Holiday Inn Carlstadt

I stayed at this hotel several times in the past few years and find it a great bargain and a good located hotel for all area activities. Bus to NYC is just accross the street. Parking is free. Great restaurants just within a few minutes of drive. I highly recommend this place.

We stayed at this hotel to take a NYC sightseeing tour. It was an excellent alternative to the high-priced hotels in NYC. I booked our room for $110 a night through their website; which included parking and continental breakfast. I thought the room and hotel was pretty typical for Holiday Inn; clean and nice but not too fancy. The continental breakfast was adequate. We also found the hotel staff to be quite friendly and helpful. We opted to take a cab into NYC, but most people used public transit which I'm told was very easy to navigate.

My stay at the Holiday Inn Express was excellent! And the hotel staff was very friendly and helpful with any question that we had. They made sure that we were treated very well. The breakfast is better than many other hotels. Great cinnamon buns, eggs, bacon, toast, juice. And the hotel/rooms are in great shape too! If you are looking to stay outside of the NYC price hotels, this hotel is great to book! Plus, there is a shuttle bus that takes you right into the city. The bus stop is just about a block away and you pay $3.40 per person. The bus takes you to the Port Authority Bus Transit System, which is located very close to Times Square. It sure beats trying to pay taxi prices or driving your own car into the busy town.

Our stay at this hotel was during the December 1 – 3 , 2007. We were driving up from D.C. and searched online for a hotel place in NYC. However, the price for lodging was too high and plus we would have to pay for parking since we had a car. So we decided to try staying at this Holiday Inn Express based on the reviews on TA.

My husband thinks this was the best thing out of our trip to NYC. We paid only $105 per night (from the Holiday Inn website) and were upgraded to a suite. The suite had a sofa bed, coffee table, and an area for a little frig & microwave. The room was clean and bathroom was good size and clean also. The hotel looks like it’s still pretty new so there are no complaints about the building or room.

Holiday Inn Express provides a free breakfast with the room rate. We got down to the breakfast area about 20 minutes before it closed and there was hardly anything left. All the tables were either taken or dirty/not cleaned. Also, the food area was a mess. So if you want breakfast, get there early.

The location of the hotel is on a busy road. There’s really nothing around the area except for a restaurant next door to the hotel – which we didn’t try. We drove less then 10 minutes to an area where there were restaurants, gas stations, stores, etc, so it’s not far.

Here are the best parts of our stay (and why I gave it such high ratings):

-The hotel is very close to a bus stop which takes you directly into NYC Port Authority station. The ride is less then 20 minutes and cost only $3.40 per person each way. The buses run up to 1am (if I remember correctly, you may want to check the NJ bus schedules). This was convenience, safe and price reasonable. My husband thought this was the best thing – he didn’t have to mess with driving or parking in the City.

-When we checked out in the morning, we loading our luggage in the car, left the car in the parking lot and took the bus into the city. Our plan was to return to the hotel in the afternoon, pick up the car and drive back to D.C. On the bus into NYC, I realized I left my camera at the hotel, on the bed. I just purchased my camera and it was over $300. I called the hotel and ask them if they find it can they hold it for me until I return. They said to call back in 10 minutes and they’ll let me know if they found it. I didn’t really think that they will “find it”, I kind of just assumed that I have lost it for good. But thanks to the honest people at this Holiday Inn Express, they told me they found it when I called back and they held it for me. When I went back to pick it up in the afternoon, the front desk person asked me to describe the camera just to make sure it was mine.

We would stay here again if we ever drive up to NYC.

Excellent hotel and excellent location! Friendly and helpful staff, great breakfast (hot as well as continental), clean and spacious hotel, great service AND couldn't have asked for a better location for travelling into New York City every day! One bus ride (10 - 20 mins) away from New York City, catch the bus just minutes away from the hotel - about $3 per person. Well recommended, I would def go back there again! Myself, my husband, daughter and son shared one room with two queen size beds, had a microwave, fridge ,,, we thoroughly enjoyed the hotel and location. Go to New Jersey Mall only 10 mins away - Westwood perhaps? Good deals and so close to the hotel. Buy a metro pass in New York City if staying for a week or longer - hop onto the buses and subways there without paying extra. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here, no complaints whatsoever!

