Extended Stay Secaucus Review: Safe, Scenic, and Best of the Budget Bunch
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Extended Stay America - Meadowlands - Secaucus
1 Meadowlands Pkwy, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Rating: ♡♡♡♡ 4 out of 5 hearts
Listen up, friends! I'm back with another Extended Stay America review, and this time we're talking about the Extended Stay Secaucus near American Dream Mall. Now, I've stayed at several Extended Stay properties, and while this one is definitely one of my favorites in the chain, it's still got room for improvement. Even though I had a good experience overall, I'm honestly on the fence about returning. But don't worry, this isn't going to be one of those horror story reviews!
My boyfriend and I stayed here October 10th to October 11th for a double date at the IPIC movie theater in Fort Lee. We've been staying home more lately since we're saving every penny to move in together in early 2025 (exciting, right?!). But here's the thing: the parking situation in his area is an absolute nightmare. As a Philadelphian who's not from the suburbs, I thought I knew bad parking, but this area really humbled me. It's a complete rat race out there. With our double date plans, I knew we'd never find parking, plus my boyfriend had work the next morning and I was planning to hit the slopes for some snowboarding on Friday. We both needed our rest, and thankfully we got a decent amount of sleep here.
Parking: A Pleasant Surprise
I have never felt safer parking my car at an Extended Stay than at Extended Stay Secaucus! I think it has everything to do with the location, the front desk staff, and how everything just feels more respectful than the other two locations we've tried. Maybe it was also that gorgeous view that made everything feel more secure.
Pro tip: find out where your room is before you park your car anywhere. There's plenty of parking available, and if you're lucky, they might give you a rear-facing room with an absolutely stunning view of the water, highway, sunset, and American Dream Mall. We totally lucked out with this view! Either way, after you check in, you'll get a parking pass to hang on your rearview mirror, so you'll need to come back out to your car anyway.
We initially parked in the front of the hotel, but after our date, we moved to the back so I could see my car from our hotel window. That extra peace of mind was worth it. Plus, parking is completely free and included with your stay. I also think it's pretty cool that you can dock your boat here, not that I own one or anything!
The Room: Mostly On Brand
The room follows the typical Extended Stay formula from the lighting to the color scheme and decor choices. It's very on brand, which you'll either love or find predictable.
This particular location stands out as one of the best smelling, quietest, and honestly fanciest of all the Extended Stay properties we've tried so far. However, our room had this weird intermittent sound that we never could figure out. It would come and go randomly at random times and never lasted long, but it was definitely noticeable.
Walking down the hallways here made me feel really comfortable and safe. I always feel safe with my boyfriend, but sometimes you can't quite shake that weird gut feeling about certain locations, you know? I've had that anxious feeling at some other Extended Stay locations we've stayed at. Yes, it's cheap, and we could have gone elsewhere for something better, but winter is coming. As I mentioned, we're moving out in early 2025, and we already have four snowboarding trips planned. Snowboarding has absolutely destroyed our wallets!
The one major downside about our room was the bed. It was genuinely uncomfortable. If you have any previous injuries, they will definitely flare up sleeping on this mattress. I woke up in pain multiple times throughout the night and felt sore the next morning, which is terrible when you're trying to go to work or hit the slopes. Despite that, I still felt reasonably well-rested, which was surprising.
The view was absolutely lovely, and honestly, that view alone makes me consider returning. But I'm really torn because of those sleeping arrangements.
Here's another frustrating detail: we were given a full bed instead of the queen-sized bed we booked. I double-checked our reservation, and we definitely booked a Queen Studio room. For $141.91, we felt pretty slighted, but because we got that amazing view and the room was generally clean, well-kept, safe, and close compared to other locations, we didn't make a fuss. You win some, you lose some. It felt manageable for one night, and we just cuddled and embraced each other all night, which we both don't mind! I love being his human teddy bear. That is my future husband, after all.
Bathroom: Could Use Some Attention
This was definitely one of the nicer bathrooms we've encountered at Extended Stay properties, but the tub had serious drainage issues. There was noticeable wear and tear, and whoever cleaned the room before our stay didn't empty the bathroom trash can. Small details like this really matter when you're paying for a clean room.
Breakfast: Average at Best
The breakfast at this location wasn't the worst I've had, but it definitely wasn't the best either. They didn't have many options available, but they did still have food out despite the fact that we came a few minutes after 9am. I'll give them credit for that.
Location: Convenient for American Dream Mall
The location is fantastic if you're planning to visit American Dream Mall. Route 3, with entrances to both east and west, is right next to Extended Stay Secaucus. You won't be able to walk to the mall, but it's only about a six-minute drive, which is pretty convenient.
Final Thoughts
Here's the reality with Extended Stay America properties: it's really a toss-up whether you'll get a good experience or a bad one. Most of them are just average. I wouldn't walk into any of these hotels expecting a luxury stay, but I genuinely had a pleasant experience here.
The gorgeous view, safer parking situation, and generally respectful atmosphere really set this location apart from others in the chain. However, that uncomfortable bed and the smaller room size than what we paid for definitely left us feeling a bit disappointed.
Would I return? I'm honestly still deciding. The view and location convenience are major draws, but that bed situation is a real deal-breaker for someone who values good sleep, especially when you're paying nearly $142 for the night.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option near American Dream Mall and you're not too picky about mattress quality, Extended Stay Secaucus could work for you. Just manage your expectations and maybe bring a good pillow from home!
