Hilton HHonors - Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport

I didn't see this posted previously, but I just noticed a new property, the Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport (http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml;?ctyhocn=EWRDTDT) listed on Hilton.com. According to the web site, "This hotel will be joining the Hilton Family soon but is not yet accepting reservations. It is scheduled to open in November 2005." Interestingly, its address is 1000 Spring Street, which is the same address as the Wyndham.

Or do they cap you out at 30 days?

Do they allow free parking for six months like the EWR Airport Hilton?

Or do they cap you out at 30 days?

That was several years ago and I haven't tried it since. ;) Parking at the EWR Hilton is managed somewhat differently these days so its probably no longer possible. Of course, there's always free parking behind the cemetary.

Regarding the new Doubletree, the parking rates listed on the web site are significantly higher than those at the Hilton and their room rates are also higher, even on weekends.

Of course, there's always free parking behind the cemetary.Which cemetary? I've not looked at the parking regs on Neck Lane, behind the cemetary behind the Hilton but there are often empty spaces. I've wondered the same about Floral Ave., too. The walk to the Hilton for a ride wouldn't be too much fun, though.

Which cemetary? I've not looked at the parking regs on Neck Lane, behind the cemetary behind the Hilton but there are often empty spaces. I've wondered the same about Floral Ave., too. The walk to the Hilton for a ride wouldn't be too much fun, though.

The cemetery is Rosemont Memorial Park, the one abutting Neck Lane:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1170+spring+street,+elizabeth,+nj&ll=40.687895,-74.194493&spn=0.015086,0.041096&hl=en

I have been hanging out in Princeton a lot these days so I no longer need to leave my car at the Hilton for extended periods as I did several years ago. In the past, one could park overnight along McClellan, where the limo drivers would hang out but this is no longer allowed. Neck Lane seems to have quite a few spots and is fairly active, populated by cars from a local taxi company and by people visiting the cemetery. Walking through the cemetery to get to the Hilton was not a bad walk. That being said, I am not sure what the official parking regulations are; I have not parked there for extended periods of time.

I didn't see this posted previously, but I just noticed a new property, the Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport (http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml;?ctyhocn=EWRDTDT) listed on Hilton.com. According to the web site, "This hotel will be joining the Hilton Family soon but is not yet accepting reservations. It is scheduled to open in November 2005." Interestingly, its address is 1000 Spring Street, which is the same address as the Wyndham.

Having stayed at the Wyndham in the past, I received a postcard in the mail today. The front of the postcard shows a cookie with the text "the cookie is coming!"

The back of the card reads:
Your cookie treat is scheduled for delivery this November at the Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport (formerly Wyndham)

Not sure what marketing guru thought this up - but I thought it was more interesting than the junk mail that usually arrives :D

Szymon

How does the Wyndham compare to the EWR Hilton or Hampton Inn?
MissBumpMe! and I have a CO stopover next month where we could try it out as a DT and report back.
But, if someone here has a cautionary tale about the Wyndham, we'll back off!

Here is a very recent post on the EWR DT. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492181

If you read between the lines, you will find some of your quesions answered.

Interesting this hotel thread came up. The DT changed from the Wyndham 1 week ago. Same staff, different name. I have stayed at the Hilton next door 2 months ago and I like it much better despite the problems that I had at DT, if for one reason because of the bathroom.
The DT lobby and restaurant was nice. The restaurant was very busy when I checked in, however I only had the breakfast the next morning. It was good. A lot of hot choices, a few bagels/muffins, cut fruit, and one type of cereal.
Room service for all 3 meals was offered. Free hotel shuttle to the airport, every 1/2 hour. Parking $12/night for staying at the hotel. Ethernet access 9.95 day. Once I had a room that had access it worked perfectly. There was a pool and gym but I did not see it. Lots of meeting rooms and ballrooms at the hotel. 10 floors.
Room decor I actually liked. I had 3 different rooms and all 3 were almost similar.The bed was comfortable. A lot of drawer / closet space if needed. A typical size hotel room. The TV was at a very odd height but I did like the fact that it swiveled and could be turned to view from the desk. 2 bottles of water in the room, plus the standard coffee maker, hairdryer, etc. The first room I know had a safe, however I did not look in the other 2 rooms to see if they had one. The bathroom had all the amenities - shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, shower gel, mouthwash, showercap, vanity kit (cotten balls, nail file and cutips) which was nice. The towels were brand new. The rooms were quiet to inside noise. The second room was in the front overlooking the airport/road and was much louder than the 1st and 3rd room.
Bathroom was the only bad feature in the room. One room the toilet did not work. In all 3 rooms the tub had rust all over the drains. The shower head was really low, fine for me, but not if you are a tall person. The lighting was yellow and horrible. And in the second room it had a pedestal sink so no couter space at all.
The only other negative is that in 2 of the 3 rooms there was no guard over the heat/ac unit so it blew up the curtain thus not heating/cooling the room.
All this being said I was on the 9th and 10th floors which I guess are nicer rooms, so perhaps lower floors are slightly different? And my stay at the Hilton was an exec. floor room too that I am comparing it too.
My opinion, same price, choose the Hilton. If the DT is a lot lower price then I would say try it. My experience got off to a very bad start and went downhill, however if I knew upfront about some of the costs, then I believe I would have been much better prepared and been happier about the 14 hours spent there. Good luck :)

whenarewegoingtogetthere,

Interesting input.
What was the rate you were -supposed- to pay?

