The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

We had an exceptional stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, thanks to Joanna. From arrival to departure, she handled every detail with professionalism and genuine care.

Joanna warmly welcomed us with champagne and Ritz-Carlton outing shirts for my husband and me. She also prepared a s’mores kit for a cozy evening by the fire and arranged a relaxing bubble bath setup for me to unwind.

Her handwritten card, thoughtful recommendations, and attention to detail made our stay truly memorable. Joanna’s kindness and dedication elevated our experience, and she is a tremendous asset to the Ritz-Carlton brand.

Thank you, Joanna, for making our visit so special.

We often just drive around the lake on a day off and pick a random spot to stop in for a drink. This time we chose the Ritz, as we’ve been thinking about doing a staycation there. We went upstairs to Manzanita and initially sat at the bar. There’s no question this is a 5-star hotel. The service was fantastic, drinks very tasty and everyone was friendly. We decided to move a few feet to the Living Room Lodge where the upscale service didn’t stop. The fire was burning, making the atmosphere cozy and perfect. We’re not big skiers and often prefer to be on the water when staying at the lake, but we are keeping this in mind every time we consider our next trip.

Tudo

We booked a family stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe for myself, my wife, and our six-year-old son. A few days before our trip, our son was diagnosed and tested positive for RSV.

I called and asked for a reservation modification given the circumstances, and I was completely open to alternative solutions: a date modification, Marriott Bonvoy points to rebook on our own, a refund, or anything reasonable. We just wanted some flexibility.

What followed was the usual runaround. We called the Ritz-Carlton directly, they told us they couldn’t help because we booked through American Express. So we called Amex, whose concierge team was empathetic and professional. They reached out to the Ritz-Carlton on our behalf. After waiting 24 hours and following up, we were told that Ritz-Carlton management responded via email and declined to allow modifications to the reservation and still expect us at the property unless we pay a $750 cancellation fee.

We presented a positive diagnosis of a contagious virus, were willing to accept any reasonable accommodation; a date change, points, anything, and the answer was no.

This raises a serious concern beyond our personal frustration. If the Ritz-Carlton would rather a family show up carrying a contagious virus than accommodate a date change, what does that say about their commitment to the health and safety of their guests and staff? How many other sick guests have they pressured to check in rather than lose a night’s revenue? What about employees who may face the same inflexibility when they’re ill?

For a brand that markets itself as the gold standard of hospitality, this experience seems like the opposite.

I had a trip planned to North Lake Tahoe w my wife, son, and his 2 friends. My wife and I were booked at Ritz for a full week. My son and his friends were booked at the Hyatt resort a short gondola ride away. Something came up and we had to cancel our trip. When I called the Hyatt to cancel their room, despite I have no meaningful status with Hyatt, they cancelled the reservation despite we were inside of their 7- day cancellation window (allowing them to retain the entire amount) and refunded us the entire reservation. After hanging up with the Hyatt, I called the Ritz front desk and spoke to a very nice young woman who listened to my story and told me that she did not think it would be a problem to cancel our room and get a refund but that she would have to speak to her Reservations manager and have her call me to discuss. I asked how long before I could expect a call and she replied probably 2-3 hours. No one has ever called me to address this urgent issue. It has been a week and despite several calls and emails from me the Ritz will not respond. Rather than call me, they sent me an email telling me they would not refund my money. I am very disappointed in not receiving a call from the Ritz as this email is not the customer service I would expect from the Ritz brand. Instead, I get a canned email. Considering I stay at Marriot Bonvoy properties frequently, I am a gold member, and I was scheduled to stay at the Ritz Carlton (one of Marriott’s premiere brands), I certainly expected them to treat me as well as I have been treated by Hyatt. This is especially true considering the hotel is empty this week and has lots of rooms available. I understand the purpose of your cancellation policy, but that purpose is not being furthered by this decision as there is no demand for rooms in Lake Tahe right now. That is not good business and reflects very poorly on your brand that I have always been so impressed with. Obviously the management in the Tahoe sales office is not comparable to other Ritz properties. Very disappointing and embarrassing service.

