Hyatt Place Secaucus/Meadowlands

The area around the hotel is dominated by office buildings, and guests tend to be either short-term business travelers with work in the area or international tourists on package tours. The lobby as high ceilings but feels a little dark, although contemporary furniture in warm hues of rust and golden beige brighten up the space a bit. There's a snack counter and a bar off to one side of the lobby with a flat-screen TV for watching sports games. On the other side is the breakfast area, which leads to a back entrance, giving the common area a feeling of grand space and constant motion.

The hotel is located in what's essentially an office park off of the New Jersey Turnpike, and rooms have views of either of a parking lot or of swamplands and traffic. There are shops, restaurants, and bars within walking distance, but guests will have to trek through parking lots and non-residential areas to get to them. Those with access to cars will find it easy to hop onto the turnpike and then through the tunnel into Midtown Manhattan, and there's even easier transport for those willing to take a public bus -- New Jersey Transit buses to Port Authority stop nearly right outside the hotel's back entrance. Newark Airport is a 20-minute drive away.

In-room decor at the Hyatt is pleasantly simple, with white walls and matching white bedspreads and dark-wood trim contrasting with blonde-wood furniture. All rooms have either two double beds or one king bed, and both types come with sofa beds. The rooms open up to living areas with small desks and a half wall creates a barrier between the living and sleeping areas, with a flat-screen TV in the middle that can be swiveled so that guests can watch it from the living room or from their beds. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, safes, hairdryers, and mini-fridges. Bathrooms are small and dimly lit and come with walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. Separate vanity areas outside the bathrooms have large sinks and chests of drawers plus lots of black marble counter space. 

The hotel keeps its amenities to a minimum but still offers free Wi-Fi and a free breakfast buffet in a spacious room. There's also a well-equipped gym with weight and cardio machines that's open 24 hours a day. The small business center is free for guest use and has two computers and a printer. The front desk doubles as the cashier for the bar/food counter, where guests can watch TV while snacking or drinking a beer. There's also a fridge by the front desk for sandwiches and salads to go, and the hotel kitchen can make guests meals from a limited menu available 24 hours a day. Parking is free, a big plus in an area where overnight parking is scarce.