A Review of the Fernwood Hotel & Resort Located in Bushkill, PA

If you are planning on staying in the Poconos for your next family vacation, look no further than the Fernwood Hotel and Resort, located in Bushkill, PA, as your hotel of choice. With amenities to please both adults, as well as children, the Fernwood will definitely make your Pennsylvania vacation worthwhile. I had the pleasure of staying at this hotel on two separate occasions, in two completely different types of rooms, so I will provide you with my experiences of how my stays went.

The very first time I booked a stay at this hotel, I decided to keep it simple, and just book the traditional room, which featured two double beds and a full bathroom. At the time, I didn't need anything more extensive, since only one other person was traveling with me. When I arrived at the Fernwood, check-in was a breeze. My room was actually ready about a half hour prior to when it was scheduled to be, which is usually the opposite of what happens when traveling. Since I booked 2 nights in the hotel, I received what the Fernwood calls "EZ-Cards", which is basically free money that can be used in most eateries and amenities located around the hotel. I received one card per night stay, valued at $25 each, which I immediately put towards my meals. After talking with the girl at the desk for a short time about what other attractions were in the area, she briefed me about the Crossings Premium Outlets, which is a major shopping destination in Pennsylvania. I soaked up all of the information, grabbed my EZ-Cards, and headed up to my room.

When I first stepped foot in the room, it was reminiscent of most standard hotel rooms, with a television, desk and dresser on one wall, and two beds and a nightstand on the other. There was also a nice little ledge you had to step up onto to reach the beds, which made it seem as if the room itself was separated from the entrance. It was a nice little touch, but just remember that it is there if you have to use the bathroom during the night (I learned that the hard way). The room, as well as the bathroom, was very clean; no dust, bugs, stains, and the furniture was in exceptionally well-kept condition. I organized my luggage, and decided to explore the hotels eateries for dinner.

The Fernwood offers four main eateries, Mama Bella's Tuscan Grille, the Trolley Stop Pub, the Jukebox Diner, and Wintergreen's, as well as a food court. I was in the mood for some pasta, and to my luck, Mama Bella's had a special of all you can eat pasta at Mama Bella's that night. The food was fantastic, and the service was prompt and conscientious. I asked for some extra cheese for my pasta, and they were kind enough to bring over an entire wedge and grater, just for me. I highly recommend Mama Bella's if you are looking to eat on the hotel grounds, and I wish I got a chance to visit the other restaurants during my stay. There is no such thing as a good vacation without good quality food, and in my opinion, the Fernwood definitely offers that to its guests. And by the way, food always tastes better when it's free, thanks to my complementary EZ-Card.

The next day, I checked out some of the activities and amenities that the hotel had, since I found quite a nice list of them on the Fernwood's website. The Gamezone appealed to me, since it is located right across from the hotel's check-in. Everybody is a child at heart, and I had the urge to try my hand at some games. The Gamezone is another location that accepts EZ-Cards, since every machine has a slot where you can insert the card, and have the cost of the game automatically withdrawn from your current balance. The facility itself is 10,000 sq. ft. in size, which was definitely enough space to have a variety of games for children, and adults, of all ages. There seemed to only be one, maybe two at the max, of most of the games, so waiting could be a possibility if the game is very popular at the time (ex. Dance Dance Revolution). I also made my way over to one of the outdoor pools located on the hotel's grounds, since using the indoor pool on a nice summer day just wasn't an option. When I got there, I found it to be quite crowded, almost to the point where swimming would become more of a burden than a way of relaxing.

I decided to bypass the pool completely, since I was going to head back to Mama Bella's again for dinner shortly after anyway. Once again, the food was fantastic, making it the perfect ending to my short, but relaxing stay in the Poconos. Now came the part that can be a hassle to many . . . check-out. In my opinion, checking out is much easier if you don't wait until the very last minute to do so, since that is what most people are going to do. If you check out at say, 9:30 a.m. even though check out is at 11, the process will very smooth and pleasant.

Overall, my first stay at the Fernwood was such a pleasant experience, that I decided to return there a few months later for a second time. This time, I upped my room to the Studio Villa, rather than staying in the traditional room again. Again, check in couldn't have been any easier, and I received a pair of EZ-Cards once again. The Villas are located in a separate location from the main hotel itself, so I found myself crossing the main road and heading up a large, winding path. The path looked as if it was carved out of the beautiful woods that surrounded the area, and as you progress further and further up it, you see more and more of the Fernwood's many Villas. With your Villa number in mind, you look for the specific sign that correlates to your number, which will take you onto a separate "street" where your Villa will be located. It was very easy to navigate through and find my Villa, and once I got there, it was as if every few Villas had its own parking lot. As far as the Studio Villas go, there are actually two separate Villas in each main villa (one on top of the other). I actually stayed in the lower one, and I was fortunate enough that the family staying above me was very quiet, and didn't make any noise whatsoever.

The Studio Villa is almost like a very small, compact apartment, housing a queen size bed, sofa, closet, small kitchen and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. The kitchen consisted of a small stove, cabinets with a variety of utensils, a dishwasher, and a microwave. During my stay, I actually found myself driving to a nearby grocery store, picking up a few things, and cooking my own meals. I still wonder why when I was on vacation, but it just seemed more convenient at the time. I also made use of the whirlpool tub, which I thought was absolutely fantastic and relaxing. Just a word of the wise, although it looked very clean, just wipe it down before you use it to be safe.

As far as the furniture goes, the sofa was a bit outdated and worn down, and there were a few small stains on the carpet. The sofa did have a pull-out bed though, but it was quite uncomfortable, as the case is with many sofa beds. Also, the dishwasher was very old, and I believe that it should have been replaced or updated years ago. Aside from these few things, the Villa was very clean, and would be perfect for a small family to vacation in. Now, I know that I mentioned that the Villas were located away from the hotel itself, but there were amenities located amongst them. For example, the hotel's 18 hole golf course weaved its way through the Villas, so depending on where you are staying, you might actually be able to see one of the holes. Also, there are tennis and basketball courts located within walking distance of the Villas, basically in a central location. There were always being used by guests of the hotel, whether it was an older couple playing tennis in the morning, to a full 5 on 5 basketball game being played in the afternoon. Overall though, I must say that my stay in the Studio Villa went just as well and smooth as my first stay in the main hotel itself.

Now although I didn't experience every single thing that the hotel offers, I can make some general comments about my experiences. First, the hotel is located down a very long, straight road, so it makes going to a store or into town quite a long journey. Also, especially during the summer, the hotel gets quite booked, so it is a good idea to make your reservation with quite a bit of time to spare, just to make sure you get the room you want. In terms of the rooms, the hotel does offer one and two bedroom Villas as well for larger groups of people, and I am sure they are just as nice as the rooms I stayed in. Finally, there are many more activities and forms of entertainment, from horseback riding, to paintball, to performances and shows, so be sure to check the Fernwood's website for what is going to be happening during the time of your stay.

I hope after reading this article, you will consider the Fernwood Hotel and Resort for your next vacation, and I hope you have as great a stay at this hotel as I did when I went.

"Fernwood Hotel a Pocono Resort". http://www.resortsusa.com/fernwood.php