You may have stayed at a BEST WESTERN or a BEST WESTERN PLUS, but have you ever stayed at a BEST WESTERN PREMIER? If you’re planning a trip to Lancaster, now’s your chance.

The city touts Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection, which offers the brand’s upscale ambiance and amenities, including a wide variety of accommodations (32 variations, to be exact, some of which sleep up to eight guests) with kitchenettes or full kitchens and free Internet access. Fireplaces, patios and porches add to the charm of select guestrooms, suites and villas, and three onsite dining options and an outdoor recreation complex add to the convenience and fun for families.

The hotel is located on an interstate and surrounded by commercial businesses, such as a gas station and several banks, though you’ll hardly notice from your place in the outdoor pool — the highlight of the hotel — that is surrounded by abundant, colorful flora. Children won’t be bothered — or want to be bothered — either, since they’ll be busy in the Kids Play and Water Zones, indoor swimming pool or game room.

Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection is easily the best hotel choice for families visiting Lancaster and Hershey, Pa., the latter of which is just 30 minutes away.

Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection offers outstanding accommodations, which include Deluxe Guest Rooms, Suites and Villas (of which there are 48 -- a testament to the hotel's family friendliness). In total, there are 32 variations of rooms (another testament to family friendliness) -- you can't not find something suitable for the size of your group.

Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms (and throughout the hotel), as are air mattresses ($10 per night), a few rollaway beds ($10 per night) and cribs (complimentary), upon request. All rooms and suites with two or more beds offer shower-in-tub combinations, and many offer multiple bathrooms.

Deluxe Guest Rooms
All guestrooms provide sitting areas, large work desks (which double as eating spaces for one or two people), mini-fridges, microwaves and coffee makers. Standard amenities include 32- or 42-inch, flat-screen TV's, in-room safes, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards. Families should choose a Two Queen Deluxe, which sleeps up to five with the use of an air mattress, rollaway bed or crib, or a 2 Double Bed Deluxe, which comfortably sleeps four guests.

Suites
Suites, most of which offer two rooms (privatized by doors), include living areas with sofa beds and large work desks, along with "Hospitality Centers," where mini-fridges, microwaves and coffee makers are found. Large, two-sink vanities add to the appeal for families, and standard amenities include in-room safes, 42-inch and 32-inch TV's (as opposed to one or the other in Deluxe Guest Rooms), irons, ironing boards and hairdryers. Many variations include balconies or patios with views of the Outdoor Recreation Complex, too -- we highly suggest these.

Fireplaces, full kitchens, including dishwashers, and laundry machines are available in 2 Bedroom Premier Suites, which sleep six or seven; fireplaces and full kitchens (minus dishwashers) are also available in 2 Room Flat Suites, which sleep four or five.

Families might also like the 2 Room King Suite with Balcony or Patio, which sleeps up to four, though we don't suggest it for those with infants or toddlers -- it doesn't provide a bathtub. The 2 Bedroom Queen Suite with Balcony or Patio is a good bet, however, with space for six guests.

Villas
If you're planning to visit Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection for several days or with extended family, consider one of the hotel's villas, which offer a minimum of 600 square feet (1 Bedroom Villa Suite; sleeps four or five in one king bed and one sofa bed, with the use of a rollaway bed, air mattress or crib) and a maximum of 1,300 square feet (2 Bedroom Villa Suite; sleeps eight in one king bed, two queens beds and a sofa bed). Full kitchens, fireplaces, sofa beds and giant soaking tubs (in master bedrooms) are standard throughout, and many units provide washers and dryers. In-room, pay-per-view movies are also available.

A nice option for families (in addition to the above) is the 2 Bedroom Penthouse, which offers one queen bed in the first bedroom, a queen bed and bunk beds in the second room, and a sofa bed, accommodating eight guests total.

Outdoor Recreation Complex
Sure, Lancaster offers a plethora of cultural fun, but your kids -- and you -- will always be anxious to return to the hotel, where an Outdoor Recreation Complex provides a heated, outdoor pool and spray-ground (Kids Water Zone), surrounded by plenty of umbrellas, tables and chairs and complemented by lush landscaping. The pool reaches 9 feet in depth, but offers zero-entry access and a shallow area for youngsters; it's also supervised by lifeguards. The outdoor pool and spray-ground open at 8 a.m. and close at varied times, dependent on seasons (they don't close until 11 p.m., July 1 through Labor Day, for example).

