Monday, October 10, 2011

A couple other hotels

Took quick tours of 2 other hotels..the Holiday Inn (formerly the Best Western EWR) and the Renaissance.

The Holiday Inn was recently renovated and the rooms and hotel were clean. This property also offers both smoking and non smoking rooms. Small restaurant/lounge and friendly staff. The King room i saw was HUGE with a microwave and small fridge. Not all rooms offer this, but I was told you can request these items.

The Renaissance was just renovated and the rooms are really lovely. Large, clean and comfy. Bathrooms are not huge, but not too small either. The King room had a couch and a fridge. The double double had an armchair and ottoman-not sure about the fridge, I forgot to look.

The Renaissance also has a full service restaurant and bar, and all rooms are non smoking. They also have a gym and indoor pool.

The 2 hotels are opposite the airport and can be tough to get to if you're not paying attention and used to the area.....also there isn't anything around to eat, other than the hotel's own food. The Holiday Inn's surrounding area is not nice to look at; at least the Renaissance is next to a couple other hotels and isn't quite as ugly. Parking at the Ren is $14 per night...the HI seemed to have free parking, though I didn't ask.

Probably would NOT choose either for a park n fly, BUT I plan to test out the Renaissance soon as there are rooms with lovely airport views! Yup, the kid in me strikes again!!

Either would probably be fine for a pre/post cruise night. Not the most convenient to anything, but clean and comfy enough. I'd choose the Renaissance as I'm not big on HIs as a rule...but if I got stuck, the Holiday Inn wouldn't be horrible!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

October 2011

Seems that the Renaissance has finished it's renovations-will be checking it out in a couple weeks!

The old Days Inn is now a rebranded Holiday Inn. I haven't seen it yet, but it looks-from the outside, as if it has been renovated. Again, I haven't seen it so I can't recommend it.

The Wyndham Garden is NOT a place we suggest. BUT I did take a tour about a month ago and saw 4 or 5 different room types. That hotel is in the midst of a renovation and the rooms looked nice, and clean! (I got a good look at a couple of them, I peeked under the beds, scrutinized the bathrooms, etc.) It does offer a package sometimes, but again, many places will have a park and cruise package for a reason...TO GET BUSINESS into a mediocre hotel.

If you got stuck there for a night due to a bumped flight, it would probably be OK, but I wouldn't stay there on purpose unless absolutely necessary.

Ate at the Brownstone Diner in Jersey City a couple weeks back! Delicious pancakes! VERY busy place. Huge portions! Worth a visit if you have a car. They have a minuscule parking lot, but there is street parking (not free, but cheap-I parked in front of the hospital across the street.)