Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is a unique, large and second deepest (1,645 ft / 500 m) freshwater lake in the U.S. With its blue crystal clear waters and famous beaches, surrounded by the National Forest, this area is home to summer water activities and winter sports.
There is no better way to explore Lake Tahoe than to stay on the lakeshore. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located right on the lake, has a private beach, and offers so much more to have a great time on Lake Tahoe. There are plenty of things to do in the summertime at this resort!
Booking
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is a Category 5 Hyatt Hotel. While we were making the booking, the hotel was still categorized as a Category 6. Therefore, we opted for a Standard Two Queen Beds Room and used a total of 54,000 Hyatt Points for two nights – 25,000 points for a standard night and 29,000 points for a peak night. The redemption value would be 4.78 cents per point if we booked this stay by paying the cash rate, which was $2,579.47 at booking; this was definitely a steal!
💡 Good to Know
If you are flexible with your travel dates, don’t forget to check the Points Calendar on the Hyatt website for off-peak nights so you can enjoy your stay for fewer points needed for redemption.
Check-in
When you enter the hotel, you get immediately immersed in a mountain cabin-style lobby decorated with a cozy wood log fire pit, wooden furniture, and of course, the statues of the three bears!
Lake Tahoe is a very popular destination; not only Californians but people from all over the country come to visit the lake.
Although, as Globalists, we are eligible for room upgrades (upon availability), it was not a big surprise that the hotel did not have suite upgrades available. However, we still got bumped up to the room with a balcony and a fantastic mountain and forest view.
💡Good to know
Please note that the direct access to Lake Tahoe, which was supposed to be closed during the renovations scheduled to start in April 2024 and end in April 2026, has been postponed until further notice.
Parking
The hotel had valet parking for a $50 fee / per night which was waived for us as Globalists.
The Room
We got the 400 sq. ft. Room with two Queen Beds and a balcony facing the forest and mountains. The views were breathtaking and we enjoyed sitting on the balcony and looking out at nature.
The room was located on the same level as the lobby and Sierra Cafe, so at least we did not have to use the elevator.
Our room was very nice and clean, quite spacious and modern looking. The bathroom was also clean, with a tub and shower, a single sink counter, and a large mirror.
Although the hotel was built in the 1970s, it underwent a massive multimillion renovation project in 2012, so the room’s interior was relatively new. We liked the wood-decorated walls and the simplicity of the rustic design.
Dining
There are a few restaurants on the property, that offer either beachside or mountain view dining options.
Sierra Cafe (Dondero’s)
Breakfast
Breakfast is served at the onsite restaurant, Sierra Cafe (Dondero’s), located in the main building with indoor and outdoor seating options. You could choose either buffet or menu style.
One of our favorite perks of being a Globalist is getting a daily complimentary breakfast. Different hotels have different rules around how they offer this benefit. At check-in at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Spa and Casino, we got a breakfast card to show at the restaurant, allowing us to have a complimentary breakfast for four people for our stay.
In addition to the generous buffet, Globalists can order from the full breakfast menu, which is what we did. The girls got their usual favorite hotel breakfast – waffles and pancakes while grownups opted for eggs Benedict and smoked salmon bagel.
Dinner
We had our dinner here once, and it did not disappoint. The short rib pappardelle and the pizzas were delicious, and the warm summer evening with amazing mountain views just made everything even better!
Stillwater Pool Bar and Grill
You could also dine right by the pool and enjoy some fish tacos or burgers from your lounge chair. There was a bar service, so you could start sipping your cocktails already at noon 😅.
Lone Eagle Grille
The Lone Eagle Grille restaurant is located by the beach and offers fine dining with some options, such as steaks and seafood. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to try this restaurant out, but it had excellent reviews.
The Nest Bar & Grill and Beach Service
The Nest Bar & Grill was probably our favorite dining spot at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort simply because of the stunning Lake Tahoe views you would get while enjoying your meal. This little cafe has only an outdoor setting; hence it only operates seasonally. They also had a kids menu and provided highchairs and crayons for the little ones.
Pier 111 Bar
If lounging on the beach is not enough for you, you can walk to the hotel’s floating pier with a bar at the end and enjoy being on the lake surrounded by the green forest while grabbing/or not grabbing a drink.
Tahoe Provisions & Tahoe To Go
There is a market on-site with some snacks, beverages, and souvenirs. You can even grab some breakfast/lunch items there. This is also where you get your free marshmallow kit and redeem your Globalist goodies card. You get any single item marked with a little fire sign. We just got a bottle of champagne 🤷🏻♀️.
The Beach
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort has a private beach with no public access, so you can relax and soak up the sun without having to worry about crowds. The hotel provides free-of-charge beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels. At check-in, you get a special bracelet and show it at the entrance as proof of staying at the hotel.
The staff greeted us at the beach, kindly provided us with towels, and set up our umbrellas. Although we have been to Lake Tahoe so many times, this was actually the first time we were on an actual beach with lounge chairs and drinks from the bar. Instantly you get a feeling that you are somewhere on a coastal vacation.
The only thing that could bring you back to the Sierra Nevada mountains is that the water in Lake Tahoe is still freezing, even in the middle of the hot summer day 😅. The reason is that the lake is so deep (1,645 ft / 500 m) that it never even warms up.
The hotel also offers cabanas for rent.
Amenities
Pool
The main outdoor lagoon-shaped pool (located by the main building) is heated and open all year round. Its interesting shape actually allows you to enter the pool from inside the building!
There are two outdoor hot tubs (one is adult only) in the pool area.
S’mores
Get your s’mores kit at the Tahoe Provisions & Tahoe To Go and roast your marshmallows by the fire while enjoying the sun setting behind the mountains on Lake Tahoe! There was also a second large fire pit by the main pool, but we chose to sit by the lake for obvious reasons.
Area attractions
We took a short hike on the Tahoe East Shore Trail that stretches along Lake Tahoe and offers breathtaking lake views.
You can take a complimentary shuttle from the hotel to the trail head or simply walk there.
Bottom Line
We think that Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa, and Casino was the perfect hotel to stay at to experience the area. It’s a little bit of everything! The resort has a casino, spa, private beach area, and plenty of amenities to keep guests entertained. You can also rent a boat for the day and explore the lake. The resort is also close to the ski area in the winter. It’s right on the lake and is a great place to kick back and relax, especially after a day of hiking or exploring the area.
The rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable and the views of the lake and mountains are breathtaking!
We would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a great place to stay in North Lake Tahoe.
On Points With Kids Summary
For two nights at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, we paid 54,000 Hyatt Points. The cash rate for two nights was $2,579.47 ($1,289.73 per night on average, including taxes and fees), which equals 4.78 cents per point, an outstanding value!
You can apply for the following credit cards to earn Hyatt points that can be redeemed at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino:
- Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card application
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card application (Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to the World of Hyatt program)
