Element Harrison - Newark, NJ [Master Thread]
 

It's only been open 4 days, so it's a long shot, but anyone with a review? I'm looking for something in the area next weekend and might try it.

Hey, they've cracked double digit Elements in the US now!!!

(do we know why SPG has been soooooo glacially slow w/the roll out relative to Aloft?)

Stayed here the week after Labor Day on the opening rate ($160, I think). Very pleasant, if uneventful, experience. I really enjoy Element hotels, so I was excited to see a reasonably priced option within a short transit trip of Manhattan.

Within the property: It's a typical new-build Element, with lounge areas on either side of the front desk, a grab-and-go convenience store behind the front desk, a tiny gym & pool, and two small meeting rooms. Nice bonus: a small roof deck on the 2nd floor.

Food on site: Light breakfast buffet (with warmed egg wraps and smoothie shots) and evening reception (beer, wine, warm empanadas) are served in the lobby. During the day, there's a K-cup coffee machine. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase at the front desk.

Inside the room: Pretty much exactly like a new-build Element anywhere else. I personally love the marvelously efficient "studio" layout.

Around the property: The hotel is within the first phase of a major redevelopment of an industrial area adjacent to Newark. There's a lot of construction going on, but not much else has opened. There's a Dunkin' Donuts within the Aloft building, but facing the other side, and a Five Guys burger shop in the new apartment building across the street. A new soccer stadium is a few blocks away.

It's a few blocks (and across I-280) north to downtown Harrison, which has some basic services like takeout food. It's a working-class town with many immigrants from Latin America and Asia, but it's hardly a regional dining destination. Fine dining requires a trip out of town. I felt perfectly safe, and there were almost always people walking around to provide "eyes on the street," but there are some dark corners around.

Access: The hotel is adjacent to a PATH rail station, with 24-hour service to Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, and both lower and midtown Manhattan. I didn't notice any train noise inside the building. The station's nothing special, and it doesn't have elevators (important if you have luggage), but a spiffy new replacement is now under construction across the street.

It's also a few blocks south of I-280. Self-parking is in a public garage behind the hotel and was $12 a day, with unlimited in/out. You'll need to validate the ticket every time you leave the hotel, though. The garage mostly serves PATH commuters, so be prepared for rush-hour queues, but there are spaces dedicated to the hotel right next to the hotel entrance.

What are the options for getting to the hotel, after landing at EWR? Do I need a car? Is there a shuttle? Can I take PATH?

Thanks.

I've done EWR- WTC via the Path before.
easiest- take NJ transit to Newark penn, then take the path one stop to the Harrison stop. It's fairly close. It's roughly $8 or so to Penn, and then another $2.50 for Path.

option two - take a NJ transit bus from EWR that goes directly to Newark Penn, and from there do the Path Transfer, I think all in the fare is $4.50 or so total.

NJ transit rail is a lot easier if you have luggage, and you'll be waiting a lot less. but I do 50/50 that and the bus if I have more time/feel like saving money

THANKS pnq91! Great insight.

Nice to see that area being developed. Especially since it's all that much closer to NYC, kudo's for having placed a nice new Starwood hotel there.

Previously, the only really (arguably) decent hotel in the area was the Newark Gateway Hilton. Say what you will about the brand and/or hotel itself, the location and convenience is very good. They have their own shuttle to EWR, or you can take the NJT trains, and it's connected to Newark Penn Station.

The new Element can't really touch that level of convenience, but it's great that there's a Starwood property in the vicinity.

Just completed a stay here last Friday night after flying into EWR late. The taxi from EWR was $29 plus tip and took about 15 minutes.

This is the first Starwood property at which I've ever stayed (just got the Starwood AmEx), and I'm reasonably impressed. The room was nice but felt cramped, as the bed and sectional couch were in one half of the room and the kitchenette in the other.

We had a full-size stainless steel fridge and a nice dishwasher. Too bad we made little use of the amenities as we were only staying one night and were going into Manhattan the next morning.

The bed felt a bit firmer than the ones I'm used to at Hyatt Place and Hyatt House properties. The bathroom was quite nice, with a large stand-up shower and no bathtub (I dislike the standard tub-shower combos and try to avoid them whenever possible).

