Lodging

The image that Motel 6 has is of basic lodgings at a value price, and that is a fair assessment of what I received during my stay at the chain’s property located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Standard 2 Double Bed Motel 6 Room

The motel is actually, technically, in the city of Lake Delton, but Delton and the Dells are twin cities separated only by an invisible barrier. For all intents and purposes, most everything in this twin city area is considered The Dells.

But I digress. The motel is located where I-90/94 and Hwy 12 intersect and it is a three-story lodging with very basic rooms offering 1 king or 2 double beds, a TV with cable, an indoor pool and hot tub, free morning coffee in the lobby and that’s about it.

There’s no on-site restaurant or fitness center, no indoor waterpark like the Great Wolf Lodge and Kahlahari just up the road, and no free toiletries, other than a bar of no-name soap. The walls are also thin enough to hear a loud conversation next door and even with a non-smoking room, there is still lingering smoke smells as soon as you step into the hallway.

But for $50 or less, on average (AAA discounts available), you do get free WiFi, free parking, indoor hallways for security and a clean, comfortable place to sleep. Restaurants are less than a mile away, next to the Tanger Outlet Mall, and it’s about a five minute drive from both the main tourist strip of Dells attractions and Ho Chunk Casino. This is also a pet-friendly lodging and does have rooms to accommodate those with disabilities.

This is definitely a place to pick if you’re more concerned with price over amenities, but sometimes, all you need is a cheap place to crash.

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Motel 6 Lake Delton
I-90/I-94 at US 12, Exit #92
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
608-355-0700

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[Photo by Michelle Snow]

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When I was a kid, mom and I camped out quite a bit and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park was one of the places I remembered most fondly. It was close to home, and I loved the whole kid-appeal of Yogi Bear.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Campground

As an adult, perhaps I’ve lost the rose-colored glasses, but the current day campground doesn’t mirror anything I remember from childhood.

The majority of the campsites, including the one I stayed at with a friend, were set up on uneven ground. Many had pieces of leftover garbage lying around, even pieces of broken beer bottles in a few, as if the staff didn’t even bother to check the sites between rentals. The community areas were unclean and the two days we were there, the bathrooms were often closed for one reason or another. Our site also was near the interstate, so there was a lot of noise to deal with.

The worst part of the stay was the indifference and rudeness of the staff. Complaints were either ignored or quickly foisted off to someone else. Many other campers we spoke with were unhappy, though the kids didn’t seem to mind as long as they could play in the pool or caught glimpses of Yogi and his friends.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the campground’s cabins internally, but it appeared there was quite a variety of them. They even had two sites with yurts on them for those who forgot their tents, but didn’t want to book a cabin.

Rates started at $29 for the bare bones campsite, $59 for sites with water and electric and $109 for the cabins.

Honestly, though, even for free I wouldn’t stay here again and neither will my friend. But at least I still have my memories.

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Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
S1915 Isnala Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
608-254-2568
Open May 1 – September 30

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[photo courtesy Michelle Snow]

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Looking at the outside of the Paradise Motel is like being transported back to the 1950s, when the single story motel was king. Owner-owned and managed, this property is a clean, no-frills place to crash when in Wisconsin Dells.

Paradise Motel in Wisconsin Dells

The rooms are reasonably well-maintained, though the mattresses may seem old to those used to the lush pillowtops of most resorts. Rooms smell a bit musty and even a non-smoking room may smell slightly of smoke. Shower temperature varies depending on if others in neighboring rooms are bathing at the same time and if you do want to wash up, you’ll need to bring your own toiletries. You’ll also need to hike down to the office if you want any ice, but you’ll find the owner to be a friendly gentleman willing to help your stay be the best it can.

Paradise Motel is located in the heart of the tourist corridor, directly across the street from the behemoth Mt. Olympus Waterpark and Theme Park. As such, you may not care that the pool is small and only boasts a diving board and traditional plastic slide, or that said pool is completely packed in the heart of the summer heat.

They also offer charcoal grills and a picnic area for guests to use and have a playground with swing set for the kids. A variety of restaurants are within walking distance and each room comes with a mini-fridge and microwave. It should also be noted this motel is pet-friendly.

