SHOULD YOU STAY AT HERSHEY LODGE?

MY REVIEW of Hershey Lodge

I was offered a media rate to stay at The Hershey Lodge in exchange for my review of Hershey Lodge. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Where do you go for a first time every visit with your mother and sisters? My sisters, my mother and I recently had the pleasure of taking our first ever trip together. Since my mother is now 89 we wanted to visit somewhere that was within a half-a-day drive, and offered something out of the ordinary. AND we all LOVE Chocolate! We decided on Hershey, PA, with a stay at Hershey Lodge. All things considered should you stay at Hershey Lodge? The following is my review of Hershey Lodge with the Good, the Bad, and my recommendation:

Review of HERSHEY LODGE – THE GOOD:

BEAUTIFUL: Hershey Lodge is a beautiful property. When you first pull in, you are greeted with a spacious, beautiful Lodge. The outside of the building is spectacularly large with well-maintained grounds. 

THE LOBBY: The lobby and first floor are breathtaking. From the massive fireplace, the gorgeous front desk, the kid’s check-in area, and the spacious sitting areas, you will be immersed in the finest that Hershey has to offer.

THE ROOMS: Generous in size and well-maintained. Our room was clean, the beds were comfortable, and the bathroom was stocked with adorable soaps and extras that are rare these days (shower cap, razor, toothbrush and toothpaste). Just look at that soap (and the wallpaper in the bathroom had Hershey kisses on it).

 

REVIEW OF HERSHEY LODGE – THE REALLY GOOD:

THE POOL AREA: The indoor pool with an indoor/outdoor slide was stunning, huge and awesome. This area has several separate pools, including a toddler area.

THE RESTAURANTS: With 6 dining options at Hershey Lodge you will not go hungry. There is something to suit every budget. Hershey Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner while The Forebay is open for dinner only. The Bears’ Den is a hockey-rink inspired sport’s bar modeled after the Hershey Bears team and is open for lunch and dinner. Cocoa Beanery offers soups, sandwiches, coffee, pastries and more in a coffee shop atmosphere and is open from 6:30am-11pm. Fire & Grain is open for breakfast and dinner and offers soups, salads, flatbreads, generous appetizers, and more. The Cocoa Cabana is a quick service dining option in the pool area. Please check Hershey Lodge site for current operating hours.

Most noteworthy was our experience at Fire & Grain. We found it absolutely delightful. I have a gluten allergy, and the chef came out and talked with me. I was assured that my food would be prepared in a separate area away from the rest of the food. And the food at Fire & Grain was delicious and different. I had the Braised short ribs with potatoes – YUMMY!!!

PACKAGES: Make sure to check out the package options on Hershey Lodge website. Because our stay came with visits to The Hershey Garden and Hershey Story Museum, we saved a considerable amount of money. Unfortunately, it rained our entire trip, and we were not able to enjoy the full-splendor of Hershey Gardens. BUT BE SURE to read my review from our last visit to Hershey Garden!

Review of HERSHEY LODGE – THE BAD:

Surprisingly there are a few areas of contention. First, what’s up with the Towels? Honestly, this is a problem we have experienced in many fine establishments. Four people check into a room with 2 queen-sized beds. Our room slept 4, and the bathroom was set up for 3. Three sets of towels! As I’ve mentioned, this is common among even the best hotels. Usually it just requires a call to housekeeping the first day to fix this problem, but it is still annoying. I mentioned this to the front desk manager, and I was told that the rooms with 2 queen-sized beds should be set up for four people.

Second, we encountered the MAZE: Hershey Lodge is a series of sections that are connected with walkways that are set at different angles. The first day we parked close to our room and walked right into the hotel. However, on the second night, we couldn’t find a parking spot near our room. As a result, we walked in circles for a long time. We walked upstairs, down a hallway, and then walked outside the front of that section. After wandering for 15 minutes we stumbled upon an employee who walked us to our room. I know that I am directionally challenged, but I am sure that I am not the only person who has been lost within the confines of  Hershey Lodge.

One last thing that I noticed was that our section of the hotel was updated with clean looking hallways and carpeting, but this was not the case for the entire hotel. For instance, while walking to the pool we noticed older carpet, wallpaper, and wear to some of the hallways. 

REVIEW OF HERSHEY LODGE: THE RECOMMENDATION:

With all this in mind, would I stay at Hershey Lodge again? Bottom Line: Yes, my family would stay at Hershey Lodge again! Our stay was enjoyable. We loved the room and the public areas, and the restaurant was delightful. Since we didn’t get to swim in the pool area, that is on my bucket list. In addition, I would love to try out some of the other restaurants at Hershey Lodge!

Thanks for following along,

Patty @ A Mother’s Random Thoughts