Howard Johnson

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 19 Nov 2013 rated 0 out of 10.

We booked over the phone a week before our trip. That was november 13 at 530 pm. The guy whom we talked to got all our information including our credit card number and the expiration of the card. The staff told us that it was booked already, we just need to present our identification card on the front desk for check in. This evening, november 20 at 0530pm, we talked to the frontdesk about our reservation for tonight. The guy was very rude asking our identification card . It took 10 minutes then we were told that we dont't have reservations for tonight. We informed him that we booked through the phone a week ago but he said that he cannot do anything. He told us that he will contact us if there are changes. All we thought that our reservation was ok but it isn't so we ended up going to strathmore because calgary hotels was fully booked. It took us 2 hours to find a hotel near calgary. Horrible!

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 14 Sep 2008 rated 5 out of 10.

If I didn't have anyplace else to stay upon my arrival at 3 in the morning I think I would opt to sleep in my car.

Positives: Not much.

Negatives: The room was crammed and the front door lock was not working properly.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 01 Sep 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

Old towels and sheets. Everything worn, patched, mismatched. Difficult highway access. This was the worst I've stayed at in years.

Positives: Continental breakfast.

Negatives: Old, tired, worn towels and sheets, patched wallpaper.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 01 Sep 2008 rated 8 out of 10.

Enjoyed it.

Positives: Free breakfast.

Negatives: Only one bed.

Reviewer: Not provided on Thu 14 Aug 2008 rated 4 out of 10.

Rooms were old and falling apart. Staff was not helpful and not friendly. The only good thing was the location.

Positives: Location.

Negatives: The staff, the room.

Reviewer: Not provided on Mon 21 Jul 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

I am commenting about the Howard Johnson Hotel on McLeod Trail. When we went to check into our room we found someone sleeping in the bed and watching TV. The manager had to evict her because she managed to sneak back into the room after it was cleaned up. They gave us another room next to the freeway. It was small, noisy and the bedspread was dirty and worn out. Otherwise it appeared clean. The TV was placed at an awkward angle to view from the bed- on the side not the front. We asked for a corkscrew and they said someone had stolen it so none was available. The breakfast was reasonable but we saw a rotten apple in the fruit bowl. The front desk person was dressed poorly. His pants were sliding down.

Positives: Free breakfast.

Negatives: Poor service. Dirty, poorly managed.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 02 Jul 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

Filthy, cramped, old beds, bad smells, black mould in the bathroom, no water pressure, cranky staff, the worst continental breakfast in the history of continental breakfast, no sound proofing between rooms, partiers. Terrible.

Positives: Honestly, this is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in.

Negatives: NA.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 20 May 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

Should be condemned.

Positives: Nothing.

Negatives: Dirty, sleazy, heat didn't shut off, did I say dirty.

Reviewer: Not provided on Tue 20 May 2008 rated 3 out of 10.

Upon arrival we were given a very small, hot hotel room. We returned to reception and requested a different room. The air conditioner in both rooms had not been turned on. We spent only our sleeping hours in the small room. Room was not cleaned & clean towels were not provided. Had to request hair dryer & did not avail of continental breakfast.

Positives: Location was close to large mall.

Negatives: Room was not cleaned, towels were not provided, had to request hair dryer.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 17 May 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

Extremely poor upon check-in. I request a smoking room but hotel recently change to smoke free.

Positives: Nothing.

Negatives: Check-in attitude.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sun 11 May 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

Terrible noisy from neighboring room every night. Outside traffic noisy all night through.

Positives: Nothing.

Negatives: Worst hotel I've ever visited.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 02 Apr 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

Quite possibly the worst hotel I have ever stayed at.

Positives: Absolutely nothing.

Negatives: The rooms were very noisy and smelled.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 26 Mar 2008 rated 7 out of 10.

The hotel was clean and fine to stay in for a business trip. I did not like trying to pick my bed after I had already paid for the hotel. I would like the bed choose to be an option before booking the hotel. I had an issue with this as they did not want to give me a queen bed as I paid for a twin. They did final upgrade me and my husband to a queen.

Positives: Great location. Best city view I've ever had. Clean & safe. Wonderful experience. Great price!

Negatives: When I called to choose my bed, I had an issue with getting a queen bed.

Reviewer: Not provided on Sat 08 Mar 2008 rated 1 out of 10.

Terrible. I would not recommend to anyone. Upon check in (and after I requested two double beds via telephone) I was informed I would need to pay another $65/night in order to fulfill my request for two double beds instead of one queen. Filthy room, no hot water, cooling system did not work, no follow up by staff with any concerns, etc.

Positives: Absolutely nothing.

Negatives: Dirty, no hot water, cooling system did not work, staff that did not follow up with concerns.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 13 Feb 2008 rated 4 out of 10.

We're used to staying in 3 and 4 star hotels and feeling like we got a good deal. Because Calgary 3 and 4 star Downtown prices were sky high, this stay we opted for a 2 star in South Calgary for $30 less than a 4 star hotel in Downtown Vancouver. We were amazed that Downtown prices for 3 and 4 star hotels in Calgary were significantly more in February than during the Calgary Stampede in July. The hotel was better than the reviews, but not up to the par of what I believe a 2 star hotel should be. The location would be impossible without a car. It's close but not quite close enough to a mass transit (LRT) stop. We usually stay Downtown and don't need a car, but this time we had to borrow a car from family. The week before one of the buildings in the HoJo complex burned down and the ruminants were still there (insurance adjusters had to investigate). It was very off-putting, especially with the combination of burned down building and extremely hot heat in our room, mixed with the poor reviews we'd read. The hotel did come through with free WiFi. I would NOT recommend this hotel to anyone. I would pay the additional and stay in a 3 star hotel in Downtown Calgary.

Positives: Price compared to 4 star Downtown hotels in Calgary, free WiFi.

Negatives: Location, heat of room, small room, paltry breakfast selection.

Reviewer: Not provided on Wed 26 Dec 2007 rated 6 out of 10.

Good for a business traveler staying for only a night but less appealing for longer stays or when you will be spending a lot of time in the room. Some issues with cleanliness.

Positives: Good location, nice bathroom.

Negatives: Freezing cold wreaked of smoke in non smoking room, loud, 3 packages of mice eaten coffee supplies set out one day.