Hershey's Sweetest Escape: Holiday Inn Express Hershey-Harrisburg
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into Hershey's Sweetest Escape: Holiday Inn Express Hershey-Harrisburg! I've just spent a few days there, and let me tell you, it's more than just a hotel – it's a vibe. Now, I’m no travel blogger with a perfectly curated Instagram feed (praise be!), so expect honesty and, let's be real, a sprinkle of chaos.
First things first: The Practical Stuff (That Actually Matters)
Okay, so before we get to the chocolate fountains in my dreams, let's talk brass tacks.
Accessibility: From what I saw, they’re trying. The elevator definitely helped my aging knees, and I noticed facilities for disabled guests, which is a huge win. I didn’t personally need to test everything out (thankfully!), but the presence is comforting.
Cleanliness and Safety: This is where Holiday Inn Express really shines, especially now. They're obsessive about cleanliness, and I’m here for it. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, and rooms sanitized between stays? Sign me up! Felt way safer. Lots of hand sanitizer stations around. A good job.
Internet: Yes! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise the Internet Gods!! And it actually worked – not always a given, let me tell you. Also, they still offer Internet [LAN] if you're into that old-school connection. Smart.
Check-in/out [express] and Contactless: Yep, super quick and streamlined, which is awesome when you're itching to hit the pool with a view.
The 'Sweet Escape' Stuff (AKA, the Good Stuff)
Alright, let's get to the fun part!
Swimming Pool: The outdoor one! A really refreshing break. Picture this: me, lounging by the Swimming pool [outdoor] with a fruity cocktail (more on that later!), watching the sunset over… well, over Hershey. The view wasn't Niagara Falls, but it was perfectly relaxing.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Okay, this blew my mind. The breakfast [buffet] was actually decent! No, it’s not a Michelin Star experience, but hey, Western breakfast, which means eggs, bacon, and all that jazz. I was a fan of the juice selection too. And yes, Coffee/tea in restaurant. I could even have a cheeky bottle of water in my room. What a delight!
- Snack bar: Good, perfect. It's a Holiday Inn Express, let's not get ahead of ourselves, but for a few snacks to tie you over, it delivers.
Relaxation (and Potential for Disaster?): Okay, so they boast a Fitness center, a Spa, and a Sauna. I hit the fitness center, did a few stretches and looked at the gym equipment. It was fine, but the real kicker? I was tempted to try the Spa. I am not a spa person. Never have been! The thought of a Body scrub or Body wrap makes me twitchy. But! The pictures looked beautiful with the perfect models, so maybe next time for my birthday.
For the Kids (and the Kid in You): Family/child friendly is a definite check. I didn't bring my own kids, but saw plenty of happy families enjoying the pool and generally having a blast. Also, the hotel is perfectly positioned for all the Hershey attractions.
The Extras (The Little Things That Matter)
- Services and Conveniences: They had Daily housekeeping, which is a lifesaver when you're messy like me, and Laundry service, which I totally didn't use because who has time for that on vacation? They also had Elevator and Facilities for disabled guests.
- Rooms: My room was comfy. Air conditioning (essential!), a Desk to pretend I was working, a Refrigerator for snacks and drinks (and yes, I stocked up on chocolate!). The Bed was a good size.
- Getting Around: Car park [free of charge] is a fantastic bonus! No hunting for parking, no fees! They have Taxi service too.
The Not-So-Perfect (But Still Okay) Bits
Dining: There weren’t any fancy restaurants. It's a Breakfast [buffet] and a few other basic options. But hey, you're in Hershey! Go out for a proper meal.
Spa Services: I am tempted to try the Spa, but I just wasn't sure about getting myself involved. I have tried some of these ideas previously and it all did not go so well.
My Emotional Verdict (Because Reviews Need Feelings!)
Look, Hershey's Sweetest Escape: Holiday Inn Express Hershey-Harrisburg isn't a luxury resort. But it's clean, comfortable, well-located, and it gets the job done. It’s perfect for a family getaway or a quick weekend trip. It’s a solid, reliable choice. I felt safe, relaxed, and, most importantly, ready to destroy a whole bag of Hershey Kisses.
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Tired of the same old vacation routine? Craving a getaway filled with chocolate, fun, and effortless relaxation? Book your stay at Hershey's Sweetest Escape: Holiday Inn Express Hershey-Harrisburg and experience the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and adventure!
- Family-friendly fun: Splash in the refreshing Swimming pool [outdoor], enjoy a hearty Breakfast [buffet], and explore all the amazing Hershey attractions.
- Relax and Rejuvenate: Enjoy the Spa/sauna and fitness center.
- Clean and Safe: Breathe easy knowing our top-notch cleanliness and safety protocols offer you peace of mind throughout your stay.
Book now and receive a complimentary bottle of water upon arrival! Don't miss out on this sweet offer!
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Escape to Fairgrounds Fun: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is a life itinerary, Hershey-Harrisburg edition, brought to you by yours truly, and fueled by questionable coffee and the unwavering belief that a comfy bed awaits. We're talking Holiday Inn Express Hershey-Harrisburg Area, folks. Let's dive in, shall we?
