I had slightly higher expectations or at least hopes for Harrahs. The pros are its proximity to Heavenly Gondola and some parts of the old school style. Also I have to say the service is done with a smile and quite efficiently which makes a mediocre place somewhat pleasant. We checked into our non smoking executive double queen room. We had to sign a waiver about smoking (we don't) and arrived to a very smoky smelling room with ash trays and matches. I didn't feel like switching rooms so they used an ozone machine while we went out. It seemed slightly better but I'm in bed now and smelling smoke and wishing I had switched. I'm sensitive and its gross. The casino is cool in its old style but lots of drunk unsavory types. We went to the arcade which had good games but was a pig sty. Trash all over the place. Ate at pizza place in Harvey's that was also quite unkempt (trash all over the place, tables not bussed). So for me, it's kind of a turnoff. The room is large and reasonably nice. We were told they were just renovated. I'm not sure what is new--the bathrooms have some peeling plaster and wallpaper. Maybe newer carpet? Beds are fine furniture is scuffed so that's not new. We do have free coffee in the executive room and two free waters. Not sure what else I paid extra for. Room is clean but not perfectly so. Bathroom floor had some stuff on it (not cleaned entirely). In sum, for $300/nt its way overpriced. Maybe an off time for $100/ night would be a good value. The years of recession is showing in this part of Tahoe and at Harrahs for sure.

Harrah's features large comfortable rooms with sitting area, two bathrooms, and floor to ceiling views. Definitely a cut above the sister property, Harvey's, the hotel still offers great weekday rates, and discounts and comps with the players card (Total Rewards). The casino is great fun, staff much friendlier than Vegas. There's a good buffet with incredible views on the top floor. My only nitpick is the rooms and common areas starting to be in a need of a little touch-up; beds and pillows a little soft. Still, it's my place to stay in beautiful Tahoe.

It has an arcade. It has stores. That what makes it great. The spa was Excellent!! I loved the food.
People were friendly. I would go back again. I don't gamble, but it looks fun. The pool area excellent!!!!! The rooms were nice and clean. I would come back again.

Harrah's Lake Tahoe was once the legend on Tahoe's South Shore. It still has some great amenities. Quality entertainment in the showroom, fun lounge acts like Arty. I have to say though that when I saw the 4 diamond award on the wall in the lobby, I just kinda shook my head. Back in the day, 4 stars for Harrahs would have been a step down. Today, the hotel is losing it's luster and is really a 3 star hotel.

You can see what made the hotel great once. There are touches of the modern mountain elegance still visible. There used to be these great carved wood panels in the elevators. Those have now been replaced with cheap looking laminate and mirrors. While Friday's Station retains it's elegance and unbelievably gorgeous views, the buffet is now reminiscent of the Hometown Buffet.

The rooms are sadly not up to 4 star standards. The his and hers bathrooms are still there. The bed is fine, but nothing special. The headboard console is straight out of the 70's. There's a coffee maker in the room, but the coffee itself is a mini-bar item. The TV is an outdated picture the tv. The furnishings feel like a Hilton Garden Inn. The shower has a poorly designed and cheap looking dispenser system for the shampoo and soap. I guess this beast of a dispenser might have been considered a better looking option than the cheap soaps offered in the bath.

Bottom line, this hotel deserves to be better, but it's clear that there has not been the investment to keep it up to date and cheap shortcuts that leave the experience less than the hotel's long earned reputation.