Lamplighter Lounge At Pocono Manor

I had lunch at Pocono Manor Golf Club today after a round of golf, and it was fantastic. My husband and I ordered the turkey club, which was delicious. Our two companions chose a cheeseburger with fries and a sausage and peppers sandwich. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. I also got to sample the fries, which were perfectly seasoned and cut into steak fries. I highly recommend stopping by for lunch!

Condition (2/5): The hotel, listed on the National Historic Registry, has a long and proud history, but unfortunately, it is in desperate need of an update. The air conditioning in our room was exceedingly loud, making it impossible to hear each other over the noise, and we had to shut the bathroom door because the squeaking was so irritating. The faucet dripped continuously, and the water temperature fluctuated unexpectedly. Service (3/5): Everyone I encountered was friendly. We especially appreciated the service at The Lamplighter Lounge (which I will review separately). However, the staff didn’t seem particularly interested in cleanliness; for instance, we wanted to swim in the pool but found it littered with trash. Value (2/5): At $200 for a small, cramped room in poor condition, the value wasn't great. For a resort, there were very few activities available. Dining options were limited to The Lamplighter Lounge, a $13 breakfast buffet, or a $39 four-course dinner.

**Location: 4 Stars** The setting is beautiful, featuring stunning mountain views. **Property: 3-4 Stars** I found the property to be decent, and I loved my room. However, the rooms vary in size; mine was spacious, while my friends’ room was just average. Since this is a family-friendly property, be prepared for some noise from children and other guests. **Staff: 5 Stars** The staff here are very friendly and accommodating. **Cost: 5 Stars** At $159 for a weekend getaway, the price is fantastic. The value you receive for what you pay is definitely worth it. **Food: 3-4 Stars** The weekend dinner buffet for $20 is quite reasonable and offers good options. **Room for Improvement:** I wish check-in could be moved to 1 PM instead of 4 PM, because by the time you check in during winter, it’s already dark outside. Also, be sure to bring your own water, as they charge $3 for a bottle, which I find to be ridiculous. In contrast, a tuna sandwich costs $4, which seems more reasonable—it doesn’t really add up. **Pets:** The pet fee of $105 is excessive. When I booked through an aggregator (I believe it was Hotel.com), it indicated that they were pet-friendly. In my experience, an additional fee should be around $25 to $50 for the entire stay, but this charge felt quite outrageous. Overall, considering the location and seasonal appeal of the property, I would rate my experience as 4 stars.

We attended a company trip at this hotel, which unfortunately coincided with a wedding and another family's rehearsal dinner. It seemed like they were completely unprepared for our group. Half of us had to wait to get a room. To make matters worse, there was no Wi-Fi or phone signal if you weren't staying in the main building. This led to a panic attack for me, as I couldn't reach my family. No Wi-Fi, really? The front desk just advised us to go to the main building, connect to the Wi-Fi there, and hope it stayed connected when we returned to our rooms. To top it all off, we found a centipede on our pillow. I took a close-up photo because I wasn't getting any closer to that creepy critter. We ended up sleeping in my car that night.

To start our stay, we were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary upgrade to a gorgeous King corner room (room 268) that offered breathtaking views of the mountains. We spent some time watching the sunrise, and it was truly awe-inspiring. The indoor and outdoor pools were both large and well-maintained, and we had a blast at both! The pool bar served delicious drinks as well. We explored both hiking trails and even got a bit lost on one, which turned out to be quite funny. It seems the trail signage could use some updating. We also tried our hand at archery, checked out the golf areas, visited the horse stables, and enjoyed most of our meals at the manor. We had a great lunch at the pub, where we shared wings and a club sandwich, both of which we loved! Though breakfast and lunch can get pricey, we found other places to dine as well. Our stay was relaxing and romantic, and we definitely plan to return. We also discovered a nearby bowling alley, which was affordable and had a fantastic Sunday night deal—I'll share more about that in a separate review. Overall, I would give our experience 4 stars.