Day 1: Arrival & Chocolate Overload - Oh, the Humanity!
- 1:00 PM (ish): Arrive at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). Okay, let's be honest, "arrive" is a strong word. More like, stumble out of the airplane, slightly disoriented from the turbulence. Finding the rental car is like a mini-adventure in itself. Usually involves a heated argument with the GPS (it always wants me to go the wrong way). Today, it tried to send me into a cornfield. I swear, it has a vendetta against me.
- 1:45 PM (ish): Check-in at Holiday Inn Express Hershey-Harrisburg. Ah, the sweet, sweet smell of… well, likely cleaning products. But hey, a clean room is a win! I'm instantly judging the bed. Is it squishy? Firm? Somewhere in between, like a good relationship? (Okay, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself…) The little toiletries are always a delight, like a tiny spa.
- 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Hershey's Chocolate World! This is the reason we're here, right? Expecting pure, unadulterated joy! The free chocolate tour is a must-do, even if you've seen it a million times. That chocolate river? Still captivating. The animatronics? A little…dated. But the free chocolate at the end? Worth the wait. I’m pretty sure I ate my body weight in Hershey Kisses. Judge if you must! My stomach is now a temple dedicated to cocoa.
- Anecdote Alert: Last time, I tried to sneak a handful of Kisses from the "free sample" box. Got caught. Mortifying. Lesson learned? Always bring a giant purse. (Or, you know, just act like a functioning adult. Easier said than done.)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Hershey Gardens. Okay, after all that sugar, we need some green. Gorgeous roses, butterflies flitting about… It's a nice contrast to the chocolate-induced frenzy. I’m not much of a gardener, but being around so much greenery can be surprisingly soothing.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner at a Hershey restaurant - Troegs Brewery just outside of town. Good vibes and delicious food. The beer selection is impressive. This feels like a proper start to the trip.
Day 2: Theme Park Thrills & Questionable Decisions
- 9:00 AM (ish): Breakfast at the hotel. The continental breakfast is always a gamble. Will the scrambled eggs resemble rubber? Will the coffee be strong enough to power a small aircraft? The stakes are high. Today was on the better end of the scale.
- 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Hersheypark! Okay, THIS is what everyone looks forward to. The anticipation is the best part. I always convince myself I’m a thrill-seeker. In reality, after the first rollercoaster, I'm usually clinging to my friend and half-screaming, half-laughing. The SooperDooperLooper, a classic and the ride that made me realize I’m not 12 anymore. The lines can be brutal, the heat can be oppressive, but the feeling of weightlessness on those drops…it's a rush.
- Quirky Observation: The sheer number of people sporting Hershey-themed gear is mind-boggling. Apparently, everyone loves chocolate. Who knew? I might need a new one to blend in.
- Emotional Reaction: The feeling of utter exhaustion after running around and shrieking on rollercoasters! It's a good kind of exhaustion, though. Pure, unadulterated fun.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner: Some casual eats at a place near Hersheypark. We're talking tired folks, so nothing fancy. Pizza, maybe burgers. Whatever fuels us for the next round of… well, probably collapsing in the hotel room.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel: Time for a good shower, a change of clothes (those Hersheypark lines can be rough), and catching up on some shows. Pure bliss.
Day 3: Exploring Beyond the Chocolate…or Not
- 9:00 AM (ish): Wake up. Or rather, drag myself out of bed. Ouch. Body aches are starting to set in. The bed at the Holiday Inn Express is a lifesaver.
- 9:30 AM: Head to the breakfast area for a refill. The coffee is surprisingly good.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Option A: Gettysburg! A sobering, incredibly moving experience. This is history that hits you in the gut. The vastness of the battlefield, the stories of the soldiers… Chills.
- Emotional Reaction: Visiting the battlefield is an emotional experience, no doubt a solemn, powerful one. I had to catch myself from shedding a tear.
- Anecdote: Once, I accidentally wandered into a reenactment. Talk about culture shock!
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch
- 2:30 - 4:30 PM: Depending on how the morning goes, we might make a quick stop near the hotel…
- 5:00 PM: Head back to the hotel to relax and pack.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner. Grab something casual near the hotel.
Day 4: Departure – Farewell, Hershey!
- 9:00 AM (ish): Final hotel breakfast. Say a fond goodbye to the underwhelming eggs.
- 10:00 AM: Check Out. It’s always a bittersweet moment.
- 11:00 AM (ish): Drive to Harrisburg International Airport (MDT).
- 12:00 PM (ish): Drop off the rental car. Attempt to remember where I parked it.
- 1:00 PM (ish): Flight home. Now, the real world. Ugh.
- Emotional Reaction: Leaving Hershey is a tiny bit sad. But the amount of chocolate I consumed, I can't say I didn't enjoy every minute of the break.
Important Disclaimers:
- This is a suggestion. Feel free to deviate, add, subtract, and generally wreck havoc.
- The weather in Hershey is unpredictable. Pack layers. And maybe a raincoat.
