Escape to NJ: Unbeatable Deals at Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick!
Escape to NJ: Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick - A Surprisingly Good Time… Mostly! (A Chaotic Review)
Okay, so I needed an escape. Seriously. Life had been a hurricane of deadlines and screaming kids (my own, not strangers – thankfully). So, I booked a last-minute stay at the Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick. I'm usually a boutique hotel snob, but hey, gotta be practical sometimes, and frankly, the "Unbeatable Deals" tagline caught my eye. Let's see if they lived up to the hype – and my sanity.
Accessibility & Getting In the Door (Not Always Pretty – But Functional!)
First off, accessibility. Look, I don't need a wheelchair myself, but I appreciate places that consider folks who do. The review says it's wheelchair accessible, which is good. Elevators are a must-have, and good to see they have that. Noted.
Check-in/Check-out (Slightly Less Traumatic Than Expected)
The check-in/check-out [express] option? Yes, please! I really didn't want to be stuck in a long line after a long drive and then have to do it again when I left. The contactless check-in/out was also a lifesaver. Didn't want to breathe the same air as everyone else after being stuck in the car for hours.
The Room: My Temporary Fortress of Solitude (With Some Quirks)
Alright, the room. Pretty standard Holiday Inn Express fare. Clean, which is always a bonus. The non-smoking status was essential because who wants to smell stale smoke on a supposed getaway? And the air conditioning was a glorious blast of icy air. Thank God. The blackout curtains are another blessing. I needed to sleep in. Seriously, I needed to. The extra long bed was tempting, but I didn't quite feel comfortable taking a nap.
They had Wi-Fi [free] which is, of course, non-negotiable in this day and age. I mean, what am I supposed to do, gasp actually, talk to people? The Internet access – wireless and Internet access – LAN options were good, but I mostly used my phone. Also, the complimentary tea and coffee/tea maker made me like this place even more.
There's more! The desk was functional, the mini bar (stocked) was nice to see (if I needed anything), the in-room safe box, and the hair dryer (thank god). And the extra towels were great.
The TV with on-demand movies… I never used it. But it was good that it was there.
The Bed: My New Best Friend (Sort Of)
The bed. The bed was… okay. The bedding was clean, thank god. The pillows were… serviceable? (Again, my inner boutique hotel snob is screaming, but I’m trying to be fair!) It wasn't the worst bed I've ever slept in, and it was comfortable enough to get a decent, much-needed sleep.
The Bathroom: Function Over Fabulous
The bathroom was… basic. The shower worked, the toiletries were… standard (a little on the cheap side – again, boutique hotel snob here), but it was clean, and that’s what mattered. I will say, the towels were fluffy-ish, which was a nice touch. You know how a good towel can just make your day slightly better? This did.
Food, Glorious Food! (And Where the Adventure REALLY Begins!)
Okay, let's talk food. The breakfast [buffet] was included. Now, I'm usually a cafe-hipster-avocado-toast kind of gal, but I wasn't expecting much. The Asian breakfast (I spotted some rice and some other things) was a surprise and the vegetarian restaurant was decent.
The coffee/tea in restaurant was free - and unlimited - all day. The desserts in restaurant were an afterthought.
Lunch, however, was. . . interesting. They had a snack bar was okay. In the restaurants, you had the options of a la carte in restaurant, international cuisine in restaurant, and more, but I went for the western cuisine in restaurant. I ordered the burger, which was… edible. The salad in restaurant was actually pretty good. Fresh lettuce and tomatoes. I liked.
The Amenities: Trying To Relax… Kinda!
Right. Things to do. Ways to relax. This is maybe where the Holiday Inn Express lost a little charm. The fitness center was… well, it existed. It had a few machines, some weights (very lightly used), but it wasn’t what I would really call a spa day. The swimming pool [outdoor] looked inviting. I could see myself lounging. I did not.
It’s not quite a spa. No body scrub, no body wrap, no foot bath, no sauna, no steamroom, no massage. Not a huge deal, but it's worth noting if you're expecting a full-blown pampering experience. This is more of a "get some sleep and get out" kind of vibe.
Cleanliness & Safety: Playing It Safe(ish)
They mentioned that they use anti-viral cleaning products. The room sanitization opt-out available. Good. The rooms sanitized between stays. Excellent. Hand sanitizer all over the place. Professional-grade sanitizing services. Good. Daily disinfection in common areas. Great.
The Staff: Helpful (But Maybe a Little Understaffed?)
The staff was generally helpful and friendly. The front desk [24-hour] was a definite plus. The daily housekeeping was a necessity and they did a good job.
The Bottom Line: Worth It… For the Price
Would I return to the Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick? Maybe. It's a solid, practical choice. It's not exactly a luxury escape, but it did the job. It provided clean rooms, decent food, and a bit of a break from the chaos. Considering the "Unbeatable Deals" promise, I'd say it delivered – in a no-frills, get-the-job-done sort of way. It wasn’t unforgettable, but it was definitely rememberable. And sometimes, that's what you need.
SEO & Metadata (Because, Let's Face It, I'm Probably Staring at This Review Because of Google):
- Keywords: Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick, NJ, hotel review, accessible hotel, free wifi, breakfast included, pool, North Brunswick hotels, budget-friendly hotel, family-friendly hotel, hotel deals, clean rooms.
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick, NJ - from a weary traveler's perspective. See if the "unbeatable deals" live up to the hype, focusing on rooms, amenities, food, and cleanliness!
- Title Tag: Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick Review: Unbeatable Deals? My Chaotic Escape!
- H1: Escape to NJ: Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick - A Surprisingly Good Time… Mostly! (A Chaotic Review)
- Alt Tags (for imaginary photos): "Cozy room at Holiday Inn Express," "Breakfast buffet at Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick," "Pool area at Holiday Inn Express North Brunswick," "Clean bathroom at Holiday Inn Express."
