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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Kalahari Rave
We just got back from Kalahari and thought it was much better than Great Wolf Lodge. Kids ate well. Everything is kid friendly. The kid areas of the waterpark are fantastic. I thought the baby/toddler area was the best I have seen for the young age group. The middle of the park was perfect for elementary kids. I want to say there were ~7 kiddie slides in the toddler pool and about the same amount in the middle area for 4-8 year olds.
They have a kids club section (not drop off) where kids can do crafts for free or a small fee. It is right next to the arcade. Arcade was great although expensive. We probably spent $100 in less than 2 hours. They have higher end games like Star Wars pods, Jurassic Park, transformers, etc. Kids also played glow golf and mini bowling.
Rooms were very basic but fine. I was a bit surprised how plain they were. I haven't stayed in a motel for a long time and the rooms were much worse than a Hilton Garden Inn type place. I would recommend bringing drinks, fruit and snacks. All rooms have a fridge and microwave.
Thanks, Bargainmama, for letting us know about the deal this week.
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Posted 1/21/16 1:24 PM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Kalahari Rave
I am so excited to hear this because we are going in the Spring.
I did notice, from the pictures, that for a brand new resort, the rooms weren't that great looking. I'm a very big hotel snob, so that kind of bothered me a bit.
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| Posted 1/21/16 1:35 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by Bridex100
We just got back from Kalahari and thought it was much better than Great Wolf Lodge. Kids ate well. Everything is kid friendly. The kid areas of the waterpark are fantastic. I thought the baby/toddler area was the best I have seen for the young age group. The middle of the park was perfect for elementary kids. I want to say there were ~7 kiddie slides in the toddler pool and about the same amount in the middle area for 4-8 year olds.
They have a kids club section (not drop off) where kids can do crafts for free or a small fee. It is right next to the arcade. Arcade was great although expensive. We probably spent $100 in less than 2 hours. They have higher end games like Star Wars pods, Jurassic Park, transformers, etc. Kids also played glow golf and mini bowling.
Rooms were very basic but fine. I was a bit surprised how plain they were. I haven't stayed in a motel for a long time and the rooms were much worse than a Hilton Garden Inn type place. I would recommend bringing drinks, fruit and snacks. All rooms have a fridge and microwave.
Thanks, Bargainmama, for letting us know about the deal this week.
Glad you had fun!! My sister was also there this week with the deal!
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| Posted 1/21/16 1:40 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by NervousNell
I am so excited to hear this because we are going in the Spring.
I did notice, from the pictures, that for a brand new resort, the rooms weren't that great looking. I'm a very big hotel snob, so that kind of bothered me a bit.
Just have very low expectations for the rooms. I know you are a hotel snob. Rooms were clean enough.
Spa was ok, nothing amazing. Just know Kalahari is purely for the kids. The whole place feels geared towards kids, which is fine with me since that is why we went.
You may want to bring your own towels. The towels at the waterpark are tiny. Halls are warm though. I remember freezing walking back to our room at Great Wolf but it was not cold at Kalahari.
Message edited 1/21/2016 1:49:45 PM.
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| Posted 1/21/16 1:48 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by Bridex100
We just got back from Kalahari and thought it was much better than Great Wolf Lodge. Kids ate well. Everything is kid friendly. The kid areas of the waterpark are fantastic. I thought the baby/toddler area was the best I have seen for the young age group. The middle of the park was perfect for elementary kids. I want to say there were ~7 kiddie slides in the toddler pool and about the same amount in the middle area for 4-8 year olds.
They have a kids club section (not drop off) where kids can do crafts for free or a small fee. It is right next to the arcade. Arcade was great although expensive. We probably spent $100 in less than 2 hours. They have higher end games like Star Wars pods, Jurassic Park, transformers, etc. Kids also played glow golf and mini bowling.
Rooms were very basic but fine. I was a bit surprised how plain they were. I haven't stayed in a motel for a long time and the rooms were much worse than a Hilton Garden Inn type place. I would recommend bringing drinks, fruit and snacks. All rooms have a fridge and microwave.
Thanks, Bargainmama, for letting us know about the deal this week.
Glad you had fun!! My sister was also there this week with the deal!
I felt like we had the place to ourselves on Tuesday. Everyone cleared out on Monday after the long holiday.
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| Posted 1/21/16 1:48 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by NervousNell
I am so excited to hear this because we are going in the Spring.
I did notice, from the pictures, that for a brand new resort, the rooms weren't that great looking. I'm a very big hotel snob, so that kind of bothered me a bit.
