Howard Johnson

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 15 Aug 2011 rated 3 out of 10.

The only good thing about this hotel is that there is a convenience store next door where you can buy beer. Drinking the beer will help you forget how nasty this hotel is.

Positives: Free cookies.

Negatives: Dingy, dated, old, lobby smell like cigarettes, pool was nasty, desk staff seemed disengaged.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 09 Jan 2011 rated 6 out of 10.

Just want a place to sleep and fly out of great.

Positives: Friendley staff.

Negatives: Out dated.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 01 Nov 2010 rated 10 out of 10.

The Howard Johnson in South Portland had the perfect location and space for our travel needs. We were happy to return home each night.

Positives: The service staff was helpful and friendly and the room was comfortable and clean.

Negatives: The only thing we hoped for and did not see was a continental breakfast, but we got to explore the area and find great eating spots.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 18 Feb 2010 rated 7 out of 10.

Upon arrival felt it was adequate for our needs. Breakfast and pool very much appreciated. But as we packed to leave we opened drapes to look out and saw black mold along upper right edge of wall near window inside room! That turned us off immediately. Will not stay there again.

Positives: Breakfast available.

Negatives: Location near gas station and busy street not pleasant.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 27 May 2009 rated 3 out of 10.

Good location if your looking for the Mall. The building is dated. Wall paper was peeling off the walls, there was old food under the end table. The pool was small and the changing rooms dirty. The TV was broken but maintenance got it working satisfactorily. Staff was polite.

Positives: Close to my point of destination.

Negatives: Dirty, wall paper was peeling off the walls, rooms were less than clean.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 26 Aug 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

Room could use some upgrades like carpet and drapes.

Positives: Good location and the staff was very accommodating.

Negatives: Beds could have been more comfortable.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 19 Aug 2008 rated 5 out of 10.

There was no wireless internet. The indoor pool was very good. I would not give a glowing recommendation on it.

Positives: Swimming pool and lobby computers.

Negatives: Was charged extra for microwave and refrigerator and was not told there would be a charge for that.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 17 Aug 2008 rated 5 out of 10.

Fair beds, overrated hotel. Would rate a one star, was not told I would be charged for refrigerator and microwave, and first refrigerator was not working, there is no free coffee or continental breakfast. Most staff very helpful, a couple of brain dead employees. We did enjoy the computers and indoor pool, however, there was no wireless computer.

Positives: Computers in lobby, indoor pool, comfortable lobby.

Negatives: Was charged extra money for microwave and refrigerator and not told there was a charge.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 14 Aug 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

Location was central. Room furnishings were new and cleanliness was tops. Staff seemed genuinely concerned with the guests and went out of their way to satisfy. Excellent experience.

Positives: Cleanliness and friendliness. Staff was great!

Negatives: Nothing negative.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 09 Aug 2008 rated 9 out of 10.

I was very happy with my stay, The staff was very knowledgeable about the area.

Positives: Very helpful staff.

Negatives: Too many chlorine in pool.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 07 Aug 2008 rated 10 out of 10.

Very clean, staff was friendly; I was pleasantly surprised for the price.

Positives: Convenient location, very clean, helpful staff, computer access in the lobby.

Negatives: Decor was somewhat dated.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 06 Sep 2007 rated 8 out of 10.

I really didn't spend much time in the hotel but it had maid service daily and was very clean. We didn't use any of the amenities. We did miss not having any breakfast.

Positives: Clean and convenient.

Negatives: No breakfast!

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 22 Aug 2007 rated 8 out of 10.

Rooms were very nice and clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend this hotel to a friend.

Positives: Any problems were dealt with quickly.

Negatives: Would be nice to have a fridge / microwave in the room.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 16 Aug 2007 rated 7 out of 10.

My review is of H.J. at exit 48 and 45 in Portland, ME. Exit 48, not welcome by staff, waited while one girl had head down doing paperwork, and did not look up, the other girl, chatting with a checked in guest, no eye contact with me standing there for a good 3/4 minutes, not good after 5hr trip. Exit 45, welcomed, with smile of acknowledgement, despite guest ahead of me while checking in. Both: front lobby computer for information of town. Both: lack of knowledge about Portland area, and directions for an out of town guest. Both: slow drain in tub with shower. Both: bed not too comfortable. Both: had good/fair value for inexpensive hotel.

Positives: Would stay at Exit 45 Howard Johnsons again.

Negatives: Would not stay at Exit 48 again. Total turn off by front desk behavior.

Reviewer: Not provided on Fri 03 Aug 2007 rated 8 out of 10.

Check in and check out was smooth and the lady very friendly; however, the morning person was so busy doing his job and preoccupied that I felt he could have been a little more aware of my presence and what I needed. Later he was much more friendly. I felt the computer hookup in room should have been free and local calls also free as in most hotels I have been in.

Positives: Good location, comfortable, nice, and large room.

Negatives: Everything you did you had to pay for: computer usage in room, local calls. Hot tub steps down into dangerous.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 10 May 2007 rated 8 out of 10.

Overall, a good place to spend a night or two. Bed was not the most comfortable in the world, but that is somewhat of a personal preference. Good Mexican bar/restaurant attached.

Positives: Clean, convenient, good staff.

Negatives: Bed not very comfortable.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 03 May 2007 rated 9 out of 10.

The re-decorated room was attractive; lovely furniture in a spacious and clean room. Set up for computer was simple. The hotel is in a safe area and the distance between the city and the lovely crescent beach and shopping mall was perfect for me to spend time in all three places.

Positives: The staff was wonderfully helpful.

Negatives: The heated pool is open to the public and crowded.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 02 May 2007 rated 3 out of 10.

We had to be at the airport at 4 am so location was good, but the entrances on the side certainly need attention, don't think it had seen any cleanup for a long time.

Positives: Cleanliness is the only plus at this hotel.

Negatives: The room was very small and very noisy from either plumbing or something similar that kept us awake during the night.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 23 Apr 2007 rated 5 out of 10.

This was a disappointing experience.

Positives: Helpful person at the reception desk.

Negatives: Walls were very thin, and the plumbing very loud.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 14 Nov 2006 rated 7 out of 10.

Nothing fancy - simple, but satisfactory housing.

Positives: It was close to where we wanted to be.

Negatives: The doors closing in other rooms were noisy.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 27 Aug 2006 rated 9 out of 10.

I called for an early arrival and they were able to accommodate us. The lobby and rooms were very clean and the bedding was very comfortable. Would stay there again. We did not take advantage of the pool or any of the facilities. We were looking for a location away from the Portland parking mess and easy access to main roads. Very satisfied.

Positives: Location was great-not to close and not too far from downtown.

Negatives: No where to lounge outside.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 25 Jun 2006 rated 9 out of 10.

We liked it, it served our purpose, we would stay there again.

Positives: Location/price/pool.

Negatives: Room a little small coffee maker, but no coffee.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 24 Oct 2005 rated 10 out of 10.

This was a nice hotel with a good location. My room was a non smoking room but my neighbor smoked in his non smoking room. I told the front desk, everyday for three days straight and the neighbor continued to smoke in his designated non smoking room. The front desk acted put out when I told them about this. Mmy assumption was the person I was telling was a smoker too and was no way go to bust a fellow smoker. I was too busy to make a big deal about this and tell the GM. My towels always smelled like smoke and the front desk seemed amused and could have cared less about my smelly towels I was using for my gym workouts. The room was nice and the interent service in the lobby was very helpful. Washer and dryer for this basic level of hotel would have been nice.

Positives: Good location, fair value.

Negatives: Towels always smelled like smoke, smoking rooms next to non smoking rooms.