“I booked this hotel based on its location to Penn Station (easy access to Newark airport) and some of the glowing reviews. I was extremely disappointed. Really, really disappointed. With 1 more night this year (it's May) I will quality for platinum status in Marriott Bonvoy - and I've been at least gold status for the last 20 years in each of Marriott and Starwood- and therefore know a thing or two about hotels, and the Marriott group of hotels. Without a doubt, this was the most disappointing property I've ever stayed in within this chain. During the stay we had 4 different rooms. We'd booked a suite, and saw 2 of those. These were both grim. The "suite" part of the room was gloomy with old dated furniture, filthy looking carpet, seating for 2 or 3 people (a filthy looking 1.5 person sofa, a filthy looking cushion seat with no arms, and a desk chair) - useless for a room supposedly for up to 4 people to relax and watch TV. That room itself was SO unpleasant, that you just didn't even want to be in there. There was no hanging hooks for towels - this had to be via draping them over open wardrobe doors in the bedroom (2 doors = 2 towels, the other towels go where?), the bathroom had a double sink (all well and good, but the space between the sink and the wall was about 18 inches meaning you had to shimmy your way up to the end sink and then were blocked in; bend over to brush your teeth and your butt hits the wall - I'd never seen such poor design in a hotel room let alone a "suite"), plus a genius design of putting a glass door that was positioned right in front of the toilet so that everyone could see you using the toilet. Add to that, the elevators, which didn't seem to run mechanically smoothly, made loud noises all night. Our first "suite" wrapped around 3 lift shafts. Rather insultingly, at reception the first morning, I was told people "like that suite". I've heard some rubbish in my life, but that takes the cake. We were moved to another "suite", with the same grim carpet, same useless old furniture, but this one had a proper sink, a glass door that didn't face the toilet, and towel hooks.... but alas.. those dreaded elevators. The manager was wonderful, and took the problem to hand, and we were assigned 2 interconnecting rooms away from the elevators. Although this awful carpet was still present, this was a much better experience, and I have to thank her for doing her best to fix the problem for us, and salvage our stay. Profuse thanks to her. Unfortunately though, someone else would be assigned those grim "suite" rooms and be told they are wonderful. If you are booking this hotel, then all I can do is recommend that you get a room as far from the elevators as possible, do not bother with a suite as the living rooms are so unpleasant that you just will sit on your bed to be away from it (which rather defeats the purpose of having a suite). My best advice though, is to steer clear of this property until it has a total refurbishment. Such as shame as the location is very handy to many places you want to visit, multiple subway lines and Penn Station for EWR airport.”
— Gary King
“I will start by saying that I hate staying at NYC Marriott properties. They are all so overpriced for the quality.This property really disappointed me though: 1) Oversold their inventory for the night I booked and couldn't honor my King bed request. They moved me to a "bigger room" with two queen beds and a weird bathroom... 2) Bathroom is beyond strange. A normal sized person barely fits between the awkward double sink and the wall. 3) Bathroom was dirty - hairs from previous guests in the shower. 🤢 Gross. 4) Ice machine broken 5) Odd flooring in the room between carpets and bathroom floors meant I hit my toes HARD against the edge of the entry to the bathroom. I damaged and almost lost a toe nail in the process. Someone really got "creative" with this room. It's probably not up to code if you ask me.”
— Dilianna Bustillos