Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Elizabeth NJ Review

Half AWFUL, half amazing. Major issues with a few silver linings.
This place had half of me wanting to leave and stay ANYWHERE else, and the other half of me happy to be there.

The AWFUL:
- I reached over to turn off my bedside lamp and the entire base of the bulb was loose, exposed wires, and gave me quite a shock! It could have been much worse, as I didn't touch the wires. SUPER dangerous!
- The toilet ran with each flush. Lovely.
- Our sibling's room's toilet actually FLOODED the entire bathroom floor.
- About 45 minutes before we had to depart to board our cruise, the fire alarm went off. This was literally the loudest, ear piercing, pain-inducing alarm I have ever heard. We all had to evacuate the hotel, even though we were still getting ready and packed for the cruise. I know this wasn't the hotel's fault per say, but it was set off due to a piece of equipment in the breakfast room and likely could have been avoided.
- Room was dated and in need of TLC.

The Amazing:
- The front desk agents were hilarious and super nice.
- They sell FULL bottles of wine for $15 each so you can take them on the cruise! Incredibly convenient!!! There is no liquor store nearby and we wanted to take advantage of our '2 bottles' allowance on the ship.
- It's a few steps away from the Outlet Mall.
- It's close to getting on the cruise!

The silver lining is they are going under renovations to make a better breakfast room, restaurant, and fixing up the rooms.
This place has a lot of potential if they can fix the safety issues, plumbing, dated rooms, cleanliness, etc.
Since my #1 concern is safety, this place got a pretty low score. Also the value for the price paid wasn't really doing it for me.

Pretty run down, staff was friendly enough but really tried hard to con us out of our food vouchers. Beds were super hard, pillows were nice. Bedding was probably nice at one time but is in need of replacement.

As a Elite Gold member, I used points for this stay. Upon arrival, I was charged $50 for incidentals and $10 for parking. Didnt see any benefit of being a rewards member..Zero...The hot breakfast at this hotel, one of the hot choices was melted cheese... seriously? Even with complaining that I was not seeing benefits for being a member, was told that's the way their hotel operates. I have enjoyed my other stays at this hotel brand, I would find different one for a stay in another area.

Great place to stay, once again we stop and stay satisfied !!!

Under construction at time of stay, and unfortunate events prompting it, but altogether nice place and very good service staff.

I would not go back there even if its for free. Breakfast is the only thing that is good but worse is, things go missing from the room. My phone which I purposely, deliberately left behind in the room was missing from my room. When I went to the reception the girl Jazmine told me loudly that " are you implying that our staff has stolen your phone" to which I said no as I didn't wanted to create a scene and then she said "you may have lost it some where" . Please please to everyone reading it pay a little more and stay somewhere else or keep your precious belongings with you.

BatesMotel!
United airline put us here after our flight home was cancelled. Had a feeling from the moment I walked in, it was going to be bad! Front desk, rude rude rude. And who the hell wears YOGA PANTS to work, gross. So unprofessional. I make my way to my room, Walked in and walked right back out. DISGUSTING. Stain Stain Stain everywhere. The door, walls, floor and the bed. DISGUSTING. Walked over to Embassy suites and got a room (night and day difference in customer service and no one in YOGA PANTS. All employees had same business attire on).
Avoid this place!

The rooms were small and the showers weren't very great, but the breakfast they surved both mornings was really good with homemade waffles, eggs, bacon French toast and more

Affordable hotel luxury and super clean has a big pool an jacuzzi with jets also a gym and free breakfast

I would like to start by talking about the hotel shuttle service. I called the hotel a day before my check-in time to request for the shuttle service. The lady who answered my phone promptly told me to wait at P4 lot and call the hotel at that time for the service. Fast forward, I arrived at EWR around 10:20pm. I walked straight to P4 lot and called the hotel front desk number at 10:30pm. The guy answered the phone and told me that it would take 15 mins. I waited for 20 mins and no one showed up. I called again and talked with the same guy. He told me that the van was on the way. It should be here shortly. I waited for total of 40 mins and obviously no one showed up. So I decided to call again. The same guy told me that the van needed to drop off the crews so it should be here any minutes now. Then almost 50 mins, the van arrived (finally). P.S. I saw many hotels' shuttles passed by every 5-10 mins. That would be my next choice if I go back to NJ.

