The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Lake Tahoe

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to South Lake Tahoe, California? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to South Lake Tahoe, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in South Lake Tahoe to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in South Lake Tahoe, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting South Lake Tahoe for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in South Lake Tahoe for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Hotel Azure

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $173 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Located at 3300 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Hotel Azure has great rooms from $173 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, skiing, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.1 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love hiking, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms at this relaxing hotel. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


View hotels on the map:

Marriott's Timber Lodge

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $313 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Marriott's Timber Lodge which has nice rooms starting at $313. Offering an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 4100 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.8 miles from the city center. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Coachman Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $190 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Lake Tahoe
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

We found The Coachman Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $190. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, skiing, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 4100 Pine Boulevard. You'll also find hiking, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, free parking, and bicycle rental which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 2.7 miles from the center of town. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool


The Landing Resort And Spa

4-star Resort with prices starting at $433 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $433, The Landing Resort And Spa, at 4104 Lakeshore Boulevard provides an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and rooms with kitchens. It's located just 2.7 miles from the city center, too. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


Basecamp South Lake Tahoe

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $126 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Lake Tahoe
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Basecamp South Lake Tahoe has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10, and offers skiing, a casino, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking. The great rooms here start at $126 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 4143 Cedar Avenue. Furthermore, it also offers golf, a hot tub, a game room, free parking, and evening entertainment, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 2.8 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Forest Suites Resort

3-star Resort with prices starting at $196 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

The great guest rating of Forest Suites Resort is 8.40 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a fitness center, and snorkeling. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $196, and it's located at 1 Lake Parkway. We also love the a bar, parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and child care which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2.8 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave


Desolation Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $598 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Lake Tahoe
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Desolation Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $598. It has an outdoor pool, skiing, a pool bar, room service, and a casino, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 933 Poplar Street. Only 2.7 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and hiking at this convenient hotel. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Postmarc Hotel and Spa Suites

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $154 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Postmarc Hotel and Spa Suites offers skiing, room service, a casino, scuba diving, and snorkeling which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $154 (before taxes). It's located at 3696 Lake Tahoe Boulevard and has earned a guest rating of 8.20/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers hiking, golf, a hot tub, free parking, and horse riding which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.9 miles from the city center. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Becket, BW Signature Collection

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $156 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Pool

Located at 4003 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Hotel Becket, BW Signature Collection has great rooms from $156 (before taxes). It offers a pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find hiking, golf, pet-friendly rooms, a spa, and free parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 2.6 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


3 Peaks Resort And Beach Club

3-star Resort with prices starting at $145 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Lake Tahoe
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is 3 Peaks Resort And Beach Club which has nice rooms starting at $145. Offering an outdoor pool, skiing, rooms with kitchens, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub, it also has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 931 Park Avenue. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a game room, free parking, a pool table, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental. It's located just 2.6 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: South Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Truckee.

For more terrific hotel ideas in South Lake Tahoe, make sure you also see Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in South Lake Tahoe, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in South Lake Tahoe, Best Hotels for One Week in South Lake Tahoe, Best Hotels for One Night in South Lake Tahoe, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in South Lake Tahoe, Best Hotels for Skiing in South Lake Tahoe, or Best Business Hotels in South Lake Tahoe.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in South Lake Tahoe?

South Lake Tahoe Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$220

Travelers to South Lake Tahoe, California will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 24 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $220. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in South Lake Tahoe.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $400
  • 3-star hotels: $182
  • 2-star hotels: $123


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