Big Pines Mountain House of Tahoe

When my friends and I entered the room, the heater must have on high because it was about ⁸⁰⁄₈₅ degrees inside. We turned on the air conditioner, but the bathroom was still quite warm. I wanted to leave the window open for a bit to cool it down, but there was no screen to keep bugs out.
There were four of us sharing a room, but there was NO extra toilet paper — just the one roll! That was a first! When we called the front desk about 8am, they said we could go to the office to get more, but none could be brought to us since the maids didn’t start for another hour.
There was an alarm clock on the night stand that was not on. It turned out it wasn’t plugged in. When we moved the night stand away from the wall to plug it in, there was no outlet to plug it into… so strange!
There were several places in the very cramped bathroom where the paint on the walls was peeling. Also, the sink filled up VERY quickly and drained VERY slowly.
There was also a small (end) part of one the slats of the blinds that was broken off. That was not quite as big a deal as the rest, of course.
I guess the only nice things were that the beds & pillows were okay, and the room had a mini-​fridge, a coffee maker, and a microwave. However, there were only 2 electrical plugs for the 3 of them.

I am writing this review slightly premature because we have yet to experience the continental breakfast. However, since I am unable to sleep at 2am, I might as well be productive. The room is a decent size and everything looks clean. Up until bedtime, the room had been great. I have never been one to put a lot of stock into the thread count of sheets. My wife complained about some sheets I bought on 2 different occasions because of the low thread count and I never had an issue sleeping on them. That being said, the sheets at this hotel must have a thread count of 8 or 9. It feels like I’m laying on ropes. On the bright side, by tomorrow I should be very exfoliated. I put my pillow inside of a sweatshirt and that has helped a little so now I just need a solution for the sandpaper I am attempting to sleep on. I tend to toss and turn a lot as it is but I foresee some road-​rash in my future if I try to do so too quickly. I wish I brought a benadryl or had done some heavy drinking tonight so that I could sleep. Instead I’m getting a nice warm glass of insomnia with a likely side dish of falling asleep while drive tomorrow. Yay me!

Hotel is in a great location. Walking distance to Heavenly Gondola, Harrahs Casino, shops and restaurants. There is construction going on beside the hotel, which may be a bother to light sleepers.
Bathroom is a bit outdated but the rest of the room was up to date. Comforter was super comfy, bed was okay.
Breakfast was light, included bagels, without cream cheese, oatmeal, yogurt, granola, milk, OJ, and coffee.
The room was a good value for the money.
They are pet friendly and allow cats to stay, which was nice for us. We would probably stay again.

Needed a last minute room for Saturday night and found a deal at Big Pines for $ 75/​night including tax. The room was really spacious but had not been updated since the 80’s. The rug and bathroom linoleum looked like they’d seen better days. I did not want walk around barefoot on the carpet.
A big plus for us was that the room had a good sized mini fridge, microwave and coffee. Even though the heating unit was a wall unit, it kept the temperature pretty even and comfy the whole time. Bed and pillows were comfy.
However, what ruined the stay for us was the noise. The walls were paper thin and you could hear your neighbors as well as anyone else who passed by your room on the walkway. The heater made a racket every time it turned on and off. The worst part were the god-​awful pipes. In the middle of the night, I would get startled awake by these loud banging noises. At first, I thought it was someone knocking on the door. Scared the crap out of me.
The location of Big Pines was good since it was walking distance from Heavenly Resort and the casinos. However, due to the noise issues, I don’t think that I will come back.

I definitely recommend not to stay at this hotel because the service was bad, and you had to pay for the food that were inside the rooms. But what was good about this hotel is that the employees were very polite, and the lady at the front desk help one of my family members get a closer room where my room, and they did, and I think that was very thoughtful, and you can stay at this hotel.

5 STARS! Big, clean rooms VERY close to the gondola. Friendly staff. Breakfast was ok… this is the place to stay if you want a good value for your dollar. Its a little quieter if you book an upstairs room. Overall its a GREAT place to stay on a budget.
A+++++++++++!!!

