Lake Tahoe: Where Luxury Meets The Lake

Getting there

Fly into Reno-Tahoe International (RNO) and you’re looking at about an hour and 15 minutes to South Lake Tahoe. It’s a genuinely scenic drive, and this is the easiest, fastest way in. If you’d rather fly into California than Nevada, Sacramento (SMF) puts you about two hours out, and San Francisco (SFO) is closer to three and a half. Reno is the one I book for almost everyone.

Where to stay: Two very different kinds of luxury

Edgewood Tahoe is waterfront, and the resort itself is the destination. Every room has its own gas fireplace and a bathroom that feels like a spa appointment you didn’t have to book—an elegant soaking tub and a spacious walk-in shower. In the evening, they do s’mores by the fire pits, and it’s the kind of small touch that makes a family trip feel just as special as a honeymoon. I recommend Edgewood for honeymoons, anniversaries, babymoons, family vacations, and business retreats or incentive travel—it flexes for all of it.

The Ritz-Carlton is a different experience entirely. It’s tucked up in the mountains at a higher elevation—more secluded, more alpine elegance. The spa is worth building a full day around—the kind of amenities that make you cancel your other plans. And then there’s the Lake Club: a private beach club down at the water, exclusive to a small number of Ritz guests who reserve it, with its own boat pier, paddleboards, kayaks, wave runners, and a full bar and grill right on the lawn. It’s a shuttle ride from the mountain resort, so it takes a little planning—which is exactly the kind of detail I handle so you don’t have to. If you’re staying at the Ritz, book a suite, and add an extra night—this property is worth it, trust me.

Edgewood

When to go

Tahoe works in winter and summer both, but I’ll always steer you toward June through August or September. There’s no other setting quite like it—snow still capping the peaks while the water below looks like something out of the Caribbean. You get full days of clear blue skies to explore, and you end every one of them fireside with the person you came with.

Watersports

What fills your days

Parasailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet ski and boat rentals, biking, hiking, or just lounging at the beach or pool—the days are yours to fill however you want. The water is cold, every single time, and it’s worth it, every single time. And the sunrises and sunsets here genuinely stop you mid-conversation.

Sunset at Edgewood

Why it stays quiet

This isn’t an overrun tourist destination. Both properties keep it feeling like you’re there with the other hotel guests and no one else—which means privacy, a slower pace, and a place that still feels secluded even in peak season. It’s exactly why it works so well for people who want romance and quiet as much as they want activity.

Edgewood lobby

Why book it with me

I don’t send people to Tahoe because it’s popular. I send them because I’ve been, and I know exactly which room categories to book, which property fits which trip, and how to time the season right. The concierge teams at both hotels are excellent at elevating the experience once you’re there, and booking through me adds another layer on top of that—the kind of perks and upgrades that make a great trip feel like a completely taken-care-of one. If Tahoe has been on your list, this is the trip I want to plan for you.

Altitude is real here. The lake sits at 6,225 feet, and the Ritz is up higher still at Northstar. Some guests feel it in the first day or two—headaches, getting winded faster. I recommend that clients hydrate heavily starting on arrival day and go easy on the first big hike or adventure.

Sun is stronger at elevation. Thinner air means more UV exposure than you’re used to, even on a mild-feeling day. Reapply sunscreen more than you think they need to, especially out on the water where it reflects.

Weekends get busy on the roads. Highway 50 and 28 around the lake can back up badly on summer Fridays and Sundays, especially around holidays. If you have flexibility, a Monday to Thursday stay gets you a noticeably quieter version of the same trip.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Lake Tahoe page.