Fodor's Expert Review Base Camp South Lake Tahoe

This three-floor boutique hotel near the Heavenly Gondola, Stateline casinos, and several good restaurants provides solid value in a hip yet family-friendly setting. The lake is a five-minute walk away. Rooms are outfitted in a 21st-century rustic-camping style, with reclaimed wood and shades of gray and brown with splashes of bright orange or green. The Great Indoors rooms have tented beds, a faux fire log, and glowing stars on the ceiling if you want to play at camping; the Explorers Club offers four bunk beds to sleep a group of eight. All have free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs with cable. The public areas include a lobby with leather sofas and a fireplace; outdoors are firepits, a beer garden, and rooftop hot tub.