Comfort Inn & Suites Paramus

The bright, modern lobby at Comfort Inn & Suites Paramus makes a nice first impression. Beige walls and tall windows keep the space feeling bright, while a dark wood reception desk, funky patterned carpet, and black velvety furniture give the room a modern edge. The lobby has a few communal seating areas, including one surrounding a large flat-screen TV. This area also serves as the breakfast room and the business center, which features two Mac desktops and a printer. The majority of guests staying here are in town for business, but others include road trippers looking for a convenient pit stop and shoppers who have come to town to experience one of the nation’s top zip codes for retail.   

Located on Route 17 South in Paramus, New Jersey, Comfort Inn & Suites Paramus is an ideal spot for travelers looking to be close to Paramus shopping, or for anyone doing business in central Bergen County. Paramus is a busy suburb, often called one of the highest grossing zip codes in the United States for retail. From the hotel, malls such as Paramus Park, Garden State Plaza, Bergen Town Center, and Riverside Square are all within a 10-minute drive. It should be noted, however, that thanks to strict Blue Laws in Bergen County, all malls and shopping venues are closed on Sundays. The hotel is located about 20 miles from midtown Manhattan, but driving there can take anywhere from 30-minutes to three hours, depending on the traffic. Newark Airport is about a 35-minute drive away. 

For a mid-range hotel that caters to short-term guests and business travelers, rooms at Comfort Inn & Suites Paramus are surprisingly nice, modern, and well thought-out. Though the decor is fairly bland and chain-like, rooms are clean and well-lit, with thoughtful extras multiple-outlet power hubs on the desks, in-room mini-fridges and microwaves, and full-length mirrors. Standard Rooms feature two double beds or one king size bed, with comfortable Sealy Plush mattresses, white linens, and green bed runners. Suites are larger than Standard Rooms and have separate living areas, but feature the same decor and amenities. Some suites have whirlpool tubs, but all rooms have teeny tiny bathrooms with shower/tub combos and a small sink area with negligible counter space. Unfortunately for non-smoking guests, most rooms smell of cigarettes, despite the hotel’s best efforts to mask the smell with air fresheners.

The hotel’s free daily breakfast, which includes hot items like eggs, bacon, and waffles, is by far one of the hotel’s nicest features. Served each morning in the the lobby/breakfast room, the spread also includes classic continental items like pastries, muffins, and cereal. There’s no pool here, but the hotel does have a small fitness center, with a few treadmills, bikes, and a weight machine. Although there’s no full-service restaurant, there is a Red Lobster connected to the hotel, and hundreds of dining options from casual fast food to upscale fine dining, within a few minutes' drive. The hotel offers free parking and Wi-Fi, along with free toiletries such as toothbrushes and toothpaste for anyone who might have forgotten theirs at home.