Avalon Lodge

I’m writing this review to warn everyone of my poor experience at Avalon Lodge. I had a reservation on the night of the 29^th and had called the morning of to see what my check-​in time was. A hotel representative confirmed with me that it was 3 p.m., so we were driving around the Lake Tahoe area until 3 p.m. We arrived shortly after check-​in time and were told that our room was double-​booked and that they had no room available for us. The staff tried to offer a sister hotel that was 45 minutes away, but I told them that was too far. The staff was pushy and were saying things like «It’s Memorial Day weekend, you probably won’t find a room, everything is booked» which was not helpful to the stressful situation. Luckily, I called the Alpenrose Inn and they had a room available (a very nice one and the receptionist was the most helpful hotel staff member I had evey met). The staff at Avalon then said I would receive a full refund. I asked who I should contact if there are any problems, and they said I could contact them or Expedia (I had booked through Expedia) but that they would take care of everything.
Fast forward to today (three weeks later), I was checking my credit card statements and noticed I had no sign of a refund for the hotel room. I called Avalon to ask about the refund and the receptionist just says that Expedia has my money and I will have to deal with them. ARE YOU SERIOUS? I do understand that I did book through Expedia, but the hotel staff gave me the impression that they would take care of everything considering it was their mistake for double booking the room. In the event that they did attempt to process the refund and found out they couldn’t, it would have been nice to have received a courtesy call about it to let me know that I would need to talk directly to Expedia. In addition, unless they found out JUST as I was walking into the lobby, why couldn’t they notify me in advance that the room was double-​booked? That would have given me some time to find a place to stay.
I was not able to see any of the rooms, but based purely on the terrible customer service, I would not recommend this hotel. We ended up staying at the Alpenrose Inn which is around the corner and we had the sweetest lady help us out and tell us the best places to visit and dine.

Both our rooms had a thick smell of wet dog. Both rooms had only one operational window so we slept with the door OPEN in attempt to air out the room. When we brought issue to the front desk he said «oh. The guy that fixes things will be here tomorrow». The next day we woke to a disgusting only oatmeal (and I love oatmeal) and old toppings «continental» breakfast. This place said they have bikes, there were only THREE. We had 4 people. The listing said there was a pool which opened in May, the pool was entirely empty except for a small puddle at the bottom which was green. For our inconvenience she gave us tickets to a nearby private beach, we were excited, got all ready and packed up and went down to the beach aaaaand… NO DOGS ALLOWED. We’re at a pet friendly hotel! Ugh… Then the guy that «fixes things» never even existed. Also I called the front desk 2 – 4 times because I could hear people jumping upstairs, but the front desk said no one was up there. All … Night… And that was my mini vacay never again.

I was not pleased. I picked this place based on reviews on bringfido and Unilocal.Overall, I was unhappy with my experience, especially with the amount of money the lodging cost. Immediately upon arrival to the room, my dog was finding something to eat off the floor. Mind you, they did have a container of doggy items (i.e.: ball, treats, towel, poop bags) so I didn’t think much of it. I went to start the shower and found women’s black underwear and bra wodded in the corner of the shower stall and a horrid smell came wafting out from the shower stall. I literally gagged and immediately exited the room and demanded to switch rooms. The second room my dog was still finding things on the floor to eat, there was no dog container (we didn’t bring the one from the other room) and the linen smelt like womens perfume. Therefore, I assumed that the linen was never actually changed between guests. That may be projected but, every time you go to a hotel, shouldn’t the linen smell like cheap laundry detergent? I pulled a blanket from the closet (because who really uses those?). It smelt like cheap laundry detergent so I decided to make a sleeping bag out of it vs. sleeping in the bed. I wore my sandals in the shower and also questioned the cleanliness of the toilet as there were questionable stains on the inside of the toilet. The breakfast was literally «fresh» bread, oatmeal and coffee. I did not eat it basically bc at this point my trust for hotel cleanliness was down the tubes. Lastly, the walls are thin so we did hear footsteps upstairs. This was honestly the least of our problems and I would have rather had a clean room and heard of elephants upstairs (I would have given better ratings for that). I will never come back to this place again or never refer people to this place.

