Both Pros and Cons of Hotel
We stayed for 5 nights at the Amerisuites in Secaucus and would rate it slightly above average when all things are considered. We stayed just before the June rate increases and feel we got good value for $130.00 per night, taxes and service fees included.
The hotel is undergoing extensive renovation, and some of the problems may be solved by virtue of the completion of the July 2007 changeover to a Hyatt Place hotel. The room itself was excellent. Renovations were completed on all rooms above the 3rd floor and the room was in new condition. The room was spacious and our two girls had a fold out sofa that they reported to be very comfortable. The 42" flat screen TV had a great picture, basic cable and free HBO. Missing was the Amerisuite kitchenette and microwave. A small refrigerator was all that remained from the old design. The work desk was spacious and the wireless internet hookup was free. The breakfast buffet was in a very cramped meeting room and was below average in quality, but it did fill us up and saved about $20 for breakfast each day. The hotel staff were not very helpful and the business center did not exist. I had to go to another hotel to print tickets and boarding passes. The 320 bus was super, but does not come to the hotel until 7:00 a.m. Each ride is $2.85 for adults and $1.30 for kids. Be sure to buy tickets because some drivers don't take cash. New York never sleeps, but Secaucus goes to bed early. If you are getting back from New York after 9:00, make sure you have already eaten. The only food you will find at the hotel is an apple at the front desk. Again, the renovations may cure this. The hotel clerk missed our wake up call one morning and the staff seemed genuinely put out with our request for an extra pillow. We got a lecture about the pilferage of new things from the hotel before we finally scored a pillow. We were about 17 minutes from the bus station in Midtown Manhattan and Times Square was three blocks away. We looked at prices in Manhattan and hotel prices were at least double for a smaller room. To us, staying in New Jersey was worth the minimal hassle and we would likely stay at the Amerisuites again.