I stayed at this hotel several times in the past few years and find it a great bargain and a good located hotel for all area activities. Bus to NYC is just accross the street. Parking is free. Great restaurants just within a few minutes of drive. I highly recommend this place.

We booked here for 5 nights as a base to visit NYC after reading a recommendation on another website. Although I was a little concerned after reading some of the reviews on Tripadvisor I was delighted with the hotel since it was very clean, the staff exceptionally friendly and the breakfast was excellent. The room was spacious and had the usual fridge/microwave. The linen and towels were very sumptuous – by far the best of our holiday. Access to NYC is by very comfortable coach which took about 20 minutes ($3.10 each way but you can buy 10 tickets for $28 at the bus terminal). The buses are very frequent during the week though less so at the weekend. Next door to the hotel is a Charlie Brown Steakhouse which had very good value meals (10% discount for hotel guests)

Overall it was great value for money and the best hotel we stayed in during our 3 weeks in the USA. We would definitely stay here again if we go back to NYC and would thoroughly recommend it.

This HI Express is clean, rooms are extra large with a living area including sofa, free high speed internet, and a good breakfast included. HI Express are now beter than standard HI's as far as I can see, at a great price.

Wow! This is the first time I have traveled to the NY/NJ area on business or otherwise where I had a good hotel experience. Service was great, room was clean. Excellent value if you are planning on staying near the Meadowlands.

Great location, close to Manhattan, close to Jersey shopping and close to sports venues. Hotel staff was friendly, and very helpful. The mini fridge in the room was not working so we were moved to another room. The free breakfast was very good and more than just a continental. Very pleasant stay and would recommend if going to the NY/NJ area.

This hotel surprised me. Its busy location and first impression from the staff seemed questionable. However the location proved its values and when I realized that I was almost in NYC and a bit of a “tude” was normal in this part of the world all was good.

The hotel upgraded me to a suite. It was on the first floor caddy corner from the front desk. At first I thought this might be a problem due to noise but turned out to be not a factor. The suite was a little bit bigger than a regular room with a sofa bed along with a mini kitchen. It was quite nice.

The hotel has a pool although no hot tub. The gym was small and windowless. The area around was busy so other than early in the morning tough to run in. I recommend sneaking over toward the stadium and the running there. Uninterrupted parking lots and access roads (unless there is an event) going on provided a nice place to run.

As for food, Charlie Browns Steak House directly next door is outstanding. Show your room key and get 10%. Best of all you can walk home from the bar as many of my fellow guests were able to. There are other choices and fast food on near by route 17.

Inside the hotel, I was surprise to find that the vending machines sold sodas for only a $1.25 and Ice cream for a $1.50. What a great deal!

The hotels location is its value. Super convenient for NYC touring as a bus runs from directly in front of the hotel to Port Authority on 42nd for under $5. A great deal!

NYC touring didn’t seem to be the goal of many of the other guests as the Jets had a game and most of the guest the nights I stayed were fans of the opposing team. The location is directly across from the Meadowlands Race track and Giants/Jets stadium. Although neither is really walking distance the stadium is a short cab ride away ($10-15).

NYC Marathoners notes this hotel works for you as well as the NJ buses pick up at the near by area as well.

The hotel is near the NJ turnpike so it is easy to find and get to and from. A car is not 100% necessary as one could cab/bus from the airport and then bus into the city, but this is Jersey so a car is recommend to get anywhere else.

Amazingly I was able to book a $110 rate on the Priority club web site which for this area and location a steal!

So overall - It is a deal for a soda, a trip to the city, a Jets/Giants/Red Bulls game, a NYC marathon and has a great rate! I recommend this place.

