loud - and at 6:30 when the manager's reception closed, hordes loudly trooped to the lounge and restaurant. Next morning, the same hordes made lengthy queues at the breakfast lounge when it opened. (I am up there to work, but brekkies does not open until a relatively late 7:00 AM - resort time, even on weekdays.)

Still a decent place to stay, adjacent to the Nevada state line and shopping centers, a short walk to the Heavenly gondola. Prices can be high, aligned with demand.