Newark Airport

[ewalshslp]

I've been researching SW flights for the fall out of Newark(we always depart from Philly),and the savings are significant ($500). We would be taking the 6AM flight so would need a hotel the night before. Can anyone recommend a clean, safe hotel that provides a shuttle to the airport? When we stay in Philly, we usually pay around $150 for the night and that includes parking. Just concerned that the hotel and parking would eat up the savings in flights.

Also, tell me the good, bad, and ugly about the Newark airport!! Is it difficult to get to? We would be arriving later in the evening. We are familiar with other larger cities closer to NYC (Seacaucus, Weehawken, Hoboken).


Thanks!!!

 

[PSUGuy]

For $500 we'd go back but we don't like the Newark experience. We've stayed at Wyndham Garden 3 times, nice place, very reliable shuttle. The airport itself is a nightmare to navigate IMHO, you take an elevator or stairs to a monorail to get from terminal to terminal then back down on arrival. For some reason 2 different GPS we have had us going in circles trying to get out of Newark on the trip home. This Oct we're flying out of PHL doing a sleep n fly at Sheraton Four Points, 4th or 5th tome for that.

https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndh...airport/overview?CID=LC:WY:20160927:RIO:Local

Bill From PA

 

[Dis703]

That's so interesting because I'm closer to Newark but consistently find cheaper flights out of PHL so we mostly drive there now. Since I'm not far from Newark we've never used a hotel, but I find getting in and out of this airport to be a huge pain. Philly was pleasantly much easier to navigate in comparison.

 

[prprincess]

Can't chime in on a hotel, but I agree with the above posters about Newark. I fly out of Philly exclusively, even if Newark saves me a ton of money (I'm in South Jersey). I find that it's just a long, tedious process--I always seem to hit traffic on the turnpike, then there is usually traffic in and around the airport, not to mention their security lines always seem much more crowded to me than other airports.

 

[richmo]

I'm about an hour from PHL and 1.5 from EWR, so I almost always use PHL. I don't find the ride to Newark that bad, unless you go in rush hour. It may not work for your location, but I usually take 202 into NJ up to I-287 N, then I-78 E...rather than the turnpike. If you're not heading into EWR at rush hour, you shouldn't have much trouble. The airport itself isn't difficult to get to; it's not in the city of Newark but more at the intersection of some major roads (Turnpike, I-78, US-1, US-9, US-22 among others). As with anywhere, pay attention to signs.

Since the time difference between PHL and EWR isn't that big for me, I've never bothered getting a hotel and have parked at EWR (which is also more expensive than PHL). As I recall, you park then take a monorail into the terminal.

One other thing you could look at is you can take NJ Transit trains, even from PA (not sure if there's connections required) that will drop you right at EWR. That probably wouldn't work for you since you have such an early flight.

 

[ewalshslp]

this is my main concern... we are so familiar with Philly, is the $500 savings worth it for the parking/hotel price difference and the added stress of finding our way?? UGH! Decisions!

 

[richmo]

this is my main concern... we are so familiar with Philly, is the $500 savings worth it for the parking/hotel price difference and the added stress of finding our way?? UGH! Decisions!

For $500, heck yeah its worth it.

 

[Dis703]

this is my main concern... we are so familiar with Philly, is the $500 savings worth it for the parking/hotel price difference and the added stress of finding our way?? UGH! Decisions!

That depends on how much of that $500 will be eaten up by the cost of hotel and parking. Are you only willing to fly Southwest? We've flown both American and Frontier out of PHL much cheaper than anything we've found out of Newark. But for $500 total savings yes I'd deal with the hassle. If hotel and other costs cut that in half, maybe not.

 

[richmo]

One more thing...The times may not work for you, but also check Frontier out of Trenton.

 

[Dayzy]

I've flown in and out of Newark a lot of times and for some reason my flight back in is ALWAYS late. We get close and we are circling PA for an hour waiting to land. I don't know what it is, I may be the one bringing the bad luck, but I've never had this at any other airport.

 

[richmo]

@ewalshslp If you're still thinking about spending a night at EWR and parking, I just got an email this morning from Travelzoo and I thought of you. The EWR airport Doubletree has a $109 special that includes 14 days of parking...I don't know the details (dates eligible, etc.), but take a look at travelzoo.com and click the blue Hotels button near the top of the page and then put in Newark NJ without dates and it should show up...

 

[ewalshslp]

@richmo thanks so much!!!!

 

[mieuxmew]

SAVE THE $500 and fly out of Newark!!!! Don't sweat it! We live 45 minutes from Newark and 1 hour 15 minutes from Philly. We compare both airports and don't mind flying out of either one (I care more about price and airline). Parking is more expensive at Newark IF you don't look for a discount! I am flying Southwest from Newark to Orlando in 2 weeks (nonstop flights were $78 outbound and $52 return!!). I just booked parking 9 days for $58 (check Groupon, airport booking sites, coupons etc for deals). The discounted parking is usually just outside the airport and a shuttle van takes you to the airport terminals. IMPORTANT - know which terminal your flight is out of so you can tell the driver where to drop you off for your flight. Whether we fly Newark or Philly, we try not to schedule flights where traffic to the airport would be an issue (sounds like you have an early 6 am flight so you won't have traffic issues). We allow 2 hours once we arrive at Newark to park, check bags and get thru TSA.
I don't know how far you are from the airport. Our flight is at 5:30am. We have many times considered an airport hotel room the night before, but have never pulled the trigger so I can't help you much with hotel recommendations. We don't think it saves us much time, but we only live 45 minutes away. We pack the car the night before. We have duplicate toothbrushes/toiletries/clothes/chargers at home, so we don't have the hassle of repacking suitcases and checking out of a hotel.
DO NOT WORRY - NEWARK airport is OK.

 

[jdisnut]

EWR is my home airport, and I take dozens of flights a year out of it. It's not nearly as bad as some would have you believe, though Terminal A, where Southwest has its gates, isn't a great experience.

Anyway, there are plenty of hotels in the area with shuttles. There is also a Marriott on airport property connected to the AirTrain. Good luck!

 

[mdelano4]

We have flown out of both. Newark Airport is a mixed bag. I have had issues getting out of the airport, but only during the most busy times of the year. Never had any issues parking there. The flights are another story. It's a very busy airport. My personal record was when the pilot announced we were number 37 in line for take off. In the end it wasn't all that bad. Also you can expect circling for a bit before you land. As long as you don't have a connection, IMHO, it's not a big deal.

As far as hotels go, stay with the major chains. Some, like the Marriott, will probably eat up most of the 500 you are saving. You may get a good deal which will make it worth it.