THE COACHMAN HOTEL

Within a few blocks of Lake Tahoe and Heavenly Mountain Resort, the Coachman Hotel is both a retreat and gateway to the great outdoors.

Newly renovated, the motel experience embraces modern style and convenience while celebrating escapes to nature. Situated within the scenic backdrop of Lake Tahoe, the hotel invites you to explore the great outdoors.

ROOMS, AMENITIES, AND DESIGN

The Coachman Hotel has 42 recently renovated guest rooms and suites that include complimentary Wi-Fi access, MALIN+GOETZ toiletries, heated toilet seats, and 43-inch TVs with cable and Apple TV. All rooms are simply designed with comfort and style in mind: There is rubber flooring at the room’s entrance, perfect for placing gear, towels, and swimsuits out to dry.

The lobby is the heart of the hotel, serving both as a centerpiece and a place for communal gatherings. Sliding glass-paned doors fill the lobby with natural light bringing the outdoors in while overlooking the beautifully designed amenities, such as the outdoor seasonal pool and year-round hot tub. There are also many board games and books for a chill evening around the campfire or the cozy fireplace seating.

“Ample seating, reading materials, and games make this the perfect place to start and end your day. Please pull up a chair and stay awhile.”

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The lobby connects to an accessible breakfast area for complimentary tea and morning coffee by Stumptown Coffee Roasters. The reception doubles as a coffee and cocktail bar, with ample seating and valuable pricing for decent wine, ciders, and APIs. In addition, there are seasonal mixed drinks, such as the Chai Old Fashioned or the Citrus Martini.

A small breakfast menu is available for purchase in the morning, with the hotel website claiming the waffles with a healthy dose of whipped cream to be the best option. Personally, I still find the American breakfast culture questionable and am not particularly keen to eat individually-packed food out of plastic, so I skipped breakfast entirely after the first morning (as good as the heavy dose of whipped cream might taste). I can recommend the coffee, though, which is provided by the local Stumptown Coffee Roastery.

There’s a daily happy hour from 3 pm to 6 pm, where you can get excellent wine for exceptionally fair prices. And every night at 7 p.m., the hotel hands out marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate so guests can sit around the campfire and make s’mores.

ACTIVITIES

The Coachman Hotel offers many fun activities that they regularly update on their website. My highlights include:

  • Sunday Rooftop Yoga, hosted by Nicole Sklar (ERYT500 is a registered yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance), including Mats and a complimentary Mimosa or Espresso Drink.
  • Complimentary Bicycles to rent for a fun trip around the lake while enjoying the fresh mountain air.
  • Coachman Wine Tasting Experience, from $20/participant.
  • Seasonal Events, such as the Merry & Mulled Holiday Market.

Verdict

If you had asked me a year ago, while dreaming about the big island resorts that we had missed out on in Singapore, I’d probably never expected I would give a somewhat upscale motel an excellent rating. However, after having lived in the US for over a year now and realizing that resort hotels come at a fancy price, I have started to appreciate smaller boutique hotels and chains that maybe don’t offer a vast outdoor area or spa but instead have through-through interior designs, support local artists and craft, and offer freshly roasted coffee in the morning. That’s all I need, and the Coachman truly overachieved these things by any means.

Address: 4100 Pine Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150
Prices from: $129/night for Standard King

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