Candlewood Suites Secaucus - Meadowlands by IHG

The Borrow Program was a great bonus: you can check out a slow cooker, waffle maker, board games, books, and more. There are also three washers and three dryers, a nice fitness room with weights, and a small convenience store. Its prices are higher than a grocery store or gas station, as you’d expect for hotel convenience items, and you use the in-store device to check out. We had a Studio room for our two-week stay, the only option available. It was bright, very clean, and comfortable. The bathroom was a good size, the desk was handy, and although the bed was a queen, it was very comfortable. Kitchen storage is limited beyond the dish cabinet and a couple of small overhead spaces, so we used a large tote for overflow groceries and other items. I usually disinfect hotel rooms myself, but I’d have felt comfortable with Housekeeping’s cleanliness even without my supplies. At first there was a light, unusual smell from the cleaning products. It wasn’t overpowering and went away after we used our own room spray. The hotel itself smelled fresh and pleasant when I walked in; I initially thought someone was wearing nice perfume. The front desk woman was welcoming and helpful. I don’t remember her name, but after I showed ID she added me to my husband’s corporate reservation without any trouble. Some hotels make that a hassle, so I appreciated how professional she was. When the narrow loading cart tipped a few things as my husband pushed it inside, General Manager Victoria stepped in right away and helped us carry everything to the room. That humble, hands-on gesture really stood out. Candlewood Suites in Secaucus, NJ feels like a hidden gem for a longer stay. It’s clean and welcoming, and I’d come back.

The hotel was clean and quiet, but the maintenance was lacking. There was trim missing in the bathroom and a torn window screen, basic things that should be easy to fix. If the little repairs aren’t kept up, it makes me wonder whether the bigger things are maintained. When we asked for enough towels for our family, we were told we’d have to do chores to earn more clean ones. The response was very abrasive over a common hotel request. I didn’t feel like a valued guest, more like a burden. Very basic and unwelcoming.

After two nights of barely sleeping, I spoke with a woman at the desk and was moved to another room. It was slightly better, but by then the damage was done. At checkout, I asked the same front-desk employee, who was glued to his phone again, if I could leave my car for two nights while I was in New York. He showed no interest and made no effort to help with a simple request. The first room was awful. The bed sagged badly in the middle and was extremely uncomfortable. The hotel sits right beside a freeway, and the windows clearly aren’t insulated properly. It felt like trying to sleep on the highway shoulder. Trucks braking, horns, and traffic went on all night without a break. The heater kicked on every few minutes and was louder than the freeway, so proper sleep was impossible. Check-in had already started badly. The short, stocky front-desk staff member seemed more interested in chatting on his phone than doing his job and looked annoyed when I tried to check in, as if I’d interrupted him. The freeway location, poor sound insulation, uncomfortable rooms, and unprofessional desk service made this a terrible stay. I’m posting this wherever I can so future guests know what to expect before booking.

The staff were phenomenal, helpful with public transportation into NYC, and offered to help when our car battery died. We ended up replacing it through triple A ourselves. The place was clean and quiet, and perfectly located for reaching NYC by public transport in minutes. Unfortunately, the Rangers lost.....