Desolation Hotel

Hotels
9.8 (232 reviews)
933 Poplar Street , South Lake Tahoe , us

Facilities

Ski storage
Television in common areas
Express check-in
Free wired internet
Golfing on site
Self parking (surcharge)
Free pool cabanas
Pool sun loungers
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Pet friendly
Clean facilities
Helpful staff
Great location
Unique amenities
Cons:
Bed comfort issues
Early check-in fee
Room design flaws

Categories

Cleanliness
9.93
Overall clean and stylish environment, noted positively in multiple reviews.
Service
9.9
Polite and helpful staff mentioned in various reviews.
Location
9.94
Great location noted for accessibility to beach and shops.
Room Quality
9.39
Room quality was good but mentioned issues with mattress comfort.
Amenities
9.92
Good amenities such as pool, hot tub, and EV charger.
Value for Money
9.38
Some reviews cited concerns about pricing not matching perceived quality.
Food and Beverage
10
Hotel restaurant received high praise for quality.
Overall Experience
9.93
Overall positive experience with minor complaints about comfort.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 10:04

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
Desolation Hotel, nestled in South Lake Tahoe, offers a serene escape with air-conditioned rooms featuring modern amenities like a flat-screen TV, private bathroom, and balcony with pool views.

Relaxation and Recreation
Indulge in ultimate relaxation at our outdoor swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub. For the fitness enthusiasts, our hotel boasts a well-equipped fitness centre and offers activities like hiking, skiing, and cycling in the picturesque surroundings.

Convenience and Dining
Enjoy the convenience of free bikes, private parking, room service, and a concierge service. Treat your taste buds at our on-site restaurant and bar, promising a delightful culinary experience during your stay.

Book now at Desolation Hotel for a luxurious and rejuvenating getaway in South Lake Tahoe!

Important information:

When traveling with pets, please note that an extra charge of 75$ , per night applies. Please note that a maximum of 3 pets are allowed.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

9.8
Based on 232 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.93
Service: 9.9
Location: 9.94
Room Quality: 9.39
Amenities: 9.92
Value for Money: 9.38
Food and Beverage: 10
Overall Experience: 9.93
T
T_and_A_SE11 Couples London, England
10
Excellent hotel with high quality of build & well maintained / good value for money
Pros:

Excellent fit-out...build quality very high (rooms & public areas)...very different to the standard US hotel. Also rooms are equipped with everything you need...fully equipped kitchen with all utensils thus you are not dependent on going to restaurant each night. Friendly staff and good communication. Good central location (but lacking a direct walkway across to the gondola because there is a huge construction site).

What they could improve is their concierge service and information pre-arrival: the infos I received from the team were of bad quality and were lacking interest in us as customers. For example I inquired about restaurants or if they could send a list of suggested/proposed places..and the answer pretty much was: "there are a lot of restaurants..please check on google". I got similar answers (or even wrong information ) when I inquired about how/where to book skiing lessons or guides or other things to do. Even if you dont have a concierge on staff it would be easy writing a few pages of information materials that you can send out...we were first time visitors and getting information from locals would have made a difference and saved us time and made it a better experience in planning for the trip.

2026-03-11 via Tripadvisor
E
Edgar family_with_children us
10
2026-01-20 via Nuitee
T
Tao family_with_children us
9
2025-12-31 via Nuitee
S
Stephanie couple us
10
2025-12-04 via Nuitee
J
Judy couple us
10
Our dog says we should return!
Pros:

Very pet friendly, polite and helpful staff, clean and stylish. Superb stay!

Cons:

Bed and pillow can be firmer.

2025-12-03 via Nuitee
B
barbaram703 Family Dublin, County Dublin
10
Amazing hotel- great for kids year round. Awesome experience
Pros:

Wow.. What an amazing hotel. My daughter and I had the best time. She wanted to move in and live there forever. We had our own apartment over two living floors, hot tub, fully fitted modern kitchen, two balconies - one had a tub..., incredibly comfortable beds, amazing food at Maggie's restaurant upstairs. We stayed two nights.. we want to stay longer. Definitely coming back. Love the artwork from Ted Hesser and the Jimmy Chin book. So many exquisite details. Outdoor pool, hot tub and gym were amazing too! A wonderful experience in a beautiful place.

2025-11-24 via Tripadvisor
P
Priscilla partner
10
Pros:

Our room had all the modern touches in a relatively small space: small compact kitchen with stove, microwave, pots/pans, glasses, cups, bowls, plates, utensils. Tools for making coffee and coffee grounds were provided. Unique features on our balcony: bath tub, cozy dining nook. Lots of places to plug in your electronics! Decor was modern and stylish. They thought of just about everything!

