Motel 6 Elizabeth, NJ - Newark Liberty Intl Airport

I used to stay at Motel 6 regularly in California and never had anything like this. This Elizabeth, New Jersey location was the most run-down one I've encountered, and I wouldn't come back even for $29.99 a night or recommend it to anyone. There were many people hanging around the property who appeared to be struggling with substance abuse, which made the place feel unsafe and unsettling. The property was in terrible shape, with cracked floors, toilets that wobbled, and missing standard amenities. Our first room had no microwave, refrigerator, or coffee maker, the bathroom was so dirty I couldn't bring myself to shower, and the heater kept turning on and off every 30 seconds all night, leaving us freezing. I called the front desk the next morning and asked to switch rooms. The second room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, even though I'm a non-smoker. When I asked which rooms had working appliances, staff said they didn't know, so it felt like luck of the draw. We eventually got a room with a working fridge and microwave, but the toilet still wobbled, the shower pressure was very weak, and one bed had a deep, permanent dent from years of wear.

I booked online based on the pictures and ad, and on what I knew from staying at Motel 6 locations all along the West Coast. I'm a disabled woman traveling alone, but no one helped me get my room key or get to the room. I was just told it was over there. I went through the door and hit the latch, and I needed someone to help me take a shower. I didn't feel safe enough, so I had to make a long distance call and ask a family member to stay on the phone with me. The curtains didn't fit the window, so it was barely covered. It was clean, but I couldn't turn off the shower. I was grateful for the towels, and glad I'd brought my own soap. The microwave didn't work, and I couldn't use the hotel phone. When I called, I was told there was a phone in the lobby or that glass room, but I didn't open the bed to get in. I slept on top of it. The motel was five minutes from the airport, which was a plus. I wasn't expecting a fine hotel, but I thought I'd get a little more for what I paid. My next step is to share my experience with the booking service.

The heater still felt cold even after I turned it up to 75 degrees, and the bathroom was tiny, with a shower curtain that looked ready to fall down. The rooms need attention. My girlfriend and I stayed the night before our flight to Quebec, and this was the biggest dump of a Motel 6 we'd ever visited, a real rat hole in the NY/Newark area. The front desk clerk seemed to have no manners, and there wasn't even complimentary coffee in the morning like at other locations. I'd avoid this place if you don't want your NY area visit to turn sour. Next time I'll use Airbnb or take my one-day NY visit on the last available flight to an affordably priced metro area on the east coast, such as DC, PHL, or even Canada. Even LaGuardia Airport hotels such as avion are better than this dump near Newark.

We had to switch rooms because the refrigerator didn't work. The replacement room was dusty, the TV was broken, and around midnight water started leaking from the roof and pooling by the bathroom. Then the staff member who moved us apparently forgot and knocked on our door later that night, trying to get us to open it. We felt extremely unsafe. The sheets looked like they hadn't been changed in months, and everything seemed grimy and neglected. This was the dirtiest hotel I've ever seen, worse than a cheap $3 motel. Hotel of horror.