Just have very low expectations for the rooms. I know you are a hotel snob. Rooms were clean enough.
Spa was ok, nothing amazing. Just know Kalahari is purely for the kids. The whole place feels geared towards kids, which is fine with me since that is why we went.
You may want to bring your own towels. The towels at the waterpark are tiny. Halls are warm though. I remember freezing walking back to our room at Great Wolf but it was not cold at Kalahari.
Yes, my idea of roughing it is staying at anything lower than a 4 1/2 star hotel or if a hotel does not provide robes.
I know it's brand new and clean so we will be fine.
I'm just surprised because for what they charge, you would think they would have done up the rooms a bit more luxuriously.
And yes, it's all about the kids, which I am fine with too. I love going to DW, not because I have a blast, but because i love seeing the kids go nuts.
So pretty much the same here!
Can't wait.
Thanks for the towel tip- good to know!
Message edited 1/21/2016 2:13:18 PM.
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| Posted 1/21/16 2:11 PM |
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Sixofus
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/13 594 total posts
Name:
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Kalahari Rave
Thanks for the review. We are going next weekend. I'm curious if you think one night will be enough(Friday), or should I book Saturday night as well? Is there enough to do to fill 2 nights?
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| Posted 1/21/16 4:59 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by Sixofus
Thanks for the review. We are going next weekend. I'm curious if you think one night will be enough(Friday), or should I book Saturday night as well? Is there enough to do to fill 2 nights?
I think it depends what time you arrive on Friday. If you plan to go after school and arrive in the eve, yes, you should probably book an extra night. If kids are missing school and you plan to arrive early, 1 night is probably fine.
We paid for 2 nights (deal) and only stayed 1 night so my son would not miss school. We left at 4:30 and I did not like driving in the mountains in the dark. There weren't many lights and a ton of tractor trailers. I did not feel safe driving.
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| Posted 1/21/16 7:18 PM |
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MamaBear2
LIF Infant
Member since 1/16 233 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Thanks for the review! We were trying to decide between Great Wolf and Kalahari in April.
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| Posted 1/22/16 2:32 PM |
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FranM
And so it goes....
Member since 9/05 2217 total posts
Name:
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Kalahari Rave
How is the waterpark for older kids/adults?
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| Posted 1/23/16 7:34 AM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by FranM
How is the waterpark for older kids/adults?
There were larger waterslides that we did not go on. From the map, it looked like there were like 6 big waterslides but I saw 2 that were visible. There may be more in the Phase 2 construction?
There was a wave stimulator where older kids/adults could surf. My 6yo loved it but he was the youngest to try.
I forgot to mention my favorite part - the indoor/outdoor hot tub. It was nice to sit outside with snow falling while in the hot tub. I liked how it connects to the inside. Other hot tubs I have been to, you need to walk outside in cold and then go into the hot tub but Kalahari's connects so you are never in the cold.
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| Posted 1/23/16 10:50 AM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10314 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Kalahari Rave
To be honest I'm surprised at the room being compared to Hilton inn. We stood in the African sweet and it as nice with a faux fire place, flat screens on the wall, two room and comfy bed. I've travelled for work and would not compare our Kalahari room to low standard hotels I've stayed at. Also when you walk into the lobby, it looks like you stepped onto a resort.
I've been to Split rock, coco key, brand new great wolf in VA and Kalahari. Kalahari was the best in all categories for indoor water park, great wolf VA second. I like split rock because of the ice skating, shopping and snow tubing. We stay in the nice time share side and dont tie ourselves to the indoor water park.
Message edited 1/23/2016 9:44:40 PM.
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| Posted 1/23/16 9:32 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by Sash
To be honest I'm surprised at the room being compared to Hilton inn. We stood in the African sweet and it as nice with a faux fire place, flat screens on the wall, two room and comfy bed. I've travelled for work and would not compare our Kalahari room to low standard hotels I've stayed at. Also when you walk into the lobby, it looks like you stepped onto a resort.
I've been to Split rock, coco key, brand new great wolf in VA and Kalahari. Kalahari was the best in all categories for indoor water park, great wolf VA second. I like split rock because of the ice skating, shopping and snow tubing. We stay in the nice time share side and dont tie ourselves to the indoor water park.
Kalahari absolutely has a beautiful lobby. Our room was very plain and the pillows were really dinky too. Our room didn't even have a dresser. Your suite sounds much better than our standard room. We have also gone to Great Wolf in VA and I also thought our room at GWL was not great. I could hear the water running the entire time we were at GWL and bathroom was pretty old and crappy. If we are going low budget, we usually stay at Hilton Garden Inn or Aloft. Both chains have fairly high quality rooms for a low price.
http://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania/rooms-reservations/guest-rooms/desert-room
Message edited 1/25/2016 10:09:04 PM.
