Everline Resort & Spa, a Destination by Hyatt Residence at Lake Tahoe, California [In-Depth Review]

Hyatt introduced Category 8 to its award charts in 2023. I’d never stayed at a Category 8 property before, so my wife and I had high expectations on this trip.

When you combine a ski-in-ski-out location at Lake Tahoe with a top award tier, the hotel should be awesome.

In many ways, the hotel was great, but a few aspects kept it from being awesome — namely, the check-in experience and inconsistent service at breakfast. However, the resort’s amenities were incredible (and numerous!), and we got a great deal on this stay.

This was our experience during a 2-night stay at Everline Resort & Spa in California during the first week of February 2025.

Booking Everline Resort & Spa

The Everline Resort & Spa participates in the World of Hyatt program and moved up from Category 7 to 8 in 2024. Category 8 is the highest, most expensive tier for hotels in Hyatt’s program, meaning it costs the highest number of points per night.

Depending on Hyatt’s peak and off-peak calendar, the Everline Resort & Spa charges 35,000 to 45,000 points per night. During our early February visit, the hotel was using off-peak pricing, charging 35,000 points per night for a standard room:

It was also possible to book a suite for 45,000 points per night:

However, cash prices weren’t bad, and we opted to pay for our stay. The prepaid rate was $262 per night, which was $294.75 per night after taxes. That rate was available for a Deluxe King or Deluxe Queen Room Forest View option:

Why would I pay cash instead of using points? Based on our valuations, Hyatt points are worth 1.5 cents each. Redeeming 35,000 points to save $294.75 each night would mean using my Hyatt points at just 0.84 cents apiece — far below their average value.

It’s worth noting that Everline Resort & Spa charges a $50-per-day resort fee. If you’re staying here using Hyatt points, you won’t pay that fee. You also won’t pay this fee if you have Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status. I did, or would have been on the hook for an extra $56.35 (after taxes) per day.

The resort fee offers a few perks, though you might consider many of them in the “I thought that was included in every hotel stay” category. You also get the following benefits during a stay, attributed to the daily resort fee:

• 10% discount on all non-sale apparel items at Everline Sports (shop)
• 15% discount on green fees at The Links at Everline (golf)
• Dive-in movies in the pool during the summer
• A complimentary shuttle in the area during the winter
• Complimentary coffee in the lobby from 5 to 7 a.m. daily

Everline is a Destination by Hyatt Residences property. As such, you can’t use Suite Upgrade Awards, which was disappointing. I had one that I would’ve loved to use for our stay — though we received an upgrade at check-in anyway.

Lastly, the hotel doesn’t accept any pets, and it’s totally cashless.

Hot Tip:

If you’re paying for stays at a World of Hyatt-participating property like this one, think about what credit card you’ll use to earn extra points on the payment. The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card both offer up to 9x points per $1 spent at Hyatt properties (4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels and 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member). Plus, if you have elite status with Hyatt, you can earn even more points on your stay.

Location of Everline Resort & Spa

Everline Resort & Spa sits near the Palisades Tahoe ski area and Olympic Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The hotel provides ski-in, ski-out access using a resort chairlift at the far end of Palisades, and there’s also a complimentary shuttle into the small town at Olympic Valley, where shopping, restaurants, and cafes are available, as well as lifts and gondolas to other parts of the ski area — including beginner terrain not available from the resort lift.

Reaching Everline from Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) takes roughly an hour by car. Alternatively, you can reach the hotel from the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) in 2 hours.

Both Palisades Tahoe and its partner Alpine Meadows (found on the other side of the mountain) participate in Ikon Pass, which skiers and snowboarders will recognize.

Checking In

Turning off California Highway 89 onto Olympic Valley Road, we saw signs and the torch from the 1960 Winter Olympics. In just a few minutes, we saw the sign for the Everline Resort & Spa and turned onto Squaw Creek Road, which ends at the hotel’s front door.

The roundabout at Everline’s front entrance had ample parking off to the side, keeping this front area open for those who were actively loading and unloading their cars. A smiling valet employee asked if we needed help and said he would hold our keys while we checked in, in case he needed to move our car out of the way.

At the main entrance and reception desk, we saw decorations for the Lunar New Year holiday.

We found rugs for wiping our feet both before and after the automatic doors, and these bore the resort’s logo.

