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    Donner Lake Inn

    4.9 (58 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:30 pm

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    And here's the happy couple.
    Michael L.

    A few weeks ago, my wife and I had a weekend totally free, which is an extremely rare occurrence for us, so we decided to escape the heat of the Sacramento Valley for a weekend. As I was looking for a place to stay, I came across the listing for the Dinner Lake Inn and was very interested, but the listing said we needed to check-in by 6 pm. And my wife wouldn't get home until that time and we would still have to drive a little over an hour to get there. So I was disappointed, but was able to find and book a hotel room in Truckee. The next day, I called the Donner Lake Inn to get some info on fishing the lake and mentioned that I was interested in a room they had available, but we wouldn't be able to make their check-in time and would probably wouldn't arrive until 8 pm. The kind voice on the other end of the phone was Mindy and she was more than accommodating for us, so I booked the room for 2 nights and was able to cancel the hotel. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly greeted by Paul, who showed us to our very cozy room and told us about breakfast in the morning and a Happy Hour in the afternoon. The room was so relaxed and comfortable feeling that all of our stress from the week instantly melted away. The tasty breakfasts that we were treated to each morning were expertly prepared by Mindy and Paul themselves. As a chef myself, I can fully appreciate the love and dedication they put into presenting us with such a pretty and delicious breakfast. We were fortunate to share the table (socially distanced, of course) with one other guest and had very pleasant conversation with him over breakfast. This was no run of the mill continental breakfast. After enjoying activities for the day and the splendor of the lake, we came back to the Inn for the Happy Hour and were served a nice glass of wine and some nibbles prepared by Mindy on their deck. No other guests came up and so we spent over 2 hours just chatting with Mindy and Paul like we were old friends. To say that we had an enjoyable stay at the Donner Lake Inn would be a huge understatement!!! It was such a pleasure to meet Mindy and Paul and have this charming couple welcome us into their home and treat us like family. We look forward to making a return trip soon!!!

    Getting ready to rent a canoe on Donner Lake.
    Steven B.

    Very impressed with their adherence to Covid guidelines. They've reduced the number of rooms available to allow thorough cleaning between visits including minimum 24 hour vacancy in each room. Hosts and guest wearing masks, except when guests are eating. Plenty of space between tables (30 feet for breakfast). Hosts are constantly cleaning contact surfaces: doorknobs, banisters, etc. We are older and in a high risk group, so we appreciated their diligent efforts to protect everyone. Food is still excellent and it was great to spend a few days in the land of the tall pines and beautiful Donner Lake. Managed to find a boat rental in Donner State Park and rented a canoe for several hours each day. Even the staff at the boat rental followed Covid guidelines, sanitizing life jackets and paddles. Bottom line: A great B&B in a beautiful location that is working hard to keep guests stay safe while enjoying the great outdoors.

    Creek next to the B&B

    A winter wonderland getaway! Thank you to Paul and Mindy for the hospitality . This B&B was amazing and will definitely be coming back soon. Even though covid regulations were still implemented we still feel like we got the full experience. The room that we choose was Bear's Lair and it is exactly as described and shown on the website but much bigger/very spacious. The beautiful room has a window that you can't not stop starting out of , it has such a beautiful view. Breakfast was amazing and definitely kept us full for the morning, Paul was able to bring us coffee and our "to go" breakfast to the room. The room was also very cozy and the heater definitely kept us warm at night. We also took a morning walk and 5 min down we were able to see Donner Lake it was breathtaking! Downtown truckee is only 15 min or less away from the B&B and it has some really good restaurants we got to enjoy for dinner. I can't wait to go back soon, we shared our experience with our family and friends they are also exited too stay here soon !

    Electric "wood" stove, thermostat controlled, kept the room toasty. Wide window seat great spot for admiring the woods & creek.

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    1 year ago

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    Jim M.

    Thanks so much for staying with us! Hope to see you again soon.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Donner Lake Inn

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    Review Highlights - Donner Lake Inn

    Paul and Mindy, the innkeepers are very friendly and you can see their passion to receive and help their guests.

    Mentioned in 39 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Hampton Inn & Suites Tahoe - standard 2 dbl bed room

