Howard Johnson Hotel Newark Airport, Newark

We landed in Newark after three weeks in the Mediterranean. Our cruise was extraordinary with incredible food and sparkling facilities. Then we got to Howard Johnson Newark - where the smell in the room was odd. The curtain wouldn't close all the way so that the security light from the parking lot shined in all night, which was annoying. The wake-up call didn't happen, which could have been very bad. The free shuttle to Newark airport was great, however they didn't bother to tell anybody that from the airport you can take the Sky Train to the Amtrak station for free, then PATH into Manhattan for $2. Instead, they had flyers that offered transportation to NYC for $25 to $100. Also, we were startled by the $15 parking fee and the big signs at the desk which warn of this and that -- sort of what you'd expect at an inner city rent-by-the-hour motel -- including a "facility fee." They wouldn't tell me what that was. When I asked to see my bill, they refused, telling me that I had paid by Travelocity. Nothing has shown up on my credit card, so the "facility fee" remains a mystery. Basically, without being racist, this was a hotel run by people from the Third World and it's certainly up to the standards you'd expect in Mombai or Islamabad or Mombasa. We Americans just expect too much, I guess. And it was plenty cheap, so what the heck? Welcome to New Delhi.

lots of bedbugs !!! I will definitely not go to Howard Johnson again...

There was Nothing good about this Place. I stayed one night and Got Bitten By Bed Bugs Down my back, Arm, Wrist and Hand. HORRIBLE Experience,....I still cant sleep right. Hotel is in Total Denial. Did not even refund me as promised. Called hotel 8 times before someone finally called me back at all. Also slipped on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night from leak in bathroom. Real nice too was the fact you have to pay an Extra $15.00 just to stay there to get Bed Bug Bites. Horrible, Horrible Experience,........RUN,...........................

Only thing good about it was the proximity to the airport. I got a terrible case of bedbugs--but they appeared first at the airport on my way to a transatlantic flight. I'll never stay with Howard Johnson's again--anywhere.

I stay in Howard Johnson at Newark Airport in NJ on Jan 22, 2010. I reserve a room on line. 1. I was told I had to paid $15.00 to park and the clerk told me he was give me a break it would only be $10.00. I said to the clerk there was nothing on the internet about parking. When I left in the morning I was told that the gate was open no charge. 2. During the night I keep waking up and itching. I have bites on the right side of my body. I was in room 137 I was sleep in the bed by the window. That bed has bed bugs. I was traveling with my mother she sleep in the other bed. I don’t know if she was bitten also. My mother had a stroke in 2008 and she is in a wheel chair and she can’t talk. I will be checking her for bites today. 3. I will be contact the health department in New Jersey if I don’t heard that hotel has taken care of the bed bugs.

The place is infested with bed bugs. We woke up itchy at night and turned on the lights to see the bugs crawling on the bed. We took pictures but night auditor would not come out to see. We checked out the same night and are fighting to get our refund because supposedly they don't give a refund after day one. In addition, we asked for non-smoking rooms and they did not have a NS room when we arrived. Terrible customer service too. Spent 20min trying to locate our room coz customer service guy could only tell us it's "over there". Numbers have fallen off on some doors too.Overall, a teribble place.

The service at this hotel was bad. They tell you it is easy and reasonable shuttle into New York city but it is not.I I waited 30 minutes for a shuttle to get to the hotel. The shuttle that goes to the city goes 5 times a day for $15 oneway and $25 round trip at 8am,11am,12:30pm,8pm & 11pm. When asked if there was any other way I was told noafter 2nd day I found I could take the bus that stopped right outside the hotel to Newark Penn station for $1.85 and a train to New york Penn station for $7 round trip. I told the manager who said " This could not be done". Then I showed him my tickets and he just smiled. This is alittle shady to me. Management knows nothing about the aera he works in. GET REAL.

Even though we had reserved a standard room, and paid for it, we arrived to discover that it was no longer available and it took 2 hours before they reluctantly found us another room and agreed to giving us a discount. The discount was refused to us the next morning!

Date: Oct 17 / 2008 I moved to this hotel as they provide free shuttle to airport service. I got to the lobby at 8:35AM, and was told the next shuttle was at 9AM. I sat and waited for the shuttle in the lobby. The shuttle came and left at 8:50AM, without even asking customers in the lobby. The 2nd shuttle came back from the airport to the hotel at 9:10AM, and decided to end the day. We (other hotel guests and I) asked the driver and front office, to take us to the airport, but they ignored us. The front office told us to wait for the next shuttle, and not wanting to service the 2nd shuttle. The crowd gets larger as more guest wanting to get to the airport. Bad customer service and they don't take us seriously. VERY RUDE, AND NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. AVOID AT ANY COST AS THEY WILL CAUSE U DELAY OR MISS YOUR FLIGHT.

This is undoubtedly a situation of "getting what you pay for". One can pretty much expect limited customer service and inconvenience for this low low price. After my first morning I had to request another coffee pot, as my leaked profusely. The staff seemed rather annoyed and acted as if the possibility of this occurring was absurd. Ironically enough, I had difficulty with the second pot as well and had to request yet another. I was willing to pay this low price and did not expect great amenities and only the bare minimum. I was excited simply about the free wireless and airport shuttle. Well, the website touts free wireless in every room...WRONG...only in the lobby areas are you able to use your computer (i tried in the room, they need to stop lying) and there is no such "business center". Having to leave my room to check my email during my stay was rather annoying. I could barely get a cell phone signal in my room. The free shuttle is quite unpredictable and once at the airport I waited an hour for van to arrive. It is obvious this is a family owned operation and it is run questionably. Individuals not working convene in the lobby, making myself and my younger sister (both under 30) a little uncomfortable. The restaurant in the hotel is rather small and offers limited choices on the menu, there is no bar to enjoy a glass of wine. I can only imagine it's because they don't want to pay for a liquor license(?). Maybe my stay would have been a little more enjoyable if i could have self-medicated; considering there is little in the area in the way of entertainment if you didn't drive there. I didn't expect to be so secluded and have to do so much to get into the city. Also, to utilize a debit/credit card they imposed a $10.00 min. The rooms were a little musty, but tolerable; the basics were met. On two occasions, they attempted to service my room around 8 am. I saw a couple of rats outside the hotel one night while I was using my cell phone, but I don't believe that to be an indication of the hotel cleanliness, I'm just from the south and not accustomed to rodents. As I said, it was OUTSIDE near the entrance, but it kind of freaked me out a bit. In sum, your basic needs will be met, but expect NO extra...extra meaning over-friendly, professional, continental breakfast,luxurious, or even a night cap. Oh yea...there isn't even any concierge...they have the carts, you're just pushing them yourself! Enjoy...i hope this helps!