Hilton Garden Inn Ridgefield Park

Getting into New York City was easier than I expected. The bus stop is right outside the hotel, and buses run every half hour to an hour, with a roughly 20 minute ride into the city. The hotel is in New Jersey, a little outside New York. There's also a Walmart about 10 minutes away by Uber or taxi. Our room was clean and practical. It was cleaned daily when we asked, the coffee machine and fridge were easy to use, and the AC was simple to operate. Evenings were quiet, with no outside noise. In the mornings, housekeeping could bring towels or toilet paper if needed, and there was a door sign to keep people from disturbing you. Breakfast had lots of variety for a fairly small spread. The food tasted fresh and good, the juices were fresh, and tea and coffee were available anytime. We felt comfortable from check-in because the staff were so warm and friendly. They chatted with guests and were quick to help with problems. One evening we ordered through Uber Eats, and reception kept the order safe until we got back. It felt almost like home. Brand, the manager, was especially kind. We became friends on the first day, and he likes talking with guests. He's at reception each day from a certain time onward. He's also helpful in a very hands-on way: when we unfortunately threw up in an Uber, he helped clean the car himself. He really shows the helpful, considerate, friendly side of America.

We're repeat guests and just finished a three-night stay. The place is very clean, the location is excellent, and the staff are friendly. On December 30, one staff member at check-in kindly stored our IDs because we didn't want to take them into the city. They were so helpful with all our requests. I think the hotel is positioned really well if you want to spend less while still getting top quality and making a New York City vacation affordable. Two things could be improved: the pillows are too soft and need replacing, and I was disappointed that the hot tub is no longer there.

The room itself was spacious and clean, and the woman at the desk made check-in pleasant. I arrived after midnight, coming back from a trip to Las Vegas, and asked whether I could check out late. She kindly confirmed 2:30 p.m. and wrote “2:30 pm. checkout” on the key card holder. I struggled to sleep because there were no blackout curtains and I could hear the highway. I finally nodded off after 5 a.m. Then, while I was deeply asleep, housekeeping tried to open my door at 11:30 a.m. If I hadn't latched it, they would have come in while I was sleeping. Just thinking about that is disturbing. It ruined my rest, and I couldn't get back to sleep. I ended up exhausted, upset, and very disappointed. A late checkout had been clearly approved and written down, so this kind of mistake shouldn't happen.

We picked the Hilton Garden Inn in Ridgefield Park, NJ because it welcomes pets, and brought our fur baby along. Check-in was smooth, and the front desk staff were really friendly and accommodating. The room and bathroom were very clean, the bed and pillows were comfortable, and breakfast was delicious. We absolutely loved our stay and would happily come back.