Rates for a standard room during the peak season summer months start at $99; the family suites at $159. These rates do include passes to Mt. Olympus for each person in your party, though, saving about $20-$30 per person. Expect to pay about half of that during the off-season, since the 49-room motel doesn’t have an indoor pool or any other fancy amenities.

Those who just want a basic place to sleep while vacationing on a budget in the Dells and don’t mind the older qualities of this property should consider this motel for their stay. Tbose used to more modern hotels might be more comfortable sleeping elsewhere.

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Paradise Motel and Suites
1700 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
608-254-7333

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[Photo courtesy of Paradise Motel]

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For an animal lover, walking into the lobby of the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells can be a bit unnerving. As the hotel is themed to resemble the hunting lodges of the American West, the lobby is full of animals. Whether they were real or not, I honestly didn’t want to know. The antler chandelier and totem poles were an interesting touch, though.

Great Wolf Lodge Lobby in Wisconsin Dells

Check-in was quick and I had a Family Fireplace suite on the parking lot side of the hotel, facing away from Interstate 90/94. The room featured a fully working fireplace and a seating area separated by a small partition wall from the two queen beds. There was also a wet bar area with a sink, microwave and fridge near the entrance. The bathroom was pretty standard, with no-brand toiletries. The room was spacious and clean; the bed comfortable. I did notice, however, the room and many of the common areas showing signs of age and normal wear-and-tear.

For families with small kids, I would consider going with a Wolf Den suite or a KidCabin Suite, which are slightly more expensive than the style of room I had. But the extra price is worth it because both of these suites feature a separate room-within-a-room area for kids to sleep and play in, with bunk beds. This way kids get their own fun place while mom and dad can still keep an eye on them.

Great Wolf Lodge Family Fireplace Suite

I was traveling during the peak season, which is the summer months from Memorial Day until Labor Day, so my room was $149.95/night plus tax on a promotional discount (base rate for this style of room, according to the website is $229.95). This was one of the most inexpensive suite options, which can go up to $459.95 for the 3-bedroom Great Wolf Loft condo. Expect rates to be lower off-season. They also tack on a $5/night resort fee (which I personally detest) year-round. At least parking is free.

Great Wolf Lodge is a family-friendly resort, and each room comes with daily passes for the property’s indoor and outdoor theme parks. Other resort amenities include a day spa for adults, a fitness center, a restaurant and a convenience store. Wi-Fi is also available.

Also fun for kids of all ages is the newly opened MagiQuest, an interactive game area that combines video games and role-playing in a multi-level adventure. Think Harry Potter meets Dungeons & Dragons with interactive video walls. There is a $14.99 fee for each player’s magic wand and $9.99 per visit charge to play the game.

The resort neighbors the Tanger Outlet mall, where shopaholics can nab some great deals. Other Dells attractions are a short five minute drive away. There are also several restaurants within a short walk of the resort (you have to stop at Culvers and try the butterburgers and flavor-of-the-day fresh-made custard).

It should also be noted that Great Wolf Lodge is a lodging chain with twelve locations in North America, and this review only covers the Wisconsin Dells location.

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Great Wolf Lodge
1400 Great Wolf Drive
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 53965
Phone: 800-559-9653

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Related Posts:

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Wisconsin Dells, or “The Dells,” as the locals call it, has been a family vacation destination for decades, Appropriately, many of the lodging options you’ll find along the main strip of Hwy 12, where the major attractions are based, are family-run businesses, not major chains.  These can offer great deals to the budget traveler.

Mayflower Motel Double Bed Room

One of the best family-run motels in The Dells is the Mayflower Motel and Suites. It is an older motel, but the family that runs it has done a good job of upkeep and occasional renovations to keep the property fresh (though there is some wear and tear here and there).

Accommodations here range from a standard two double bed room to a three queen bed jacuzzi suite with a loft (great for groups or large families). Each room comes with a fridge, microwave, coffee maker and cable TV with the Starz! movie channel. The suites also include wet bars, sofa sleepers and in-room jacuzzi tubs. Some even have private balconies.

Amenities at the Mayflower include a large indoor pool with hot tub and sauna, as well as two outdoor pools with kids pools, a children’s playground area, an arcade and a sheltered picnic/grill area.