Immediately inside, we found a large seating area with multiple sofas, coffee tables, and high-back chairs arranged in groups.

Several seats faced the large windows with views over the pool area and Olympic Valley beyond.

Between the seating area and the reception desk, there was a large fireplace set in a stone pillar. This was a popular spot for people to dry their gear in front of the fire.

Turning left from the main door, there was a small concierge desk (which we rarely saw anyone occupying) before a large, open area in front of the hotel’s reception desk. There were 3 employees working the desk when we arrived, and they were all assisting other guests. However, we waited less than 5 minutes before an employee called us forward.

Unfortunately, the employee who checked us in left a lot to be desired. While the 2 female employees were smiling and friendly toward guests, the man helping us was very curt and left out a lot of information I consider essential. After taking a credit card for incidentals, he gave us a pair of keycards and told us the QR code could provide details — then called the next guest forward. Not much of a check-in experience.

However, I did get a text message about 5 minutes later, offering assistance for anything we might need.

We also had a chance to ask additional questions when a staff member knocked on our door a few minutes later, which I’ll discuss below.

The last thing I want to say about checking in is that hotel rooms aren’t in the same building as reception. The main building holds the lobby, restaurants, meeting rooms, and amenities, spread across 3 floors. We continued past reception (away from the valet and main entrance) to an outdoor walkway between the main building and the guest tower. There were bins with umbrellas at the doors to both buildings, just in case, since moving between buildings required going outside.

Elite Benefits

Even though the check-in agent didn’t tell us about it, we received an upgrade to a Fireplace Suite Valley View room. This room was selling for $337 per night, plus taxes — about $70 per night more than the room we’d booked.

We also received a few other benefits from my Hyatt Globalist status. These included complimentary breakfast each morning, waived resort fees, 30% bonus points from our spending at the hotel, complimentary bottled water, and an offer of late checkout — which the hotel said we could ask about on our final day, at which point the employees would let us know how late we could stay.

We also received a welcome gift and a note from the concierge team. A few minutes after we arrived in our room, there was a knock at the door. I took the opportunity to ask this employee additional questions, stating we hadn’t received much information during check-in. After explaining the welcome gift, she answered my questions with a smile.

The gift was a potted plant, including a biodegradable pot. That’s definitely not a welcome gift I’ve seen at other hotels.

I asked this friendly employee about the location of the hotel’s amenities, where we could enjoy our complimentary breakfast benefit, and the hours for key features we cared about — like the shuttle and ski valet. If this woman had checked us in, the experience at the desk would’ve been much better.

Our Room: Fireplace Suite Valley View

Stepping out of the elevators on the sixth floor, the hotel had a very homey feel — more like an apartment building. And that made sense, given the “Residences” aspect.

The carpet-lined hallway had geometric patterns, while the walls had tan wallpaper. The doors were solid wood.

As soon as we entered, we knew this wasn’t the room we booked. It was only then we found out we’d been upgraded to a suite.

Kitchenette

We entered the kitchenette, which had stone tile flooring. This was really practical, as it prevented snow from tracking onto the carpet covering the rest of our suite.

The kitchenette had ample wooden cabinets, providing lots of storage. It also had a stainless steel sink and lots of counter space.

We had a 2-burner electric stove and a teapot, and the burners had digital controls.

A minifridge was under the counter near the door to the hallway.

A Lavazza coffee machine was on the counter with pods found near the entry side of the kitchenette.

We were surprised to find this compact dishwasher in a drawer while rooting through the cabinets.

Most of the drawers and cabinets had something in them, with a trash can under the sink. We found a full set of silverware and steak knives in one drawer, for example, while another had utensils.

We also found aluminum water bottles near the stovetop, including a note that we could reuse these as part of the hotel’s effort to reduce plastic use. These cost $5 each (plus tax), though World of Hyatt members get complimentary bottled water during their stay.

A small closet near the entry was across from the cooking area. Here, we had hangers, a safe, an iron, and an ironing board.

Living Room

Looking straight ahead, there was a compact living room that managed to fit in a lot of stuff without feeling cramped.

On the left wall was a full-length mirror, a pair of coat hooks, and a thermostat.

On the right, we had a wooden dining table with 4 chairs. Next to this was a connecting door to the next room.

There were a few stains on the carpet here, but the rest of the room had no issues.

