Howard Johnson

Booked this hotel through Hotwire for 2 nights. The first night I was to stay there my car broke down when I was over an hour away. I called the hotel to explain what happened and to let them know I wasn’t going to make it the first night but would definitely be there the second night.
After working all day and fighting traffic I made it there at 6pm. I was informed that since I changed my reservation??? and wasn’t there by 4pm I had been checked out. I was informed that I could book another room, but would have to pay the full price for the room and not get the discounted price I received from Hotwire. With nowhere else to go I paid and then had to wait for housekeeping to clean a room for me.
The room I ended up with had a king sized bed and was clean, but it was right next to the stairwell and was pretty noisy.
I contacted Hotwire about the experience and they must have agreed with me because they are refunding the one night that I would have stayed after booking with them.

Booked this hotel through Priceline the day before New Year’s Eve and got a pretty sweet deal for being .5 miles from the 61^st Woodside subway station. I called the actual hotel to see what kind of bedroom set-​up I had gotten, and when I learned it was a full size bed and not a queen (such as normal standard in hotels), I quickly called and asked if I could have a bigger bed instead of what Priceline agreed to. I spoke to a courteous man, Raj, would let me know because the reservation was done online that he could not change the reservation in the computer, but he would still accommodate my request regardless.
We arrived at the hotel around 6pm on Friday (New Years Eve) and were greeted with a smile and keys from Raj. He remembered me and my request from the previous day and gave me a handshake and gave a welcoming feel.
Our check-​in was pain-​less and quick and we went straight to our clean room. The room itself was not very large, but for a quick trip and «just for crashing» requirements, it full-​filled its needs. The bed was very comfortable and the pillows are plentiful and firm, both I and my boyfriend had no trouble passing out quickly for a good night rest. We stayed two nights in the Ho Jo and found it fit our needs for bathing, sleeping and all together just laying around recuperating from New Years Eve festivities.
There was a pizza place less than 3 blocks from the hotel in walking distance that was absolutely «the cure» for the previous festivities the night before as well as a little store next to it. No car needed at all.
Definitely was sufficient for the price ($ 100/​night for New Years Eve) and had otherwise no complaints.
Drawbacks: Noisy (good pair of earplugs would have helped)

1 Star for its price ($ 90/​day) and service
2 Star for it being close to Train Track
Bad smell from AC/​Heater
Enviornment feels unsafe at night

Booked this hotel due to close proximity to my aunt’s place. Though I have read not so-​good reviews, I booked it anyway for this reason. My check in experience was already worth a thousand words for a genaral impression (the manager would not even spare a slight grin as a warm welcome at least). Then, I was assigned a basement smoking room which you can tell right at the very moment you open the door with the smell lingering in the hallway in no time (I have my 9-​yr-​old son with me whom I would not risk staying in such room, would you?). I called the desk and without any single word of apology, the manager said, «No! you have to take that room!» Very, very RUDE!
To make my story to share short, we ended up in a verbal altercation at the desk. She blurted, «You all step out of my property!» And adding fuel to the flame, she would not give our luggages back (we left these in the room). How insensible that me and my husband had to call the police. Be forewarned everyone– the manager is a bunch of attitude. A place of no morale. If you have respect for yourself, do not book this hotel. Please take the reviews about its customer service seriously. I learned the hard way. The most terrible experience I encountered ever in my years of travel which I do 2 to 3 times a year as I am a travel agent. In case you wonder, yes, the police came and advised us accordingly, got our luggages back, too.
Room: Not up to par with Howard Johnson’s standards. I felt deceived by its name.
Checked with
today and confirmed that I booked for a non-​smoking room. The manager insisted that I booked for a smoking room. The customer rep herself stated that the staff is rude to her on the phone.