There isn’t an on-site restaurant, but within a two-to-three block are several restaurant options from a pizza joint to ethnic food like Japanese and Jamaican. During my stay I ate at Houlihan’s (an upscale sports bar) and the elegant House of Embers across the street (very cool place if you want to have a romantic fine dining experience). Fast food options and a WalMart Supercenter (featuring a grocery secton) are mere minutes away by car.

The Mayflower is also within walking distance from major Dells attractions such as Noah’s Ark waterpark and Mt. Olympus.

Rates for 2009 start as low as $58 for the two double bed rooms during the off-season when I stayed (which is pretty much all year except Memorial Day through Labor Day). Be sure to check the motel’s website for coupons. I was able to book my three-night stay with 50% off the third night using them.

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Mayflower Motel & Suites
910 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965-8316
608-253-6471

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Dwarfed by the nearby megaresorts with their huge indoor waterparks, the smaller Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, looks a bit out of place. The outside of the resort resembles a Victorian-era English cottage, so it should come as no shock that the Wintergreen carries that theme inside.

Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center

I didn’t get a chance to stay here but took a walk through of the property. The manager on duty was kind enough to allow me to to peak into a variety of the rooms they offer. The interior decor of the resort features flowered wallpaper and early-1900s style furniture. During the brief tour, I was informed the Wintergreen was a popular place to hold wedding receptions, a statement confirmed by the fact that two of the conference rooms were decorated for such events that day.

I also viewed both the indoor and outdoor pool areas that were each themed with a winter-wonderland playground for the kids, complete with small waterslides. I could see families having fun here, though both were rather quiet on the day of my visit.

The guest rooms are a decent size, but sparsely furnished. and some are showing a bit of wear and tear. A couple of the beds I sat on felt as though they were close to needing to be replaced, too.

Standard Two Queen Bed Guest Room

And I have to admit some of the suite layouts were a bit puzzling. For instance I viewed a “deluxe whirlpool” suite that featured the whirlpool tub right in the middle of the main room area, with a regular tub in the bathroom.

But it might be easy to overlook such minor details when looking to save money, as each room comes with free passes to the Mt. Olympus theme/water park complex about five minutes away – a great deal for families. I can also see the resort being popular for romantic getaways and girlfriend shopping weekends, as it’s located right next to the popular Tanger Outlet mall, where I found some amazing deals (a pair of $75 Liz Claiborne jeans for $8!).

For those looking to vacation in Wisconsin Dells, Lake Delton is mere minutes from the main Dells attractions, as the two cities are actually connected to each other.

Rates with the Mt. Olympus ticket package start at $115 a night on average during the peak summer months, with the off-season package rates starting at $85 a night.

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Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center
60 Gasser Rd
Lake Delton, WI 53940
1-608-254-2285

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Though the push is on for hotels in this midwest tourist destination to expand and include guest amenities like indoor theme parks, sometimes you just need a comfortable bed in a clean room that is close to everything without costing an arm and a leg.

A Basic 2 Queen Room at the Comfort Inn

The Comfort Inn in Wisconsin Dells fulfills all the criteria. It has easy access to Interstate 90/94, as well as the cute downtown area and the major attractions like Noah’s Ark Waterpark and Mt. Olympus Theme Park. It’s also within walking distance of the Greyhound stop, as well as less than a mile from the Amtrak station (a mere $5 taxi ride).

During my two stays, the rooms were basic but clean and outfitted with a small sitting area by the window, along with a small fridge/microwave combo and cable TV. The rooms did show signs of wear and tear, but they were minor.

The Comfort Inn Indoor Pool

The hotel has a nice indoor pool area with a jacuzzi pool and in addition to free continental breakfast, there are plenty of name-brand dining options within walking distance.

The staff was friendly and I had no troubles during my stay. I also appreciated the indoor corridors for safety and the free Wi-Fi.

Nightly rates start around $65 during the off-season months and $109 during the peak months (holidays/summer). It also offers special packages that include attraction tickets for extra savings during the summer months. AAA/CAA members can generally save 10% off the rates year-round, and don’t forget to sign up for Choice Hotel’s free frequent stay program which awards points for free future stays.