The living room had a comfortable armchair and an L-shaped sofa that folded out into a bed. Between these was a small wooden stand with a lamp, phone, and a Bose speaker.

In the middle of the living room was a round coffee table holding several regional magazines.

Our windows provided views over the pool area and out to the Olympic Valley beyond. They were also covered with heavy blackout curtains.

There was a TV and a fireplace opposite the couch. The fireplace was operated by a switch on the wall.

Bathroom

The bathroom was accessible from both the bedroom and the kitchenette, and its layout maximized the space.

The sink had little counter space, which was the bathroom’s main drawback. On the counter, we found a closeup mirror, soap, lotion, and a box with several amenities. These included cotton swabs, a shower cap, and makeup removal pads.

In the cabinet underneath, we found a hair dryer, extra tissues, and spare toilet paper.

Past the toilet was a small glass shower enclosure in the corner.

Pump bottles of toiletries were on the wall. The shower had 2 adjustable settings, neither of which provided a very comfortable stream of water. However, the pressure and temperature were good.

In the opposite corner was a small bathtub.

A wooden cupboard was between the 2 entrances to the bathroom. However, it was locked.

Bedroom

The room had just enough space for us and the furniture but nothing beyond that. In the center of the room was a comfortable king-size bed with multiple pillows, though they weren’t very firm.

There was winter-themed artwork on the wall near the bathroom.

Each side of the bed had a wooden nightstand with a lamp. Built into the nightstand were 2 USB-A ports and a pair of 3-prong outlets for charging our devices. There was also a phone on one of the nightstands.

On the far side of the room, near a window facing the valley, were an armchair, an ottoman, and a floor lamp.

Across from the foot of the bed was a 4-drawer dresser with a TV on top. This was at an angle to the bed, though, and there was no arm for rotating the TV.

Between the door to the living room and the door to the bathroom, we found a small closet. Inside was extra bedding, hangers, and a folding luggage rack.

We also had a par of comfortable, gray robes in here. A note on the robes said we could keep them for $129 each.

On the closet’s top shelf, we found a pair of fuzzy slippers with the resort’s logo.

Amenities

Lift Access

The hotel had direct access to a chair lift. This 3-person chair had access to blue and black runs, ascending 1,352 feet to Snow King and providing the opportunity to ski or snowboard back to the hotel’s lowest level, where the van and pool were located.

Facing the Palisades Tahoe ski area, this lift served the furthest left portion on the trail map.

Complimentary Shuttle

Staff described the blue run down to the hotel as an “aggressive blue, almost black,” which was beyond our skill level. Thankfully, the hotel offered a complimentary shuttle to the village, from which we could catch other lifts and gondolas.

The shuttle ran every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m., the pickup point was at the back of the resort, on the same level as the pool and near the Resort Chair lift. From 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., the shuttle picked up and dropped off at the main entrance. From the village back to the hotel, pickups happened hourly at 15 and 45 minutes past, with the last ride back to the hotel at 10:45 p.m.

The shuttle had a rack on the back to hold snowboards, skis, and poles, and it had seating for a dozen people.

Plus, the shuttle had free candy, which was a nice touch.

Ski and Snowboard Valet

A ski valet and tune-up shop were past the shopping area and 1 level down (by stairs or by elevator).

The valet could store skis and snowboards overnight, and lockers were available for guest use. Calling down to the valet desk was easy, and they had our boards waiting for us each morning by the time we arrived.

There also was a repair and tune-up shop nearby, in the back corner of the sports store. Here, you could get your skis waxed or edged, bindings tightened, or other work you might need. Staff also had a small selection of rental gear.

It was also possible to ask the valet team to leave your gear outside on the racks near the shuttle pickup area, though few people did this during our visit.

Lift Tickets and ATM

Lift tickets could be purchased at the hotel. A ticket booth (with a real person) was in the shopping area between the lobby and the guest rooms. A ticket pickup station was also next to an ATM on the hotel’s lower level, near conference rooms and the breakfast restaurant (Cascades).

Parking

The hotel offered self- and valet parking. Hourly rates were available, and overnight parking was $65 for valet or $35 for self-parking. Globalists on award stays do receive complimentary parking, however.

Those opting for self-parking had a bit of a walk from the lot to the hotel’s main building, so take that into consideration.

