Jan 28 2008
Splash-tacular Indoor Water Park at Best Western Ramkota in Sioux Falls, SD
Best Western Ramkota
3200 West Maple St, Sioux Falls, SD. 605-336-0650. http://siouxfalls.ramkota.com
Up to six waterpark wristbands included in room rate. Free parking. Restaurant on-site.
We needed a winter getaway so we found a last-minute room at the Best Western Ramkota in Sioux Falls, where they have a “Splash-tacular” waterpark. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and had time to swim a while on Monday morning as well.
As far as accommodations go, the Ramkota is an ok place to stay. Although the website would not let me book a room for two adults and four children, I could get a room with two queen beds by calling directly. There was adequate room for a porta-crib and small cot in the room. There is a restaurant on-site, which also means no free continental breakfast, so we packed our own breakfast to eat in our room.
The waterpark was appropriate for young kids like ours, but I’m not sure it would be much fun in another five years. There’s a nice zero-entry pool area with small slides for the preschoolers, and a series of “lily pads” for kids to climb across. In the other pool, there’s a 3-foot area with basketball hoop, and one “big slide” that the boys enjoyed.
The water in both pools was very warm, so we didn’t have to worry about the little ones getting chilled. We had life preservers on our kids, and others had water wings or floating rings. On Sunday afternoon, the pools were pretty crowded, and we were surprised how many kids were in the pools without adults nearby. (There is an attendant at the top of the waterslide, but there are no lifeguards on duty.) Monday morning was quite a bit quieter in the pool area.
While the Ramkota isn’t as big or spectacular as other waterparks, it fit the bill for our young family.
I really liked going to the pool. It was really fun.
I liked the water slide. It was very wet. I liked it when I went under water.
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How did you manage to convince them to put four kids in a room? I tried with three and was told I could only book a more expensive suite. I threatened to take our business elsewhere (their competition- the Ramada allows three kids in a room) and they didn’t care.
Jenny–
Yikes! I know this is a problem with large families, finding a room that will hold everyone. This was two years ago, so maybe they’ve changed their policy? Or maybe I just got lucky and got a clerk who let it slide? I can’t remember any more what we did for beds–I suspect that we brought one portacrib and put the other three kids on a bed together.
What’s really interesting is that the website says, “Admission for six to waterpark included with your stay.” Why allow six waterpark admissions if only four can stay in a room?
Sometimes I wonder if it’s in how I word the question. Instead of “Do you allow six people in a room?” I’ll sometimes just say “I’d like a room for two adults and six children” in a matter-of-fact way that assumes this will not be a problem. I don’t know if it makes a difference, though.
Does the Ramada have a waterpark?
Thanks for your comment.
Linda
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