Staff was great very courteous and helpful carried out rollaway bed we ordered to our room. Decent breakfast selections (bagels, oatmeal, coffee) Stayed here only one night so don’t have a full experience on the place it is in a great location only downfall was the cleanliness of the room. Bed wasn’t very comfortable. And the coffee pot was in a location that it could be plugged in had to move it across room. You definitely get what you pay for couldn’t ask for much more. Room could be updated and bathroom could be a bit cleaner.

Very clean– not a speck of dust. The location is ideal. It is close to the Heavenly gondola and lots of restaurants. It isn’t fancy, but overall, it is a decent place. The continental breakfast includes bagels, oatmeal, granola, yogurt, juice, and coffee. The only downside is the walls are a bit thin.

NO frills little motel that is close to Harrahs/Harvey’s. In my room the rug was tattered, closet door does not work properly, towel bar in bathroom is broken and missing. There is a weird loud humming noise coming from somewhere in the motel that kept me up all night. Thin walls, can hear EVERYTHING around you. Customer service is very spotty here, depending on the person helping you. Signs around the room and forms you need to sign obviously indicating that they expect you to be a bad guest. I could keep going, but you get the idea.
I would only suggest staying here if you have no other option and want to be close to attractions.

I’m giving a solid 5 ( Unilocal) stars for a 2 to 3 (hotel-​rating) star hotel. For what it is, an affordable motel or motor lodge, this place is really good.
I came on the busy MLK weekend. The staff were friendly and helpful. I got an upstairs 1 queen bedroom.
PROS:
Clean enough — bathroom was clean. I wouldn’t roll around on the carpeted floor, but room was acceptably clean
Large — had plenty of walking space and a dining table with 2 chairs
Coffee maker
Microwave
Mini-​fridge
Big closet with lots of hangers
Big drawers in the dressers
TV with cable and HBO — watched as much of The Godfather Epic as I could before falling asleep
FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST — bagels (butter and/​or jelly; no cream cheese), granola, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, coffee, orange juice, hot water for tea or cocoa
Great Location — close proximity to all the tourist attractions: ski resort, beach, casinos, «downtown» shops, Raley’s grocery store, local parks
CONS:
walls are thin — bring earplugs
weird machine noises at night (buzzing) — use earplugs?
All in all, I had a great stay. As to the other reviews complaining about the breakfast, I would respond that I didn’t see a full kitchen on the property, so it would be difficult/​impossible for the staff to make hot food like eggs or sausage. (The hot oatmeal was cooked in a crockpot).
For a low-​cost option in South Lake Tahoe, I highly recommend Big Pines Mountain House. If you are looking for luxury and frills, this is not the place for you and you should pay more to stay elsewhere. There are cheaper places in the $ 60-​$ 80 range in South Lake Tahoe, but those places will be in less-​central locations and will be much less nice.
I’d gladly book Big Pines again.

We bought the Unilocal deal — $ 70 for $ 100 voucher for staying at Big Pines, and enjoyed ourselves in the King room with a mini kitchenette. There was also a fireplace in the room which was super awesome.
Conveniently located 2 blocks away from the Heavenly Ski Resort gondola, Big Pines is about as close as you can get to the slopes without having to break your bank.
The room was decently clean. There wasnt enough hot water in the shower initially but we called the reception and someone came and got it fixed, so all was good. The only down side is that the walls are super thin, so you can hear what goes on in the next room :(

We loved the room (304) when we entered. It was clean, well arranged and bed was comfy with clean sheets. I thought it was value for money. However, later realized that the bathroom door can’t be locked and had few bad surprises waiting for us.
More surprises at midnight:
The walls are so thin that we actually could hear what is happening in the other room and we didn’t want to hear anything about anyone’s private life. And then footsteps from the room above.
We tried calling the after hours number provided (530−307−2977) and nobody answered and then the alternate number (530) 541‑5155 and no answer there as well. With great difficulty we spent the night with disturbed sleep.
Next morning (yesterday) we gave a complaint and no one has approached so far to discuss the issue. So we believe the business doesn’t really care about the the comfort of their guests and their stay. Seriously???

