Hotels

Holiday Inn - The closest and most convenient hotel is the Holiday Inn in Clark, NJ, just off the Garden State Parkway, exit 135 (36 Valley Road, Clark, NJ). Don't worry, the Holiday Inn sounds bad, but our parents happily stay there, and they like nice hotels! It's one of their newer concept hotels (renovated in the last few years) so the interior is much nicer and more modern than you'd expect. See my pictures:

The Holiday Inn, Clark NJ hotel lobby

The double/double room at the Holiday Inn, Clark, NJ.

The king size room and bathroom at the Holiday Inn in Clark, NJ

Junior Suite at the Holiday Inn. There's a pull-out bed and Jacuzzi tub, but no wall between the rooms.

The Hub restaurant and bar at the Holiday Inn, Clark. They serve daily breakfast in the morning for $15/hot breakfast/buffet, or $10/cold breakfast. You can get lunch, dinner or drinks there as well.

At the Holiday Inn, you'll get free parking, free wi-fi, free fitness room (it's new) and restaurant/bar. They have a coffee/snack bar by the front desk (fee) and a small store with convenience items open 24 hours a day. They have an outdoor pool as well.

Rates: Rooms with our code (below) are $120/king or $120/double-double plus taxes. You can cancel the room until 6 p.m. on the day of check-in, without penalty. If you don't show up or don't call in time, there is a one day penalty. If you book a room outside the block, please let us know, because we're planning to drop off some directions and goodies and don't want you to go without! If you find a better room rate there, take it, just let me know you're staying there. The group rates are valid until 30 days before bar mitzvah (May 15, since we reserved for a few nights before as well). So book early and know that you can cancel if needed.

Reserve your Holiday Inn room: by calling (732) 574-0100 and asking for the Debbie Kaplan room block or reserve here. The "group code" is "DK1" and it's good through May 18. If you have any problems booking, PLEASE let me know by calling me or emailing me at rsvp@kaplanink.com. We had a few problems at Dori's bat mitzvah, so please let us know if there's an issue so we can fix it. Because if you're having a problem, others will too. And we don't want that!

You can also stay at the Homewood Suites.

Homewood Suites - This Cranford hotel is conveniently located right off the Garden State Parkway, exit 136. It's a little bit confusing to get in and out of, but once you figure out the trick (I can help you), it's quite easy. Each room is a suite with a door that closes to the main bedroom. Woo hoo! You'll get a kitchenette (don't worry, we'll be providing you with plenty of food though), hide-a-bed and free breakfast bar every morning, with hot and cold foods. See the photo below.

They offer one or two bedroom suites, so it is convenient for families who want to pay for one room, but don't want to SHARE that room with the kiddos. And the large sink area is outside of the toilet/shower room.

The lobby of the Homewood Suites, in Cranford, NJ.

A one room suite (double/double) at the Homewood Suites, Cranford, NJ. The couch in the sitting area is also a bed. That's my friend Rachel in the mirror.

The breakfast bar and eating area in the Homewood Suites, Cranford, NJ.

They offer free parking, free wi-fi, free breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a free fitness room. There's a small store with convenience items and a business center.

Rooms cost a little more than the Holiday Inn. We didn't reserve a block of rooms here because last time, most people chose to stay at the Holiday Inn. If you book here, please let me know so we can drop off a welcome bag for you.

Best Western - Oddly, there is only one hotel in our town of Westfield and it's a Best Western. Location, location, location. That's all it has going for it - it's in downtown Westfield. Well, the rooms are decent size, but Mark and I stayed there the night before we moved into our house, and I don't recommend it. It backs up to the train station and is outdated and not charming at all. And higher price than you should pay for a hotel of that standard. So I am not getting a block of rooms there, nor posting pictures.