2025-10-13 via Nuitee
N
Nicholas partner
10
Pros:

After staying numerous times while visiting SLT at a pricier hotel just around the corner, we decided to give the more reasonably priced Desolation Hotel a try. For a couple of nights earlier this week we stayed in one of the ‘Townhouse’ rooms. It was great. The room was spread over three floors, garage, living & bedroom. There are two decks, one with an outdoor dining table, the other with a soaking tub, a fully equipped kitchen, 1.5 bathrooms, two fireplaces and a proper garage. The hotel is close to the beach & Heavenly Village. If you’re looking for a nice place to stay & are willing to forgo some of a larger resorts amenities - large public areas, resort fees, parking charges etc., this is ideal. It’s like your own vacation home. The hotel has a good restaurant, Maggie’s, a pool & spa etc. Checkin was pleasant & efficient and included a complimentary bottle of wine. My only ‘complaint’ would concern the slightly marginal motels that are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Other than that it was great and we would certainly recommend it and will return.

2025-10-11 via Nuitee
B
Bruce
6
Just ok, not worth the cost.
Pros:

Overall, this place is very overpriced for what’s offered.

They try to charge an extra $50 for “early check-in”, which in this case means 3:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.

The “private beach access” they advertise is misleading. What you actually get is free access to a public beach during the off-season, and paid access during the busy months.

The rooms themselves are nice and include a few extras, but the rear of the building faces a public road. So, if you’re using your “private” balcony hot tub, be prepared for passing pedestrians and vehicle noise.

The location is just okay, a few blocks from the lake and tucked behind Heavenly Village. It’s surrounded mostly by older motels and budget inns, some a bit dicy, so don’t expect a quiet or scenic walk to the water.

All in all, it’s fine. But had we known what to expect, we could have found something similar (or better) nearby for about half the price.

2025-10-06 via Nuitee
M
Mackenzie
10
Pros:

Amazing! We will be back!

2025-10-05 via Nuitee
R
Roya partner
10
Pros:

Very nice & chic hotel! loved the fact that it was very pet friendly. The Dyson blowdryer was the highlight for me.

2025-10-03 via Nuitee
K
Kathleen solo_traveller us
4
Annoying.
Pros:

Room was spacious.

Cons:

A few to check in forty minutes early if the room is ready is greedy and the opposite of hospitality. I have travelled for work all over the world for twenty years and I have NEVER had the front desk tell me there’s a fee if I arrive a little early and the room is ready. There is also no space to wait and work comfortably if you get in early from travels and don’t get into your room. Also though someone has out energy into stylishness I found multiple things in the room poorly designed with zero foresight. And the price was a joke. I’d have been more confortable at a holiday inn. Or somewhere where the pretentious attitude matched the actual quality of the hotel. My room looked right out onto the street and a parking lot. I mean like feet from it There was a bathtub on the patio which I can only assume was designed by a voyeur. And the sheer curtain was drilled into the wall was decided on by someone who didn’t look at the space and understand that for privacy you want the side that’s screwed into the wall to be the one that you can move.

2025-09-12 via Nuitee
H
Hsiao ting family_with_children tw
9
Pros:

Facilities/EV charger/private beach

Cons:

Staff

2025-09-08 via Nuitee
K
KIRILL
10
Pros:

Great rooms. Cabin-like cozy feel, yet very modern and updated. Great location too. Staff was very nice and pleasant. Highly recommend.

2025-08-28 via Nuitee
A
Ayed
10
Pros:

Stylish, clean, comfortable. Parking on site is convenient. Chemex and coffee in room a nice touch. Location is great. Would stay here again.

2025-08-23 via Nuitee
G
Gilles family_with_children fr
9
2025-08-23 via Nuitee
C
CHRISTINA
10
Pros:

Beautiful aesthetic, super clean, friendly staff and hotel restaurant was delicious. Will be staying here again!

2025-08-19 via Nuitee
R
Rodolfo
10
Pros:

The owner was a great hostess! And very friendly!

2025-08-15 via Nuitee
J
Jennifer friends
10
Pros:

The pool, and hot tub were amazing!

2025-08-10 via Nuitee
S
Scott partner
10
Pros:

Great staff. Maggie's restaurant is on the 3rd floor, very accessible, just make sure to get a reservation. The pool had a slight chill, but hot tub did the trick for the cooler morning. Bathtub on our deck was aqesome! Heated floors in bathroom. Very roomy for two people. Very clean. 5 minute walk to beach or to shops or restaurants. We'll be back!

2025-08-04 via Nuitee