- Be prepared for sugar rushes, tired feet, and the occasional existential crisis. It's all part of the fun, right?
- Most importantly: relax, have fun, embrace the chaos, and eat all the chocolate your heart desires!
1. So, is this place *actually* as sweet as they say? Seriously, is it just a big Hershey's commercial disguised as a hotel?
Okay, let's be honest. Yes. And no. It's like… they *try* to drench you in Hershey's everything. There's chocolate everywhere. Chocolate fountains (which, confession time, I spent entirely too long staring at, hypnotized). Hershey's kisses on the pillows (which my kids promptly demolished, leaving tiny foil wrappers everywhere... sorry, housekeeping!). But it's also… a Holiday Inn Express. You know? Clean, relatively comfortable, free breakfast (more on that later…), and the kind of place you're relieved to crash in after a day of rollercoasters and sugar rushes. So, it's a carefully curated experience, a little *too* on-the-nose, but hey, that's kind of the point, right? You *are* in Hershey's! You gotta embrace the sweetness, even if it's a teensy bit overwhelming.
2. That free breakfast... is it the stuff of legends or a sad, sad case of lukewarm scrambled eggs?
Ugh, breakfast. The battleground of every family vacation. And let's be real, free hotel breakfast is usually a gamble. This one? It's… fine. Look, the scrambled eggs were definitely a bit sad. I suspect a conspiracy of pre-cooked, reheated protein. But. BUT! They had those little pre-packaged Hershey's chocolate chip muffins. And those, my friends, were a lifesaver. Saved my sanity. Saved my kids from complete breakfast meltdown. So, the hot stuff? Meh. The bakery goods? A solid win. And the coffee? Let's just say it was the fuel that got me through the morning chaos. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is all that matters, right?
3. Pools! What's the deal with the pool situation? Are we talking serious swim time? Or just a splash-around kind of vibe?
Okay, pool time. Here's my advice, brace yourself. This place is packed with families, and the pool reflects that. It's not a serene, quiet spa experience. It's more like a… bubbly, splashy, slightly chlorinated cacophony of fun. There's an indoor pool, which is handy for any weather, but consequently means it's always packed. There's an outdoor pool, which I never even saw because, well, timing... We were too exhausted from the park. If you're going for serious laps? Probably not the place. If you want your kids to exhaust themselves before bedtime? Absolutely perfect. Just be prepared for kids, splashing, screaming (both from excitement and the occasional sibling squabble), and generally a good time. Remember bring your own towel, trust me!
4. Parking! Is parking a nightmare like at the theme park?
Okay, parking. Another vacation anxiety trigger! Thankfully, at the hotel? Not bad. Plenty of parking spaces. But, and this is a big but… the park itself? Hoo boy. That's a whole other story. Pro tip: try and hit the park early. Or...stay at the hotel later to miss the rush. Otherwise, be prepared for some walking. And definitely don't leave anything in the car you might need later. Like, say, your phone charger... (don't ask).
5. Location, location, location! How close is it *really* to the good stuff?
The location? Actually pretty darn good. Close enough to the park that you're not spending half your vacation in the car. Close to other attractions too. Very easy to get around. Perfect for making those quick trips. Convenience, people! That's what we're after!
6. What about the rooms? Are they clean? Comfortable? Or do they smell faintly of… stale chocolate?
Okay, the rooms. I'd rate them as… perfectly acceptable. Clean, spacious enough for a family of four (or five in my case, ugh!), and thankfully *didn't* smell like stale chocolate. Though, honestly, a *hint* of chocolate wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world, right? The beds were comfy, the shower worked (always a win!), and the air conditioning kept us cool. But the best part? The fact that my children didn't try to destroy anything! (Success!) I did kind of wish for a balcony. You know, a place to escape the sugar-fueled chaos and just… breathe. But hey, you can't have it all, especially in a themed hotel!
7. Anything I *really* need to know that the brochures won't tell me? Any secret tips?
Okay, secret tips. Here we go!
- **Bring snacks.** You can't survive on chocolate alone (sadly). Pack some granola bars, fruit, and anything else that will help you avoid a total sugar crash meltdowns.
- **Embrace the chaos.** Seriously. This is a family vacation. Expect noise. Expect tantrums. Expect spilled chocolate syrup. Just roll with it. It's part of the fun.
- **Take breaks.** Between the park, the hotel, and the chocolate, it's a lot. Schedule some downtime. Even if it's just 15 minutes of quiet in your room. Your sanity will thank you.
- **Book in advance.** Especially if you're going during peak season. This place is popular. Don't get caught without a room.
- **Don't be afraid to ask for help.** The staff were generally friendly and helpful. If you need anything, ask!
8. Was it worth it? Would you go back?
Worth it? Yeah, probably! My kids had an absolute blast. They still talk about it constantly. Would I go back? Maybe. Probably! After I've recovered from the sugar coma that still lingers. The experience might not be perfect, but it's a decent spot with the perfect location to put you right where you need to be. It's chocolate-y, it's chaotic, it's a bit exhausting… but it's a vacation. And sometimes, that's all that matters.
