Not Very Dog Friendly

I was traveling alone with my dog and came here specifically because it was noted as being dog-friendly. We sat down on the patio and waited ages for someone to acknowledge us. No water, nothing for my dog. No napkins, no utensils. The patio was FILTHY. I give it two stars because the beer was cold and the salsa spicy. The food was okay.

Apr. 11, 2024

Great fun for both dogs and people

Truckee River Raft Company allows you to bring your pup on a lazy, self-guided float down the Truckee River by Lake Tahoe. In other places I have visited, dogs are not welcome on rafts, so this is truly special. The water is crystal clear, and there are plenty of places to stop and swim or eat your lunch along the way. They even allow you to bring coolers and alcohol (just no glass or styrofoam, please).

Jun. 29, 2021

Dog Tolerant, Not Dog Friendly

The pros:
1. Dogs allowed in some rooms
2. Reasonably priced
3. Conveniently located
4. Clean

The cons:
1. Rooms have no coffee makers, microwaves, or refrigerators.
2. I reserved and paid for a queen room, but was given a room with only a full-size bed.
3. Our room was on the second floor. The stairs are metal grates with spikes on top. I am sure this is to avoid snow and ice buildup in the winter, but the spikes can shred dogs’ paws. I had to carry my dog up and down the stairs multiple times each day.
4. The Wi-Fi is terrible.
5. Most of the TV channels do not work.
6. They are currently having an issue finding good housekeeping help. The boys who were doing the cleaning left bags of laundry all over the motel. They smoked in the hallways, and were seen sleeping by the pool.
7. Room key cards reset automatically each day instead of when you check out, so we had to get new cards every day in order to get back in our room.

Jul. 19, 2021

Adequate for a short stay, but not great

I dropped my dog off here for a half-day. The man who checked us in seemed very nice and caring toward my dog. The woman who was there when I picked her up, not so much. I think they left her locked in a cage the whole time without water or a trip outside to the bathroom. When I picked her up, she really had to pee and was extremely thirsty. As soon as we stepped outside the building, my poor baby peed buckets and drank 3 bowlfuls of water. When I asked the woman how everything went, she said nothing but “fine,” so I don’t think anyone looked after her at all.

Jul. 09, 2021

Dog Friendly

Caliente Tropics has rooms available for people with dogs. As another reviewer mentioned, these rooms are not as nice as others, but that is to be expected. There is a grassy area for walking and potty, and an outdoor area at the restaurant where your dog can sit with you while you eat. I believe they can also sit on the deck of the pool. It was too hot when we stayed there to do either, but I’m sure it would be great fall to spring. Please note that the grassy area is inside the fence where the pool is, so it is locked during certain hours. For example, it was closed until 8:00 am and my pup needed to go before then.

Jul. 07, 2021

Great for Dogs

This is one of the few beaches at Lake Tahoe you can bring your dog to. It is beautiful and easy to get into the water. If you come during the summer, arrive early because the parking lot fills up quickly. I would have given it 5 bones, but no one seems to obey the leash requirement here, so there are tons of dogs running around off-leash.

Jun. 24, 2021

Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands

This is a very dog-friendly beach where the Big River meets the ocean. A long strip of wide sand gives dogs a large area to romp around. There are signs posted that say dogs should be on-leash, but the majority of dogs we saw here were playing off-leash. We kept ours mostly on-leash, but they still had fun exploring, sniffing, and splashing in the water.

Jun. 16, 2021

Super dog friendly!

My partner and I stayed here with our two pups in June. They have designated rooms and cottages for people traveling with pets. They even give you a pet welcome basket that includes food and water dishes, treats, towels for the dogs, and sheets to place on their favorite curl-up spots to protect the furniture. Most places do not allow dogs on the furniture. Although we didn’t eat there, there is a designated outdoor area in the restaurant so Fido can eat with you. And Mendocino is dog heaven with tons of trails and beaches to romp on!

Jun. 15, 2021

Not so dog friendly…

I agree with the previous reviewer who stated the Mendocino Café is more dog TOLERANT than dog FRIENDLY. Yes, they do allow dogs on their outdoor patio. We were seated in the lower terrace area, which is covered with large, sharp gravel. This was painful for our dog to walk, sit, and lay on. They acknowledged her presence in no way. They didn’t even bring her a bowl of water. I would’ve given them three bones if the food had been good, but it was just mediocre.

Jun. 14, 2021