Hotwire Hotel: 2* Newark (Newark EWR) Extended StayAmerica

[dahammer]

Hotwire showed what appeared to be the Jersey City Hyatt tonight for $132 but earlier today, this was around $260, so I thought that a lowball Priceline offer might be accepted. Bid $65 for a 3* in the Jersey City zone, rejected. Lowered star rating to 2.5* and increased bid to $75, rejected. Added Elizabeth, and increased bid to $80, got a counteroffer to increase bid by $22. This would make the room $102; with tax, parking and High Speed wireless, I was looking at a "walk out price of at least $160, too rich for my blood. I somehow managed to make another bid at $85, and received another $22 counteroffer. I stopped bidding and went back to Hotwire, where I saw a 2* for $52 with the following amenities: Suite, Laundry. Curiosity got the better of me and I went for it...how bad could it be with a Suite icon, RIGHT???

Extended Stay America - Elizabeth Newark Airport See details

45 Glimcher Way

Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201

Price Per Night $52.00 x 1 night

Taxes recovery charges and fees $13.87

Total $65.87

ESA is among my least favorite hotel chains, right there with Ramada, Days Inn, and HoJo's. Will likely have to pay $1 for shampoo and a bag of what barely passes for coffee. The staff is off duty from 11pm-7am to boot. Went through Savingsbarn.com, but forgot about the new HOTWIRE link...

[thereuare]

Thanks for the new hotel for the Hotwire Hotel List.

I know it's silly, but one of the things that i 'enjoy' about traveling is having my room and bed made while i'm out, and for me that is one of the drawbacks of the Extended Stay brand. So in your case, at least it's only for one nite so you won't even notice the "we clean your room once a week" feature.

Hope your stay is better than expected.

[dahammer]

I ended up calling Hotwire to complain about the use of the "Suite" amenity, since most Extended Stay America properties feature the "Kitchenette" amenity. My room was just your basic ESA room and really doesn't fit Hotwire's description of a Suite:

Suites typically offer residential-style furnishings, as well as separate living and sleeping areas; some also offer kitchenettes

Residential-style furnishings...yes, if your decorator shops at Rent-A-Center

Seperate living and sleeping areas....not even close!

Kitchenette....yes, and the refrigerator even has ice cube trays conveniently filled by the previous guest or the housekeeper, how gross! This hotel has no ice machine. But there is a coffee packet, enough for 3 weak cups or 1 good one.

After being put on hold for about 10 minutes while the Hotwire rep researched my situation, he came back and offered to deposit $32 in "hot Dollars" into my account, good towards a future stay. I agreed to the offer and he indicated that Hotwire might review the amenities shown. Oops, its almost 11:00 when the lone desk clerk locks up and takes off.... gotta run downstairs and get change to buy toiletries from the vending machine......

BTW, got put in a smoking room as the hotel was sold out of non-smoking rooms, the smell was not that bad. Had some pretty good take out Chicken and Ribs at a Brazilian BBQ a short drive away, with beans and rice a bargain at $12, enough for 2.