Overall I had a very pleasant stay at the Avalon Lodge over Memorial Day weekend. It was my first time visiting Lake Tahoe and had found Avalon through an Expedia search. I had booked the weekend way back in February and by paying the full amount up front I was eligible for an «early bird» special on the rates.
The grounds have a rustic feel to them but everything is clean with some basic modern amenities. Located in an area with several other motel/​lodge type properties, Avalon is within walking distance to shops and restaurants (and casinos in Stateline if that’s your thing.) They accept pets and have a very reasonable per night pet fee, even giving you a basket of treats for your furry friends in the room. Check in was easy and front desk staff friendly.
Other Pros:
* You can sign out bicycles (first come first serve)
* They also offer kayaks for rent
* Free breakfast (basic oatmeal, yogurt, juice and coffee-​simple but FREE)
* Bathrobes for use in the room
* Pool and hot tub (pool was not yet open for the reason and the hot tub was covered-​although staff said they could uncover it and turn it on should we want to use it-​we didn’t end up getting a chance)
* Comfy bed and pillows
* More modern looking shower and bathroom tile
* Clean rooms
The only small areas that were disappointing were the noise levels-​the walls are very thing. We had guests above us with a very large dog and we heard his footsteps above us all night (although we got used to it by the second night) Also slightly disappointing was the lack of beach access. That’s not really their fault though-​they advertise a private beach that’s in short walking distance but during our stay the area was in the process of renovations so off limits. They also ran out of hot water in the mornings. It might have been the influx of guests during the holiday weekend, to be fair. I did hear management speaking to guests on the phone while I was at breakfast one day and they were taking steps to reset or repair the water heater.
It’s comfortable for a short stay (less than a week) and had decent cable channels if you wanted to stay in at night, microwave and fridge. I’d definitely stay again when visiting the area. Good value with great amenities.

Stayed here for two nights — they don’t even have breakfast for their guests — how hard is that to plan? Coffee is a joke! I spit and walked outside to a Starbucks. They clean rooms once in 3 days — but wasn’t cleaned before we checked in: there were hair on the pillows and toilet had tissues unflushed. Although it’s not their problem, some guests were too loud yelling outside the rooms. Avoid it!

Place was a bit run down but was a good dog-​friendly budget hotel. The guy who checked us in seemed to be annoyed that we were even bothering him to check us in. Didn’t inform us there was a jacuzzi or breakfast. There was another guy at the reception on our second day who was friendly. It was difficult to get a hold of staff since overtime we went to speak to someone there was a note that they were away from the property. The facilities were a bit ran down but it was nice that there was a little fireplace.

Stayed here for my birthday weekend and brought our dog along.
Pros:
— Dog friendly
— Close to Heavenly
— Comfy bed
— Fireplace heater worked well
Cons
— No confirmation email
— Paper thin walls
— Inconsiderate guests
— Disappointing breakfast
— Uninformed employee
— No dog amenities as stated on website
— System always down (checked out and didn’t get receipt)
We made a reservation online directly from their website and never received an email confirmation. We called and they confirmed our reservation but didn’t give us a confirmation number. I called to make sure our dog was included in our stay and the woman on the phone apologized and said she’d waive the pet fee.
We arrived before midnight due to the heavy traffic after work and checking in was fairly easy. There are hot drinks and water available in the lobby. It’s a very old place and the walls are paper thin. I’m a deep sleeper once I actually fall asleep but seriously, don’t stay here if you get up after 7am. During our stay, the other guests were so inconsiderate by shouting across the hall at each other or just talking right outside our door at 6am. Please implement quiet time from 10pm-​9am. We came back late but never stood outside at midnight shouting and talking because it’s common decency that people are most likely sleeping at that time.
The room itself is decent. The bed was fine but the pillows weren’t the best. There were six pillows that were all different firmness but none were good for us. There were lots of hangers for coats/​bags and the heater worked fairly well at the suggested 65 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. We didn’t have any issues with the water going from hot to cold, so we had good showers during our stay.
Breakfast is from 6:30am-9:30am. I was excited to try it out but what other reviewers have stated is true. The breakfast isn’t much unless you love oatmeal. My SO loves oatmeal so he enjoyed it but I couldn’t eat anything that was being served. For some reason, the different flavored pastry breads they had was just too salty. I don’t know if someone mixed up the sugar with salt but it was horrible! I never saw any yogurt or fruit but it would be nice to have pieces of fruit included. Vanilla granola and raisins are provided for the oatmeal but I eventually ended up eating the granola by itself.
When we checked out, the hotel’s computer system was down. I wanted to get a receipt to make sure that they charged us properly for our rooms (discounted by booking directly on their website), but they said they’d email us. We were in a rush to leave to go sledding but I realized after they said they’d email it to us, we didn’t get an email confirmation for our reservation!
Minus one star for no confirmation email, minus another star for paper thin walls, and minus another star for being a dog friendly lodge but not providing any dog items as others have stated (bed, welcome basket, feeding bowls).

