Racpanos Modern Stay on Forrest Street

The room was spacious and clean, but this is a converted multi-dwelling house with single rooms, and I wouldn’t advise staying here. Our Queen room had a private bath, though the bathroom needed work. There were initially no curtains or blinds, so there was no privacy, but that was fixed the next day. The room had no dresser or TV, and you need to bring your own food and drinks. They don’t even provide complimentary coffee. The neighborhood felt rough, with a lot going on outside. Parking is limited, so you have to find a space early. Make sure your reservation is actually in place before you arrive. On our second visit to J.C., we had a confirmation but still were refused a room, and ended up stuck with nowhere to stay in the middle of the night. We’ll never stay there again.

I tried contacting the manager, Joseph, several times and got no answer. Expedia’s only immediate offer was a $100 coupon, which was better than nothing, and it’s investigating the charges to provide an exact breakdown. I was billed $197.54 in "taxes and fees" without any special accommodations. The manager said these were for "water and energy," which I’ve never heard of, especially since I’d booked rooms here before and hadn’t been charged those fees.

The place was clean and spacious, but getting the heat turned up was a sore spot. It’s controlled remotely, and the owner or management took a while to respond to our request. We’re from the south, and it was winter in Jersey. With a 40 degree forecast, having the room only 15 degrees warmer than outside didn’t feel good. Three stars for that.

I left because the property I rented was the most disgusting place I’ve ever stayed, and I didn’t feel it was safe for my wife and son. The customer service was even worse. I won’t stay at anything under this company’s name again, no matter how nice it looks. Companies like Amazon and Costco do well because they treat customers well. Businesses that put profits ahead of customers don’t last in the long run.