TRYP by Wyndham Newark Downtown

The bed was fine, and housekeeping cleaned the room while I was out. The staff were mostly friendly, too. But the vent ran loudly the whole time and couldn't be switched off, and there wasn't a proper chair at the desk, just a little ottoman. Valet parking was okay, nothing special. The buffet was limited and very average for $20. After two nights, the bad parts are what I remember. I wouldn't stay here again.

The hotel is an easy walk to several downtown stores, and check-in was smooth. Staff were professional, and the room key was needed for the elevator and seemed limited to my floor. The ice machine on my floor was off; trying to reach another floor sent me back to the main floor, which felt like a good security feature. My room was among the cleanest I've stayed in, with the basics and no frills. There was no chair, only an ottoman under the modern desk, though the deep window recesses could serve as a seat. The bed frame stuck out a couple of inches past the mattress, so it was easy to bang my shins on it. A decent place to sleep with the necessary amenities.

The price was good and the location convenient, just a few minutes on foot from the bus or train station. They let me check in early, which I appreciated. No toiletries were in the room, so you have to ask for them. There's also a gym in the basement. It's in Newark, a long way from downtown NYC, and getting back from there was a bit of a hassle. Still, a good enough place to stay.

The rooms are spacious and much cheaper than NYC hotels. The bedroom and bathroom felt about twice the size, and there's a small gym with a filtered water refill station. It's around a 10-minute walk to the New Jersey Transit station, then a 20-minute ride to Manhattan, about 30 minutes total to NYC. Breakfast costs $20 for pretty mediocre food, but that alone seems like a strange reason to leave a bad review. Nearby, you can walk to Brazilian or Portuguese bakeries with amazing 10/10 quality, including Leleco, which I loved. There are also nice Brazilian restaurants for lunch or dinner, or you can take the 30-minute route into NYC for good bagels. Parking is $20 a day, but the stay is still affordable.