Lake Tahoe's Luxurious Casino Hotel On The South Shore Is An Idyllic Mountain Getaway For Fine Dining And Fun

Unsurprisingly, Lake Tahoe gets a lot of attention for its iconic freshwater lake and namesake. But as many travelers and locals will tell you, Lake Tahoe has so much more to offer than just its lake. It's a gateway for picturesque road trips with mountain views and quiet towns. It's where you can go from snorkeling in crystal blue Lake Tahoe water to exploring miles of abandoned train tunnels turned into a graffiti art gallery. It's also where you'll find Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe, a luxurious hotel and casino where indulgence, fun, and dining all come together.

Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino is located about five minutes' drive from South Lake Tahoe, just over the Nevada-California border. As the name suggests, Golden Nugget is a hub for games of chance, with a 25,000-square-foot casino floor offering blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, craps, and slot machines. It also has a couple of sports betting areas, including Bill's Sportsbook, which is part bar, part gambling lounge with snacks and cocktails, 1,200 square feet of TV walls, and bar-top betting machines.

You don't need to gamble to have fun at Golden Nugget, which also hosts big music concerts in its showroom and more intimate performances on its outdoor patio during summer. You can't leave out the casino hotel's dining options when talking about nightlife. It has one (soon to be two) steakhouse known for its award-winning Angus beef, along with an oyster bar that was voted one of the best casino restaurants in the country. "The best restaurant was The Oyster Bar," one guest said on Tripadvisor. "They cook your seafood right in front of you while you wait."

If you want to stay at Golden Nugget, you can choose from over 500 luxury rooms and suites. If budget is a priority, you could opt for the Sunset King Bedroom, which costs as low as $100 (as of this writing) but still offers mountain views. You can upgrade this room to include a balcony and sprawling views of the lake for $10 to $60 extra a night. Alternatively, splurge on one of the newly renovated poolside suites, which has a separate living room, patio, and free-standing bath.

Guests at the hotel get access to all facilities, including the outdoor pool, which is open during the summer season. It receives a lot of light during the day, making it perfect for lounging with a cocktail while working on your tan. You also have access to an on-site gym, which is open 24/7 and has free weights and cardio equipment, such as treadmills and elliptical machines. One of the best parts about Golden Nugget is it's a pet-friendly hotel, though you'll have to pay an additional fee to bring Fido or Fluffy along. There's also an on-site pet concierge offering massages, daycare, and grooming for your furry friend. 

Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino is about 56 miles from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which has flights from cities around the U.S., including Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, and San Diego. The casino hotel is also a short walk or drive from Lakeside Beach, where you can enjoy a sandy shoreline overlooking the azure water. (Lakeside Beach is also near watersports rentals.) With all that said, the hotel itself is poorly rated on Tripadvisor for various reasons, including broken air conditioning and uncomfortable beds, so you may be better off coming here to dine and play, not sleep.