False Advertising, Filthy Rooms, and Broken Amenities
Our stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Newark-Harrison-Riverwalk (Dec 2024) was a disaster and full of red flags for future guests.
1. Bait-and-Switch: We booked a Studio, 2 Queen Beds suite for the extra living space, but upon arrival, we were given a standard double queen room—a much smaller, cheaper option. The front desk admitted the hotel does not even have studio suites, despite advertising them. This is blatant false advertising and a bait-and-switch tactic that leaves customers paying for rooms they’ll never get.
2. Broken Promises: The manager, Benito Mejia, initially promised a refund and blamed Expedia for the issue. Later, he refused to honor that promise, leaving us stuck between the hotel and Expedia.
3. Filthy, Poorly Maintained Rooms: The bathroom floor was dirty, the sink faucet was loose, wall décor was dangling, and the toilet malfunctioned twice, requiring plunging. On the second day, housekeeping skipped our room, so we had no clean towels or toiletries.
4. Undisclosed Pool Closure: One of the main reasons we chose this hotel was for the pool, but it was closed for scheduled maintenance. This closure was not disclosed at the time of booking, which is misleading and unfair to guests.
5. Terrible Breakfast: The complimentary breakfast was barely edible—cold, low-quality, and poorly presented.
Between the false advertising, filthy rooms, closed amenities, and dishonesty, this hotel is an absolute no-go.