A Pocono paradise for two: Caesars Resort's suite full of luxuries is the perfect tonic for couples looking for quality time together. . - Going Places - Pocono Palace - hotel review

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), March, 2003 by Wayne M. Barrett

LAST SPRING, our family got its first taste of resort living when we vacationed at Caesars Brookdale in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. (See USA TODAY's "Going Places," September 2002). The ultra-large suites, all-inclusive amenities, in-house activities, and scenic countryside were very much to our liking. Besides Brookdale in Scotrun, Pa., which primarily is designed for families, Caesars has a chain of couples-only resorts throughout these vista-rich mountains: Cove Haven (282 accommodations on 130 acres in Lakeville); Paradise Stream (164 accommodations on 110 acres in Mt. Pocono); and Pocono Palace (189 accommodations on 350 acres in Marshalls Creek). As my wife and I savored our post-vacation memories over the summer, we made a mental note (and promise) to ourselves that we would return, sans children, to one of these high-altitude hideaways.

For years now, as my sort of revenge of the overwhelmed, I've wanted to slip away (as in out of town) for Christmas. To heck with the extended family; forget the obligations; who cares about the mad rush at work? And for years, my wife (thankfully, I suppose) has stopped me from putting this devious Yuletide travel plan into action. This year, though, I felt gratified in that we had at least reached some sort of compromise on the issue. Our romantic weekend at a hilly retreat was scheduled for just 12 days before Santa's annual visit. So, I told myself, be happy that you're at least getting away for a few days during the Christmas season.

Like buying a house, the key to a good vacation (even a short one) is location, location, location. In that regard, Pocono Palace proved just perfect. The two-hours-and-change drive is far enough to give the feeling of going away, but close enough that a long weekend of respite isn't wasted on the road in travel time. Moreover, since our three children are young--ranging in age from six down to three--we never can (or want to) completely free our thoughts from them. Just in case the need did arise, it was comforting to know that we didn't have to break any land-speed records to be back home in a couple of hours.

As a person completely mystified by the attractiveness of a warm-weather existence, I was heartened to hear that our destination had almost a foot of snow on the ground while the temperature had not risen above freezing in more than a week. While a cozy session by a roaring fire was front and center in my mind, so was the fact that the area was renowned for its excellent snowmobile trails and downhill snow tubing runs. (We believe in leaving skiing and snowboarding to those who apparently don't mind spending their winters either in traction or encased within a body cast.)

We set out late Friday morning under cold and foreboding skies. Surely, those dark gray clouds portended the arrival of more snow, if not near our home on Long Island, then certainly at our destination in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Well, almost. The temperature was in the 30s, but never did dip below that magical freezing line of 32[degrees] Fahrenheit. So, our hoped for blizzard-to-be tamed out to be a chilly, snow-melting rain. Although that meant the snowmobiles would remain mostly unattended on the Pocono Palace golf course, and a proposed hiking trip at nearby Bushkill Falls was off, the wet weather created no hardships. In fact, it provided one more reason to stay to ourselves in our lush honeymoon-style suite.

Pocono Palace offers seven levels of accommodations: Roman Towers, Champagne Towers by Cleopatra, Fantasy Apple, Garden of Eden Apple, Lakeside Chalet, Fairway, and Club Lodge Room. All have king-sized beds and whirlpools. We opted for the Champagne Towers, which is practically the same as the newly created, top-of-the-line Roman Towers, minus the mountainside view. (While I enjoy a good view--of nature--as much as the next guy, that isn't what I'd come to see.)

We were toying with the idea of staying at The Garden of Eden Apple, which is windowless, but we couldn't resist the promise of a four-level suite that included a seven-foot-high champagne glass-shaped whirlpool; a heated, glass-enclosed, heart-shaped swimming pool; dry sauna; massage table with heat lamp; combination shower/steam bath; round, king-sized bed with lighted celestial ceiling (the latter feature exclusive to the Towers); log-burning fireplace (in the separate living room); refrigerator; two 27" VCR-equipped TV sets; and an ancient Egypt motif of wallpaper, murals, framed prints, and imported tile.

Just minutes after arrival, we were greeted by a delivery of champagne, scented candles, bubble bath, and a heaping platter of strawberries arranged around a generous mountain of whipped cream. They obviously read my mind. Dinner, an all-you can-eat extravaganza at Caesars (as is breakfast) was still hours away, but the bubbly and fresh fruit tided us over as we enjoyed the luxury of our suite, although the vast array of light switches was a challenge that we never quite mastered, even by the end of our stay. Actually, it became quite amusing as it always took at least a couple of tries (and sometimes more) before we used the correct switch to get the desired light to turn on (or go off, as the case might be).