The room is clean and okay. It 's abit older than the pictures show.

Far from the city, comfortable rooms, less breakfast options

Extremely courteous & accommodating staff, solid (hot) breakfast, reliable shuttle, everything you really need to survive. United put us up for the night here after a cancellation at EWR. I'll certainty keep this place in mind if I am in the area again.

Beautiful, clean, modernly furnished hotel. The room was perfect! Good breakfast and good service.

I stayed at the hotel for 3 nights, as my work needed more days, unfortunately I was unable to extend my stay at this hotel and needed to move.
The front desk staff is very attentive, they talk with a smile on their face and pass on the basic information.
At this time, February / 2018 the hotel is being renovated, which does not disturb and does not compromise the quality of the stay.
The rooms are clean, clean sheets, carpet clean .. just like the bathroom and towels.
The breakfast is great, several choices of drinks and food! Really very well served.
Great location and free parking. Free internet with very reasonable quality.
For 5 stars, we only needed to upgrade the speed of the elevator which is very slow!

We did a Park and Fly.... Shuttles to airport every 30 minutes. Nice big cleam rooms.

We stayed at this hotel because of its proximity to the airport and the free included Transfer, which runs 24 hours every 30min. The beds are very comfortable and the feather pillows very very nice. The breakfast was correct, with scrambled eggs, sausages, fresh waffles, bagels, cereals, pastries ...

I was stuck in Newark, NJ due to tropical storm Michael hitting the south which caused my connecting flight not to take off. Airline paid for my hotel stay. I got to hotel around 12mid without luggage and hadn't eaten in 10hours. The food area and lil convenient style store were closed BUT they opened it up for me. I was able to get prepacked salad (fresh), fresh fruit, all my toiletries and water. Airline gave vochure for food which hotel accepted. They were so helpful... truly appreciate their hospitality.

Apart from food guy, staff was not polite. Rooms were also not cleaned properly. I expected more from a Radisson hotel.

The Country Inn & Suites team were being bombarded from delayed flights from United. Despite the madness, Jack and his team were still very kind. Nice, clean rooms and probably the most comfortable bed I've slept on. It wasn't how we anticipated spending the first night of our honeymoon, but we'd definitely come back should we find ourselves in Newark again!

Clean, friendly staff, breakfast is average at best.

Very clean rooms with outstanding wifi if your at the ends or middle of the floor.

Hotel was sub-par. Room was clean but in poor condition and needs a little tlc.

Excellent service clean accommodations and decent breakfast each morning

Free shuttle to the airport. Free hot breakfast available. Close to movie theater and mall.

Stayed as distressed flight issue. Nickle and dime you.

Very modern and very new. Coffee bar in lobby very convenient. The 2 power outlets and charging USB ports at both sides of bed headboard is GREAT! That needs to be added at every hotel. Are you paying attention hotel builders?

Good: The hotel is in a good location, Jersey Gardens Mall is across the way and the view from my window was a distant NYC skyline and Port of Elizabeth. The room was clean. Everything inside the room was in working order. Competitive rates.

Bad: The staff was rather indifferent, not warm or welcoming, as is expected from someone working in the hospitality industry. The overall condition of the hotel is not great. The lobby was under construction- explains the good rate. The tub had a rusted nail? It was flush with tub floor so it wasn't sticking out and they provide a rubber mat that would in theory cover it but it was off putting none the less.

Neutral: complimentary breakfast is offered but we didn't have it. Complementary shuttle to Newark Liberty International Airport - we didn't use it.

The hotel is ok !! The staff were not very cooperative and rude! Have forgotten my jacket there, after our 9-day round trip, we drove to the hotel to pick up the jacket! I was told that you did not find a jacket !! Already in advance, I have written an e-mail to ask if you could send me the jacket!? .... no reaction! Very annoying, or not hospitable !!!!

