In recent years, Lake Tahoe has become a popular ski destination, and rightly so! With over 10 ski resorts surrounding the Lake Tahoe area, it’s easy to see why crowds are flocking to the beautiful Sierra region. With tourism comes a variety of lodging options ranging from motels to slope-side resorts. We had the opportunity to check out a true gem in South Lake Tahoe, just minutes from Heavenly Ski Resort, Hotel Azure. So read on to find out what we loved!

Location: 4/5

Hotel Azure is located a 5-minutes drive from Heavenly Village, right across the street from the pristine blue waters of Lake Tahoe. While it is a bit of a hike from town, the view is absolutely spectacular from the property and not something you can find at most hotels in South Lake without spending a small fortune. There is an on-site restaurant that serves a delicious breakfast, so you don’t have to travel far for a bite to eat.

We love Lake Tahoe because it’s just 3 short hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, meaning, I can live in the sunshine and drive to the snow. South Lake is close, convenient and has incredible activities to explore.

Lobby & Check in experience: 4.5/5

The lobby is small and cozy and conveniently located right off the main road. Inside the lobby, they offer tea/coffee/hot cocoa and the staff is very friendly and eager to assist. There’s a cozy fireplace with some seating to enjoy your hot beverage and unwind.

Check in was quick and easy! We were provided a map to find our room, the restaurant, and the most important thing…directions to the hot tub and pool!

Guests are provided a parking pass for their cars and there is ample parking outside the buildings close to your room.

Rooms: 4.5/5

We checked into a 500-square foot King Great Room, with sweeping views of Lake Tahoe. The room was nicely equipped with a microwave, large mini-fridge, free WiFi, tons of charging ports, and a beautiful balcony.

The room is very sizable with a small dining table, sofa (convertible to a sofa-bed) and a large king bed. The bathroom was technically two separate rooms with a toilet room, sink and shower, as well as an additional sink and closet. Traveling with a friend is very easy as there are two separate spaces to change and get organized.

The toiletries were very nice and smelled lovely. The bathroom had soap, lotion, shampoo & conditioner as well as body wash.

The room was also very quiet, which is very important to me. I was able to turn on the fan for some white noise due to the silence, and I never heard another guest next door or outside. We overlooked the Lake and the Pool, which were quiet and beautiful.

Facilities: 4.5/5

For a small property, Hotel Azure really does have excellent amenities!

The pool and hot tub were very sizable and perfectly hot. Next to the pool is a small, but very well equipped gym with cardio equipment and a weight rack.

The restaurant, Bear Beach Cafe, was a great spot for breakfast with incredible views of the lake. In the winter, they are open for breakfast and lunch and they are open for dinner as well in the summer.

You have the option to borrow cruiser bikes or snowshoes to explore the area, which is a great benefit, especially considering the property has no resort fee! There is also a concierge, who can assist in booking tours and restaurant reservations.

One of the facilities we did not have time to explore was the bowling alley! There is a bowling alley located right next to the property, so you don’t need to venture far for some great entertainment if you don’t want to be outside.

Dining: 4.5/5

The Bear Beach Cafe is the onsite restaurant for Hotel Azure. We started our days with a delicious, filling breakfast at reasonable prices. While they lacked certain items like yogurt, we fell in love with the homemade quiche, homemade muffins and oatmeal…YUM.

Since Hotel Azure is only 5 minutes from town, we did venture in for dinner. Our usual favorites are: Basecamp Pizza and Azul. This time, we also checked out a new restaurant called The Loft – which we can highly recommend. There are endless options in South Lake Tahoe. Hotel Azure’s location in South Lake makes it really easy to have an incredible getaway.

Service: 5/5

The service was excellent overall. Housekeeping was tidy, on time and polite, and the front desk staff were available when we needed them. Tahoe can be very hit or miss when it comes to service, but Hotel Azure did not disappoint and the staff are clearly good at their jobs. Last year, we stayed at a very expensive property nearby and they honestly could not have been more rude, so this was really refreshing. The staff were super casual and picked up within a couple rings of the phone if you needed them.

Style: 4/5

The recent renovation really shines bright at Hotel Azure. They have incorporated simple, wood elements and modern decor to make the property feel very clean, vibrant and modern. There are really nice elements, such as the feature wall of the hotel room that is covered in beautiful wood, making the room feel luxurious and large. There is also an overall feeling of clean. The hot tub was clean, the bathrooms were clean and the fitness center was light and clean.

The exterior also has the “lodge” elements, covered in painted stone and wood along the banister of the balconies. From the outside, Hotel Azure looks very new and lodge-y. We were huge fans, aesthetically.

Overall: 4.4

Overall, Hotel Azure is an excellent option in South Lake Tahoe. The large, clean and modern rooms as well as toasty hot tub and amenities make the short 5 minutes drive to town 100% worth it. If you’re looking for an option close to the slopes and with an epic view of the lake, I cannot recommend Hotel Azure enough. While we have yet to stay there in the summer, I’m definitely going to check it out due to its location and cruiser bikes to explore all our beautiful Tahoe area has to offer.