I think I’ve driven past the Hilton Hotel on the New Jersey Turnpike near New Brunswick—you know, the one with the giant, glowing red “H” just off exit 9—at least a million times. It always emitted a roadside-misery vibe to me  every time I drove past it, so I had built up a pretty strong image of it in my head: ancient beds covered in paper thin, scratchy sheets and fire-retardant blankets, vending-machine-only food options, and general highway hotel bleakness inside.

So it was a special treat when I stayed there on a recent business trip for a client. I could finally see for myself what it was actually like inside. I could also skip the airport and take the train, and it was so close to the train station that there was no need for rental car. Which of course meant that I would be stuck.

Sometimes, it’s worth it to be stuck in the hotel. All your decisions are made for you: where you’re going to eat, the toiletries you’ll be using if you forgot your own, and which TV stations you can watch. It’s kind of freeing , being trapped. After a few weeks of non-stop travel, mountains of stress, and no vacation days in sight, I was really looking forward to two nights of nothingness near the end of 2014.

And the Hilton would be my spa.

It didn’t disappoint. Sure, the lobby must have been something to see back in the ‘80s, but it was really welcoming, and I relaxed the second I walked in the door. A vertical waterfall greeted me in the lobby, and since I was staying there right around the end-of-year holidays, the whole place smelled like a giant cinnamon Yankee Candle.

My room had a comfortable king-sized bed, cable TV with HBO (I got to watch “Olive Kittredge,” – rent it), and an assortment of tea thoughtfully spread out near the coffee machine. It also, much to my delight, had some roadside bleakness courtesy of a faded couch so worn in the only thing missing were cigarette burns in the checked yellow fabric. For two nights I immersed myself in these calming sights, sounds, and smells. Just like a spa, but on the cheap. I loved it.

There really isn’t much to do nearby, which probably added to the relaxing atmosphere inside. But still, there were tons of other people around. From what I could gather it was booked solid with other business travelers like me, which didn’t surprise me, and two busloads of tourists from who knows where, which did – until I figured out they were probably brought there under the semi-accurate promise that they’d be staying “close to Manhattan.”

In any case, we were all making the most of our stay in East Brunswick, and for me it was a success.  I was relieved to see that I didn’t have to leave to eat, which meant no sitting in traffic or getting lost on the way out to find a restaurant. The breakfast buffet was really good, and I had two restaurants to choose from for dinner (classy joint, loud sports bar, I did both) – a nice surprise, and the only decision I really had to make. And yes, while the main thing to see are the access roads to the Turnpike, the classy restaurant features a really pretty view of the lakes and assorted woodsiness that abut what I believe is Rutgers’ campus.

Embrace this  Hilton if you need a break from the Turnpike as you ramble through New Jersey. The hotel staff is great, and if you do need to get out (the client I visited told me there are a ton of good Indian restaurants nearby), cabs are always available just outside the lobby for a change of local scenery.