Vibe /​layout
Room
We got deluxe room, 138 in the corner with a porch outside in front of our door. I really liked the porch because it had a bbq grill and chairs and table for you to enjoy your morning coffee. The room had 2 queen size bed, along with a cute mini kitchen, bathroom, and a table, as well a comfy kings chair lol. Overall it was an ok room, nothing outstanding, its nothing fancy, but for the price you pay for it is what it is. Great for people on budgets and try not to spend whole lot.
Kitchen
Inside the room it was roomy, we had a nice little kitchen with a fridge, sink, and a stove. We did use the stove to make some jello. As well using the fridge to keep our beverages cold.
Bathroom
Looks they have remodeled their bathroom. They changed the floors and the walls inside the shower. It was a plus for a nice warm shower after a long day, smelling like cigarettes from the casino or sweat. The shower pressure was ok but not strong where it can massage you. The toilet is a long one which is a plus to sit on. The flushing was slow, as well i had to hold on tot he lever until it is all gone, or else it will linger around for the next user.
Bed
It is comfy and bouncy. It was firm and doesn’t sag down. The blankets is soft and thin. At first i thought it wasn’t going to keep us warm, but it was warm enough during the night and day.
Location
It is near the base-​camp and other motels and lodge stay nearby. It is walking distance to the casinos and Nevada border line. The walk is about 10 mins away, it does get exhausting after a while back and forth. Imagine with snow in the winter, good luck. But during just a chilly weather it is ok and is still doable with the walking.
Another thing is there is 2 taco spots nearby! yes yes you won’t be hungry or starved. They might not open late, but better than nothing eh. Super tacos is the one i always walked by and had to stop by for their 1.99 tacos to like feed off the roaring belly.
Breakfast
the breakfast here is like having a carb feast, cereal, bandanna, toast, and bagels. Nothing fancy. Its like where are the eggs and sausage?
Wifi
The wifi strength shows it fast, but it is slow. I then switched back to my sprint let and it was faster than the wifi. Smh… a bit disappointed with this, when your trying to just upload pictures or watch some youtube.

A little worn around the edges, but clean, and a super comfy bed. Service was friendly enough, and the location is super convenient. Parking isn’t great. Free ‘breakfast’ was cereal and bagels.
If we’d paid more than $ 100, I wouldn’t have been satisfied, but it’s a good nights sleep in Tahoe for a good price on a weekend.

PROS: Very clean, very quiet, comfortable beds, convenient location, non-​smoking, friendly staff, practical kitchenette.
CONS: A bit older, small pool
COMMENT: I would definitely stay here again. For the price, you really can’t beat it. Stayed here for four days with my family of four. Used it as a home base while exploring Tahoe. Was it the Ritz? Of course not. But for a family on a budget it was great! I had a small complaint with the amenities initially, but the manager took care of the issue and I was more than satisfied. What else can you ask for?

The staff is not friendly and very rude. The air conditioning is very loud and the amount noise from all the neighbors is disturbing.
BUT. It’s reasonably priced, the rooms are HUGE and the location could not be anymore fantastic– the lake, restaurants and casinos are walking distance away.

Do not stay here if you value your safety!
One of the worst hotel stays I have ever experienced. Maid did not make up the room at all during our 3 day stay. Frat boys were yelling and fighting at 3 am on the balcony and threatening anyone that they saw, including women. I called the 24 hour number for the hotel and they were no help. I ended up calling the police twice. The «included breakfast» is sugary cereal and bagels. The AC unit sounded like someone was using a vacuum cleaner next to my head. The managements answer to that is that «it’s old».

