The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe review – The Points Guy

Fresh off a two-year renovation, a major points property in Northern California has debuted an extensive renovation, and TPG got a first look. Take a winding drive through the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountains, and you’ll find The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe nestled in the pine forests off the north shore of its namesake.

The recent refresh extends to the hotel’s guest rooms, dining and lounging spaces, fitness center and pool cabanas, as well as a brand-new on-site market. The centerpiece is the redesigned welcome area: A spectacular two-story stone pillar now invites guests from the first-floor lobby to the second-floor restaurant and bar.

I recently spent a weekend at the property to get a glimpse of its new look and amenities. Here’s what I found.

Related: Stay at these amazing Ritz-Carltons across the world

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As part of the renovation, the rooms offer luxurious, nature-inspired touches like travertine tile and twig-shaped closet door handles.

I stayed in a one-bedroom suite, which included a king bed, an ensuite bathroom with a soaking tub and a living room with a second full bathroom. Both the bedroom and living room had TVs, fireplaces and mountain-view balconies. There was also a minifridge, complimentary bottled water, a coffee and tea station, a desk, and a small table with chairs for dining.

The room felt luxurious and relaxing, with muted tones complemented by touches of marble and nature-inspired artworks. Plus, there were robes and virtually any toiletry item you could want. My ensuite bathroom’s soaking tub was perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring Tahoe. (I had some difficulty with the hot water, but I eventually realized that to get any heat you must turn the hot knob all the way, otherwise it will give you cold water.)

I particularly enjoyed the nightly turndown service, which included dimmed lights, water and slippers within easy reach by the bed, mini chocolates on the pillows, spa music playing from the TV and an optional aromatherapy menu.

Dining at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

The property offers four dining outlets with elevated mountain fare in a hip, casual setting.

Arranged around the hotel’s towering central pillar is the Living Room Lodge, a seat-yourself space where you can enjoy views of the surrounding trees or warm yourself by the fire while grabbing a bite (or a full meal). You can also order handcrafted cocktails from the bar beneath a gorgeous glass chandelier made with pressed wildflowers.

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RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY

For a slightly fancier but still low-key dining experience (the dress code is “smart casual”), Manzanita is a smaller, cozier restaurant with gorgeous natural touches, like a hosting table made from a tree trunk and a chic open kitchen.

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RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY

Both menus rotate seasonally, with an emphasis on showcasing in-season ingredients. The dishes I ordered at Living Room Lodge — a summer salad ($18) and black-eyed pea hummus ($26) — felt very of-the-moment and were delicious.

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RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY

At Manzanita, you’ll find mountain fare with a twist thanks to the restaurant’s team of Mexican chefs, with dishes like fettuccine en rajas ($31) and ahi tuna tiradito ($38). I ordered the pan-seared tofu with green mole ($34) and a side of roasted Nantes carrots ($14), which were cooked to perfection and extremely flavorful.

Then there’s The Backyard, a casual outdoor spot where guests can relax by a fire pit, make s’mores, or order barbecue fare like smoked Thai chicken wings ($32) and brisket sandwich ($32). Indoors, the Cafe Blue coffee shop serves drinks that will put a pep in your step as well as grab-and-go breakfast and lunch bites, like a turkey burrito or vegan burrito ($17), muesli ($16) and alpine soup ($16).

• Nightly turndown service
• Outdoor swimming pool with kids’ pool and whirlpool, as well as luxury cabanas available for rent
• Recently renovated fitness center with stunning views, plus two rooms hosting complimentary fitness classes
• An outdoor dining area with fire pits and complimentary s’mores (which they even vegan-ized for me) year-round
• Expansive spa offering massage and facial treatments, with men’s and women’s saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and pre-treatment lounges, plus an adults-only outdoor pool
• Two new on-site stores: the Alpine Exchange boutique for apparel and travel accessories, and the Alpine Market for snacks, drinks and toiletries
• Complimentary ski valet, gear rental shop and mountain concierge to help coordinate equipment
• Club Lounge
• Topgolf Swing Suite (available for a fee): a private sports entertainment simulator with food, drinks and your own personal attendant
• Seasonal Lake Club (available for a fee), including buffet, grill, paddleboards, kayaks and add-on guided excursions, and Mastercraft boat rentals
• Pet-friendly accommodations with up to two pets per room, with a $200 cleaning fee per stay

With its complimentary ski valet, full gear shop and mountain concierge, this Ritz property allows guests to take advantage of the area’s snow sports. Guests can enjoy ski-in, ski-out access to the Northstar ski resort, with an inter-mountain gondola steps away from the property. Several other resorts are within driving distance, including Palisades Tahoe (on the Ikon Pass) and Heavenly Mountain (on the Epic Pass).

If you visit in the warmer months, hiking opportunities abound, including a 3-mile trail that you can access directly from the hotel.

For an additional fee (which varies throughout the season), guests can access the supremely relaxing Lake Club. I took a guided paddleboard excursion with the hotel’s partner, Tahoe Adventure Guides, then refueled on the Club’s buffet and signature cocktails.

For a more affordable alternative, guests may opt to explore the public beaches and restaurants in Kings Beach, less than 10 miles away.

Other nearby activities include visiting the charming town of Truckee, golfing at various courses and seeing Donner Lake (where the ill-fated Donner Party spent the winter of 1846).

Location and logistics

The nearest major airport is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), about 45 minutes to an hour away from the Ritz-Carlton. There’s also the private Truckee Tahoe Airport (TKR), only 15 minutes away.

If you’re coming from RNO, the North Lake Tahoe Express shuttle stops at the Ritz-Carlton and costs $99 (with discounts for multiple passengers). Ubers from RNO hover around $90 each way.

However, if you’re staying more than a day or two and want to take advantage of some of the nearby attractions, you’ll probably want to rent a car. Just keep in mind that the hotel charges $60 per night to park.

What it costs to stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and how to book

Winter and summer months are peak seasons at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, so you’ll find the lowest rates during spring and fall.

In November, you can snag a basic king room from $485 or 96,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, or a one-bedroom suite from $794 or 156,000 points. These come out to an uninspiring value of 0.5 cents per point — well below TPG’s June 2025 valuation of 0.7 cents for Marriott points.

However, prices for a king room can reach $2,612 or 152,000 points per night on peak ski dates, providing a stellar value of 1.7 cents per point. If you prefer to travel during winter or summer break, this is a great use of your points and can save you thousands of dollars.

When booking The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, and perhaps one that offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy® elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Platinum Elite status; and 25 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is also available on Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Edit by Chase Travel, where you can access elitelike benefits and earn bonus points.

Accessibility

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe offers several accessibility features:

• Braille is provided on hotel signage throughout.
• Hearing-accessible rooms with visual alarms and notification devices for door and phone are available.
• Mobility-accessible rooms with tubs and/or roll-in showers are available.
• You can see which room types offer which accessibility features on this page. The hotel also offers Americans with Disabilities Act kits, which can make any room accessible to a degree.

Bottom line

I enjoyed my stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and would love to go back during ski season (especially if I can find award night availability).

Between the luxurious rooms, seasonal restaurant menus and a spacious spa, this property seems like a great fit for a NorCal solo retreat, romantic getaway or friends’ spa trip. However, with so many kid-friendly activities nearby, you wouldn’t go amiss bringing the whole family.

With a prime location at the heart of Lake Tahoe’s outdoor adventure scene and relaxing amenities galore, the Ritz-Carlton will suit active adventure travelers as well as relaxation seekers — or those who want a mix of both.

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