Holiday Inn Newark Airport

This property used to be a Days Inn, but in 2011 was overhauled, and now this fresh, updated Holiday Inn features a bistro-style restaurant and bar, business center, fitness center and meeting rooms. With all the amenities of a typical chain, this eight-floor hotel caters to travelers from Newark Airport, as well as many short-term business travelers, and some tourists to New York City. The vibe is high-tech and modern, as the lobby features geometric patterns, contemporary style circular pod chairs, and cool grays and purples.

The bright, airy lobby is usually busy, with a steady stream of guests coming and going at all hours. Don't expect a quiet, serene atmosphere, as the location near the airport contributes to to a fast-paced energy and a high turnover rate -- in fact, the average stay here is just 1.2 nights, a manager noted.

Located directly across a busy highway from Newark Airport, this Holiday Inn is only about a five-minute drive to the terminals. There is a free shuttle that makes trips every 10 minutes, round the clock. The shuttle drops you off at the AirTrain, where you will catch a tram to your terminal. The AirTrain also connects with public transportation, either bus or train, to reach New York City. It can take from 40 minutes to an hour to reach Manhattan, depending on the time of day. By car, it's about a 30-minute drive into the city, though leave time for traffic, especially at rush hour. Other landmarks in the area include downtown Newark, sports stadiums, and Liberty State Park. Convenience definitely trumps setting at this location -- don't expect city views. You will only see the (sometimes noisy) highway or airstrip out of the windows here.

The hotel has undergone refurbishment in recent years, and now offers updated bedding and contemporary decor, with clean lines and dark wood furniture in all rooms. There are patterned carpets with bold color accents and generic art, typical of chain hotels. The individual, adjustable reading lamps on each side of the bed are a nice touch. The bathrooms are basic, but clean with new tile, and sinks are located outside in the room. Many rooms include a small corner couch as an extra seating area or a place to put your bags. The One-Bedroom Suites feature a separate, spacious living room area.

Thoughtful extra technology touches for business travelers include free high-speed Wi-Fi, speaker phones in every room, and Guest Link, which is a set of ports that allows guests to connect laptops, tablets and other devices to the 32-inch TV, enabling them to do things like practice presentations or review Powerpoint slides. There are also iPod docks and coffee facilities, but no microwave or mini-fridges in standard rooms (only in suites).

The business center is located right past the elevators in the main lobby area. There are several computers, a printer/copier/fax, and two stand-up computers reserved specifically for guests who wish to quickly print their boarding passes before a flight. Two clean, comfortable meeting rooms also make good options for business travelers.

A bistro-style restaurant and bar with modern furniture and soft lighting is located in the lobby, open everyday until midnight. Kids under 12 eat free at both the restaurant and the breakfast buffet, though breakfast is an extra cost, not included in the room charge. The small but ample fitness center, open 24 hours, has modern machines and free weights. There is a coin-operated guest laundry room, which could be of great use to stranded travelers. Guests get free parking for the duration of their stay, and can arrange to pay for longer-term parking after they check out, if needed.