We’ve stayed at The Ritz-Carlton, Northstar several times over the years, but this visit stood out as truly exceptional.

From the moment we arrived, everything felt welcoming and effortless. We were greeted with champagne, warm smiles, and thoughtful updates about the property since our last stay (when we were actually snowed in for two extra days!). Our room had a beautiful view, and the staff's care began immediately.

The ski valet team was incredible. They took our skis upon arrival and sent us off with just our boots since we were heading straight to the slopes. Later, when we went to retrieve our equipment, someone had already called ahead, so everything was waiting for us.

One moment that made me laugh: an employee kindly helped my husband remove his ski boots. Years ago, when our kids were little, getting boots on and off was a full workout. Now we’re at the stage where we appreciate the help — and it was offered so graciously.

Every interaction felt seamless, friendly, and genuinely caring. Nothing felt forced or overly formal — just thoughtful people paying attention to the details.

Food and beverage service was excellent, and the property remains stunning.

In past visits, we’d occasionally had brief mix-ups with ski equipment that made things feel uncertain. This time, everything ran flawlessly. The team clearly raised the bar and made us feel truly cared for.

As we checked out on a surprisingly warm day, I grabbed a hot cocoa to go. The care put into that simple cup perfectly captured the spirit of the entire stay — thoughtful, attentive, and warm.

We left feeling relaxed, valued, and already looking forward to coming back.

Highly recommend.

Didnt try breakfast but location in the summer is a bit too remote and lacks atmosphere. It was inappropriate to do works at the pool while you have giests staying. The small pool was too full.

Our stay at The Ritz-Carlton on 01/02/2026 was extremely disappointing. After just four hours at the hotel, we made the decision to leave the following morning.

While sitting in our room and watching TV near a partially open window, an unknown person threw a snowball from outside, which struck me directly in the eye and caused an injury. This happened on hotel premises.

Hotel management, including Benjamin Biaesch, was immediately notified. The response we received was unacceptable: a brief apology and a statement that the hotel is not liable because the surrounding territory is allegedly not secured.

For a hotel charging $2,600 per night, this level of safety, accountability, and customer care is inexcusable. There was no meaningful attempt to resolve the situation or take responsibility.

This was the worst service experience I have ever had. I do not recommend staying at this hotel.

Do better, Benjamin Biaesch

As a seasoned and loyal Marriott traveler (Ambassador) with thousands of nights across more the 100 countries - I am pretty laid back and reasonable when it comes to service. BUT the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe has completely sh*t the bed in terms of professionalism, follow through, communication, service, and the expectations as it relates to a high end luxury experience. I am beyond frustrated.

I had multiple conversations with the hotel regarding an early check in. When I arrived the front desk refused to honor their promise and said “You should have booked through American Express - your Ambassador status is not recognized”. I asked if they were telling me NOT to be loyal to Marriott and that I should always book through a 3rd party and they said “Yes. The AMEX benefits are way better. It gets you a guaranteed 12 PM check in - $100 food and beverage credit an upgrade, etc.. It is way better than Ambassador status.” So much for my 140 nights and $35,000 spend this year. Thanks for making me feel like I really matter!!! I finally was able to get into my room at nearly 7 PM…

During my 4 night stay
They lost my skis - twice
The valet guy lost my car once for 20 minutes
The valet staff reeked of pot and were clearly stoned out of their mind
The Ski Valet told me “Sorry - I am too busy to help you - maybe you can find your own skis”
They failed to clean my room 2 out of 4 days
Tru North ski rental overcharged / double charged us for a lesson
We called engineering 3x to fix the heat / thermostat in our room…still not fixed
Turn down service happened 2 out of 4 nights
Food and service was ehhh
Every time I went to the front desk - there were others also complaining and the wait to speak with manager was 15-25 minutes

At this point… We have spoken with 5 different managers who promise the world yet the service debacle continues….they promise to follow up and then crickets… they either just don’t care or they have zero bandwidth to address the numerous service lapses. The hotel is clearly understaffed and the employees are most certainly undertrained.

I am a reasonable guy. I just want some ownership, ethics, honesty, integrity and accountability. AND… for somebody to actually talk to me!!! That is not a lot to ask when you are spending $2,500 a night!