    Hampton Inn & Suites Tahoe

    (217 reviews)

    $$

    We enjoyed our stay at the Hampton Inn. We needed a place that was conveniently located near Soda…read moreSprings for a good value and we came across Hampton Inn. We arrived shortly after check-in time on a Wednesday and were able to get our keys without too much trouble, although the lady that was checking us in didn't seem too suited for customer service - she gave off sarcastic, "I don't want to be here" vibes. Our room itself was cozy, clean, and comfortable. Some of the items could have been better stocked before our stay, such as the tissues - I think we only had a few of them in the box so quickly ran out and had to request housekeeping bring more the next day. Housekeeping isn't done daily so you do have to request it manually if you need anything. There were a couple of water stains on the ceiling but nothing too major. All toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, and hand soap are provided and the quality is actually pretty decent. I was very impressed with the complimentary breakfast included in your stay. You have hot items like eggs, potatoes, and sausage as well as cereal, muffins, bread, oatmeal, and a waffle maker. The hot items rotate, too, so you don't have the exact same breakfast each day of your stay. Staff was friendly, and the common area was very comfortable with a fair amount of seating. I believe coffee is also available all day. There was a power outage during our stay that lasted around 6-7 hours but luckily it happened in the middle of the night so most people probably didn't even realize it and it didn't impact our stay at all. I just happened to notice when I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed lights not turning on and some electronics not working.

    This was a great stay in Truckee!…read more Appreciated the great service at the counter and easy check in. Breakfast is included like all Hampton Inns and is fine for a bite before the snow. I will definitely stay here again, only thing they don't have is products besides the basic shampoo/conditioner/body wash.... I like having some extra toiletries but not a huge deal.

    The Truckee Hotel - Super comfy king size bed

    The Truckee Hotel

    (123 reviews)

    $$

    I had a confirmed reservation for this hotel for a brief weekend stay, but they refused to honor…read moreit, trying to fraudulently upsell us to a more expensive room, when the room in question had the proper occupancy (2 people). Don't trust their shady business tactics.

    For my first visit to Truckee and the Sierras, we wanted to stay "in the middle of it all" in…read moredowntown Truckee. We found that the Truckee hotel was just that - the perfect place to relax, walk the town and just chill out. The booking process was easy, and we received text updates from the hotel on the day of check in. We received the code to the door to get in, and our key cards were waiting for us as promised. Our room was on the third floor - lots of stairs! The hotel did text and ask if we were ok with stairs - since it is a registered historic venue, it is was it is:) We found our room (American, queen bed with private bath) to be spotless and lovely. Old-timey clawfoot tub with shower in bathroom, and the sink was outside the bathroom - the sink had separate hot and cold faucets . We had our own Keurig coffee maker, pods, tea bags, and breakfast biscuits. Windows were open, with several fans they had brought in: the temps reached mid-80's while there, and the building was quite hot. On the second floor alcove there is a breakfast area with packaged breads and biscuits, coffee maker with Peets regular and decaf pods, many different kinds of Stash teas, cold and hot water dispenser. Small microwave as well. No fridge. In this area there is a door that opens to the outside balcony, where we sat and looked out over the town, sipping coffee and relaxing. A nice respite from the heat. The hotel sits above Moody's restaurant, which can get quite loud in the evenings. The sound was not an issue inside the hotel though. Nor did we hear anything from any adjoining room to ours. Things to know: First of all, this is an old hotel, beautifully maintained. Observations about it are my own, not blaming the hotel. Just want folks to know the ins and outs of this old beauty! First of all, the floors in our room sloped in areas, so it can feel like you are off balance or having a stroke! Kind of an adventure! Second, we were on the third floor, and the stairs going to the third floor are deceptively steep, and stairway is not well lit. Seems like it could be a bit dangerous. I did give this feedback to the management; they are faced with the hotel being a historical building and alterations can come at a steep price and impact. That said, maybe a lamp nearby, or stick-on lights? Just be aware when using the stairs. These are just my observations, not at all a reason to avoid staying here. All in all, it was a lovely stay, despite the heat. Will visit again when it is cooler out!

    Tahoe Star Hotel - Hotel exterior

    Tahoe Star Hotel

    (11 reviews)

    Right from the start we felt at home. Emma greeted us with a smile, showed us around, found us…read moresome wine glasses, and we settled in. Our room was cozy, super clean, and had everything we needed. The hotel is literally across the tracks from the train station but there were no night trains. Jax Comfort Foods across the street was a super place to eat. We slept like babies. In the morning we walked a few doors up the street to the bakery for the worlds best croissants. We will definitely stay here again!

    We loved our stay at the Tahoe Star Hotel! We took the train and did not plan on renting a car. The…read morelocation was directly across from the station and located right in the heart of Truckee. We arrived very late due to a 9 hour train delay. Emma stayed in contact with me starting the day before our trip. Although we did not anticipate the delay, Emma gave us clear directions on what to do if we arrived late. We let ourselves in, but due to it being so late didn't get to see much. The next day we hopped on a TART bus and frolicked around town while stopping by the room a few times for sock changes as we happened to vacation after a very substantial snow fall. The hotel rooms are very modern and cute, but you still get that antique charm. There was a coffee and tea bar, a vending machine, and snacks provided in the lobby. It was very easy from booking the room to checking out. We enjoyed reading about the history of the Hotel that was provided in a directory/info booklet in the room! We stayed in room 8a. Overall we loved this place and is we are ever back in Truckee we know where we are staying!