Elevators

The building with guest rooms had 4 elevators. These arrived quickly, and we never waited long. The waiting area on the ground floor recalled the look of our bathroom and kitchenette with the stone flooring.

On guest floors, the waiting area was carpeted. There were 3 elevators on the left and 1 on the right, each assigned a letter from A to D.

These were smart elevators, and guests pressed their desired floor on the control panel. Then, the panel told you which elevator to get in.

The elevators displayed different pictures of Lake Tahoe, such as the lake itself during summer or trees surrounding the lake covered in snow.

The waiting areas also had trash and recycling bins available.

Internet

We enjoyed complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property. The connection was reliable, and we got average download speeds of 20 Mbps.

Fitness Center

A gym with free weights, cardio equipment, and several weight machines was near the noodle restaurant and the sports shop.

There were lockers available for guests in the hallway, providing quick access without needing to go through the changing rooms.

Inside the men’s and women’s locker rooms were changing rooms, lockers, toilets, showers, and a sauna.

Spa

The hotel’s spa, which included a steam room, was next to the fitness center. Treatments included massages, skin care, facials, and more.

The spa had strict cancellation policies: a 50% charge for cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment, 100% within 2 hours, and a $50 fee to reschedule within 2 hours of your appointment time. The spa also added a 22% service charge on all treatments.

The spa was open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Pool and Hot Tubs

The hotel had a large heated pool open year-round.

The pool had a lift for those who needed it.

There was also a water slide, though it was closed for the winter.

The pool deck also had a water station, including paper cups.

Towels were available from a rack near the pool, and they were covered to keep snow and sleet off them. There was also a bin for dirty towels.

Shopping

You could probably shop till you drop at the Everline Resort. The area between the hotel’s main building and the guest tower was lined with shops.

Stores offered everything from toys to home goods to apparel (focused on winter clothing during our visit).

The largest store was Everline Sports, located 1 level down from the other shops near the noodle restaurant, ski valet, and gym. This shop had ski-related apparel like coats, bottom layers, helmets, goggles, and more.

Ice Skating

The hotel had a small ice skating rink between the shops and the pool area. It got very little use during our visit, but it was a unique amenity.

There also was a nice waterfall over some rocks near the skating rink.

Games

In the summer, these complimentary games are outside in the space where the ice rink is set up during the winter. For the winter, they were moved into the furthest meeting room on the same level as the ATM and Cascades restaurant.

Options included table tennis, chess, cornhole, and more.

Golf

The Links at Everline was closed during our visit. The course is available from spring to fall, and there’s even a soccer-meets-golf course for footgolf.

Reserving a tee time is recommended for the golf course. Rates range from $79 to $129 for adults, and resort guests get a 15% discount.

Meeting and Event Spaces

The resort offered 18 rooms with nearly 48,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. These ranged from small meeting rooms to renting the outdoor deck near the Oasis Grille. Indoor rooms were found to the right of the lobby on the main floor and also 1 floor down on the same level as the Cascades restaurant.

Luckily, signs indicated the locations of various meeting and event rooms throughout the hotel’s main building.

Ownership

Those wishing to return to the property regularly may be interested in ownership. A small hallway near the main shopping area led to the homeowner services office, providing help to owners and information for prospective owners.

Food and Beverages

Bearshine Cafe

Bearshine Cafe was located in the shopping area between buildings and operated from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The cafe served sandwiches, pastries, smoothies, espresso drinks, and more.

However, it was much more than just a counter for light bites and drinks. This place felt like a supercharged corner store, offering chips, seasonings you might need for cooking in your room’s kitchenette, toiletries, and much more.

Multiple freezers and coolers offered drinks, microwavable meals, and ice cream, among other items for sale.

Cascades

Cascades was located 1 level below the lobby, and this is where we had breakfast each morning. The restaurant was open from 7 to 11 a.m. daily. It didn’t serve lunch or dinner.

The breakfast buffet had numerous offerings, though they were spread out across numerous stands, making it difficult to know what all the options were on our first morning.

Near the kitchen, hot dishes like potatoes, bacon, waffles, and French toast were available, and chefs cooked eggs to order.

Another station had oatmeal, warm milk, and cereals.

Several fruits were available, as were pork dumplings and bite-sized cakes.

