Howard Johnson
Chicago, Illinois
Howard Johnson is a hotel located in Chicago.
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The Howard Johnson Inn Downtown Chicago is a Quality Excellence President Award winner and a Gold Medal Award Property. Howard Johnson Inn-Downtown Chicago is an ideal destination for both leisure and business travelers who are opposed to tall buildings and high prices. Located in the Historic River North Gallery District, we are just blocks away from the Magnificent Mile Shopping area, Water Tower Mall, John Hancock Observatory and Navy Pier. Our hotel is convenient to both the Red and Brown line train stations and walking distance from a host of area attractions and famous restaurants that include Spago, Ed Debevic and Rainforest Cafe. We are also a short cab ride from Wrigley Field or Soldier Field, the Merchandise Mart and Financial District. We are one of the only downtown hotels offering complimentary parking to our guests! Cafe Luna located on our property is a popular neighborhood restaurant, offering affordable priced breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The staff at Howard Johnson-Downtown Chicago eagerly anticipates the opportunity to welcome you or your group to our hotel and look forward to providing you with the highest level of service. Notice - On 8/14/06 we will be renovating the back of our parking lot. We will go from 52 spaces to 31 spaces until October 1/2006. We apologize for any inconvenience and as usual our parking will be on a first come first serve basis, subject to availability
Places to eat within 5km of Howard Johnson include Iberico Cafe & Bar, Seoul Taco, Prosecco, and Torchio Pasta Bar.
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Howard Johnson reviews
Rated 5 out of 10 with 32 reviews
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are those of visitors to this site, and not of and or its parent companies.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 09 Jul 2011 rated 6 out of 10.
This hotel is basic...a place to sleep and clean-up. No frills. The price is right.
Positives: Quick hotel accommodations...don't expect a Hilton for this price!
Negatives: Very run down.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 09 Jul 2011 rated 10 out of 10.
The hotel is comfortable, clean and the staff there is great!
Positives: Great location. Friendly staff. Very comfortable room!
Negatives: I dont like having to wait until 3pm to check in.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 26 May 2011 rated 1 out of 10.
Would never go back or recommend.
Positives: Nothing
Negatives: Dirty and small.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 21 Nov 2010 rated 10 out of 10.
One of the best things about this hotel is the free parking! It is walking distance of both the red and brown lines, as well as numerous buses. The room and bathroom were small, but clean, and that's all you can ask for in this price range. A ten-minute walk, at most, to the Hard Rock Cafe, Rain forest Cafe, the crazy McDonald's, and Walgreens. We didn't pay more than $10 for cab rides from many attractions in the city back to the hotel. Great place to stay if you have a limited budget. The hotel cafe served excellent breakfast.
Positives: Fantastic location, a great price for a clean room with wireless Internet and free parking.
Negatives: Bathroom was very small and wireless was spotty.
Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 10 Nov 2010 rated 5 out of 10.
Basic accommodations in a pretty good location.
Positives: Free parking.
Negatives: Dirty outside the rooms, on the grounds.
Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 03 Nov 2010 rated 5 out of 10.
The hotel is very dirty and you can smell smoke no matter where you are. The walls are very thin and you can hear everything that is going on. The only good thing I have to say is that this hotel is located in a great spot if you are visiting the city.
Positives: In a very good location.
Negatives: Dirty
Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 08 Aug 2010 rated 6 out of 10.
The hotel is located in the heart of the downtown area, free parking was a plus. Not the greatest hotel but OK for a place to sleep overnight.
Positives: Excellent location and free parking, good for just an overnight stay.
Negatives: Dirty, not up-graded.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 11 Jul 2010 rated 4 out of 10.
It is<BR/>okay for overnight stay.
Positives: Was close and had its own parking.
Negatives: AC
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 24 Jun 2010 rated 10 out of 10.
Friendly staff and clean rooms. Very convenient to downtown attractions, and the rail/bus lines. Priced well, because you spend more time in the city than in the room. No pool, but didn't really have time for a pool.
Positives: Convenient, priced well, good location to bus/rail networks. Free wireless service a bonus.
Negatives: No pool.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 10 Jun 2010 rated 8 out of 10.
Great place for the guys night trip to the Ball Park. Although that is a little drive to get to, once we were back to the hotel, things were great. The Blue Frog Lounge around the corner is a blast with great staff!
Positives: Close to the bar Blue Frog and free parking!
