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Inside Hilton's New Worldwide Spa Concept, eforea

Where: 41 JFK Parkway [map], Short Hills, NJ, United States, 07078

Did we really stump you on Friday with our Guess the Hotel: Spa Edition? Or was it just so easy you guys didn't even need to guess at it? Either way, we're here to show you inside Hilton Hotels brand new, worldwide spa concept eforea.

The first eforea spa has opened at the Hilton Short Hills in New Jersey, about 45 minutes west of Manhattan. We actually toured this spa back in 2007 and it looks loads better than it used to. In fact, the modern, bright and uplifting Eforea spa looks loads better than the rest of the hotel which is very traditional in decor with dark woods and elaborate furnishings.

We tried to snap as many photos as we could so you would have a better inside look at the eforea concept but it was hard to do thanks to the actual spa guests roaming about in robes seeking relaxation. And while we doubt every forthcoming eforea spa after this one will look exactly alike (the next one will open in Thailand), there will be many similarities in design, layout, feel and of course, treatments.

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Hotel Video Tour: The Hilton Short Hills

Where: 41 John F. Kennedy Parkway [map], Short Hills, NJ, United States, 07078

While we were making a trip to the Garden State over the weekend, we popped in on the Hilton Short Hills and shot this video tour of Room 525.

This is a suite on the Hilton Honors floor but a hotel rep informed us that all the rooms in the hotel have been renovated in similar style. This includes 32'' LCD flat screen TVs hanging on the walls, wired & wireless high speed internet, ergonomic desk chairs, and dressers instead of armoires.

Thankfully, the rooms don't look like this anymore.

Some other updates are going on at the hotel. Recently, the hotel closed its AAA Five Diamond restaurant, the Dining Room. Apparently, the place was packed on weekends but wasn't doing enough business during the week. The hotel is hoping to get an exciting new restaurant sometime in 2008. In the meantime, the hotel's Terrace restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner but it's a rather swank room, not a cafe.

Also, the spa was set to undergo some renovations last March but these have been pushed back sometime in 2008. (Note: We've personally toured the spa and it doesn't even look like it needs work.)

Anyhow, should you find yourself in the wilds of suburban New Jersey for inexplicable reasons other than visiting family or shopping at the Short Hills Mall, the Hilton will make you feel as if you are somewhere other than NJ. Maybe Connecticut instead.

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Hotel Holiday Shopping Packages: The Short Hills Hilton

Where: 41 John F. Kennedy Parkway [map], Short Hills, NJ, United States, 07078

This week on Black Friday, most of you shoppers will be headed to the nearest mall or Target, Lowes and Sears for the unreal shopping prices, not to mention the unreal hours. So in the spirit of holiday shopping, we thought we would take a look at some of the hotel shopping packages which you may want to book before the year is out.

We know what you are thinking. New Jersey? Why stay in Soprano-land when you could stay in New York City and do all your shopping there?

But the Short Hills Hilton is no ordinary hotel, despite the fact its in North Jersey. For starters, the hotel is located across from the world-class Short Hills Mall which boasts five major department stores (Saks, Bloomies, Macys, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom) along with several high-end designer stores like Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Cartier, Fendi and Louis Vuitton. So already the shopping there is worth it. And you may not know this, but NJ has no sales tax on clothing whereas NYC (which is about 30 mins from this Hilton) charges sales tax on clothing and footware purchases over $110.

From now through December 31st, the hotel is offering their World-Class Shopping package which includes a Mall at Short Hills tote bag, Mall at Short Hills booklet of savings certificates, a welcome in-room amenity, and complimentary car service to/from the mall with rates starting at $169 a night.

More on the hotel which was voted the #1 Hilton in the US amongst Hilton guests after the jump.

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Hilton's Best Hotel is in New Jersey?

Where: 41 JFK Parkway [map], Short Hills, NJ, United States, 07078

We thought today might be Opposite Day when we saw this report that out of all the Hilton Hotels in the world, the best hotel for customer loyalty can be found in New Jersey.

The Hilton Short Hills earned the best satisfaction scores from guests among the Hilton brands for "overall experience, quality of service and accommodations, arrival and departure, restaurants, meeting rooms, spa and fitness facilities." Additionally, the hotel's restaurant, the Dining Room is the only Five Diamond restaurant and is ranked 47 in a  recent Zagat survey of the top 100 hotel restaurants in the country.

So how did this hotel get such good grades? Mainly the staff has been pilfered from the top hotels in nearby New York City. And the prices are reasonable.

But there are mixed reviews from other guests including the lack of HBO channels.

Not a bad place by any stretch of the imagination. The service comes across as very unpolished, yet professional. It isnt NYC after all. The public areas are very nice-- something just below an older Ritz Carlton. You can see that the hotel is showing its age though. The room that we had was in major need of a renovation--carpeting was stained and wallpaper was starting to peel. Not at all what a supposed 5 star hotel should have going on.

Ah, yes. That sounds like the Jersey we know.

And despite the shopping mecca of the Mall at Short Hills across the way, this Hilton is essentially a suburban hotel right off the exit ramp to Route 24 with not much else to do nearby.

Image of NJ Tollbooth via Antydiluvian/Flickr

Related Stories:
· Hilton Guests Choose Hilton Short Hills as Best in Country [E Hospitality]
· Hilton Short Hills reviews [TripAdvisor]