PROS: Cheapest "branded" hotel by far. Free parking for duration of stay. Reliable $2 minibus service to/from NYC (30-45min trip). Hotel was clean with free wireless internet and free breakfast.
CONS: Won't suit people who expect more than a budget experience for budget prices.
As a group of four university students trying to make ends meet, we really wanted to spend a few days seeing New York, but at the same time not to spend so much that we would be living off Ramen Noodles for the next six months!
I researched hotel prices in New York, and most seemed to be well out of our price range. Just a couple of miles outside of New York, over the state border into New Jersey, and prices become a lot lower. For the four of us, we had a four night stay for just over $400, so, by breaking this down; it is just $25 per person, per night!
Living in Ohio, a 9 hour drive would be much cheaper than flying to New York... but then, where could we park our car for the four days? Well Super 8 Motel gives resident guests free parking for the duration of their stay. They couple this with a $2 minibus express service, which assists both hotel guests and local commuters to get into New York City. I found the service very reliable, with a bus arriving within 15 minutes outside the lobby. The bus takes you right into New York Port Authority (the main bus terminal), gate #51, which is where you can get a return service back to North Bergen until approx 11pm. Just to clarify, the bus does not drop you back directly in front of the Super 8 Motel (where it picks you up), but drops you next to a Toys 'R' Us store about 300yds north of the motel. A 2-3 minute walk and you are there. It is all next to a busy road, so unless you are a single female, I really don't think there is much to worry about.
In terms of the hotel, you really do get what you pay for. So if you are expecting the Ritz, you will be sorely disappointed. What you get is a basic, tidy room with a TV, an iron, and bathroom... and a one or two beds. It was perfectly comfortable to spend four nights in there. Yes, the breakfast is as your would expect, dosing yourself up on cheap sugary products (doughnuts, cereal, waffles, toast etc), and worse drinks, but taking it all into perspective, it was much better than we imagined it could have been. By spending the time at Super 8 Motel, they gave us a nice roof over our head for four nights, and saved us hundreds of dollars. Thank you so much Super 8!