Newark: Springhill Suites Newark Airport (July 2010)

This was a typical Springhill Suites property, and it was located in the same complex as Marriott's Fairfield Inn and Courtyard in Newark. Only the Courtyard has a restaurant/bar combo, and there is nothing else within walking distance (you can see the airport, you just can't walk there). There are a lot of Portugese/Spanish restaurants within a 5-mile drive of the hotel, but the written directions provided by the hotel seemed to be more effort than we were willing to make. We saw a shuttle for one of those restaurants driving around the hotel complex, so at least one restaurant provides free shuttle service - which is a nice perk if you want to make the effort to eat somewhere else. There is very little outdoor space here, or at the Fairfield Inn, just small fenced-in patios off the pools with a few chairs. The Courtyard has a more extensive outdoor/garden area. Both the Springhill and the Courtyard have pantries, where you can purchase drinks and snacks (not sure about the Fairfield). The rooms are typical Springhill Suites, with a separate sitting/work area, and include a refrigerator, microwave, and wet bar. I didn't get to try the complimentary breakfast because my flight departed before the breakfast began. Complimentary shuttle service is provided to the airport, every half hour on the hour, from 5:00 am to midnight (and then hourly after that). This hotel offers park-and-fly packages, where you can stay overnight at the hotel either before or after your flight, and you can leave your car parked in their lot during that time (usually the packages include either 7 nights free parking or 14 nights free parking). The lot seemed relatively secure, however, there was not enough parking for all guests, and cars ended up parked in places where they did not belong. I'm not sure what a guest does who has paid for the parking package if their car is not actually parked in a legal spot when it is time for their flight to depart. I would stay here again if not for the possible lack of parking issue, but perhaps the Fairfield and/or Courtyard allow the overflow to park there when necessary. While the hotel shuttle drops you off at your exact terminal to catch your departing flight, it is necessary to take the Air Train to P4 to catch the shuttle back to the hotel (hotel shuttles can't pick up passengers directly in front of the arrivals/baggage claim area). It wasn't really a problem, and even if you parked onsite in economy at the airport, you still need to take the Air Train. Something else I just remembered about this hotel - it had no hot water on the evening that we arrived, so if one wanted to shower, it had to be done with cold water. Fortunately, it was fixed by morning, but it was slightly inconvenient. Hopefully, that was just an isolated incident. Although thinking back some more, the air-conditioning wasn't particularly cold either (and it wasn't even a hot day). While the hotel shuttle drops you off at your exact terminal to catch your departing flight, it is necessary to take the Air Train to P4 to catch the shuttle back to the hotel (hotel shuttles can't pick up passengers directly in front of the arrivals/baggage claim area). It wasn't really a problem, and even if you parked onsite in economy at the airport, you still need to take the Air Train.