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  5. Reviews of The Essence Hotel at JFK

Reviews of The Essence Hotel at JFK 3 stars

9701 Waltham Street, Jamaica, NY 11435, United States

#4 of 5 hotels in Jamaica

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 193 hotel reviews

6.2

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.0

  • Comfort

    7.1

  • Location

    7.1

  • Facilities

    6.6

  • Staff

    6.8

  • Value for money

    6.3

  • Free WiFi

    6.2

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 22 August 2025

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The cable service was out, and they had no smart tv to mirror something to the tv while I'm entertaining my lady. The lamps that were supposed to be at the sides of the bed was M.I.A. It looked like someone stripped them out the wall and left with them.

    The room was clean, and I liked how good the fragrance they used to have the room smell.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 August 2025

    7.0
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    This review has been hidden because it doesn't meet our guidelines.

  • Reviewed: 28 July 2025

    7.0
    Nice location, comfortable clean bed but terrible staff.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    I hate the front desk person attitude that was checking me in. His attitude was very nasty.

    I love the location and the bed. Very clean

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 25 July 2025

    6.0
    The place was convenient for our two nights. If someone has an emergency,it’s a great choice.
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The way that breakfast was served,we couldn’t make our own choices.We couldn’t get any tea or coffee. Nobody explained to us that microwave could be found downstairs.

    It was clean and quiet.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No parking

    It was close to airtrain

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 29 June 2025

    6.0
    I was ready to leave once I checked into the hotel!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    They offer hourly rate to use the rooms!

    Conveniences! Within walking distance to subway!

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Check in process

    Location

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night

    The breakfast was a bag of packaged junk food and should not be advertised as breakfast. There was a normal breakfast area but it wasn't being used, so perhaps this is temporary? I would have stayed at a different hotel if I knew this was the case. It is also not usual to charge to leave bags for the day after check-out but they did. The shower is set up so the whole bathroom floor gets wet when someone takes a shower. The toilet needs to be located separately in this case, otherwise it is upleasant to use the toilet when the floor is wet. The neighborhood is not great.

    It was quiet and conveniently located near the train station. The bed was comfortable.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 21 June 2025

    5.0
    It was great.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The staffs were friendly and they kept all the items i bought on amazon before my arrival.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 15 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Poor service

    Nothing

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 June 2025

    5.0
    Passable
    • Couple
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Poor communication between management and staff. I was checked out early. My $10 drink, my body was and face scrub came up missing. I wasn’t compensated but I also didn’t put up a fight.

    Location is great

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 30 May 2025

    7.0
    A no-frills sleep - convenient and comfortable.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    There is no breakfast - the website should be updated.

    After a late night flight cancellation I had to find a hotel nearby. This is a relatively short uber ride from JFK. The reception is a little sketchy, but the room was clean and comfortable. The TV didn't work well, but it was a clean, safe place to sleep.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 26 May 2025

    5.0
    Not that bad
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    System reversal of bookings and if the customer delays

    Proximity to the airport

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 May 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 4 nights

    My stay was listed, and presumably charged, as including breakfast but breakfast wasn't available while I was there. The positioning of the air conidtioning unit right next to the bed made it difficult to reach the window to open/close it and the curtains. The lif made a beeping noise each time it passed a floor and a loud chime when it stopped at a floor. This could be heard throughout the whole building every time some used the lift, day and night, so got very irritating after a while

    The location really suited me as I wanted to be close to the Airtrain to JFK.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 May 2025

    5.0
    Rested well to depart on very early morning flight
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Was not given ANY information regarding breakfast!

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 May 2025

    6.0
    Overall, okay, but it's expensive.
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Cleanliness was not good. The coffee maker was dirty. Prost----tes were sitting at the receptions. The breakfast that was included in the package was SNACKS only.

    The location was very close to Jamaica station.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 April 2025

    7.0
    Convenient for flying home the next day.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    It was noisy. The people in nearby rooms were loud and the sound traveled easily between the walls. Also, street sounds bled through from outside.

    The room was clean and comfortable.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 19 April 2025

    7.0
    Convenient for an afordable overnight in NY
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The neighborhood does not seem safe at night.

    Location is very convenient as it is 3min-walk to the airtrain. However the neighborhood does not seem safe, mainly at night. In any case, There are many restaurants and supermarkets 1min walk and Ubereats took less than 15 min to bring the food to the hotel

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 April 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    It was an overall goof stay

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 April 2025

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    One of the staff members accused me of having multiple guests n I didnt

    They did n t bother me

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 April 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    It was valid

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 March 2025

    7.0
    Beware of scammers
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The taxi company that the desk attendant booked me at 5 am lied about the taxi being metered and never mentioned a JFK airport entry fee of $32 until I got there as well as a $60 taxi fare. He double charged this entry fee, so all together, I paid $124 ish for a 15-minute ride to the airport. Totally took advantage of me as a female solo traveler and drove off with the back door open so I couldn't take a photo of the license plate. I got it anyway. By the attendant left his desk and came out to the driver and said something to him when he picked me up, which made me think this is a scam they were both in on. My advice is to book your own cab. I am sure I am not the first, but I hope to be the last. Otherwise, the room was fine.

    The room and bathroom were big and the bed was comfortable

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 March 2025

    6.0
    It was okay but the junkies ...
    • Couple
    • King Room - Disability Access
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Alot of crackhead in the area and someone kept going in out of there room all night banging on the door and accidentally knocked on our door thinking that it was there room other wise decent room

    Clean room decent price

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 March 2025

    6.0
    Comfortable stay, loud neighborhood
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The fact that I came back to my room at around 9pm & they were cleaning my room but I was not given a do not enter sticker to place on the door. The hotel is not in the best of neighborhoods. Other guests don’t know how to close doors quietly especially during nighttime hours.

    The bed was amazing, the rooms were cleaned & smelled very clean

    Stayed in March 2025

Showing 1 – 25

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