Legal Robbery!
$ 165 Cancellation fee is not properly disclosed. Dirty mind management, dirty business practice

Overall, the lodge is quaint and nice, however, if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, or the ability to sleep in, forget it. We were woken both mornings we were there by our neighbors upstairs clomping all over starting at 5:30 and had to listen to them outside of the room for over 2 hours, at which time we just decided to get up because we were clearly not going to be able to sleep.
My other pet peeve, especially when staying at hotels… horrible pillows! These pillows had to be the absolute worst I’ve ever seen in a hotel. Super thin… and even though there were six on the bed… you couldn’t even stack them up to feel like a normal pillow. If you’re trying to pass yourself off as a cute, boutique hotel, you’re really going to have to step up the bedding.
Otherwise, the rooms were decent and the service was good… but due to the noise and terrible bedding, I wouldn’t stay here again, which is a shame, because it’s a nice place and close to the village.

We spent a weekend at the lodge last month. Nice room but a little dark with no view. Breakfast was a pot of oatmeal Would be OK but they didn’t replenish the milk, raisins and other items. My main complaint is that we left a jacket and shoes in the closet. We realized this once we got home. I called the lodge the same afternoon and asked them to send the items back. They reluctantly said they would look into it, however, I never got a phone call or update on the shipment. I offered them my credit card number so they could charge shipping to it. Very disappointed! The jacket was valuable. I would never go back after that experience. Make sure you check the closet before you leave!

The Avalon lodge was clean, well managed and a great location. The staff (Dan, Isabel and John) were very friendly, hospitable and had a lot of knowledge about the area and were easily available if you needed them.

Customer gripe… I purchased a voucher from travelzoo to stay two weekend nights. I checked availability on their website to ensure there was availability, which there was. I tried to book through the website but the voucher didnt work. Okay… so I called, and although they have at least 7 rooms available for the weekend I want they would not allow me to book because they had already booked their quota of discount rooms. Now I have to get a refund from travelzoo and try and find a new hotel. This is not good customer service. If you arent going to honor bookings even though you have the rooms available you should put a calendar up so people dont waste their time and effort. I guess Ill spend my money elsewhere. Good luck booking these rooms off season at ridiculous rates.

Interesting… place to stay. Definitely not worth it though.
Beware that the website makes them seem a lot better than they actually are and the amenities that they boast about are really just sad attempts to appear better on paper.
The first thing we noticed was that the parking lot was incredibly cramped and difficult to maneuver. Big vehicles need not even try. The pool and Jacuzzi that they advertise so widely on their website was closed for the season when we arrived. Would have been nice to know ahead of time since hotels in the surrounding area had these open.
We walked into a cramped but cozy lobby that I saw in the pictures online and assumed was part of a suite. It isn’t. The room itself left much to be desired. I will say that they attempted to add flair with a french press and some sherry on the small table in the room… however I worry that the sherry may not be changed after each persons stay and an unsealed carafe of it screams that it may have been tampered with.
The room itself had a few issues… at least 3 missing or broken light bulbs, the room was so dark that this made a pretty noticeable difference. The minibar was full of expired goods. The shower was probably the worst. It was made of stone but the water took forever to warm up and when it finally did it was immediately scalding. Try to turn it down just a pinch and it became freezing cold again.
The last thing I noticed was the worst. After a night out, we came back to the hotel to go to sleep. I picked up one of the pillows to rearrange them and noticed a large crusty greenish brown mucous secretion on it. Needless to say I was more than a little put off.
The breakfast mostly consisted of dried out scones, some coffee and a crock pot of oatmeal. No variety and a huge disappointment for what we paid.

This place was awesome! My boyfriend and I stayed here over the weekend and loved it. We were welcomed with rose petals, champagne glasses, chocolates and rose in the fridge. This place had just the right amount of charm and exactly what we wanted. Close to the water just a 5 min walk also a 5 min walk from shopping. We used the bikes to explore and the fire pit at night. We will definitely be back! Thanks for an awesome weekend.

Just came back from a weekend in South Lake Tahoe with friends. This is the second time I’ve stayed at the Avalon Lodge and it is the best place to stay outside of the Harvey’s and Harrah’s. I would highly recommend this place to any of my friends and family.
PROS
The rooms are very cozy, clean and up-​to-​date.
Each room has a fridge, microwave and an electric fireplace, which comes in handy when it’s snowing outside.
The lodge is located a short walk to Harvey’s and Heavenly ski resort– think about a 3 minute drive to either place because who wants to walk!!! Ahaha.
Also, if you are a dog owner like myself, they accommodate dogs at this lodge and the additional fee is inexpensive.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. The price is great for what you’re getting.
CONS
The parking is very small and can be a bit difficult to get out of when it’s snowing.
When I stayed this time around, the towels in the room were a bit dusty, implying that they were not changed out for a while. I requested a fresh set of towels and the staff was accommodating.
The breakfast offered was very not that great. It was hot oatmeal, yogurt, some kind of pastry cranberry juice and tea– your choices are limited. If this isn’t your idea of breakfast, there are plenty of options around.
Bottom Line: Stay here and have a great time. The other local lodges and Inns are not as nice and clean as this place. BOOK HERE

