Review: Hyatt, Jersey City on the Hudson

Thanks to the wonderful PATH train - which goes from outside the hotel's front door - this hotel is only five minutes from the World Trade Center station, and about half the price of anything on that side of the Hudson. Better yet, you get a tremendous view of the sunrising over Manhattan every morning - something you just can't see from the New York side.

The hotel was very clean, well-run and the staff were pretty generally friendly and efficient - one of the clerks on the concierge desk seemed to be less interested in answering tourist questions than the others, but maybe we just got him on a bad day.

The breakfast was great - not the widest buffet range we've ever seen, but what was there was tasty and fresh, and you can't argue with the view. We had supper in the restaurant one evening - it was lovingly cooked and well presented, but we'd have been happy enough with something a bit more downhome.

The hotel is located in a business district - there's a Uno and a burger bar within walking distance, and a couple of other restaurants aimed more at lunctime office staff; there's a CVS pharmacy in the gallery opposite the hotel, but this is closed at weekends. In other words: if you're there on Saturday or Sunday, make sure you've got the things you need with you, or wait until you can get into New York to shop and eat.

There's a cashpoint and a small shop of a mainly tourist-tat nature in the hotel.

We were given a choice on booking in of Manhattan View or Liberty View - nice, but be warned: Lady Liberty is quite a strong squint in the distance.