Homewood Suites by Hilton Mahwah

The room was clean, and the location was easy to reach with plenty of parking. I travel at night, so Hilton app digital check-in and a digital key are a big plus, and check-in worked well. I was surprised that only first-floor rooms were available, while the other floors counted as paid upgrades. Reviews said the first floor was the “pet floor,” which seemed true, though I didn’t notice any particularly bad odors. I’ve stayed at many Hilton hotels, including some at similar or lower prices, so that’s what I’m comparing this with. The furniture and room could use an upgrade for the price, but it wasn’t a huge problem. The walls are thin enough that you hear everything in the hall and parking lot, so keep that in mind if you want privacy and quiet.

Breakfast was very good, and the woman at the front desk was helpful. They offered me points, which was nice, but I’m still shocked as a former Diamond member that this is a Hilton hotel. Walking to my room, I encountered the strongest cat urine smell I’ve ever smelled, and it came into our room too. I found out someone had been living in that room for over six years. If they can’t get the person removed, I’d recommend shutting the place down. Hilton, get your house squared away.

People make a stay, and Dave at the front desk was helpful and efficient. Even when the hotel was nearly full, he managed to extend our stay in the same room each time. Paola is always ready with a broad smile, which is lovely to see and a real asset. Magdalena gets the coffee going early every morning and is so sweet. We’ve been here six days so far. Staff tell me a renovation is scheduled, and it does seem due, but the condition hasn’t detracted from our stay. Some chair legs wobble, and we needed help closing a window. The kitchen appliances work well, and the thermostat keeps the room at the right temperature. There’s a sleeper sofa and an armchair. Neither is like my La-Z-Boy at home, but a couple throw pillows made them fine. My wife loved the bed; I thought it was okay and would prefer something softer for my bad discs. A pillow top would suit me, but not my wife, and no bed pleases every sleeper. Breakfast is great, with lots of hot and cold choices and plenty of fresh fruit despite rising prices. We also did a lot of hiking at nearby Harriman State Park, a beautiful, well-maintained place where we saw lots of deer, turkey, and eagles every day.

The staff are helpful, the hotel is pet friendly, and the location is good. The beds were comfortable and the rooms fine. Breakfast choices were limited, and replenishing them was a bit slow. The main problem was the first-floor wing by the exercise room, which reeks of pet urine. There was an air purifier running, but the smell was still really pungent. The hallways and carpet could use an upgrade too.