Stayed at the HIE Carlstadt New Jersey for 4 nights in July 2007. The hotel was very clean and the price was excellent value for money. The only issue was the staff were nice but not friendly. Not arrogant mind you but just "on their own trip".

The breakfast was better than what was listed on their site. Nice sandwiches to go as most of the time the kids will not eat when it is the time to eat.

The bus stop is across the street and takes you straight to the Port Authority Bus station on eight ave and 42nd. Plenty of buses during the day.

If you are visiting NY then parking is the issue. So this hotel had plenty of parking. Leave the car, take the bus, do your tours and come back to a decent and clean hotel.

randy090

Just got back from 3 nights at this hotel.

Points to note:

-it was easy to get to

-parking was free and right there

-we upgraded to a king bed

-it was spotless

-the pillows and linens were super cozy (we even slept in because we were so cozy)

-everything worked and was great

-we really liked the breakfast (didn't have to eat again until supper)

-staff was helpful (gave me a map of shopping outlets in the area)

-bus service to/from NYC simple to get to, a 5 minute walk away

-no "surprises" like bugs, lost reservations, broken TV.

Overall: great value for a great time in NYC. I would recommend this hotel based on price, cleanliness, location and nice staff.

We stayed here for 3 nights as a base to visit NYC. AFter booking the reservation, I was a rather concerned upon reading several recent reviews. However, the hotel was clean, the staff was friendly, the breakfast was adequate (not great, but OK), and the room was big enough for 2 parents and 2 teen age girls (and all of their stuff).

Overall for the money, we were very pleased. We spent less for 3 nights here than we would have spent for one night at a chain hotel inside NYC. We were able to walk one block and cross the street at a light to catch the local bus 163 into Port Authority. The buses ran on time, and we did not have to wait but a few minutes. The return bus dropped us off on our side of the road, with a one block walk to the hotel. For a $25.00 round trip for 4 adults, it was a great way to travel into the city.

The only real complaint I had is that the maid did not change our sheets while we were there, just re-made the beds. The linens were a bit threadbare, but towels were newer and nice. Other than a very loud group of middle-aged adults who came inot our hallway at 11:30 PM, there were no problems. We would stay here again if we ever go back to visit NYC.

Three family members and I just arrived from a single night at the Holiday Inn Express Meadowlands in Carlsdadt, New Jersey. We got one night free with our Priority Club Reward Points, and we left the hotel without paying a penny, not even for additional taxes and such. The hotel is up-to-date, extremely clean and offers many amenities, such as a matching fridge and microwave in our room, which had two queen-sized beds rather than two double beds, much to our content. The hotel apparently has both an indoor and outdoor pool, but we only witnessed one of them, the indoor one, but were unfortunately unable to swim in the short period of time we spent there. The television channels were excellent, with several sports/cartoon/specialty channels, something to please the whole family. Our toilet 'broke' at one point, but with a little manipulation, we got it going again without having to call a care-taker. The service was friendly and courteous and breakfast was incredible and had more than we were expecting, with fruit, cereal, muffins, danishes, doughnuts, toast, juice, coffee, and hot, gooey cinnamon buns that were to die for. We travelled into NYC by bus, which brought us straight to the port authority in Manhattan for a small charge, which beats paying attrocious prices for parking in a lot. All in all, we had a great stay at this hotel and would be more than likely to return in a future visit to New York City!

We came upon the Holiday Inn Express while searching online for an alternative to the high priced NYC hotels. For about the same amount of money for 1 room for 2 nights/parking in NYC, we were able to stay in NJ for 3 nights, 2 rooms, free parking. Our family of 4 had plenty of room for sleeping, relaxing ,etc. The desk clerks told us that there was a bus stop across the street for the mid-town Manhattan bus...true, but we had to cross a 4 lane highway and walk a block or so in the road, with our backs to the traffic.VERY SCARY!!! We were dropped later that night about 1/2 a mile past our hotel because the bus driver was going so fast she couldn't stop in time.We then had to walk back to the hotel at 10pm, in the road...no sidewalks anywhere. When we shared our fears with the desk clerk, she was genuinely concerned for our safety. The next morning the clerk called another hotel across the street and asked if we could park our car there while in the city. No problem...we were able to enjoy our day in the city without worrying about coming home safely. The hotel was immaculate, staff very pleasant and helpful. The continental breakfast fresh and plentiful. If staying with children and using the bus..just ask to park at Fairfield Inn.....much safer.

