North Jersey Hotel Prices Surpass $8,000 Per Night During World Cup

NORTH JERSEY — Want to stay in North Jersey during the World Cup matches starting June 13? Get out your credit cards.

Hotels in Secaucus and East Rutherford, the closest towns to Met Life Stadium — where eight soccer matches will be held in June and July — cost between $370 and $8,500 per night depending on where you stay.

Luxury hotels are running special packages for the match weekends that run as much as $8,500 per night for a suite.

A spokesperson for the World of Blue Hotel in East Rutherford, a former Hilton that will close for the month of May and reopen after renovations, said the hotel has started offering "World Cup Packages."

"This gives last-minute travelers a more luxurious option while traveling to the region to see the world's largest sporting event," said hotel spokesman Andrew Simoncini.

The packages are tailored toward matches on specific weekends and have minimum stay requirements.

A suite tailored to the June 13 Morocco vs. Brazil game will run $3,100 per night. It will include two bedrooms, two TVs, a kitchenette, a robe and slippers, and more. A king room can be had for that weekend for only $1,650 per night.

A special "Grand Final" package for July 19 will start at $4,500 a night for a room with a king bed, and $8,500 per night for a suite.

Simoncini said he's seen mixed results as far as occupancy for area hotels.

"In the region, we've seen a mixture between some hotels filling up really quickly for the group stage games, and other hotels still showing a lot of vacancy," he said. "A lot of this likely depends on pricing."

MetLife Stadium, where eight matches will be held, is located in Bergen County, along Route 3. Across the highway lies the Hudson County town of Secaucus, which has a train station and a range of budget-friendly and chain hotels.

One motel close to the stadium — the Red Roof Inn in Secaucus — normally charges $173 per night on spring weekends, as long as a guest enrolls in their membership program. But for those who stay on the weekend of World Cup matches, the cost is $410 per night, including tax.

The Residence Inn by Marriott in East Rutherford, located less than a mile from MetLife, lists rooms for the first match weekend for $899 before taxes, $1,057 after. Their Fairfield Inns in East Rutherford and North Bergen have lower rates, with the former renting a king room for $822 per night, taxes included.

Guests who don't need to stay right near the stadium, or who want a public transit option, can head eight miles to the small cities along the Hudson River, including Hoboken, Jersey City, North Bergen, and Guttenberg.

Hoboken and New York City have buses and trains that run to the nearby American Dream complex and Secaucus Junction.

Hoboken's W Hotel, on the waterfront, was fully booked for the first weekend of the World Cup, the website showed. But its New York City counterpart in Times Square has availability for $550 per night.

The Weehawken Sheraton, near the border with Hoboken, will run $812 per night with taxes.

Fan looking for the most affordable option might check North Bergen, which lists smaller motels at under $300 per night.

'Best Of Both Worlds'

Airbnb announced last month that they will offer a $750 bonus to new hosts who offer their entire home for rent during the matches, in areas with host cities.

Wayne Zitt, the mayor of the tiny Hudson County riverfront town of Guttenberg, said he recently partnered with Airbnb to promote units in his city.

Guests in Guttenberg can take a bus or ferry to Manhattan or Hoboken, then switch to a train or bus to the stadium area.

Zitt said the town will host a free block party next to an Ecuadorean restaurant for the Ecuador game on June 20.

"We have proximity to New York City, diversity, we have several ethnicities of food, proximity to the stadium," Zitt told Patch on Tuesday.

He said that around 2022, the town passed an ordinance limiting Airbnbs to owner-occupied buildings, and only two per person. He said there are still enough Airbnbs to welcome guests.

"We welcome everybody," Zitt said. "Our businesses are ready. You have the best of both words — a little city, and then you're a hop, jump to the stadium for the games."

Ivan Valladares, an Airbnb spokesman, said North Jersey is an ideal place to stay for the events.

"New York and New Jersey stand out on affordability as fans plan trips around match dates," he told Patch. "Our data shows that 84 percent of available listings in New York and New Jersey are priced under $500 per night, with a significant percentage of those bookings to date still available under that price point."

Fan Events In NJ

Those who can't afford the World Cup matches may choose to participate in dozens of fan events and promotions that are scheduled.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill pledged $5M in funds for World Cup events in neighborhoods throughout the Garden State. READ MORE: World Cup Fan Festival At Liberty State Park To Be Replaced By $5M In Events Statewide

A slate of "Flag City" events was recently announced for Bergen and Hudson counties, including a kickoff event in Jersey City on June 12.

That event will take place on the city's waterfront, accessible by train. More details will be announced at a future date. READ MORE: World Cup 'Flag City' Events Slated For Bergen County, Jersey City, Newark, Meadowlands