The Retreat on Charleston Peak

Every meal gave us good choices, even though the restaurant menu isn’t huge. The fresh fish and chips had light batter and generous portions, and we also really liked the French onion soup, meatball appetizers, and Irish Hot cider. Staff at the front desk, coffee shop, and restaurant were all smiling, efficient, and accommodating. The room was a little worn, as expected, but the clean, firm bed was very comfortable and the furniture wear didn’t bother us. The small balcony fit its two chairs easily. Just remember there’s no elevator, so upper floors mean taking the stairs. We weren’t looking for a luxury resort anyway; if we had been, we’d have stayed in Las Vegas.

Breakfast looked understaffed, and Ronee was clearly swamped, but she kept moving and did her best to look after everyone. The chef’s care came through in the food. The meatballs and bananas foster French toast were spectacular. Thanks, Ronee.

The staff were friendly and the service was good, and the views are beautiful. Still, the restaurant felt drab and outdated, and the women’s lobby bathroom was missing its inside door handle. The food and drinks are limited, and the prices feel far too high for the quality. We ordered a T-bone medium, but the first steak looked like a thin, badly overcooked sirloin, as shown in the review photo. The replacement was the right cut and doneness, yet it was very chewy and heavily salty. At dinner the dining room was empty, which I can understand. Since it’s one of the few options on the mountain right now, I expected the pricing to reflect that, but next time we’ll leave the mountain to eat or bring our own food. Vegas is about 30 minutes away, with meals at the same prices and better quality. I wouldn’t recommend eating here.

The lodge decor is lovely, and the property is older but nicely maintained. We had our dog with us, so the pet-friendly policy was a big plus. This is probably the best quality pet-friendly hotel close to Vegas. The location is beautiful, and staff helped us beyond what we expected on several occasions. We loved staying here. I’d suggest adding microwaves to rooms like these and friction mats in the showers.