Hotel Tricks

Ticket App is Essential: Do not count on paying cash. Get the NJ Transit App (MyTix) downloaded to your phone before you arrive. You can purchase your bus tickets right on your phone. Look for Zone 2 tickets (Secaucus to New York). In case you have to pay by cash, it should be the exact change in coins or $1 bills; drivers do not give back any change.

Ask for a room 'back': The motel technically has two rows of rooms. If possible, ask the front desk for a room in the back row-away from the street. Those rooms facing Paterson Plank Road get all the noise from trucks and buses braking at the stoplight to enter this little cross street; meanwhile, the back rooms face marsh/parking lot and are much quieter.

Breakfast Strategy: The motel may offer "breakfast," but it is usually extremely minimal (often just lukewarm coffee and a packaged bun). Do not count on it. Walk or drive down the street to a nearby bagel shop (like Bagel Buffet in Secaucus town center) for a proper New Jersey bagel with cream cheese, which is a culinary must-do in the region.

Winter Heating: Most of them are the older wall-mounted blowers. These can be loud and make the air dry. A small travel humidifier or even a wet towel placed near the unit will suffice to keep breathing air while sleeping,​ ​if visiting in winter and​ ​heat is on.​ This is exactly what was needed.

Ask the driver to drop you at Paterson Plank Rd, Royal Motel. That's what you'll also see on your ticket as your return stop from NYC to the motel. Zones! Yes, he will explain because if it's late and he's sleepy driving back-from-NYC shift- there's a big chance he won't stop unless someone specifically asks him.