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Comfort Inn
703 Frontage Rd. N.
Wisconsin Dells, WI, US, 53965
1-608-253-3711
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Besides having a love for travel, I’m a huge sci-fi geek. So when I discovered the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, has a themed suite called, “Outer Space,” I had to book a night in it.

Chula Vista Outer Space Suite Bedroom and Jacuzzi

According to the website, the room had a king bed, plus a set of bunk beds, so I invited two friends for an impromptu geek girls’ weekend.

Driving out to Chula Vista on River Road, we didn’t expect it to be so far away from the core of the town. In fact, we were about to admit we were lost when we happened to see it in the distance. For those looking for privacy, you’ll definitely find it out here.

We checked in and commented how the lobby creeped us out a bit with all the mounted animal heads. The staff were very friendly, though, and check-in took less than five minutes.

When we got to the suite, we were a bit puzzled with the layout. The king bed was in a separate bedroom area, but there was no door for privacy. The bunk beds, comprised of a full bed bottom and twin bed top, were actually in the living room, next to the couch – almost as an afterthought. Was this suite meant for a family? If so, why the romantic “Moon Crater” whirlpool surrounded by mirrors that took up a good third of the suite?

Overall, not quite what we were expecting. In fact, the only thing that was really sci-fi about the suite was a Saturn wall mural behind the king bed, some space-themed wallpaper in the bathroom, a few wall hangings of spaceships and a lot of blue track lighting.

Bunk Beds in Living Room of Outer Space Suite

We agreed the effect was borderline kitsch-meets-cheesy. Not necessarily bad, but it’s definitely one of those things where it would have been better had the resort fully committed to a space theme and not just gone halfway.

We did enjoy our stay at the resort. The room was on the ground floor, with patio doors that opened up to a lovely view of the wooded area behind the resort. A short walk took us to the Wisconsin River that winds alongside of the resort. It was still too chilly for the outdoor water park to be open, but upon further exploration, we found the indoor waterpark, Lost Rios, was full of families enjoying themselves.

There were several dining options at the resort, from the Kaminski Bros. Chophouse to the Market Fresh Buffet, though we either ate in town or snacked using the mini-bar set-up of microwave and fridge in our suite.

Outer Space Suite Bathroom at Chula Vista

This resort would be perfect for those who want to be within a 10-minute drive of the touristy area of Wisconsin Dells, but still have privacy and be surrounded by the natural beauty of the area. And for those not into the themed suites (which included pirates and the wild west), the resort also has more traditional-style rooms and suites.

Be sure to check the Chula Vista site for online only specials, like the current All-Inclusive Package that offers 2 nights in a Jr or theme suite with meals and waterpark passes included for as low as $149 a night.

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Chula Vista Resort
4031 River Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(866) 382-4852

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What’s left for a family resort that already has an indoor and outdoor waterpark and a multiplex movie theater to entertain the guests? How about adding an indoor theme park?

Ferris wheel at the Kalahari

In an effort to bring in even more guests year-round, the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin has done just that.

Featuring a carousel, ropes course, climbing wall, go-carts, laser tag, arcade games, golf simulators and even a six-story Ferris wheel, the new indoor theme park inhabits over 110,000-sq-ft of space at the resort.

Day passes to the resort’s newest entertainment venue are currently priced at $19.95 for resort guests and $29.95 for non-resort guests, with separate charges for the bowling and golf simulators. For those without the time or inclination to spend an entire day inside, each attraction also has individual pricing starting at $3 per ride

In addition to holding a wild opening celebration featuring 80s hit artist MC Hammer performing at the resort’s sports bar, the Kalahari is welcoming people to try out the new entertainment venue with a promotion that runs from now until March 1, 2010. Simply show up on your birthday between these dates with proof that it is (driver’s license, passport, etc) and the Kalahari will give you a free day pass to the indoor theme park.

The African-themed resort is already a popular lodging choice for families vacationing in the Midwestern town of Wisconsin Dells, and I can imagine having this additional indoor entertainment option will prove to be a hit, especially in the cold and snowy winters.

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Kalahari Resort
1305 Kalahari Drive
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
1 (608) 254-5466

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