I stay here so often that I get a "NORM!!-like" welcome and get bumped up to the suites so much that I barely remember what the regular rooms look like.

There is some signs of wear and tear developing, and the shower curtain is too tight on you when you're in the shower, but on the whole you cant find a better deal in the area.

I've stayed there weekly fr 4/2004 to 8/2004 & it's a very clean hotel with great staff. It's rates are reasonable for the NJ/NY area & u can get a bus across the street to take u into Manhattan, NYC. It has an indoor pool, but the gym has only a treadmill & a bike...it needs more equipment, so don't plan on working out too much. All the rooms have fridge & microwave which comes in real handy for the business travelers like myself. The free continental breakfast is excellent, it's much more than donuts & coffee & the home baked cookies in the evenings are GREAT! SMILE! Try it, u'll like it!

Séjour d'une nuit à cet hôtel. Famille de 4 personnes: parents et deux enfants.

Endroit facilement accessible, près de New York (Lincoln Tunnel), près du terminal de croisières Manhattan. Situé près d'une rue commerciale avec magasins et restaurants. Pratique en tout points.

Très propre, les chambres sont vastes. Le petit déjeuner inclus est extraordinaire et très complet.

Il y a une piscine intérieure, très pratique en hiver.

Ce n'est pas 5 étoiles, mais pour le prix demandé, c'est très très honnête.

We arrived on a Thursday night staying till sunday with one nice staff member checking two buses in. I stay at Holiday inn Express, Hampton, Fairfield across America and are all usually good. They are not the Hilton or the Marriott but are clean, and newer. They need more staff till 11 at this one. We got to the room and it appealed nice, until there was hair in one of the queen beds. We complained and it was fixed for the next day but it should not have been there, Breakfast was okay but no juice first day; Bacon, rubbery eggs, sausage, cinammon rolls etc, so good enough to get you going except the eggs. Nice staff running that. On the last night, our toilet overflowed from just flushing it with a tissue in it. The manager came up and swept it and the pressure looked fixed. She said that there was no one there to unplug it. At 2 AM I used the washroom because it looked fixed, flushed it and it flooded. I went to the desk and got towels and wiped it myself, no housekeeping there from probably 5 o'clock in afternoon till following morning; just one staff in hotel from 9 o'clock at night or earlier on (there is a security guard you will see occasionaly.) In fact I never saw more than one person attending front desk the whole stay. If they have these beds with hairs, and flooding toilets, they need a housekeeper 24/7. The manager was very rude but rest of staff were pretty good. All in all, disappointing especially for a newer, appealing looking HI Express. Will try Hampton, Residence inn, or Fairfield if in this area again.

We stayed here for a weekend in October as an alternative to the high priced accomodations in NYC.

The Good: Excellent location, the bus to NYC stops directly across the street as mentioned in previous reviews, the trip took approx. 20 minutes, and there we were in Times Square! The staff was pleasant as we checked in, and upgraded us to a suite as we were celebrating a special birthday. The suite was room 422, and had a beautiful jacuzzi. The continental breakfast buffet was included in the price, and was very good, with lots of choices and good fresh food. Another plus: free parking.