The hotel lobby looks great and is updated. The staff is hit or miss with friendliness and professionalism. The INTERNET IS HORRIBLE! The wifi works well in the lobby but as soon as you are in a room it is beyond horrible. I have stayed here 6 times now and have never been able to use the wifi in my room.

Booked last minute. It is right by a airport it says but I hardly heard planes. Easy booking. I gave it 4 stars because the pool was cold and not heated at the time and the hot tub was luck warm.. wasnt a hot tub. I am very picky about staying at places as of how clean they are. But Otherwise. Room was very clean. Beds were super comfortable which was amazing as my boyfriend has a bad back and he slept great! Has a mini fridge which was another bonus. Check out was at 12noon. But they extended it to 2pm for me. Staff was great!
Not ideal about parking.. if the lot is full it is 10$ to park behind the gate.. i would definatly stay again. Hoping to find another Country Inn to go to again while on my travels.

Rugs are really stained and dirty . The tub walls are very dingy and dirty also. I thought I was getting a chain hotel off hotwire but this is definitely a MOTEL quality place.
The bathrooms need deep cleaning and rugs need to be shampooed thoroughly.

The breakfast is very poor quality , we left early and went out to eat for breakfast . Eggs here we're runny and watery oatmeal was very watery and the juices aren't fresh they come out of a machine.

Overall, it was good. But, there is room for improvement.

Roaches crawling on curtain. Smokers party in the parking lot all night. Parties in every other room

Extremely nice staff. Quiet, close to shopping and dining.

The shuttle and customer service here is useless. Was put here by United after multiple delays for a 6 hr overnight layover. Was told to just pick up the phone in P4 of Newark- turns out this is one of the few hotels in the area with NO courtesy line.

The shuttle then drove past without stopping after a 20 min wait. Thankfully another passenger was American and able to call them on her personal phone inquiring when the next one would come and we were told no schedule and it was on its way. Another 25 min and having watched all other hotels shuttles pass by 2-3 times in the span of my wait it finally came. Check-in was fine, food mediocre but at least available at 11 at night.

When I asked about the morning I was told again there was no schedule and to just show up 5 minutes before I needed to go. The next morning low and behold there IS a schedule and the bus had left 5 min ago not to return for 25 min. Was told by an indifferent staff that a taxi wasn t worth calling because it would take just as long.

The rooms were fine. Not the most comfortable but tidy and had a the standard hotel beds albeit old and somewhat lumpy pillows. The guy at the kitchen was nice. The lobby space was newly renovated. Good sitting area but there s no food available including in their market if you ve got an early flight.

If I could do it again I d demand a voucher to literally any other hotel just given this shuttle nonsense and the terrible customer service. It s also one of the further hotels from P4 so long wait for the shuttle that skips stopping AND one of the longer drives to and from.

Absolutely the WORST experience!!! We waited over an hour for the hotel shuttle only to have our seats given up to others who had not been waiting for as long. We had to order an Uber to the hotel. Once we arrived, the receptionists were too busy fooling around with each other to help us check in. They eventually acknowledged us and told us they were oversold. Then we waited another half hour for a different shuttle to take us to our new hotel. There were also non-hotel guests loitering in the hotel lobby!

Nice contemporary room with a sitting area and separate bedroom. Good king-size bed, also has a fridge, microwave and safe in the room. It has an indoor pool, hot tub and a small fitness center. Free coffee, breakfast and airport shuttle. WiFi is free, but very poor signal in the sitting area in the room and NO signal in the bedroom. I did not get my wake-up call. Overall, not a bad hotel, but they need to boost the internet signal and deliver wake up calls.

Hairdryer caught on fire, comforter was stained and floor was dirty.

Did not pick us up at Newark airport. Carpets not vacum thourly,maid very accomadaiting, wi fi was good. Don't expect the breakfast they offer during cuarenteen just coffee and a beagle with a cerial bok choice of 4 sugary kid stuff.and a cup of one juice apple only.

If you're at all sensitive, you should probably avoid this hotel. Shuttle from airport couldn't accommodate people waiting for it, so three people got left behind to wait an extra half hour (after putting up with hours of air travel and customs). Desk clerk was brusque when asked if shuttle could return. Hotel brochure in room had been used by a prior guest as a plate and had dried food and cut marks on it. Maid should have found and replaced it.