Negatives: Nothing.
Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 18 May 2010 rated 7 out of 10.
Conveniently located close to public transportation, and the free parking is great (if you get there before the lot fills up). However, I have never experienced rougher towels or a more anemic shower!
Positives: Free parking.
Negatives: Only window was frosted and could not be opened.
Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 07 May 2010 rated 9 out of 10.
The hotel exceeded our expectations. An older facility, but it is kept up nicely; our room was amazingly quiet.
Positives: Near the L and an easy walk to the Loop.
Negatives: Free parking is not guaranteed but we had no trouble as we weren't there on a weekend.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 11 Mar 2010 rated 8 out of 10.
Great location, but an older hotel.
Positives: Convenient location to downtown.
Negatives: Lack of parking spaces.
Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 22 Feb 2010 rated 3 out of 10.
I am all about economy hotels, but this one was awful. The pillows were the worst I have ever seen-nothing to them. There were footprints on the wall next to our bed; something on the ceiling above the desk; hair on the floor in the bathroom when we first went into the room. Our bathtub drain backed up while we were gone, unless someone who was very dirty came in to take a bath, because there was a black ring around the tub when we got back and our bathmat was in the tub, soiled and wet. When we called the front desk for a remote for the TV, because we wanted to rent a movie (which is $9.99 by the way), we were told to go and get it at the front desk which as across the parking lot. The staff was very friendly, but I question how clean our linens were. I didn't feel comfortable there and I'm glad I brought my own pillow.
Positives: Friendly staff and free parking as long as you get there early enough to get a spot.
Negatives: Unclean, not maintained well, footprints on the wall next to my bed, hair on the floor in the bathroom when we first got in
Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 08 Oct 2008 rated 5 out of 10.
The location was very good for us and we used a 24 hour bus pass to travel. The carpet in the room was very dirty and the bathroom greatly needed updating with the exception of the shower. We had stayed here in the past.
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Positives: The price was more affordable.
Negatives: The hotel needs updating; carpet and
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 28 Aug 2008 rated 2 out of 10.
We were shocked when approaching the hotel. The office is completely separate from the rooms and it is more like a motel, than a hotel. Not impressed at all, would not recommend.
Positives: Close to Wrigley Field.
Negatives: It wasn't a hotel, it is a motel.
Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 15 Jul 2008 rated 5 out of 10.
This hotel provided what we needed. A place to stay that was close to places we wanted to see. The manager on duty was very helpful when we needed to know about bus routes.
Positives: Hotel was within walking distance from plenty of activities.
Negatives: There was a piece of hair on my clean unused towel - I don't like hair.
Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 02 Jul 2008 rated 8 out of 10.
The hotel had a great location! We were a short walk to the Magnificent mile. The staff was super friendly and there is also free parking. The only thing I can complain about is internet access was only available in the lobby where there was not much space or work area. Other then that, our stay was great!
Positives: The staff at the hotel was very friendly and you couldn't beat the location!
Negatives: There was only internet access in the lobby which was very tiny.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 15 Jun 2008 rated 8 out of 10.
In town for one night, and hotel worked just fine.
Positives: Nice shower.
Negatives: Pop machine would not take bills.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 07 Jun 2008 rated 2 out of 10.
This hotel was not up to a normal person's standards. The night before this stay, I stayed in Joliet for $85. This hotel cost a total of $229. This was purely upon cosmetic appearance. So what, I'm shallow. There were over 70 rooms, and only 41 parking spaces, which meant if you were lucky enough to get a space, you could not leave with your car for fear of losing said space. Later, when I tried to shower, the tub became clogged and filled with water, making it impossible to clean up. Again, I tried to get a refund and leave. This was around midnight. Personally, I'd spend the extra $100 for a decent hotel, or take a shuttle from Joliet into town. Yes, you'll have to take public transportation through the city, but if you stay at the Howard Johnson, you'll have to do that anyway.
Positives: Leaving it.
Negatives: Everything but leaving it.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 07 Jun 2008 rated 7 out of 10.
Although our stay in Chicago was fun the hotel experience was not. The hotel reminded me of a "Motel" from my childhood, and does not appear to have been updated since then. The beds had no mileage left on them and each bedspring left an unfriendly impression on each of us. The hallway to our room smelled of years of cigarette smoke and was poorly lit, especially at night. The parking was one added convenience that was greatly appreciated. We were minutes from nearly all downtown attractions and never had to get into our car and pay for parking. The restaurant on property was an old style diner but had good and affordable food.
