Hampton Inn Carlstadt at The Meadowlands

We used the free shuttle to American Dream Mall, which saved us from paying for taxis over and over or renting a car. Breakfast was free each morning, and they even refilled it 10 minutes before closing. The front desk staff were kind and informative, and were happy to answer all our many questions. My girlfriend and I had an awesome stay last weekend. We’ll definitely be back, especially for football season. 4.5/5.

I’ve stayed here every year to watch the Cowboys play the Giants, and my experiences have always been great. The hotel is consistently clean and the staff are friendly. Last week, my family and I got sick, so I had to cancel at the last minute. The staff were very helpful and canceled the room without a cancellation fee. I recommend staying here if you’re in the area. 10/10.

The room was much smaller than it looked online, so I asked about an upgrade to make more space for photos and a celebration. I’d booked for two families who were grieving, including a child celebrating a birthday after recently losing a parent. The hotel quoted a very high upgrade fee for just two days and wasn’t willing to work with us. Rebooking would actually have cost less, but our rooms were prepaid and nonrefundable. There was no flexibility or compassion in how they handled this. For a hospitality business, the lack of understanding was really disheartening.

The smell was unbearable, a mix of rats and cigarette smoke that made me nauseous, so I left within half an hour of checking in. My clothes and hair had already absorbed the stench by then. It was overwhelming everywhere, from the front desk to the room, like dead rats were decomposing inside the building. The curtains and sheer drapes looked filthy, as if they hadn’t been washed since the hotel opened. There was no drinking water in the room, and when I asked the front desk, they told me to buy some at a store. I’ve never been to another hotel that didn’t provide even one bottle. The place felt unsanitary and poorly maintained. Avoid it.