My wife and I have gone to Pocono Palace on 5 separate occasions, including our honeymoon, 1st anniversary and 5th anniversary. We love it every time. For our honeymoon, we stayed for a week. For all the future trips, including the one we are taking in a few weeks, we have stayed 2 nights.
Here are some tips & tricks that people should know before going that could make their trip more pleasant.
1. Breakfast
a. We usually order for one of the earlier breakfasts. We usually get something on the lighter side. This allows us to have some breakfast in bed and then get up and get ready. Then, we head over to the dining room and have our real breakfast. We try to hit the dining room about as late as you can. This makes sure that we won't need to have lunch during the day.
b. For the breakfast in bed menu you can write in anything that you find in the dining room. If you want 6 juices, you just write in 6 juices. If you want fruit, you just write it in even if there is no "check box" for it.
2. Activities
a. The only organized activities we have ever done are the golf and the evening games during the cocktail hour. We are typically engaged in our own personal activities (if you know what I mean).
b. Golf - If you want to golf, you may want to make it over to the pro shop early. It looks like the course fills up throughout the day.
c. Most of the other activities you just have to go into the gym and sign out the equipment.
d. There are pool tables you can use for free and video games you pay for in the game room.
3. Dinner
a. You do eat dinner with other people. This is enjoyable to us because it is interesting to us to see people coming from all over the world (yes world) to a place that is practically in our backyard.
b. You can order multiple dinner items. For instance you can order both a fish and steak meal. You can also eat one than order another if you are still hungry.
c. We generally go to one of the earlier dinner seating times. That is our particular preference. I don't know if there are different types of crowds at different times.
4. Entertainment
a. Generally each night there is either a band, comedian, etc. This is also generally accompanied by the Newlywed Not so Newlywed game in the middle. We generally like to go to the comedians and that type of entertainment and not as much the bands. We are not really into dancing.
b. Newlywed Not so Newlywed game - This is a PG13/R rated game. They will ask questions such as how many times you have had s** since you have been there or what the name of his **** is and things like that. If such things offend you, you may want to skip this.
c. Seating - During the week, the booths around the perimeter are first come, first serve. We typically hang out at the bar and wait for the lounge to open up to get one near the front. If I remember correctly, on the weekends you have to reserve them during the day at the bar. I think you have to have at least 2 couples to reserve them.
5. Drinks
a. Drinks are expensive.
b. We bring our own blender and drinks to make in the room. At the bar/lounge we try and keep it lighter. Usually 1 night we are there we don't worry about the price and just order.
c. You can get a signature card to use to pay for the drinks that will charge them to your room. You need to do this at the front desk and prepay an amount so that they know they will get their money. You get back anything you don't spend.
6. Check-in
a. They say check-in is in the afternoon. We have found that if you get there early, rooms usually open up fairly quickly.
b. Even if rooms are not available, you can use the site on the day of your arrival without a room.
7. Suites
a. We have stayed in 3 types of suites. I will list the things I remember of them. Their website lists everything you get in detail, but this will be a list of things that stuck in my mind. Sometimes I find that is more helpful when I am going somewhere.
i. Roman Towers - We stayed here for our honeymoon. We were in this room for 7 nights.
1. Features
a. Pool - Private indoor pool approximately 10' size
b. Champaign Glass Spa – This is the defining feature of the room.
c. Dry Sauna
d. Round King Sized Bed - a little hard as I remember
e. Steam shower
f. Massage table
g. 3 levels
i. Living room where you enter
ii. Pool/Bathroom level
iii. Bedroom level
h. Both top and bottom levels have TV's the only problem we had was only the lower level had a VCR. I actually carried the TV/VCR up to the Bedroom where we could watch it in bed.
2. Pros
a. Newest room. These are the newest rooms on the facility. This makes them the cleanest, most updated, etc.
b. Sound System. These rooms have one of the nicer sound systems. They have Bose piped throughout the suite.
c. Size. This room is one of the largest, if not the largest. For a longer stay this is nice because you don't get claustrophobic.
3. Cons
a. The TV issue noted above
b. The fireplace is not in the bedroom
ii. Fantasy Apple - We stayed here on our 1st anniversary for 2 nights
1. Features
a. Pool - Private indoor pool approximately 10’ size
b. "Glass" Floor over Pool - This is the defining feature of the room.
c. Dry Sauna
d. Round King Sized Bed - a little hard as I remember
e. Steam shower
f. Massage table
g. 3 levels
i. Living room where you enter
ii. Pool/Bathroom level
iii. Bedroom level
h. Balcony overlooking the Lake
2. Pros
a. Sound system - Same as above
b. Size - Same as above
c. Balcony - It was cold when we were there (married in February) but in nice weather it would be nice to have.
3. Cons
a. Everything is blue. The entire room has a blue tint to it.
b. The fireplace is not in the bedroom.
iii. Garden of Eden Apple - We have stayed here all of our remaining times including the trip we are taking in a month. We have always spent 2 nights in this room. This is our favorite room.
1. Features
a. Pool - Private indoor pool approximately 10' size
b. Round King Sized Bed - a little hard as I remember
c. 2 TV's
d. 2 Rooms Living room & Bedroom + Pool room
e. Heart shaped Jacuzzi tub.
f. Dry Sauna
g. No windows. This is one of the defining features.
h. Pie piece shaped room. This is the other defining feature.
i. Bose sound system throughout.
2. Pros
a. For us the no window is nice because we feel insulated from the world. The whole reason we are going away.
b. Fireplace is in the bedroom.
c. TV/VCR is in the bedroom.
3. Cons
a. Smaller, so a longer stay and you might start to feel a little claustrophobic.
Well, those are the tricks we use to have a good time at the Pocono Palace. Hope it is helpful.