This place has gone downhill totally! I checked in on 06÷08÷15 I booked 2 rooms i was assigned room #134 and 140. I stayed in 134 the first night and the room was horrible I have posted photos. The following day I moved to 132 which is a better room. However, there are my complaints my daughter got locked out her room several times because the room key stopped working my room key stopped working and I probably kept going to the office more than 10 times in one day. Now today 06/​10/​2015 my mine and my daughter’s room keys stopped working at this point I’m fed up and demand to speak to a manager. Well I spoke with Ruben and what a jerk he is. I guess the employee are having a party on the deck and he could careless about the issues I was having with his motel I’m trying to talk to him and he walks away. So I go to the office and let the young lady know I will be checking out a couple days early due to the rudeness of Ruben. The gal calls Ruben back to the office and he shows up and I tell him not only will I be checking out early but also expect my room to be compensated as promised he then tells me I booked my room through a third party which is untrue and showed him I booked my room directly through them he then says I believe you, which I doubt because he would have never said that. So I definitely expect to be reimbursed for my room for the last 2 days I will not be staying. I will never stay here ever again. By the way the breakfast is a joke here so be sure to bring your own food or eat out. I would give this place 0 stars if I could. I wouldn’t even stay here again even if it were for free that’s how much of a bad taste Ruben put in my mouth. So if your reading this Ruben which I’m sure you will enjoy your party on the deck since room guest concerns don’t matter! Your very unprofessional and you really need to work on that! But trust and believe me when I say this” I WILL NEVER PATRONIZE YOUR CRAP MOTEL EVER AGAIN! SO, CATCH THAT!!! I wish I could give Big Pines –10 stars! I’m done. THE END!

Eh, it sufficed. Awesome location. Clean room to crash in. Complimentary breakfast — which consisted of bagels and carbs, oatmeal, granola, various cereal, coffee and juices. Water heats up quickly and the AC cooled down quickly (rare hot day). However, the wall-​unit heater looked so dated that I was afraid to turn it on.
Compared to the other creepy dives in the area, this place looked like the Taj Mahal. Great price and I’d stay there again.

I go by the facts and let you be the judge. Gave it 4 star overall but mainly for Location but here is the break down.
Room:
There are minor stains on sheets etc which they could’ve tried bleaching but the sheets are generally pretty clean. No bed bugs, thank goodness as I am very sensitive. So this is a good thing. Walls and corners may not be in the best conditions but I am not here to party in my room but to enjoy Tahoe itself. As others have said here which is true, the walls are thin and you can hear a lot of things that go on upstairs and next door but nothing of a major deal really. They have a microwave and fridge in the rooms which I always love in a hotel!
Internet: As many have also said here, its horrible. Everyone is trying to take advantage of the wifi and everyone seems to be using at the same time so network is horrible. You will get it, just at certain hours. Seems to be the worst at night when everyone is in.
Service:
Its a family run place. The girls in the front seems a bit quiet but does their job and are very sweet. For their free continental breakfast, be ready people that its not much but for the price you pay for the stay and to offer free breakfast as well (where many others may not), shouldn’t really complain. Its enough to get you going. Oatmeal (brown sugar, raisins, granola if you want to add to oatmeal). Yogurt where its in a big pot for you to scoop, and bagels with butter or jam. They also have coffee, selective teas, hot cocoa, milk and OJ.
*Tip: If you want cream cheese, buy a few individual ones at the market down the street or something. Again, you don’t have to eat it. There is literally a taco shop next to them, a Starbucks in casino across street and supermarket down the street as well all by foot! No need to drive unless your that lazy. Your in Tahoe for goodness sake.
Location: The best location in my opinion! Walking distance to the marina, casinos (main street), shopping centers and the Gondola!
Note that this place is not a Vegas hotel and people should never compare to those giants. Compare apples to apples. Would I stay here again, definitely! Main reason is… LOCATION and a good price for it! Room is small but descent and clean. Bathroom somehow is huge… perfect for elders or anyone with walker, etc. They have the pull down seats in the bathtub as well. Water pressure is great too!
Again, the stained mold/​mildew could use some bleaching treatment to solve the issue or change out to a new one for a better appearance.