The Bad: In a word: BEDBUGS. Didn't look the first night, but during the day on Saturday as we were walking around NYC, I kept itching on my legs, finally pulled up my pant leg and there was some bites! That night when we got back to the hotel, I pulled back the blankets and looked carefully and there they were - bedbugs, not alot but even one was enough to creep me out. We immediately called down to the front desk and asked for another room, the gentleman at the desk said there were no rooms available, and said there was nothing he could do, he then hung up the phone! By this time it was after 11:00 pm. My husband went down and demanded a whole new set of bedding, and with no choice we had to sleep there. On that bed. The next day, we noticed they had reduced our bill by $20.00 (big deal). This experience with bed bugs was our first, and took the shine off this particular hotel. Because of the bedbugs, I do not recommend this hotel. Also, I feel the management should have contacted us to apologize by now.

May 13, 2008

Stayed at this hotel on our way home from Florida with our dog.

Room was clean and well kept.

Now the problem! I had called several hotels before arriving in the area and was told that the only hotel in the area that allowed pets was the Holiday Inn Express. I called the phone number and yes they did allow pets.( This is where the problems started because the hotel I called was a mile further down the road, but I didn't know this.) So after checking in I was told they did not allow pets and they would have to charge us a fee. I said someone told me differently but I said ok since it was too late to move and we were already in the room. Usually the fee is about $20.00 extra for pets. The next morning when I got our bill they charged us $150.00!!!!! for a pet fee! The fee was more than the room!!! I asked to speak to the manager, a rude Jessica Davila, and she refused to reduce the fee saying she had to completely clean the room and rugs and could not rent the room for days. My dog is very, very clean and the room was left spotless so I know this was not the case. I am sure the "smoking rooms" smelled a lot worse than any room that had a dog in it! I also heard another dog barking in a room on our floor. Did they have to pay this outrageous fee!

We paid our bill but we will never, never, never stay at this hotel again and we come to this area often!!!!

J Dillon

This hotel ripped me off!!

I stayed here for 2 days and as I was checking out I was told that my stay would cost 300% more than the price I had booked at. The woman at the front desk seemed unconcerned, refused to issue me a bill (which I was told "isn't done"), and basically told me that there was no one available who could help me with my problem and that I was the one at fault. I got tired of arguing with the woman at the front desk, who seemed to not want to help at all, so I left.

When I returned home, I phoned the general manager. After much argument over the phone, I was issued a bill which listed my stay as being for 5 days, not 2! No matter how much I insisted that my stay had been booked at 2 days, and that I only stayed for 2 days (I even have the original book receipt), I was told that I was lying! My subsequent phone calls have been unreturned.

I have spoken to Holiday Inn's head office, and they as well refuse to rectify the situation, saying that they don't interfere with their franchises.

This whole experience has been a nightmare. Avoid this hotel and its fraudulent management!!!!!!!

Hotel is in a good location (right off RT 17) and is kept clean. Rooms are decent, not great but compared to other's in price/area it's ok. Asked for non-smoking but it reeked of smoke.

Check-out is suppose to be at 11am but they rush you out ASAP. I ran out to go shopping and loaded my bags in my car. Planned on returning to hotel by 9:o0am to shower and check out. When I got back, my room was cleaned and I wasen't allowed back in! I never checked out or told them I was leaving before 11. They want you out first thing in the morning yet check-in is not till 3.

This hotel has been the worst hotel stay in a long time for me. I travel a great deal... around 2-3 weeks out of each month. I am from Texas so I was very far from home and in town for training so had no vehicle. When I got to my room, I was not able to connect to the internet and the staff was very put out by my asking questions. Since I am in town on business, internet connection is vital.

I got sick my second day here and not only do they not have a shuttle service or a place to get anything to eat, but I had to get my own cab to drive me five minutes down the road. $30 later, the staff was very put out again by my questions. The guy at the front desk was very busy checking his email in the small media center where I ended up having to do my business while staying here instead of in the room I paid for. I evidentally interrupted him and he let me know about it.

This hotel did not care about my comfort, my needs or my future business. I would not only NOT recommend this hotel but I would encourage anyone to stay as far from Holiday Inn Express Meadowland as possible.