Hotel Review: Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel

After visiting my family on Christmas Eve and spending the night at Delta Hotels by Marriott Basking Ridge (full review here), we were off to my mother-in-law’s house for Christmas. That night we stayed at the nearby Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel.

Anthony’s Take: We liked the design and location of this hotel. While the Concierge Lounge was closed during our visit, we did receive a voucher for breakfast in the restaurant. The hotel was just renovated in October 2022 and it feels fresh and modern.

Booking

I booked a 1 King Bed, Studio Suite on a “Member Flexible” rate. It cost $259 for the night plus tax. The hotel can be booked with Marriott Bonvoy® points (24,000-39,000 points per night) with rates varying since Marriott eliminated its award buckets.

Transportation to/from the Hotel

I rented a car at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and drove to the hotel from the Delta Hotels by Marriott Basking Ridge. It took around 38 minutes for the 38.2-mile ride. Heading home, I drove back to the airport.

Location

This hotel is located near my mother-in-law in Bergen County. It’s not too far from NYC and is a good base if you’re exploring northern New Jersey. There is plenty of shopping and lots of restaurants nearby.

Check-in

We arrived at the hotel around 11:00 PM and our suite was ready. The agent was friendly, but was incorrect in telling us that the Concierge Lounge would be open for breakfast the next morning. With that being included, I selected 1,000 points as a welcome amenity. The agent offered late checkout, but we did not need it. Our keys were created and we were off moments later.

The lobby is modern and I liked the color palette. During our visit, it was decked out for Christmas.

There is seating throughout the lobby.

A bar is on the right side of the lobby next to the restaurant.

The elevators are located near the check-in desk.

There were some interesting projections on the floor near the elevators.

Maps were folded and decorating the wall opposite the elevators.

The elevator lobby on our floor was clean and modern. I liked the blue wallpaper.

There was a cool phone and art to identify the floor near the elevators.

The hallways were nicely decorated and also clean.

1 King Bed, Studio Suite (815)

There are 116 rooms and suites across 9 floors at the hotel. This suite is the largest one that the hotel offers.

A bathroom is to the right when entering the suite. It has a vanity, toilet, and glassed-in shower.

A bar of Aveda soap was next to the sink.

There was also a bottle of Aveda Rosemary Mint body lotion found here.

The toilet was located close to the shower.

The shower was a decent size with good water pressure and temperature.

Large bottles of Aveda shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

A closet was located across from the bathroom. It held a safe, iron, and ironing board.

The bedroom took up most of the suite. It had a king-sized bed, two night stands, a desk, and two chairs.

The desk was located near the window.

Two armchairs and a table were nearby.

A TV was mounted on the wall across from the bed.

A coffeemaker, coffee, condiments, an ice bucket, and glasses were found under the TV.

A small kitchenette was found off of the bedroom. It held a refrigerator, sink, and microwave.

There was also a small counter and two stools.

Breakfast

The Concierge Lounge should be open from Sunday at 5:00 PM through Friday at 12:00 PM. It was not opened on the Tuesday morning we tried to visit. I went to the front desk and was given a voucher for breakfast.

There is a dedicated menu for the complimentary breakfast for Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite members. The restaurant was packed and understaffed. It took us around 20 minutes to order and another 15 for our food to arrive. We were initially given the general breakfast menu and the server told us to order whatever we wanted because he could not find this one until the end of our meal.

I ordered a Yogurt Parfait. It was fine and the light breakfast I wanted after eating so much for Christmas.

My husband had the Breakfast Burrito. He enjoyed it and found it filling.

Public Areas & Amenities

The Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel offers plenty of lobby seating, a fitness center, a mini market (shown above), a bar, a restaurant, and a Concierge Lounge.

The fitness center is located down the hall from the front desk on the lobby level. It had a good number of treadmills and exercise bikes.

It also had other equipment and free weights.

Towels and water were available.

Overall Impression: The Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel was just what we needed near my mother-in-law’s house. I wish that the Concierge Lounge was open, but the breakfast provided was nice. The hotel is modern, clean, and the renovation done in 2022 has made it a good choice when in the area.

Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points. Rates & fees. Terms apply.