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| Posted 1/25/16 9:46 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by Sash
To be honest I'm surprised at the room being compared to Hilton inn. We stood in the African sweet and it as nice with a faux fire place, flat screens on the wall, two room and comfy bed. I've travelled for work and would not compare our Kalahari room to low standard hotels I've stayed at. Also when you walk into the lobby, it looks like you stepped onto a resort.
I've been to Split rock, coco key, brand new great wolf in VA and Kalahari. Kalahari was the best in all categories for indoor water park, great wolf VA second. I like split rock because of the ice skating, shopping and snow tubing. We stay in the nice time share side and dont tie ourselves to the indoor water park.
Kalahari absolutely has a beautiful lobby. Our room was very plain and the pillows were really dinky too. Our room didn't even have a dresser. Your suite sounds much better than our standard room. We have also gone to Great Wolf in VA and I also thought our room at GWL was not great. I could hear the water running the entire time we were at GWL and bathroom was pretty old and crappy. If we are going low budget, we usually stay at Hilton Garden Inn or Aloft. Both chains have fairly high quality rooms for a low price.
http://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania/rooms-reservations/guest-rooms/desert-room
When we were looking to book, this is the picture that turned me off.
I feel like for the money they charge, and a brand new hotel, it shouldn't look like this. I don't know why, but this made me feel less than thrilled when seeing it! Like for the money you are charging, you couldn't cover that shit up? I need to see sink pipes in my bedroom?
We ended up booking an upgraded room- not sure which.
Message edited 1/26/2016 9:40:37 AM.
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| Posted 1/26/16 9:40 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Kalahari Rave
Yeah, that is pretty blah!!!
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| Posted 1/26/16 12:46 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by BargainMama
Yeah, that is pretty blah!!!
Thanks to you, we only paid ~$100 per night so it was ok with me that we had a motel type room. We had a great time!
I may have minded more if we spent $500+ per night for this same room.
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| Posted 1/26/16 2:27 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by BargainMama
Yeah, that is pretty blah!!!
Thanks to you, we only paid ~$100 per night so it was ok with me that we had a motel type room. We had a great time!
I may have minded more if we spent $500+ per night for this same room.
Yes, that would be my thoughts exactly!!
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| Posted 1/26/16 3:51 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10314 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Kalahari Rave
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by Sash
To be honest I'm surprised at the room being compared to Hilton inn. We stood in the African sweet and it as nice with a faux fire place, flat screens on the wall, two room and comfy bed. I've travelled for work and would not compare our Kalahari room to low standard hotels I've stayed at. Also when you walk into the lobby, it looks like you stepped onto a resort.
I've been to Split rock, coco key, brand new great wolf in VA and Kalahari. Kalahari was the best in all categories for indoor water park, great wolf VA second. I like split rock because of the ice skating, shopping and snow tubing. We stay in the nice time share side and dont tie ourselves to the indoor water park.
Kalahari absolutely has a beautiful lobby. Our room was very plain and the pillows were really dinky too. Our room didn't even have a dresser. Your suite sounds much better than our standard room. We have also gone to Great Wolf in VA and I also thought our room at GWL was not great. I could hear the water running the entire time we were at GWL and bathroom was pretty old and crappy. If we are going low budget, we usually stay at Hilton Garden Inn or Aloft. Both chains have fairly high quality rooms for a low price.
http://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania/rooms-reservations/guest-rooms/desert-room
When we were looking to book, this is the picture that turned me off.
I feel like for the money they charge, and a brand new hotel, it shouldn't look like this. I don't know why, but this made me feel less than thrilled when seeing it! Like for the money you are charging, you couldn't cover that shit up? I need to see sink pipes in my bedroom?
IMAGE
We ended up booking an upgraded room- not sure which.
 I was going to come back to post the only odd thing was that the sink was in the hall way but this was to act as a kitchen area. However it wasn't in any of the bedrooms. This sink pictured was in the hallway off of the living room area. Again nothing comparable to a motel and the room was new. I got the suite for 1300 for two nts and that was for 7 people.
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| Posted 1/27/16 8:38 PM |
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beachbabe
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/15 731 total posts
Name:
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Kalahari Rave
Where did you get the deal? Was it a Groupon?
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| Posted 1/31/16 10:07 PM |
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