Emerald Bay Lodge

The service was great and the room was clean, but it needs some basic fixes. The toilet was old and the seat worn, and the kitchenette had no curtains, so someone could see into the room. One strip at the end of the main room blinds was broken too, which matters when you’re changing clothes and need privacy. The worst issue was the old wall heater. It worked, but knocked all night; we needed it on because it was snowing and cold, and it woke both my wife and me several times. Adjusting the cover didn’t stop the noise. A few small upgrades would make this an easy four-star stay. They should replace the wall heaters with ductless mini splits for both heating and cooling. I imagine the rooms get hot in summer without AC. I’m an HVAC tech, and I figure it would cost about $6,000-$7,000 for every four rooms if they did the work themselves. I saw two maintenance guys on staff.

The room felt unhygienic from the start. I found a hair on the toilet lid, spider webs on the ceiling, a filthy floor, and someone else’s red sock under a chair. The bed didn’t feel clean either. The bathroom floor was uneven painted concrete, rough and bumpy, and looked unsettlingly dirty. After about ten minutes in the shower, the hot water stopped completely, including at the sink, so my boyfriend couldn’t shower at all. For a cold ski area, reliable hot water is basic, especially at nearly $200 a night. The floor was ice cold, as if the tile connected straight to the outside with no insulation, which made coming back from skiing miserable. Wi-Fi showed as connected but had no usable signal. Emerald Bay Lodge being called a four-star hotel is misleading. I’ve stayed at many places in tahoe, and this was both the most expensive and the worst. I’m writing from what we experienced and will upload photos. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The staff made me feel at home, always smiling, respectful, and attentive to the little things. Everything was clean and organized too. I loved my stay.

I haven’t been there yet, so I can’t speak to the room or location. But Cody and Casey have been great with customer service. A group of us girls are going to a wedding nearby, and they’ve helped me several times with adding rooms and amenities and answering all my crazy questions. They’ve done it with patience and a laugh. I can’t wait to meet them. Love Tracy