Nice Suite Hotel
Written: Jul 16 '04 (Updated Jul 27 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Large and comfortable; exceptionally well-equipped; free parking
Cons: Noisy heater/AC; a bit of a walk to the train and ferry
The Bottom Line: This was a nicely equipped suite hotel that is reasonably convenient to New York City.
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| pvreditor's Full Review: Candlewood Suites Jersey City |
I had a little bit of work in New York City on a Tuesday, so my wife and I decided to take a long weekend, drive to New York, and do the tourist thing. We stayed at the Candlewood Suites in Jersey City, NJ, which is near the PATH train (one of the NYC subway systems) and convenient to Manhattan.
In December 2003, I stayed at a Doubletree hotel in Jersey City, about two blocks from this Candlewood Suites. Both are in a neighborhood that is swiftly being reclaimed from poverty and there are now expensive condos and good shops nearby. The area also boasts the Newport Ferry, which can shuttle you across the Hudson River to the World Financial Center and financial district in Manhattan.
We checked into the Candlewood on Saturday afternoon and had to wait a bit for the clerk to finish with the people in front of me. The lobby was fairly small but clean and stocked with comfortable chairs. In fact, the entire hotel appears to be very new, including the exterior and parking lot. Before I get off the subject of parking, one of the killer features of this hotel is that there is free, secured parking, meaning that you park behind a formidable fence. The New York City region is notoriously expensive for parking and free parking is a major benefit.
The lobby had the usual brochures for attractions and two biggies are in the vicinity of this hotel: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Something unusual just off the lobby was a self-serve store that was surprisingly well stocked with food and groceries. I’ll have a little more about this later.
We got a room on the second floor and the elevator was prompt and smooth. (We used the stairs for most of the rest of our visit.) Our room overlooked the entrance to the hotel — not exactly the location for peace and quiet, but it proved to not be a bother.
The “room” itself was a suite consisting of a bedroom, and living room, kitchenette and dining area. Like the lobby, everything looked new and in great condition. The suite was pleasantly spacious and the kitchenette was wonderfully well equipped. It included a full-size refrigerator, full-size microwave of exactly the same type that I have at home, a two-burner electric cooktop, dishwasher, sink, coffee pot, toaster, and pots, pans, dishes and cutlery. I was astonished at all the space, appliances and necessities there were in the kitchenette, as there was plenty of counter space, a stack of kitchen linens and even a roll of paper towels. This was a room that was ready to be lived in for an extended stay.
Between the kitchenette and the living room was a very large laminate table/work surface for both office work and dining. Two dining room chairs were there, as was a good-quality office chair. On the wall at the end of the table were four electrical outlets, a phone and phone jacks for a modem. (This hotel lacks high-speed Internet service at this time, so I used a dial-up modem. Local calls are no charge, by the way.) The table was an excellent spot for both eating and computer work, and we used it extensively. Having food available in the lobby was very convenient, although we also bought some groceries at a nearby deli. (There is also a major supermarket a couple of blocks away.) Over the table are a couple different lights that can be used either for office-style lighting or more of a dining atmosphere. It’s a thoughtful touch.
The living room had nice new low-pile carpet that was generally red with blue speckles. Included in the living room were a sofabed, reclining chair, a coffee table, an end table (near the reclining chair) and a 27-inch TV on an entertainment stand/chest. The living room also had a small radio/CD player that I did not use. Everything was in new condition, although I did not pull out the sofa bed to see how comfortable the bed was. The sofa part was comfortable and I spent an evening watching a Jackie Chan movie while sprawled on the sofa. The TV came with cable channels, including HBO, although the reception on HBO was not the best.
Two other details about this main room: There was a full-length mirror on the wall just outside the bedroom and there was a closet that contained a clothes iron and ironing board. I didn’t use them but it’s a nice touch.
The main room, which included the living room and kitchenette, measured about 15 x 18 feet. There was a window (which opened) with a heater/AC unit below. The heater/AC unit brings up the first negative about this room: It was fairly noisy and it ran all the time. Fortunately, the heater/AC unit was in the living room and was connected by a duct to the bedroom, making it somewhat quieter in the bedroom. The constant rumble of the heater/AC unit was the main reason why noise from the hotel’s entrance did not bother me during my stay.
The bedroom measured about 12 x 12 and contained a queen-size bed. It also had a chest of drawers, on top of which was a 19-inch TV. One side of the bed had a nightstand with telephone and clock/radio, and near the other side of the bed was a small desk with convenient power and telephone outlets. A large mirror was on the wall above the desk, and the nightstand had a light. There was a good-sized closet in the bedroom containing a laundry basket (did I mention that the Candlewood Suites has a coin-laundry?), and spare pillows and blanket. All in all, there were five pillows there.
The bed (like everything else) was in like-new condition and it was comfortable. The pillows were a thickness that I like and the mattress was neither too soft nor too firm. There was also an openable window in the bedroom.
The big bathroom had a ceramic tile floor, and a tub/shower, toilet and sink with a spacious countertop. (I like having good counter space in the bathroom!) The tub/shower had a cloth shower curtain with a bowed curtain rod that made taking a shower seem pleasantly spacious. In addition, the bathroom had a built-in hair dryer, a large mirror, good lighting, a box of tissues and spare toilet paper. Like the rest of the suite, everything was in like-new condition.
The toilet had one of those automatic cleaning systems that leaves blue water in the bowl. I enjoyed doing little physics experiments whereby I changed the water from blue to green.
Adjusting the shower water temperature was a little fussy but the shower was otherwise a good experience. The bath came with the usual hotel soaps, augmented with Pantene shampoo. There were four large thick bath towels and the typical complement of hand towels and washcloths.
This was a nice hotel, reasonably priced at $129 per night. The PATH train (which costs $1.50 each way) is about a four-block walk, perhaps a half-mile from the hotel. The Newport Ferry is about the same distance. The neighborhood looks safe and attractive, although the roads are in rough shape from much recent construction. We did not wander too far afield, and I think that the neighborhood can get rough quickly if you’re not paying attention. The free parking makes this hotel a particular bargain; the nearby Doubletree is the same price but it charges $10 per day to park.
Also very nice was the exceedingly well-equipped kitchenette, which we used to prepare breakfasts and snacks. The self-serve store off the lobby had all the necessities, including milk, juice, yogurt, frozen dinners, coffee, snacks, popcorn, soda and even ice cream. (We are talking about the necessities here!) Staying at the Candlewood Suites was just plain easy — most everything had been thoughtfully figured out and prepared in advance.
I used both the PATH train and the Newport Ferry, and both worked well. If you happen to be going to the financial district in New York City, the ferry ($3.50 each way) gets you there very quickly. It was beautiful weather for the ferry but it would have been much less comfortable in rough weather. It was a lovely evening when I took the ferry and I got some great shots of the NYC skyline in the waning afternoon sun — just the right time of day for a good photograph.
The walk to the ferry and/or PATH train is a little long, so the Candlewood may be a bit better for tourists than business people. I’d hate to make the walk to the train all dressed in a suit on a blustery morning, but it was fine with sneakers and jeans. It suited my tourist requirements well.
I spent two nights in the Jersey City Candlewood Suites and thoroughly enjoyed it. Other than a somewhat noisy heater/AC unit and a bit of a long walk to the train/ferry, this was a terrific place to stay. The suite was spacious and well-equipped, everything was in tip-top condition and the hotel staff was friendly and knowledgeable.
I recommend the Jersey City Candlewood Suites hotel.
Great Hotel Write Off
Recommended:
Yes
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