howard Johnson Lansing

My boyfriend and I stopped off here only after basically snowplowing our way to the hotel and through the parking lot during one of Chi-town’s worst snowstorms in decades, so needless to say we were not being very picky (this was one of the only hotels that was actively plowing their lot). It is very convenient and close to I-​80 («the Banfield») and near a bunch of other hotels of similar quality. There’s nothing fancy about it, it could be a little cleaner, and if you’re going to stay here just be mindful of your belongings and where you venture off to — the demographics of this area could scare some folks if they’re unfamiliar with how outer city limits usually operate.
There is a cold continental breakfast — bagels, cereal, juice, etc. I will warn you about the juice… I’m pretty sure it’s basically Kool-​Aid described as «orange juice» but whatever… it’s something to eat in the morning. Like I said, the place could be cleaner, but for $ 50 a night you can’t expect much more. The manager was very nice (actually shoveling snow out from around customers’ cars who were plowed in) and gave us recommendations for nearby places to eat. There is a brand new IHOP just down the block that is well within walking distance if bagels and sugar water aren’t your thing.
Checkout is at noon and they MEAN IT… don’t ask for an extra two minutes because they won’t give it to you without charging you for another night.
Overall, this isn’t a bad place to stay if you need a cheap place to stay for the night without the need of fancy extras or the worry of picking up bedbugs, but just be advised: you get what you pay for.
** Also, if you’re in the mood for a beer and probably the best pub food you’ve ever had in your life, walk down the block to J. J. Kelly’s. It’s pretty great.

This is a mixed review. I do stay here often, whenever I just need to get away for a night. It’s under new management. The rooms are being updated and check out time was extended an hour, so those are pluses. However, this does me no good when the housekeeper repeatedly barges into my room at 9am. It’s happened the past three stays. There are no «do not disturb» signs to hang outsides. I’ve seen the ladies writing down room numbers of those that need to be cleaned, so I don’t know why she is busting into an occupied room at 9am, not even knocking, when checkout is at 12pm. I let it slide before, but when I complained to the front desk, they said, «sorry, she’s crazy». Very unprofessional. Doesn’t solve the problem. I wasn’t offered any type of solution.

You get what you pay for – leaky bath-​to-​shower fixture, no muffins at breakfast, spacious rooms, no frills, but my experience was clean, quiet, and safe.

This is a 1.5 star place, and I’m being generous. It’s in the South Suburbs and it’s $ 39, so you’re not expecting a palace. Unlike Motel 6 they have free breakfast (bagels; mini-​muffins; coffee; box cereals from the nearby Aldi), HBO, a mini-​microwave, mini-​fridge, and free wi-​fi (which I didn’t try). I’ve stayed in Motel 6’s locally there were about the same price and had much scarier bathrooms without the little amenities, which is why this review is 2 stars.
The room was in OK shape though the bathroom was remarkably small and the built-​in Kleenex dispenser empty. No alarm clock. Some of the electronics had been removed from the phone, which left odd gaps where some of the buttons would be (though the phone worked) and the electronics had been removed from all the outside doors, meaning a key card wasn’t needed to enter the building. The outside door to our floor didn’t close due to an outdoor anti-​slip mat too tall to fit under the door, and while there was an in-​room coffeemaker, there was no carafe or any coffee fixings, and the room cups were paper marked «unsuitable for hot liquids.»
The breakfast room is remarkably nice and the lobby OK (couches to sit in, spacious, etc.) though the inside door from the atrium doesn’t close properly, which speaks again to my questions about the general maintenance of the place. There’s a sign in the lobby stating that the place is under renovation, so I’m not sure if it will get nicer or it’s in an inevitable decline.

When you drive up from the outside it looks like it could possibly be a good stay. and also the people when you go in are very warm and friendly. However the inside of the rooms are not great at all, the first time I was there was when I had first came to town to visit before I actually moved to Chicago, well this place was not so good anymore, the sheets had cigarette burns in them, and there was only one set of towels, and since I wasn’t traveling alone we needed two sets of towels. Most hotels normally have more then one set in the hotel in case of an overnight guest. Well when we found out in the morning there was only one we called down to the front desk and they said they were sorry, it took them an hour and a half and still no towels, I called again and the guy told me to poke my head out in the middle of winter and ask the house keeper on my floor to give me a towel, are you kidding me? That to me was very very unprofessional, and very disrespectful. Then this last time I was there because I got caught in a snow storm and didn’t want to travel to far I figured I would give it another try, well we seen a mouse and we left and then went to the red roof inn which was a real hotel, plenty of towels, and no mice, and only a parking lo away. I would not recommend this place to anyone, they are the type of establishment that likes to brush things under the rug, please save yourself time, if you go to a hotel to get away, you want a great place, great service, and cleanliness, you will not get it at the Howard Johnson in Lansing, IL.