The Outdoor Recreation Complex also features a Kids Play Zone, complete with a picnic area, putting green, basketball court, bocce ball court, and playground (with a wooden pirate ship), plus Ping-Pong, billiard and shuffleboard tables.

Indoor Pool and Whirlpool
In the event of a rainy day or reprieve from the summer sun, families can relax in an indoor, heated pool, open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The pool, which reaches 8 feet in depth and is manned by lifeguards, is accompanied by a whirlpool, available to guests who are least 16 years old.

Game Room
Also in the event of a rainy day or reprieve from the summer sun, an indoor game room offers traditional arcade machines and is open daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Arthur's Terrace Restaurant
Adjacent to the hotel lobby, Arthur's Terrace Restaurant offers buffet and a la cart menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast buffet is admittedly the best of all, however; it offers a plentiful spread of breads, pastries (including doughnuts -- a delicacy in Amish Country), cereals and fruit, along with a rotating selection of eggs, pancakes, potatoes, bacon, sausage and the like. While the restaurant appears slightly fancy, it's surprisingly casual. High chairs and booster seats are available, as are children's menus and grab-and-go coffee and tea. Arthur's Terrace Restaurant is open to hotel guests and the general public.; see hours of operation.

Garfield's Food & Spirits
Connected to the hotel, yet also open to the public, Garfield's Food & Spirits offers traditional American fare, such as burgers, sandwiches, wraps and salads, plus a lunch buffet and children's menu. It's the poolside, pizza delivery service (gratuity included), however, that gives this place a name with hotel guests. Garfield's Food & Spirits is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Champagne Sunday Brunch
Be sure to make a reservation for Champagne Sunday Brunch, available in Arthur's Terrace Restaurant and The Courtyard from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Sunday. Offerings include traditional breakfast fare, plus a made-to-order pasta station, cheese spread, carving station and more. Children are welcomed with high chairs, booster seats and reasonable rates -- $13.95 for those ages 8 to 12 and $8.95 for ages 4 to 7; children under 3 eat free.

All About the Extras
Pillow Menu
Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection offers a Pleasant Dreams Pillow Menu with three comfortable choices: Hypoallergenic, Buckwheat and Feather & Down. Pillows are free to use during your stay, though a $25 fee applies if they're not returned.

Pet-Friendly Policy
Up to two pets under 35 pounds (each) are permitted in rooms for a non-refundable, nightly fee of $15. Nearby, Neffsville Veterinary Clinic provides pet-sitting services to hotel guests, too.

Gift Shop
Located next to the lobby (behind the front desk), an onsite convenience store sells snacks, beverages and sundries.

Fitness Center
The hotel provides a fitness center and sauna, accessible 24 hours a day with a room key. The fitness center overlooks the indoor pool, where a lifeguard is typically on duty, so it's possible to squeeze in a workout while the kids go for a dip.

Packages
The hotel offers several, year-round and promotional packages, including a Hersheypark Package and Dutch Wonderland Package, both of which include lodging, breakfast and park admission for two adults and two children, ages 4 to 10 (additional or older children require an additional fee).

The Art of Smart Timing
BEST WESTERN PREMIER Eden Resort & Suites receives an influx of visitors during the summer months, when Lancaster beckons families with a bevy of outdoor activities. That said, nightly rates are highest during this time. The hotel is steadily busy throughout the remainder of the year, too, hosting sports teams and the like, though you might be able to score a deal in the winter (January through March), a decent time to visit Lancaster and Hershey. In fact, Hershey offers a slew of sweet events in February.

Getting There
Harrisburg International Airport is closest to Lancaster, though Philadelphia International Airport is the better bet for most flyers, as it services more airlines; it is located an hour and a half away.

By car, you'll likely get to Lancaster via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where you'll have to pay a toll (or more, depending on the direction from which you're driving).

When you arrive at the hotel, choose valet or complimentary, self-parking. Tip: Check in before you lug bags and kids to your room -- it could be a long walk from the parking lot to the front desk, and several side entrances (opened with a key card) offer easier access to accommodations, versus the main entrance.

Getting Around
If you plan to stay at Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection (or any other hotel in Lancaster, for that matter), you'll need a car to get around, as most attractions are spread across several towns. Conveniently, a gas station is located next to the hotel.

For Mom and Dad
If the kids are late sleepers or you have a built-in babysitter, head to the outdoor pool for Adult Swim, an adults-only pool hour, held from 8 to 9 a.m. daily. Alternatively (or additionally), you can enjoy a cocktail at the hotel's Encore Lounge (open daily until midnight or later).