7 Tips for Visiting Camelback Resort in Poconos

Disclosure: This post was not sponsored in any way and all opinions are my own.

Spring break for my two school-aged children was nearing and I refused to sit in the house again for another weeklong vacation. I mean, we have not been anywhere in over a year because of COVID. It is super nerve-racking to leave the house now, let alone travel due to the circumstances and consequences of the pandemic. But enough was enough. I decided we were going to stay in the Northeast and visit Camelback Resort in the Poconos. We had an amazing time together, making memories and becoming a blended family. It was a perfect trip for all of us to come together and bond.

Here are 7 tips for visiting Camelback Resort in the Poconos with children of all ages!

TIP 1: Check-in time is 4:00 p.m.

You can arrive at Camelback Resort in the Poconos as early as you want and enjoy the amenities, have lunch, and participate in any events happening on-site. You can even request an early check-in. Although if you are staying in a suite like we did, chances are your room will not be ready until close to 3:00 p.m., because of the extra cleaning they do because of COVID. They even put a seal on the door to ensure no one has entered your room after it has been thoroughly cleaned (amazing).

TIP 2: Your wristband is your wallet.

Upon check-in at Camelback Resort in the Poconos every member of your family will be given a wristband that you always wear. If you lose it, you will be shelling out an additional $25 per band. This band is your key to the room and your “credit card.” You can use it to purchase anything on-site that will be charged to your room.

TIP 3: Arrive on a Monday.

Due to COVID we opted out of arriving at the resort on the weekend. We decided to play it safe that the crowd would be smaller and arrive on a Monday morning. We stayed from Monday to Wednesday, which was perfect, because on Wednesday evening things started to pick up and the resort got really packed, like scary packed. I called ahead of time to ask if there were capacity limits and they said they were operating at 50 percent capacity. However, on that Wednesday it seemed like they were operating at full capacity.

Camelback Resort is in the beautiful Poconos Mountains, about ninety-five minutes from New York City. We picked this spot because it was uber close to the city and provided indoor entertainment, since the weather isn’t really warm in March. Which brings me to Camelback Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark. Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark has been voted the #1 water park in the nation by USA Today.

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TIP 4: Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark.

Again, your wristbands are your entry to the water park, and this place is incredible. Its hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and your kids can stay there all day. By the time they leave they will be completely exhausted. At night they add lights to Aquatopia, so the kids feel like they are in a twilight zone of colors, adding to the excitement. I have three children, ages twelve, ten, and five months, and there is plenty to do for all of them. There is an area for babies, a wave pool, several slides, a lazy river, splash pools, and much more. I will say to opt for either the VIP seating area or the pool cabana. We did both. The VIP seating area is great if you are staying at the hotel overnight, because it offers a great breeze (it gets superhot) and wait service. The food lines are crazy long. The pool cabana comes with a television, benches, a dining table and chairs, a fridge, and additional space, the last of which is great for checkout day because you can load the car with your big things and have plenty of space in the cabana to change in and out of your clothes, have a snack, watch television, etc. In addition, it is Wi-Fi friendly. It also worked out well because we had a stroller and a large group.

What to bring for the water park: Bathing suit (of course), swim cover-up to walk through the hotel, swim shoes, goggles, and floaties for babies. They have life vests for the older children.

TIP 5: The rooms at Camelback Resort in the Poconos.

These rooms are amazing! We felt like we were in an apartment. We stayed in the two-bedroom, two-bath deluxe suite, which includes a master bedroom with its own bathroom and patio; a dining table and kitchen area (with a small fridge/microwave); a living room with fireplace and patio; and a second bedroom with two queen-size beds and another bath. There is quite a bit of closet space. The con was the limited garbage bins. I’m not sure why hotels only give you one or two small garbage cans for such large rooms for a two- to three-night stay. We had to request large black garbage bags and have the staff pick up the trash daily. Due to COVID they are not doing daily housekeeping, therefore you must request what you would like each day. However, they are super-attentive and prompt with service.

Side Tip: The suites are usually at the very end of the hallway, therefore be prepared to do a lot of walking. We were near an elevator, but it was located on the other side of where all the activities are based, so you still ending up walking quite a bit.

TIP 6: Activities at Camelback Resort in the Poconos.

There is plenty to do at Camelback. You will never get bored. As much as the rooms are enjoyable, you will not spend much time there. While we were there, they offered donut decorating in the mornings for the children. Aside from Aquatopia you can spend time in the gaming arcade, play laser tag, go ziplining, snowtubing, skiing, play a round of mini-golf, go rock climbing, drive bumper cars and get some physical activity on the rope course. One day they even had a magic show.

TIP 7: What to Eat at Camelback Resort in the Poconos.

When you do want to eat out Neptunes is one of the healthier choices for sandwiches and homemade burgers, plus salads and other cool options. Graffiti Pizza has delicious pizza and salads; they even build your own pizza right in front of you. Trails End has heated tents, and plenty of outdoor seating around firepits. Berrelli’s has amazing food but is off-site so be prepared for a small walk. Both are great dinner options but make a reservation in advance.

Overall, my verdict is that Camelback Resort in the Poconos is a must-visit. My family enjoyed their time there so much, my daughter wants to go back for her birthday in October. Now, I will say that Camelback isn’t exactly affordable, as the rooms are quite pricey, and along with the dining experience and arcade games you can run up your tab quite fast.

Safety is also a big deal at Camelback Resort, which is extremely important during these times. Even though you can’t wear a mask in the water, families keep their distance and take the necessary precautions.

Ready to book an ultimate family experience? Then visit the Camelback Resort in the Poconos and Aquatopia websites for more information on specials and deals.

I hope this list of tips for visiting Camelback Resort in the Poconos has given you a few reasons why you should take a family vacation there soon.

I’d love to hear your travel experiences. Have you been to Camelback or somewhere else recently? Share your thoughts below in the comments.

Disclosure: This post was not sponsored in anyway and all opinions are of my own.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

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