I will remove this review upon successful resolution of my complaint.

My mother and I visited the Living Room Lodge recently (on December 12th) for tea and a light snack. We sat next to a beautiful fireplace. I must say their tomato bisque soup is hands down the BEST tomato bisque soup I have ever had and it was cooked to perfection. Our server, Maren, was very polite, professional, kind, courteous and knowledgeable about all the wonderful menu offerings. Maren represented the Ritz-Carlton brand in a very positive manner due to her outstanding customer service and she is a true Ambassador for the resort. It was truly a relaxing way for my mom and I to unwind after an exciting day on the ski slopes. We will definitely be back due to the cozy atmosphere, first-rate level of customer service and super delicious food / beverage options. Thank you for a memorable experience at the Living Room Lodge.

What a beautiful location right on the slopes!
The service is outstanding ...Gus with food and beverage the BEST and treats guests like family.
Easy to get to the village and the spa is lovely!
We keep coming back bc we know we will have a wonderful time :)

Beautiful Hotel, Great Location, Great attentive staff, I love this hotel, and I never get tired of coming here. It's just as beautiful in the fall and it's less crowded.

Loved every part of our stay and the area. Absolutely amazing. Also got to live through a hail storm that turned to snow. Rooms were big, views amazing. Recommend the tram up the mountain and also go down to the village down below. Easy drive to Lake Tahoe. The transport bus was crowded so glad we had our own car.

Highly recommend the horseback riding out here. We took a trip and it was well worth every penny. Would come out here again without hesitation. Lots to do for couples and families.

Yes it is expensive. Coffee was $12. But it is a hotel. It is all relative, just enjoy it.

Our stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe was outstanding from start to finish. The property is stunning, well maintained, and truly captures the relaxing mountain atmosphere. During our visit, some unexpected needs came up, and we reached out to Juan G., who was immediately attentive, understanding, and extremely helpful in ensuring everything was handled seamlessly. His professionalism and kindness made a significant difference in our experience.

Additionally, Convent and Javier at the concierge desk provided exceptional service throughout our stay. Their knowledge, attention to detail, and genuine care exemplify the world-class hospitality that The Ritz-Carlton brand is known for. They went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed, and their assistance elevated our trip.

Overall, our visit was memorable in every way, and I would not hesitate to return to this hotel anytime. The combination of the beautiful location, impeccable service, and dedicated staff make it a truly special destination.

The Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe is a very impressive property sitting on top of a mountainside in the Northstar resort area about halfway between Truckee and Kings Beach. Service was world class, from the second we arrived until we left all the staff we interacted were very accommodating and were good at anticipating our needs.

We visited in the slower season between Summer and the Winter Ski season, so the hotel was very quiet. The pool was closed for renovation at this time which was a bit disappointing ( I was really looking forward to an after hike soak in the hot tub), but understandable as the window for construction in the high sierras is very short.

We ate at both Manzanita the full service restaurant, and the LRL which is the lobby lounge area. Food and service were excellent. I really enjoyed sitting by the large lobby fireplaces after a long day out in the mountains.

The quality of the rooms was very nice and housekeeping was excellent. Turndown service was included and they do a very nice job of setting up the room for the evening. Again the personalized level of service was preset here; they left sparkling water and my wife's glasses on her side and left still water and distilled water on my side of the bed for my cpap machine.

We are not super big into winter sports but I imagine with the proximity to the mountains and the available amenities this would make a great ski trip destination in the winter as well.

The worst stay of our lives! DO NOT stay at Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe if you prefer an enjoyable stay! There are many other Hotels in the area with the same extraordinary views. They will never be five stars if they continue to treat their staff and Guest in an awful way.

Beautiful! Amazing property with all the amenities on site.

It was a construction nightmare! They mentioned that the pool was closed due to construction, but they did not mention that there is jackhammers bulldozers dump trucks… It was the worst experience ever. I sent an email to the concierge to express our disappointment and didn't receive a response back. That says a lot about the resort. Don't recommend until going after November when the construction is completed.

Beautiful place

Very overpriced for what they are offering.