- Internal Linking: (Links could be added to other hotel reviews or travel articles on a website.)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average, sterile travel itinerary. This is… me trying to survive a stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites North Brunswick By IHG in Franklin Township, NJ. And let's be honest, I'm as much a product of chaos as this hotel is probably a product of… well, let's not speculate. Here we go:
Day 1: Arrival (and the Eternal Quest for Coffee)
2:00 PM: Touchdown, Baby! Arrive at the hotel, finally. Traffic on the NJ Turnpike was, as always, a special kind of hell. I swear, people in this state drive purely on spite. Found the hotel. It’s… fine. Clean enough, I guess. The carpet pattern is aggressively beige, but hey, at least it’s not covered in suspicious stains, right? One can only hope.
2:15 PM: Check-In Blues & the Great Room Key Fiasco. The lovely person at the front desk (who, bless her heart, looked like she'd seen things) was perfectly polite. Got my key card. Headed to the room, which seemed far away… like, "are we sure this is in the same continent?" far. First try with the key… nothing. Second try… still nothing. Ugh, the key card gremlin.
2:30 PM: The Coffee Crisis. Okay, this is serious. I need coffee. Desperately. The lobby "coffee station" is displaying a sad-looking, lukewarm pot of what I can only assume is instant coffee's evil twin. I’m pretty sure they're using the same coffee maker from the 1980s, judging by the smell. This is a tragedy of epic proportions. I'm seriously considering risking frostbite for a trip to the Wawa across the street, which would be a definite improvement.
3:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance & the Battle of the Pillows. The room! Finally! It's… small. But the bed looks inviting. I'll give it that. And the air conditioning works, which is a major win in this humid Jersey purgatory. The pillows are… well, they're like tiny, fluffy bricks. Prepare to spend at least a half hour fluffing those things.
3:30 PM: The Quest for Wi-Fi (and Sanity). Every hotel's Achilles' heel. I managed to get the Wi-Fi working, after a struggle. Gotta make sure everyone on the internet knows I’m alive.
4:00 PM: Local Eats & the Reality Check. Walked to a local diner! It was… a diner. Greasy, delicious, and exactly what I needed. The waitress seemed to know everyone by name. I overheard a conversation about a local cat show and was suddenly gripped with a sense of belonging… or maybe it was the caffeine finally kicking in.
7:00 PM: Bedtime, Almost. I was tired from the trip and the emotional rollercoaster of coffee deprivation. Watch some mindless TV. Wonder if this hotel has a pool. I probably won't go, but it's the thought that counts.
Day 2: Exploring (and Trying Not to Get Lost)
7:00 AM: Breakfast, the Second Act. The hotel's "complimentary breakfast" is calling. Okay, let's do this. The usual suspects: lukewarm scrambled eggs that are somehow both too dry and suspiciously moist, questionable sausage, and the usual array of sugary cereals. Attempted a waffle. Mission: survived. I'm going to need at least two cups of coffee to get through this.
8:00 AM: The "Business Center" Mystery. This is where it all goes wrong. The business center is a lonely nook with a computer that looks like it was salvaged from the Titanic. Printer out of ink. No one to help. A tiny, sad corner of the hotel. I should've just used my phone. Lesson learned.
9:00 AM: Destination: New Brunswick, or the Art of the Random Drive. OK, so I'm supposed to be visiting a specific location today. But first, I'm lost. Actually, I’m not sure if I was particularly directionally challenged. Still, it’s easy to drive around in circles in New Jersey, especially on these convoluted roads I've never traveled.
10:30 AM: New Brunswick, the Heart of Chaos. I found the location. The whole scene was a blur of interesting people, and loud conversations. I enjoyed every bit of that.
1:00 PM: Lunch Break & the Burger Revelation. Back at the hotel, there's a burger place on the way that smells pretty amazing. Let's not be fools and skip lunch. Took a chance, ordered a burger. It was… surprisingly good. Maybe this hotel isn't so bad after all.
2:00 PM: Nap Time & the Glorious Embrace of the Bed. That burger hit the spot. The exhaustion is setting in. Must. Sleep. The brick pillow doesn't deter me. The bed will be my friend.
5:00 PM: Dinner & the Unexpected Charm of a Chain Restaurant. After a nap, I'm going to try out a chain restaurant that I normally would not consider. Why not? Embrace the mundane! The chicken was actually pretty good. Sometimes, you just need a familiar, predictable meal.
8:00 PM: Free Time! I'm glad to have some breathing room.
9:00 PM: Nighttime. Time to relax on my computer.
Day 3: Departure (and the bittersweet Goodbyes)
7:00 AM: Last Breakfast Ritual. One last trip to the breakfast buffet. I'll miss it… in the way you miss a root canal.
8:00 AM: Check-Out & the Key Card Shenanigans, (Again)! This time I got it right on the first try.
8:30 AM: The Drive Home. The NJ Turnpike, here I come!
Okay, spill the tea! Is this place REALLY that unbeatable? Escape to NJ, Unbeatable Deals... sounds like marketing BS, doesn't it?
The Breakfast: Savior or Sin? What's the FOOD SITUATION?
Location, Location, Location! Is North Brunswick actually… livable?
The Room! Does it feel like a Motel 6, or…? Spill the beans, how comfy is it?
Let's Talk About Amenities - Pool? Gym? Am I living in a dungeon or a hotel?
The Staff! Are they friendly? (Or just trying to get rid of me?)
Okay, hit me with a specific experience! Tell me about a time you stayed there and WHATS THE BEST PART?
Parking? Is it a nightmare? I HATE parking.
