Hershey Lodge, A Hersheypark Hotel

Hersheypark in Pennsylvania is one of the top amusement parks in the region and for good reason. Families from the Tri-State Region and surrounding areas can hop in the car for short drive to this beautiful theme park town.

Along my family’s two-week road trip Hershey was one of our stops. I was curious what the hotel situation would be in this small town. Were there going to be extensive resorts like Orlando or tightly packed hotels and motels like Anaheim? It ends up Hershey has it all. No matter what your budget you will find a nice selection of hotels. Hershey even has its own line of lodging options ranging from the year-round Hershey Highmeadow Campground, which has tent and RV space and cabins for rent, to the upscale Hotel Hershey. My family stayed at the middle-range option Hershey Lodge. As soon as we walked in we knew this hotel caters to families. While mom and dad check-in, the children get to participate in their own Kid’s Check-In which provides a bevy of Hershey-themed welcome items including a Hershey-themed ID lanyards, stickers, coloring sheets and, of course, chocolate!

There are several family-friendly restaurant options on the premises and the rooms are comfortable, but what really caught my eye were the chocolate-scented toiletries in the bathroom! And yes, everything is chocolate-themed including the bedding.

You may be wondering what the advantage is to staying at a Hershey property versus another brand. My husband and I both agree one thing pushes the Hershey brand to the top and that is the Hershey Resorts Advantage program. Families are granted free admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story: The Museum on Chocolate Avenue which tells the Hershey story and offers an extensive collection of Hershey memorabilia and interactive displays.

What’s not included at the museum is the Build A Bar class where guest can learn about the  chocolate making process and design their own candy bar. My kids still reference the time they “made candy bars.”

Other perks include: best price on Hersheypark tickets, exclusive opportunity to purchase a Sweet Access Pass with VIP benefits, Sweet Start – early access to select rides and attractions, preferred pricing on fun-filled Breakfast At The Park with Hershey’s Product Characters, priority access to premium waterfront cabanas at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark and access to distinctive golf at Hershey Golf Collection, plus Nine by 9 Golf Special. It’s quite a bundle of bonuses.

The feature we appreciated most of all was the free shuttle service offered between the numerous Hershey attractions and park. The shuttle is available only for Hershey Resorts guests. Your room key is your ticket aboard.

While my husband and I appreciated the conveniences of the Hershey Resorts Advantage program, there is no doubt our son and daughter’s favorite part was running into the chocolate characters at the hotel. Those moments were priceless and certainly worth staying at Hersey Lodge.

Thank you to Hershey for assisting with a potion of our expenses during our visit to Hershey.