Residence Inn Woodbridge Edison/Raritan Center

We had one more day booked but left early. There were bugs on the room walls, and one window had no safety lock. The screen kept banging against the window all night, and we were shocked that the window opened all the way. With a house right outside, we didn’t feel we had any privacy at night. Most of the staff were friendly, but some could have looked more professional. One person stayed slumped in a chair, texting while I asked questions, and didn’t even stand or acknowledge me properly at the counter.

There’s plenty of parking, and the hotel is handy to major highways. The rooms were clean and roomy, and everyone was friendly. They have breakfast every day. It’s a limited spread, but enough to tide you over until lunch.

I like this location. The staff are pretty nice, and breakfast is decent for the most part. Prices can run a little higher than at nearby hotels, though.

Room 239 had a strange smell as soon as my family and I walked in. The AC was blasting, but it never cleared. The scratched-up sofas made us think this had been a dog room, which would explain the odor. There was also a rattling fridge, a broken lightbulb, hair inside the fridge, and an empty scented vent clip that I assume had been used to cover the smell. The room felt dated, especially the bathroom, though the bed was clean. We were there just one night and didn’t bother complaining. The front desk staff were nice, check-in was easy, and the room attendants were all very nice. I’m a lifetime platinum member and used points for the stay. I also tried to use my annual benefits for an upgrade, but it wasn’t available. No big deal, though the front desk clerk said they were sold out. Breakfast was the usual Residence Inn selection: bacon, scrambled and hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, bagels, a ham, egg, and cheese croissant, waffles, and bananas. The oatmeal was the most watered-down I’ve ever seen, but staff kept everything stocked. I didn’t love that they used plastic wrap to stop the eggs sticking to the warming dish. There was plenty of parking around the property, but be careful not to park by the nearby residential apartments. The heated saltwater pool was decent, which was a nice bonus, though the rust stains could use some maintenance. Just so you know, it seems Residence Inn rents the pool to a swim school.