Rooms are not clean. But front desk woman was rude . Not sure why she is so pist off ! This hotel was booked by united united airlines as a compensation. Worst airlines matches with bad hotel.

Jack + Joe are rock stars for customer service at The Country Inn & Suites. Go to place for accommodations by Newark Airport. So nice!

Very clean, friendly staff, great location to outlet mall with express 30 minute bus ride to downtown Manhattan

Very poor services, got disrespected by the front desk "Frank or Jhon" poor service all way around. Charged us a outrageous price on an advertising says it is 4 stars rank but it rate below 1.5. Breakfast fruits was a joke offered lemons and orange as fruit options. The bus shuttle was terrible the driver didn't even load and unload the luggage to anyone

I think they put is in the crappy room because we had service dogs with us. The bathtub was rusted and looked a bloddy mess. But, it worked for one night. Awesome airport drop off!

Good service
Bad WiFi
Closed pool
Good air-conditioning

Key to room door barely worked, room door barely came open, Broken closet door, under the sink was leaking, rug was ripping up, not to mention! The Couple next door was arguing and fighting all night! I had to bang on the door At 6 in the morning for them to stop Management came up once and never came back to tell them to quiet down after I placed calls to the front desk. 2 housekeepers came into my room at 2 different times (once at 6:15am & 9 am) Assuming I checked out already. Tobacco products were out in the hallway , parties going on etc. overall 1 housekeeper I ran into was the only decent one. The managers demeanor was very nonchalant. I travel all the time, and by far this was the most unprofessional hotel my children and I have ever stayed in! My son listened to the couple fight, he was afraid to sleep.

Excellent service and accommodation. Highly recommend!

Great Lobby with TV's and a Mini Bar. Watched the Final 4..!!

Great place, clean, friendly, close to airport with free shuttle.

Very nice hotel just to relax or have parties at, perfect. Breakfast is off the hook, really good, nice and hot always.

Got voucher after flight cancellation. Clean, efficient, comfy bed, hot water, super nice staff and shuttle team.

This is the worst hotel experience I've ever had in the Western world in my entire life.

- dirty clothes in the room when we arrived
- bathroom door doesn't close
- bath is very dirty
- noisy (internal noise) in the room
- noisy external noise from planes
- air con/heating either freezing or desert like
- room smelt of weed when another guest starting smoking (in their non-smoking from)

Very disappointed to find out that there was an extra 20 dollar fee per vehicle added. 2 vehicles, 2 days so I had to pay an extra 80 dollars for my stay. It was no where on the site and wasn't told this when I called. It was the very last thing that was said to me after my card was ran. Luckily I had the money but what about the people that don't have the extra money, especially at times like this. I'll never stay there again bc I felt like the way they threw in that extra charge was very sneaky.

Had to pay for overnight parking and it was not mentioned in the website booking.

Nice place to stay, free breakfast, friendly staff. They were doing a remodel when we visited. The lobby is a nice place to visit with family and friends.

Spacious clean rooms good and right across the street from the outlet jersey gardens. Shuttle every half hour to and from the airport.

Great hotel and clean rooms great for family over night stay, only negative would be room key stopped allowing entry to the room a hour before checkout, that's a customer service fail

As expected for a country inn. Convenient location. Shuttle to the airport. Rooms are basic, does the job for an overnight stay by the airport.

Good place, it has a very homely atmosphere, the people are very friendly. The only thing is that it lacks a bit more care to the cleanliness and structure of the hotel. In spite of everything, I plan to return once again this month

Visited twice. Very clean place to stay. And breakfast in great

Great experience. Wonderful rooms good breakfast and peaceful stay

I just cut my loyalty card in half due to the behavior of the front desk at this hotel. New York/North Jersey is known for rude behavior but these people, Patrick especially, were beyond anything I have ever witnessed as a travel professional. Sorry, Carlson, I'm done with you.

Housekeeping is non existent.
Full trash cans in room and the beds are not even made. Seriously?
Breakfast is not considered breakfast and I would never go again