Stayed here the weekend of Dec 6 2014. My boyfriend and I took his parents here for their birthday along with our 11 month old lab. This is a nice place to stay and pet friendly too. They charge $ 20 per night per pet. They also gave my puppy a pet package which consist of treats, blanket, towels and a tennis ball. The location is great too, just a few minutes away from Harvey’s and other casinos. The staff was really friendly. The rooms are nice and clean. I would stay here again. I only gave 4 stars because during our stay there was a sewer like odor around the property. Almost like bad plumbing or something.

Where to start? I love this place, they are wonderful for people with dogs. We had our wedding in Tahoe and the Avalon gave us a great group rate which was wonderful because much of our family and many of our friends were able to stay in the same place we were staying.
However, we did have some issues. I don’t feel that these issues warrant a less than 5 star rating quite frankly because the positive outweighed the negative by so much. Regardless here are my gripes.
(1) The fire place in our room was wired incorrectly which prevented it from turning on after it had shut off. We woke up twice with the room smelling like gas because the igniter wasn’t working and gas was being dumped into the fire place. Guys, you need to fix this, it appears we are not the first ones with this complaint.
(2) We picked the Avalon because we had stayed there in the past, however getting a hold of management to set the group rate was very difficult and took a couple weeks. They need to streamline this process.
(3) Breakfast… wasn’t very good. I think a little more thought could go into the free breakfast, like maybe put out an assortment of fruit in additional to milk for the coffee.
(4) The water temperature in the shower was schizophrenic. IT was either really hot (like burn you hot) or really cold. I didn’t once get a shower that was «ideal».
Otherwise was had a positive experience and I would suggest this place to other dog owners.

I’m updating my review from 4 to 5 stars. We stayed here after our wedding and now we are back for our first anniversary. We didn’t even consider another place to stay. The Avalon is so welcoming and it’s one of the few places that says dog friendly and truly means it. We were greeted with champagne to celebrate our anniversary and our pups had a welcome basket of bones and tennis balls.
The rooms are nice, include a mini fridge, microwave and now a french press (!) and the bathrooms are beautifully done.
I have great memories of Avalon and I can’t wait to return in the future.

I’m really torn between 3 and 4 stars…
We booked this hotel mainly because of the amenities listed (free kayaks available, bikes, pool, breakfast, fire pit, fireplace, etc). Yes, these amenities were technically there, the ones we actually cared about were pretty disappointing…
Let me explain:
— «Kayaks» were a joke. They were far too small for adults (children maybe) and were unusable in the water. We are not big people — I barely weigh 130 lbs and the ‘kayak’ would have sunk within 5 minutes on the lake. We ended up having to pay to rent kayaks somewhere else. This was a HUGE disappointment.
— If you want to use the fireplace, the pilot light needs to be lit by hotel staff. I brought this up and the front desk attendant said «oh yeah, we should really have signs that say that». Ummm yes, you should. We really would have liked to use it the first night. After that it warmed up and we didn’t need it.
— Breakfast is extremely limited. They put out a crockpot of oatmeal with a tiny bowl of yogurt and a tiny bowl of cut up strawberries. You are literally restricted to taking maybe a tablespoon of yogurt and strawberries (if you don’t want to be a jerk and take all of it). There is also granola, but no milk or anything to put on it. They also have a platter of a few pastries, but again, very very limited. We were satisfied, but I still thought this was dumb.
— Free sangria in the lobby gave me a raging headache. I think it was pre-made…Why not just serve inexpensive wine?
— Pool was not heated (unusable), but hot tub was great and we used it nightly.
Fortunately our room was clean (minus a few stray hairs), comfortable, and updated. My favorite part was the huge shower with the rain shower head.
Conveniently located to a private beach 2 blocks away and the casinos just up the street. Overall we enjoyed our stay, but were really disappointed with the mediocre amenities.

I have one word — Awesome!!!
We were on vacation with our puppy and had the best time ever. The Lodge staff was very friendly, courteous. & accomodating. Very close to the beach and the village.
They provided bedding, toys and treats for the puppy. He was very comfortable.
The room was very clean and comfortable. The bathroom was nice.
So, if you are looking for comfort and cleanliness for both you and your pet, this is the place to be. Avalon lodge is our favorite place from now on.
It was truly a pleasure staying here.
Special thanks from Roofus :)