Wyndham Garden Newark Airport

Just across the highway from Newark Airport, the Wyndham sees the typical comings and goings of an airport hotel. Guests are constantly getting picked up and dropped off by the hotel’s free airport shuttle, and it seems as though there’s a constant stream of luggage being wheeled across the lobby’s tiled floor. Renovated in 2015, the lobby has an updated feel, with clean lines and gray hues. Seating is provided at tall communal tables with high-back chairs. The many travelers arriving at odd hours will likely appreciate the 24-hour snack stand, which sells items like pre-packaged sandwiches, muffins, granola bars, and an assortment of coffee products.   

Located on Route 1 South just across the highway from Newark Airport, it can take anywhere from five to 10 minutes to drive from the hotel to the terminals. Besides the airport, there aren’t any attractions in the immediate area. Downtown Newark is about a 15-minute drive, while Midtown Manhattan is about a 25- to 30-minute drive. 

Renovated in early 2015, rooms at the Wyndham Garden Hotel feel refreshed, with updated bedding and warm golden tones. Despite the renovations, beds in all of the rooms remain terribly uncomfortable. Generic black-and-white photographs of New York City hang on the walls, and the furniture is rather chain-like and bland. Each room has ample desk space, with multiple outlets and ergonomic desk chairs -- a nice touch for business travelers. Amenities, such as flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, free bottled water, and safes are standard in all rooms. Guests looking to upgrade to a suite will have separate living and sleeping areas. Bathrooms are typically small, with standard shower/tub combos and white tile. Most rooms overlook the parking lot or the airport runway, but some overlook the pool and interior courtyard. Despite the renovations, there are still signs of wear and tear throughout the rooms, like leaky air conditioners and doors that don’t open and close properly.  

Like most airport hotels in the area, the Wyndham Garden Hotel offers a free 24-hour shuttle to and from the airport. Unlike most other hotels in the area, the Wyndham has an outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant. The seasonal outdoor pool, while not large, is atypical for the area, and is a nice perk for anyone stuck in New Jersey during one of its terribly humid summers. The on-site restaurant, Starlight Restaurant and Lounge, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the food is mediocre at best. Guests looking for lighter fare can stop by the lobby’s 24-hour grab-and-go snack stand or pop into the hotel’s on-site convenience store that also doubles as a gift shop. There’s a small gym with a few treadmills, bikes, and free weights, as well as a business center equipped with desktop computers (both Macs and personal computers), printers, and a fax machine. The Wyndham has over 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate 150 people. There are free parking in the hotel’s front lot and free Wi-Fi, but it can be dreadfully slow.