DoubleTree by Hilton Newark Penn Station

Reviews

• IT

  Ilhan Tanir

  4 days ago
  3.0
  Unbeatable Location, but Surprisingly Cold and Rigid Service I checked into this hotel for the first time for a one-night stay. The location is unbeatable—directly across from Penn Station—which is incredibly convenient, especially in cold weather. The Service Issue: I have stayed at countless Hiltons across the country, and on occasion, I’ll kindly ask for a 30-to-60-minute late checkout (leaving at 11:30 AM or 12:00 PM instead of 11:00 AM). In all my years of travel, I have never been flatly rejected for such a small request. Because I had a scheduled call at 10:00 AM the next morning, I politely asked the front desk if an 11:30 AM checkout was possible. Without skipping a beat—and without even looking up at me—the staff member gave a cold, outright "No. Checkout is at 11:00 AM." So, next morning I had to rush, get ready and leave the room before 10am so as not to have an interruption if the meeting extended over 11am. This created such a huge inconvenience for me. It was a stark contrast to my experiences at Hiltons in Colorado, Aurora, Buffalo, San Diego, or Philadelphia and other locations, where the staff is consistently accommodating, smiling, and happy to help with such minor requests. Room Quality & Atmosphere: To the hotel’s credit, the staff seemed agitated and unhappy; perhaps this is a high-stress location with difficult customers, but the speed and firmness of the rejection made for an unpleasant visit. Furthermore, my room was neglected: the tissue box was empty, there was no hair conditioner but two bottles of body gels and the hand lotion was completely out. I considered going back down to give the front desk the same "treatment" and complain about these room issues, but life is too short to mistreat one another. However, as a customer and a frequent Hilton guest, I expected better.
• LD

  Lisa D

  Feb 25, 2026
  4.0
  The hotel is literally right at the station. Like anywhere in north jersey, it is congested but expected. The parking garage is attached to the hotel in a sense that you drive in, you park, you walk up/down stairs, continue walking outside under covered area and into the main entrance of the hotel. Take the escalator up to the main lobby and check in. This hotel had check in and check out options on the app, along with a digital key card. It was so easy! They also give you a warm cookie upon check in. All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We got a drink at the hotel bar/restaurant and it was nothing to write home about but perfectly acceptable. We walked to our dinner destination at Swahili Village and then across the street we went to the NJPAC. At the end of the show we walked to Bello's Pub and Grill, Newark's First Gastropub, and had a great time. The walk back to the hotel was easy and there are enough lights and people in the area that we did not feel scared or hesitant. Also, there were plenty of Lyfts/Ubers around. The room itself was standard. Nothing fancy but nothing exciting. They are obviously making renovations in this hotel so don't expect glamourous, just expect things to be clean and standard. The next morning we did the breakfast buffet and it was very good. It was about $28.00/pp plus tip but honestly, in that area, for the convenience alone to not drive / walk anywhere in the snowy cold was absolutely worth it. They even made fresh over medium eggs for no extra charge! Validating the parking ticket was super easy and saved us about $75.00 to park overnight. I would absolutely stay again.
• MS

  Monica Sandoval

  Feb 24, 2026
  5.0
  This review is for the restaurant staff, Michael and Antonio in particular. Very sweet, kind and totally makes up for the dismal and uncomfortable experience you may face at the front desk/reception. Michael and Antonio are exceptional, hospitable and welcoming in an albeit difficult and sometimes thankless role in the service industry. Thank you for keeping so many people warm and fed during the blizzard. It’s not easy for anyone but you helped me forget that my flight was cancelled 4 times and I was basically living at this hotel after 2 weeks of travel when all I wanted was to go home. For the front desk/receptionists, I was disappointed. I’ve worked in similar roles and understand it’s not always easy but kindness is free. I hope things get better for you but you only get what you put out into the world.
• JM

  Jorge Montalvo

  Feb 23, 2026
  1.0
  The most disappointing hotel experience I have had. Especially in terms of customer service, which I found revolting. I have worked myself in the tourist industry and I have never experience such lack of interest for their visitors. Beginning with the check in, none og the three representatives who were at the reception at the time acknowledged us for a couple of minutes. I had to ask them whether it was the place for checking in. We did not get even a good afternoon, welcome to the hotel. The woman who checked us in seemed extremely annoyed by our presence, so asking her anything was a sort of a roulette (she did not like to be asked about the breakfast service). But that is just the first example of the interactions with people at the front desk. So, all and all… the staff in this hotel are just the rudest, most unwelcoming, least interested in helping staff I have ever encountered in my travels. At least the room was comfortable, and we only had to stay here for two nights. I know these reviews will not have any impact (as I have seen in the reviews many people complaining about the same issue), but I did not enjoy our stay here at all, and would certainly discourage people to stay here, at the same time, many people in this area have shown a similar attitude, so I wonder whether it is a “cultural thing” here in New Jersey.
• MS

  Melissa S

  Feb 17, 2026
  1.0
  This was, without question, one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had. I was originally scheduled to stay for four nights, but if I had arrived earlier in the day, I would not have stayed even one. Despite specifically requesting a quiet room, I was placed at the front of the building facing both the street and the train station. The noise was constant, with sirens throughout the night, making it nearly impossible to sleep. The condition of the room was equally disappointing. The shower was completely out of soap products and showed visible mold buildup. Paint was chipped and flaking in multiple areas, giving the room an overall neglected appearance. Even the towels had a noticeable mildew smell. Parking added further frustration. The signage suggested a discounted rate of $60 per night when purchased through the hotel, which was misleading. Paying directly would have cost only $35 per night. Overall, this stay was deeply disappointing. I see no reason to return or recommend this property.