Agate Bay Realty Lake Tahoe — Attraction in Tahoe City

Rating: 6 Stars - An Exceptional Experience!

A group of us stayed here in February 2025 and if there were 6 or more stars - The Great Escape and Agate Bay Realty would both get these.

Our stay at The Great Escape, was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the attention to detail and the thoughtfulness put into every aspect of the home. The kitchen facilities were by far the best we’ve ever experienced in a holiday rental – extremely well-stocked with an impressive array of utensils, cooking options, and pantry items, right down to zip lock bags and food storage containers for leftovers! Whether we wanted to cook a quick meal or prepare a gourmet dinner, the kitchen had everything we needed and more.

The beds were incredibly comfortable, and the bathroom amenities rival any hotel stay with plush towels, essential toiletries, and everything you'd expect for a luxury experience.

The spa was meticulously maintained and was the perfect way to relax after a day on the slopes. The fenced yard was perfect for a pet friendly offering. It’s clear that the property owners of the Great Escape and Agate Bay Realty care deeply about their guests' comfort and convenience.

One of the standout features was the clear and comprehensive information provided for using everything in the house. All appliances and systems were well-labeled, and the instructions were easy to follow – a thoughtful touch that made the stay even more enjoyable.

Agate Bay Realty, the letting agent for The Great Escape was incredible, extremely responsive and proactive, providing all the information we needed leading up to our arrival. They even included a note with a promise that if our stay was anything less than 5 stars, to contact them directly. This level of customer service was refreshing and much appreciated – a further reinforcement that they truly care about a positive guest experience.

As an annual visitor to the Tahoe region from overseas, and having stayed at multiple rentals in the area, I can confidently say I won’t be staying anywhere else. This property and the team behind it have set a new standard, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Thank you for an unforgettable and memorable stay. Looking forward to returning to The Great...

I booked our yearly summer vacation through Agate Bay in May, 2023 for a week long stay for July 8-15, 2023. I paid in full and received confirmation that we were all set. On July 3, I emailed Agate Bay to get the check in information as we were scheduled to arrive July 8. I received an email back for the dates of July 16-23, to which I responded back that those days were incorrect. I asked to call but was told that we could only communicate only by email. I then was told that we did not have a reservation at all in their system. I asked to speak to someone again by phone which was denied. After a few more emails I was then told they did not have a reservation for us at all because there had been a computer error on their end. I again said that this was unacceptable and needed to speak to someone. Claire told me this was not a possibility. I spent 8 hours going back and forth by email to get absolutely nowhere. I expressed we had taken time off work, had a pet sitter booked, and had someone flying in for the vacation. I was offered a leftover cabin they had that was half the size and much fewer amenities than the cabin we had booked. Claire then said I could get a refund and book through another company. It was mid July, the peak season! Everything had been booked months ago!! I did end up finding a cabin for the following week through another company but it was more expensive. I asked them to split the difference and give us $500 to make it all good. They would not budge. No care at all for what THEIR error had messed up and complete disregard for our situation....

I rented and paid for a property on Vrbo back in April that was supposed to be for the week between Christmas and New Year's. Only 14 days before my check-in, I was told that the property had insurance issues and was not rentable. This was really upsetting as we had planned this trip to Tahoe planned for over 8 months and my daughter had flown in from Japan in anticipation of a ski trip. Agate Bay manages the property and was the one to call me about the cancellation, but it was the owner who had listed it on Vrbo.

I tried desperately to get something in writing about the cancellation and requested my refund ASAP but I literally got nowhere until Sean Gray stepped in on my behalf. Vrbo was useless and basically told me I had no recourse without something in writing, which I never got. They also gave me the runaround and kept me on hold for up to an hour at a time. I felt like I was being ignored so that my check-in day would arrive and I would be a no-show. It felt like a Vrbo scam and that I was going to be out $3200, which was incredibly frustrating and made me want to NEVER rent on Vrbo again (even though this is the first transaction out of several dozen that has caused any problems.)

It wasn't even his transaction but because Sean knew the owner, he kept on it for me until I got my refund. I honestly think I would never have resolved this without his help. I am so grateful and...