Residence Inn Cranbury South Brunswick

The breakfast was a real strength. There was toast bread, different bagels, English muffins, a feta, kale, and tomato omelet that was delicious, lots of bacon, waffles, oatmeal with plenty of toppings, several coffees, juices, apples, yogurt, syrups, hard-boiled eggs, and different kinds of milk. It was all hot, and the choices changed day to day. They didn’t have ice or muffins, though, and lots of people asked for muffins. There was plenty of clean seating in the spacious, bright, updated dining room. The woman running breakfast was so sweet and worked hard to keep things going. She needs a raise! Room 106 was a two-bedroom suite, bigger than I expected, with two queen beds. They were soft, but the down pillows went flat, so bring your own if you can. We all slept well. The room was clean and everything worked, though it smelled horribly of cat urine. The hotel was sold out and our booking was nonrefundable, so we couldn’t move rooms and kept the windows open. The fridge rattled when running. The room seems to have been updated a few years ago but will need another update soon. The rug had no stains, the bathrooms were clean though water pressure could be better, and there were two small trash cans. The pull-out bed was comfortable too, and the huge couch was clean and comfy. All three TVs worked, with a customized greeting on the screen. Outside, the grounds and building looked well kept and were well lit. The entrance was a bit hard to find, but the flagpole marks it. We heard traffic from the road on the ground floor, but it really wasn’t loud, despite trucks and cars passing. There’s ample free parking and a $20 incidental deposit per stay. The pet deposit is $100, though we didn’t bring a pet and didn’t see or hear any. Laundry is on the second floor and costs $5 a load. The area is industrial and busy, so if you want a morning walk or jog, you can do laps around the property. Hotel basics like bottled water, snacks, Tylenol, and tampons are expensive. The pool is closed and has been since COVID, which was honestly disappointing. The website showed a pool, and that’s why I booked. If I’d asked before checking in, I’d have chosen somewhere else. There are outdoor games for kids, including basketball and cornhole, plus board games at the front desk. The exercise room is tiny, with three or four machines; I didn’t try them, so I don’t know if they worked. Staff I met were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and check-in took about 10 minutes. I liked that smoking is prohibited anywhere on the property, and I didn’t see any bugs. Even with the pool closed, I’d stay again. It isn’t the best, but it’s definitely not horrible.