Ed L.
Yelp
North New Jersey. Who would've thought I would be here? I had been in Atlantic City, NJ 5 years ago in 2013, but now that I'm in the north part of the state, I figure I'd stay here at this cozy but quaint Econolodge. It was relatively cheap and located near where I wanted to be.
Choice Hotels and it's umbrella of hotel brands have been a good alternative choice for me, since they are budget friendly hotel brands that give superior clean hotel / motel rooms that are safe and comfortable at a fraction of the corporate hotel corporations - usually generally speaking on average. I decided to book this hotel for 2 nights while attending to an ultra marathon footrace event that was about 9 miles away at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. I found this hotel property on Hotels.com, one of the best websites to find hotels online these days. Upon arrival on a rainy Friday night in November 2018 in north New Jersey in a town called Newton, I arrived safely and checked into the hotel around 6:30pm. Econolodge tries to be that neighborhood motel that opens its arms to everyone. I was glad that this Econolodge was close enough to where I needed to be. The lady at the front counter was nice and friendly. The service was good and got it done within 5 minutes. Econolodge is like my home away from home. The rooms itself were relatively basic. No bells and whistles here, just a comfortable roof over your head for your travels at an affordable price. That's basic stuff right here.
The overall experience here at this Econolodge location in Newton New Jersey was good, comfortable, and yet average too. While it is nice to have those bells and whistles that come with the hotel room experience, the basics are just okay too. As long as the beds are comfortable for a great night's rest (or two) and it's in a relatively safe location, all is right with the world pretty much - at least for me it is. During my stay here, I got to partake in the complimentary breakfast, which consisted of waffles, juice, cereal, and muffins. Not too much of a variety, but free breakfast is a real thing when you're traveling on a budget. This Econolodge hotel is situated at 448 US Hwy 206 South, Newton, New Jersey. Like most hotels in the industry, they accept major credit cards. The Econolodge is comprised of 3 buildings, with the lobby in the center building. There is plenty of parking options here, since many people drive here. Closest airport would probably Newark airport. There is uber and Lyft services to get to and from here, but best bet would be to have your own wheels or to rent one, like how I had one at my own disposal during this trip. Prices here can be good, depending on your price range. They can range from $75-$120/night with taxes and fees.
For the most part though this stay at this Econolodge wasn't half bad. It wasn't the best, but you know how it is. It was good enough to rate it a good stay. Got a decent amount of sleep both nights while I was there before heading back to Baltimore, Maryland for my flight home. I stayed in room 125 for 2 nights and those double beds were good. Slept on one for the first night and the other bed on the final night of my stay. I had to get some value for my money by sleeping on both beds. I had a mishap with my rental car (flat tire) during my stay and the lady at the front counter was nice enough to let me use the hotel phone to call the car rental company for a tow truck and a ride to Newark, NJ for a replacement vehicle. Notwithstanding this incident, I can say that staying at this Econolodge here in Newton New Jersey was good. Comfortable and reasonably priced for your travel needs. It isn't the Hilton or a Sheraton, but it was close to where I needed to be and it got the job done. Recommended if you are in the area for business or vacation and need a place to stay.
4.0 stars for the overall experience. Everything worked in the room and the shower was nice after the ultra marathon event. 4.0 stars for the prices, although 3.5 stars for the complimentary breakfast. Free is free. Can't be too choosy though.
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