Family Guide to Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA

Recently we took a family trip to Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, Poconos, PA – which is their third location (the others being Sandusky, Ohio and Wisconsin Dells). The resort opened in July and is absolutely stunning.

We hope you enjoy our Family Guide to Kalahari Resorts, Poconos: Part 1. Part 2 to come!

Getting There:
It should take you around 2 hours from New York City.
Note: You may hit traffic going over the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey and going into Pennsylvania (there was construction on Route 80 when we went).
Bathroom Breaks: If you or your kids need to take a bathroom break, look for exits with signs for gas stations and restaurants like McDonalds.

Check out my video tour!

Rooms:
We stayed in a Two Room Family Suite, which offered a fireplace, one king size bed in one room and two queen size beds and a queen size sofa sleeper in the other room. If also had a mini fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker, plus a programmable safe.

Admission to the indoor waterpark and outdoor waterpark (seasonal, weather permitting) is included for each registered hotel guest.

Room is priced for up to 6, you may add one or two guests by using the sofa sleeper at $35 per person, per night.

Features include:

• Microwave
• Mini-Refrigerator
• Coffee maker
• Free high speed Internet access available
• Hair dryer
• Telephone with voice mail
• Table and chairs
• Ironing board and iron
• In-room safe
• 32″ flat screen television
• Complimentary access to Fitness Center

You can see the family suite is our video tour — but take a look at the Penthouse, its amazing! It can sleep up to 12, so it may be perfect for a extended family vacation or big group of friends.

The Food:

Kalahari is not all inclusive, so you may have to budget where you spend your money. You may want to do a light takeout breakfast of pastries or breakfast sandwiches from Java Mangaro, Kalahari’s coffee and pastry place or try out the Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet, which features multiple food stations, chef action stations, foods cooked from the display kitchen, and picture perfect pastry displays. The restaurant has a full African theme and serves breakfast and dinner. When we visited, the Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet wasn’t open.

You can also get full service at Ivory Coast (sandwiches, burgers, salads), or get a la carte items at the Pizza Pub (pizza, salads and sandwiches). However, save room for a deluxe lunch or dinner at Brandberg, which is their high end restaurant and we highly recommend it. The food and service were outstanding. It was probably one of the best meals I have ever had in my life.

We had several appetizers, but my favorite was the cheese curds.

I had the roasted chicken – which was very juicy and delicious.

And the desserts? So scrumptious. The tiramisu is served in a chocolate cup. Everything is made on premises.

Since we had a refrigerator and a microwave in our room, we were able to take food back that our kids didn’t finish and give it to them later. My daughter and my youngest son NEVER finish a meal, so this was good.

Fun Sunday Morning Activity for the Family: KENYA’S (The Elephant)’s Surprise Birthday Bash Character Breakfast

The breakfast we sampled was fantastic.

Overview:

We really enjoyed our stay at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Pocono Mountains.

If you do stay at the resort, there may be a resort fee of $19.99 per day. It covers the costs associated with providing the amenities like:

• Included waterpark access during your stay (you can stay in the waterpark on the day you check out until close at 9PM).
• High speed wireless internet access in guest rooms, public space and convention center
• Expanded selection of TV channels including High Definition channels
• Complimentary in room safes
• Complimentary parking
• Complimentary daily newspaper available in resort
• Complimentary local, calling-card and toll-free telephone calls
• In room coffee
• Complimentary fitness center facilities
• Complimentary life jacket use in the waterparks
• Complimentary pool towel service in the waterparks
• Complimentary daily cookie decorating in lobby
• Bell service
• Daily family activities
• Support of eco-friendly Green Initiatives
• Business Center
• Complimentary Incoming Faxes
• Complimentary Concierges services
• Discount coupons at check in

Check their website and sites like Groupon for specials.

Thank you to Kalahari Resorts for providing a two night stay and some meals. No compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own.