lynny2

We are going to need somewhere to stay for a couple of nights before we fly out of Newark. We are at the end of a tour with a hire car that we shall drop off at the airport. We are coming from the west (Easton, NJ) and would like a hotel, with parking, that is in an interesting/scenic area where 2 of us can easily commute into Manhattan for a day while the other person enjoys some down-time prior to going home. Can anyone think of the ideal spot?

MP07950

I guess it depends on what you define as an easy commute. One possibility might be Morristown, NJ. It's about a 45 minute train ride into the city but the main hotel (Hyatt) is right off the green and there are plenty of shops, some historic sites, and restaurants you can easily walk to.

mclaurie

The places in NJ where you can most easily commute into Manhattan by public transportation are not all that scenic. Some have views of Manhattan that are beautiful, but the areas themselves are at best interesting. There are a number of hotels in Jersey City/Hoboken near a PATH train which is like a subway into Manhattan. Here's the PATH map.
http://www.panynj.gov/path/maps.html
The hotels are either at Journal Square, Exchange Place, Newport (a shopping mall) or Hoboken. The hotels include the Hyatt Regency, Westin, Doubletree Club, Courtyard, W Hoboken. They all have parking but some of them charge for it.

There's a Sheraton Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, NJ that's directly across from midtown Manhattan. During the week, there's a ferry out the front door of the hotel. On weekends you have to use the terminal down the road. The hotel has a shuttle bus but I gather it's not that reliable. With a car though you could drive yourselves and park it there.

Secaucus/Meadowlands/Harmon Cove area has a lot of hotels but they're in or around malls and not very attractive area. From there you have to use a bus to get in/out of Manhattan which can be subject to bad traffic delays. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g4...ey-Hotels.html

For a more suburban/leafy area, there are a number of hotels in West Orange, NJ. The Turtle Brook BW gets good reviews. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ew_Jersey.html From there you can take a NJtransit.com commuter train into Manhattan.

But frankly I'd ask what the person enjoying "down-time" would like to do and whether you can get rid of the car early? It seems to me the car is ruling your plans when you'd be better staying in Manhattan where the down time person can just walk around or have spa treatments or sleep while you can see whatever you want.

Ryan

Try the Grand Summit Hotel in Summit, NJ. Short walk to a NJ transit train station with a fair number of trains into the city both during the week and on the weekend.

Depending on which train you catch, the ride can be as short as 25 minutes during the week. Average trip on a train into NY Penn Station is 40 minutes during the morning and evening rush.

The Grand Summit is located in a quiet part of town, but a few minute walk to a nice downtown area with several restaurants and multiple shops. There is a small modern art museum and a nice arboretum, as well.

If you're lucky, you might run into NJ Jets coach Rex Reed who lives in town.

Benefit of Summit is easy access on and off Route 78 and a 20 minute drive to Newark Airport under normal conditions.)

I live nearby, so I can't vouch for the quality of the rooms at the hotel. I've had brunch there several times and it is a popular spot for local fundraisers and reunions, etc.

djkbooks

We stayed at the Grand Summit and didn't care much for the hotel or the immediate surrounding area, though we were on our way home on a road trip and didn't venture into Manhattan from there.

We have very much enjoyed both the Hyatt Regency and Westin in Jersey City. For sure, the views of the skyline are magnificent from either.

We liked the area around the Westin a bit better and the commute into Manhattan is more convenient going to Midtown, but we like the Hyatt hotel and restaurant within better. With either, however, breakfast is not that great at "you must be kidding" prices, but there are plenty of other options nearby.

All our stays were at ridiculously low rates with Priceline or Hotwire.

mclaurie

djkbooks makes a good point about Hotwire and Priceline. Those hotels are regularly on those sites including the Sheraton in Weehawken. Betterbidding.com lists the hotels by star level and area and you can usually figure out which hotel is which (on Hotwire).

mamamia66

I would stay in Greenwhich CT! Great town and easy train ride into city. Lots of great shopping & restaurants too.

J62

Why Greenwich CT? lynn is coming from NJ, and flying out of Newark. Trapsing to Greenwich CT doesn't compute.

djkbooks

Note: I bid on Priceline $90 for a 3-1/2* (hoping for the Hyatt Regency) and was "upgraded" to the 4* Westin - this over July 4th weekend!

lynny2

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I have had a look at the various hotels and also the commuting possibilities but I'm not finding it easy to understand the train routes. It sounds good to use a ferry from Weehawken area but we shall be there at the weekend.
Does the coastal area south of NY have any possibilities for a pleasant day for one of us while the others go to Manhattan?
I shall do a bit more Googling and try to make a decision but I really appreciate your help and if anyone knows that coastal area, maybe they could get back to me.

SusieQQ

The northern New Jersey Shore has varied communities that offer different types of activities. For a beautiful town with a lovely boardwalk and beach you could reach Spring Lake via NJ Transit Coast Line. A little in land (on the same train line) with theater, restaurants and shopping, there is Red Bank. What are your interests?

Ryan

I agree that Spring Lake could be an ideal location. I'm not when you said you'd be in the area. If after the beginning of May than the weather should be very nice.

joethekay

What month will you be visiting?
Most beach communities are asleep until mid May so other than solitary walks and a few concessions that may be open for the locals there is not much to do.
Atlantic City has gaming casinos and hotels that are open year round but that is southern NJ nearer PHiladelphia and not convenient to NYC.
If you are a Bruce Springsteen fan the area around Asbury Park offers some sites that Bruce played and stayed, but the beach area and town are in need of repair.
If you want to gaze at the NYC skyline without paying for NYC hotels, and still have easy access to (via subway train PATH) NYC than I suggest a hotel located in Jersey City, NJ along the waterfront. The Hyatt Regency or the Doubletree come to mind.
Further away from NYC you are in suburb land and shopping malls and industrial parks and subdivisions.

laurenanne

W hotel in Hoboken. easy commute into town on the Path train by only 10 minutes. and hoboken itself has lots of shops and restaurants to walk around. Not necessarily "scenic" as far as nature, if that is what you mean, but it is on the water, so you get water views in different spots. And the W hotel is nice for relaxing for a final few days, plus easy to get to Newark from there.

laurenanne

Spring lake and Asbury park are FAR on a train. 2 hours with a switch along the way. And depending on time of year, not that interesting unless you are familiar with the community.