Location was OK - literally right next to the Harrison PATH station, so easy access to NYC on a weekday. On a Saturday it was a bit more difficult as we had to alight at Journal Square and then get on the other PATH line as the WTC stop was closed. It was even weirder that we were then routed through Hoboken before finally crossing over to Christopher St.

There is a Five Guys burgers right downstairs as well as a small gourmet grocery store. Unfortunately everything was closed at 11:00 PM when we arrived, so the lobby market was the only source of refreshment.

I mentioned to the front desk clerk that I'd really like some milk (not sold in the market), and she immediately went to the back and got me a complimentary tall plastic cup full of milk. This was really going above and beyond, and she personally endeared me to the Starwood brand.

A solid budget-priced hotel that's brand new, comfortable, easily accessible from EWR and NYC, with great service. I would easily recommend it.

I stayed here less than week after opening, not knowing it had just opened. There were the usual few small wrinkles, but nothing big.

Two things to highlight. Since this was my first element stay I was genuinely impressed by the thoughtful layout, from the number of electrical outlets to a small but fully equipped kitchen. Hands down the best kitchen in any of the chains. This is the most functional layout of any hotel room I have ever been in. And still stylish.

Second, there are two rooms on each floor which are smaller than all the rest. Somehow as a platinum I was assigned one, feeling it tight checked out the fire escape diagram and saw every room but one was bigger Hopped downstairs and they quickly changed me after a polite inquiry.

Parking fees are a bit of a mystery. At that time all of their listings on third party sites said complimentary parking, the spg site said 12 per day, but they charged everyone 14. Still reasonable for the area.

according to a recent tripadvisor response by the management, this hotel is now offering a shuttle to the airport upon request. hope this sticks as that is a huge plus.

just checked into this property... location is literally steps from the Harrison PATH station.. double edged sword, as you can hear trains passing by in the background. not a deal breaker unless you are a light sleeper... majority of the rooms face the tracks but there are a select few that face west. also, airport shuttle to EWR is available but need to reserve in advance AND it's 7am onward...

Staying at the Element in Oct. wondering the best and cheapest transportation would be to Cape Liberty cruise port. Taxi, car service, Uber? Thanks.

Loved the hotel. Would return in a flash. Staff is very accommodating.

Uber > Taxi > Car Service, if I were you.

I know it's a late comment but I experienced the same thing. Only the find out the window seal/lock was not completely shut, it was locked but not sealed. My gf mentioned it to me and it took me full-force to lock it and viola, train noise gone. With the amount of force I put in, there is no way the housekeeping lady could have done the same.

So future guests, give it a try! I was staying on top floor if it helps.

Train would be cheapest. But because you need 2 transfers to get to Newark station, I opted for Uber to/from hotel when I have luggage. Rest of the stay, took PATH since it's a 1 min away.

Element Harrison - Newark: Maybe it was just timing.
 

Introduction I have stayed at other Elements overseas so I was excited to try this one. That hope was short lived. Called the hotel when we landed. Asked the lady at the front desk where to meet shuttle. She said all shuttles picked up at P4. When I asked her where that was she said she didn't know. I would have really thought she would have said let me ask someone else but that didn't happen. Not a big deal. We called once we got to P4 (take the Air Train btw) and we were told the shuttle was on its way. We already knew from checking prior to our trip that the shuttle was reported to run every 30 mins. 45 mins later the shuttle van showed up. No explanation no apology nothing. It was a very quiet ride to the hotel which took all of 10 mins. So why the 45 min wait? When we arrived at the hotel the shuttle driver didn't even bother to get our bags out of the back. He did however carefully get his take out food and get it safely inside. Ok we all have bad days so maybe this was his. Both my traveling partner and I are frequent SPG Hotel stayers. Not once did the front desk clerk greet us. No pleasantries or anything..! The clerk actually never even spoke a word to me. In the end I would say the hotel is everything the Element is supposed to be. Very nice, clean and new. The location couldn't be better. Plenty of parking and public transportation close by. The human factor here could certain use some serious work. People who have been traveling all day and dealing with everything that comes with that don't deserve to be treated like we were. With SO many other choices close by I'm not sure I would do this again. As a side note I would like to add that the day crew was a completely different story. Everyone was VERY pleasant and outgoing. From the front desk crew to the lady working the breakfast area and even the shuttle driver. Maybe I caught the night crew on a bad day. The people this morning are more like the other Element employees I have encountered around the world