Got in from DCA early and they allowed me to check-in but told me "raincheck" on the cookie (checked in at 10 a.m. and cookies arrived at 2 p.m.). Rate was $209 a night. Stay was OK. Not one of the best DT experiences, but served the purpose. It is indeed the old Wyndham and the EWR shuttle still uses both names. Parking was $12 as opposed to $10 at the Hilton a hundred yards away (better than the $24 valet only I paid at the 14th street HGI in DC the previous night).

$209.00? Ouch!
The gov't rate is $91.00.

This in my mailbox today...

Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport
1000 Spring Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States 07201
Tel: +1-908-436-4600 Fax: +1-908-436-4610

"The Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport, formerly the Wyndham Newark Airport, is open for business and now offers our guests 396 guest rooms including 11 suites and 16,000 square feet of meeting space. We offer a full range of amenities and services including "Sweet Dreams®" by Doubletree sleep experience, remote printing from guest rooms to the business center, high-speed wireless internet access, fitness center, indoor pool, game room and Shula's 2 restaurant."

Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport (http://www.doubletree.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=EWRDTDT) says
"The Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport is adjacent to Newark Liberty International Airport and is only 12 miles from New York City with convenient train service to Penn Station. We are close to many major corporations including Anheuser Busch, Toyota, Exxon/Mobil, Prudential, PSE&G, Pfizer, ADP and...

AAA <><><> and HHonors Catgegory 3.

Guest Accommodations:

At 348 square feet,our spacious guestrooms feature Sweet Dreams Bedding Package for maximum comfort. For convenience, all rooms have a work station with dataports, high speed internet access (available at a charge :mad: ), Herman Miller Aeron ergonomic desk chair, two multi-line phones (1 cordless) and voicemail. Other in-room amenities include: On-Command Cable televisions/pay-per-view movies, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker and complimentary USA Today delivered to your guestroom daily."

Opening rates do not seem brilliant at $159, but...

I did a search on this hotel this afternoon, and didn't see any updates on the DT-EWR. Does anyone have an update?

I've stayed at the EWR Hilton several times, and really like that property. However, I have to overnight at EWR in December on my way back to SBH, and using points, the DT is 5,000 HH points lower than the Hilton...so being the cheapskate that I am, I booked it.

Any help would be appreciated!

I did a search on this hotel this afternoon, and didn't see any updates on the DT-EWR. Does anyone have an update?

I've stayed at the EWR Hilton several times, and really like that property. However, I have to overnight at EWR in December on my way back to SBH, and using points, the DT is 5,000 HH points lower than the Hilton...so being the cheapskate that I am, I booked it.

Any help would be appreciated!

I much prefer the Hilton over the DT at EWR. Stayed at both properties a few times. If all you need though is a place to catch a few hours of sleep and a shower, then save your points.

Stayed at Hilton for 2 nites - now at the Doubletree.

Hilton

Nicer rooms
2 free drink coupons
Free parking for Diamonds
Free full breakfast
Indifferent staff

Doubletree

so so room
pedastal sink in the bathroom ( a negative to me)
no free drinks
free continental bkfst
helpful staff


My vote - Hilton

Stayed at Hilton for 2 nites - now at the Doubletree.

Hilton

Nicer rooms
2 free drink coupons
Free parking for Diamonds
Free full breakfast
Indifferent staff

Doubletree

so so room
pedastal sink in the bathroom ( a negative to me)
no free drinks
free continental bkfst
helpful staff


My vote - Hilton

Sounds about right, though I think I enjoyed the Doubletree room a bit more than you did. Bottom line is both hotels are just fine -- far from the best in HHonors system but far from the worst. If you haven't done so already, it may make sense to check the rates on both hotels before booking with points. I've found some fairly inexpensive rates at the Doubletree this year (though most of them were earlier, during the transition from Wyndham).

Incidentally, it's interesting that you found the Hilton's staff indifferent. A friend, who is the fiercest Marriott loyalist I know, recently stayed there for a convention and was completely wowed by the treatment she received there. That, combined with some bad experiences at Marriotts recently, has her contemplating switching her loyalties.