The restaurant also had a robot that took dirty dishes to the kitchen.

The chefs at the egg station were easy to find. Other employees at Cascades disappeared like the wind. On our final morning, we were nearly done with our food before anyone approached to ask our room number and whether we wanted coffee — things we would’ve expected as we entered the restaurant and sat down at a table. This was a very do-it-yourself dining experience.

Iron Road Noodle House

Found next to the sports shop, Iron Road Noodle House offered Asian comfort food, including dinner specials available after 4 p.m. It operated from Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. and was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Oasis Grille / Ski Bar

Operating daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (depending on weather and hotel occupancy), this small hut between the pool deck and shuttle pickup area offered cocktails, beer, wine, and hot chocolate — with or without alcohol. In the summer, the wintertime Ski Bar becomes the Oasis Grille, offering light bites in addition to drinks.

Sandy’s Pub

Sandy’s Pub was named after the mother of the family that started this resort. It was on the bottom level of the main building and included an outdoor space near the pool deck. The kitchen offered a full menu from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, serving both lunch and dinner. The bar stayed open even later, continuing until 11 p.m. most days and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

It was possible to enter Sandy’s from the steps inside the hotel’s main building or from the outdoor area, though there was no seating available outside during our winter visit.

Menu offerings included salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers, and ribs, to name a few.

Six Peaks Grille

Six Peaks Grille was the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, open for dinner daily from 5 to 9 p.m. Before dinner, guests could also take a 1-hour craft cocktail class at 4 p.m., which cost $18 per person.

The restaurant’s entrance was adjacent to the lobby and easy to find.

The menu was available at the host stand. Sides and starters included things like salads and macaroni and cheese, though the restaurant’s emphasis was on grilled meats and seafood.

Service

Service was overall good, though the Everline Resort & Spa had some inconsistencies that could be improved — especially considering this hotel is in Hyatt’s highest award category, meaning it should offer an excellent stay in all aspects.

The staff at the valet stand were consistently friendly and offered assistance every time we saw them, such as holding our keys as we checked in rather than telling us we needed to move our car out of the way.

Our check-in experience wasn’t very good, however. If the valet employees hadn’t spoken to us on arrival, the first person we talked to at Everline would’ve been a gruff front desk employee who wasn’t helpful. I don’t particularly care if a hotel thanks me for my elite status or mentions what status level I hold. However, I do want the employee to outline any perks I’m receiving and tell me where to find key amenities, such as the hours and location of our complimentary breakfast. Not telling us we had received a room upgrade also felt strange.

The employee who came to our room with the welcome gift saved the day, providing a friendly smile as she answered our questions about the hotel’s amenities and their hours. We even told her we wished she had been the employee who checked us in rather than the person we dealt with who seemed like he just wanted to give us keys and make us go away.

We loved the staff at Bearshine and Sandy’s. Many of them were seasonal workers, including international students on temporary visas, and we found the staff friendly, helpful, and funny — genuinely great people who provided quality service. The breakfast staff at Cascade’s could take some notes from them. Getting our bill or coffee when we wanted them or even having someone say hello as we arrived at breakfast seemed like minimum expectations, and these weren’t done well.

Staff at the sports shop, ski valet, and tune-up area were also efficient and courteous throughout our stay.

We called the front desk the night before our departure to inquire about late checkout. Since someone would be checking into our room after we left, the staff could only give us a 2 p.m. departure. That would’ve interrupted our snowboarding time during the day. Thus, we decided to check out before hitting the slopes, leaving our belongings in the car.

When it was time to check out, the process was friendly and efficient. We quickly reviewed our room charges for food and beverages during our stay, and the employee offered to charge the card we’d left on file at check-in, saying we’d get an email with the final statement in a few minutes.

Valet staff even asked if we wanted a hand loading stuff into our car at the front door. They got a tip, even though we never used valet parking.

Final Thoughts

With a few adjustments, the Everline Resort & Spa could elevate its service and truly provide a Category 8-level experience for guests. Focus areas would be a better check-in experience and employees not disappearing during breakfast.

However, other staff at the hotel were great. Plus, the amenities were both numerous and impressive.

We got a great cash rate on our stay, though you can also use Hyatt points. The hotel’s location is fantastic for skiers and snowboarders, and it also seems great for a summer visit if that’s more your thing.