    The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

    The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

    (542 reviews)

    $$$$

    We booked a family stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe for myself, my wife, and our six-year-old…read moreson. A few days before our trip, our son was diagnosed and tested positive for RSV. I called and asked for a reservation modification given the circumstances, and I was completely open to alternative solutions: a date modification, Marriott Bonvoy points to rebook on our own, a refund, or anything reasonable. We just wanted some flexibility. What followed was the usual runaround. We called the Ritz-Carlton directly, they told us they couldn't help because we booked through American Express. So we called Amex, whose concierge team was empathetic and professional. They reached out to the Ritz-Carlton on our behalf. After waiting 24 hours and following up, we were told that Ritz-Carlton management responded via email and declined to allow modifications to the reservation and still expect us at the property unless we pay a $750 cancellation fee. We presented a positive diagnosis of a contagious virus, were willing to accept any reasonable accommodation; a date change, points, anything, and the answer was no. This raises a serious concern beyond our personal frustration. If the Ritz-Carlton would rather a family show up carrying a contagious virus than accommodate a date change, what does that say about their commitment to the health and safety of their guests and staff? How many other sick guests have they pressured to check in rather than lose a night's revenue? What about employees who may face the same inflexibility when they're ill? For a brand that markets itself as the gold standard of hospitality, this experience seems like the opposite.

    When you book a stay at a high-end luxury resort, you expect top-tier service, exceptional dining,…read moreand attention to detail. Sadly, this property fell far short of those expectations. Dining Experience Extremely Underwhelming There are three dining options on-site: * A Mexican restaurant that operates essentially like fast food you stand in line, order at the counter, receive a number, and seat yourself. Paying over $100 for what amounted to street tacos of fast-food quality felt unreasonable and excessive. * A lobby restaurant with average offerings. * A so-called "fine dining" restaurant that was far from fine dining in both quality and execution. For a resort at this level, the culinary experience should be a highlight, not a regret. Breakfast Buffet - A Complete Letdown The breakfast buffet was honestly the biggest rip-off we've experienced at a five-star resort. The food was stale and cold, the selection was minimal, and even basic items like croissants tasted old. After paying over $200, we left basically with half a latte and the kids having hot chocolate. We returned to our room hoping to order room service only to be told we couldn't place an order until 11:30 AM. Service & Facilities The staff members themselves were friendly and polite. However, the overall service was consistently slow. There were also noticeable issues in the room: * Cloudy water from the sink and bathtub. * Low water pressure in the shower. For a property positioned as a luxury destination, these details matter. Another reason we booked this hotel is I read this resort is very family friendly and accommodating for children. We do have two small kids however any time we tried to go to the kids club no one was there. We had to ask multiple staff where was the kids activity and no one could answer. Then some of the events got canceled with no replacement or activity for the kids. The hotel was filled with families and many kids all around. The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is because the staff remained courteous, and during our visit there was a snowstorm for two of the days, which understandably led to some understaffing due to road closures. That said, weather-related challenges do not excuse the quality of food, pricing structure, or basic room standards. At this price point, expectations are high and they should be. Unfortunately, this stay did not deliver the luxury experience we anticipated.

    Truckee Donner Lodge - Mini fridge, microwave and coffee maker

    Truckee Donner Lodge

    (128 reviews)

    $$

    This review is long overdue but here I am…read more When we got there we met the receptionist, who was able to accommodate us when we called in for an early check-in. She doesn't smile too much, but is helpful and efficient. The whole lodge smelled clean and fresh, just like Truckee fresh air. Our room was spacious and clean and the view of the pine trees was amazing. The linens were clean and soft. Bed is comfy. The bathroom is also spic and span, however the body wash was not refilled. But we really didn't mind because we brought our own. I give the housekeepers a score of 11 stars! The place is clean, even the elevator! The dietary staff were amazing too! Breakfast was yummy! Pancake/waffle batter is fluffy and was dispensed on a little cup for an exact amount you need for the maker. This lodge offer free coffee all day, yum! And also has a water fountain for your water bottle refulls close to the entrance. This lodge also sits beside a coffee shop, if you choose something fancier. Overall, I love this lodge and for the price that includes free breakfast, we'll definitely be back.

    Impossible to reach management / Predatory policies…read more Extremely disappointed in the management at Truckee Donner Lodge. I spent an entire week trying to resolve a travel issue caused by extreme weather and highway closures. The front desk repeatedly claimed the manager was 'unavailable' and refused to help with an Expedia modification, despite the hotel being unreachable due to the storm. They are hiding behind 'non-refundable' fine print to profit off of families who are stuck behind road closures. There are many other lodges in Truckee that actually care about their guests and understand mountain logistics--stay elsewhere.

    Donner Lake Inn - bedbreakfast - Updated June 2026

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