Positives: Convenient location.
Negatives: Comfort of the beds.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 11 May 2008 rated 8 out of 10.
Two friends and I were going out late in the city and needed a place to sleep. No frills, no room service, but it was very functional and met our needs completely, especially the price.
Positives: Cheap, no frills, great location and free parking!
Negatives: A little on the older side; could use some updating. E.g. New mattresses.
Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 07 May 2008 rated 5 out of 10.
Not pleased with the room.
Positives: The location was great.
Negatives: The bathroom needs to be updated.
Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 07 Apr 2008 rated 10 out of 10.
I got a room; it was clean, and seemed to be unlike what other have described. Check-in was easy, staff was friendly. It had soap, shampoo, plenty of towels, cups, coffee, etc. It was right next to Hard Rock, Ed Debevics, a liquor store, McDonald's, and Walgreens, so anything you need is available. Plus the cafe they have there is yummy, with fast service.
Positives: Great location.
Negatives: Liked everything.
Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 06 Apr 2008 rated 1 out of 10.
Really bad.
Positives: Nothing, maybe location.
Negatives: Nothing, absolutely overrated.
Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 01 Apr 2008 rated 8 out of 10.
Parking was great, decent restaurant in hotel, friendly staff. The hotel was close to a variety of food and things to do. The only downside was the internet went in and out which we had really planned to use to map out downtown so it was a little frustrating. And the beds were really hard but did the job. In an effort to put hard money elsewhere on a vacation I would stay here again as we came for the city and not the hotel. That's what I would keep in mind.
Positives: Convenient Location, Cheapest Downtown Hotel.
Negatives: Beds were very old and uncomfortable.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 20 Mar 2008 rated 8 out of 10.
This hotel was great for the money. Good location, just blocks from Miracle Mile in Downtown Chicago. Clean, friendly, free parking, decent cafe. Easy to get to and from. Close to freeway. It was a bit noisy, but great bargain. It was clean.
Positives: Economical. Good location. Free parking. Decent cafe.
Negatives: Acoustics. Lost of noise at bar time and from adjoining rooms.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 06 Mar 2008 rated 8 out of 10.
This is a no frills hotel, but good for breakfast, and you can't beat free parking in Downtown Chicago!
Positives: Close to shopping, walking distance to attractions, free parking!
Negatives: Run down and dingy.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 28 Feb 2008 rated 5 out of 10.
It's exactly what you would expect. It's the cheapest hotel in its area. It's not made for glamour and luxury, but for the budget conscious traveler this worked just fine.
Positives: It was cozy and had free parking.
Negatives: The bath water was brown for the first 10 seconds.
Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 02 Jan 2008 rated 5 out of 10.
The location is pretty convenient, but it's just a cheap motel. Breakfast in the restaurant is good and convenient, though.
Positives: Location.
Negatives: Look, Facilities. Very small room. Dirty. Needs to be refurnished and updated.
Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 29 Nov 2007 rated 2 out of 10.
Other than the friendly people in the office, I would not recommend this hotel to my worst enemy. Economical is one thing, downright creepy is another. I am sure I ran into several ladies of the night and their escorts and the bathrooms with the thin plastic toilet seats and sinks that look like somebody mixed a drug cocktail in. I'd rather drive round trip than stay here again.
Positives: Location.
Negatives: Everything except the location and price and the price was even high for that.
Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 16 Nov 2007 rated 2 out of 10.
This hotel's only good feature was the price. I rented two rooms, one for myself and another for a staff member. The rooms were in desperate need of updating and cleaning. The common areas were in need of attention also. The attached diner was helpful for breakfast, but did not offer any credit/debit options for payment. The only internet availability was in the small lobby.
Positives: The location of this hotel was within a short driving distance to the travel expo I was attending at navy pier.
Negatives: This hotel was not very clean, and needs updating terribly!
Amenities
24-hour front desk. Air conditioning. Air conditioning. Alarm clock. Coffee/Tea maker. Complimentary in-room coffee or tea. Free local calls. High speed internet access. High speed internet connection. Ice machine. Ironing board. Ironing board. Lunch served in restaurant. Meeting rooms. Microwave. Outdoor parking. Parking. Pets allowed. Photocopy center. Refrigerator. Remote control television. Restaurant. Security. Vending machines.
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