In my travels, I recently stayed at two Howard Johnson hotels, one in Las Vegas, Nevada, the other in Hadley, Massachusetts. My experiences at both could not be more wildly divergent.

Service

Las Vegas (Airport): I had been traveling all day and also lost three hours to the time zone change. We had a mix-up with our rental car and other minor tribulations before we arrived at the Howard Johnson near the airport. The entrance to the motel parking lot was rather obscure, but luckily we turned in before we missed it on a one-way street and did not have to backtrack. Although three clerks manned the desk, my traveling companion and I stood there several minutes before we were helped (no one else was checking in at the time). The clerk helping me was efficient and friendly, but the one helping my traveling companion had never dealt with a tax-exempt reservation before. He completely botched it, even after another clerk told him what to do, and ended up charging my traveling companion sales tax anyway.

I was given a first floor room and my traveling companion had a room on the second floor. Normally, I would have balked at a first floor room because I don’t think they’re safe, especially for women staying alone; however, all the rooms had outside entrances and windows that opened onto the walkway so there wasn’t much difference. I tried my key in the door; it didn’t work. I tried it again; flipped the key around, tried again. Nothing. At this point, it was 11:30pm Pacific Standard Time, my body was still on Eastern Standard Time and I just wanted to get into the room so I could crash. I walked all the way back to the lobby and got another key. This time, the key worked.

Hadley: I had no problems checking in. The desk clerk was training another clerk and they worked efficiently together. I was also just as speedily checked out the next morning.

When I arrived in my room, I immediately tried to get on-line. The desk had a phone line and an ethernet hook-up, as well as a data port in the bedside phone. At first I had trouble getting a dial tone but resolved that issue on my own. Then, the number I had written down for the local earthlink server didn’t seem to be working. I called downstairs to make sure I needed to dial a 9 and to check if I needed to use a 10-digit number instead of seven. I talked to the assistant manager and he told me that the number I was trying to use was for the Deerfield area and would incur a long-distance charge. I asked if he had internet access. He said he did. I guided him through the steps of looking up earthlink’s access phone numbers, over the phone, and he found a local number for me to try. The number worked and I was able to check my email (among other things…).

Cleanliness

Las Vegas: Mediocre. Having worked as a motel maid myself, I have a fairly good idea of what to look for. This room had a few hairs on the bathroom floor that were not mine. The tub was clean and smooth to the touch, but appeared dingy from age.

Hadley: Excellent. No dust or splats on the mirrors. Even the windowsill above the air-conditioning unit was dust free and the interior of the armoire around the television set.

Comfort

Las Vegas: The room had a queen-size bed, table and chairs, credenza, and television. The room did not have any extra touches to make it feel like less of a motel room. Also, we had the misfortune of arriving in Las Vegas during fight week. Not long after I finally got to sleep, some rowdy drunks in the parking lot woke me. They eventually sloshed on their way, but for a few moments I thought that fight week had come to the Howard Johnson and I would be an unwilling witness to it.

Hadley: The room had a king-size bed which I had chosen over two queen-size beds for the same price. The room also had a desk and chair, small round table and two chairs, a bench, and an armoire for the TV. The bathroom had a heat lamp, without which the lighting in the bathroom was a tad dim. The vanity was well lit, the room had a bedside switch to turn off the entryway lights and four lamps distributed around. I also had plenty of pillows and towels.

My room was on the fourth floor and the door opened onto an interior hallway. I experienced no problems with the key card.

Facilities

Las Vegas: The motel had a pool which I did not try. The motel had an on-site, 24-hour deli that was adequate if somewhat overpriced. The motel also had numerous slot machines just off the lobby, fairly standard for any Nevada motel.

Hadley: The hotel had a pool which, again, I did not try (I’ve got to remember the rule about always packing a bathing suit). The hotel also had a guest laundry room and a fitness room. The fitness room had a treadmill, stationary bike, and stair master, as well as a universal gym. The universal gym looked new and well maintained. The bike was a little dusty. The treadmill was also older but worked well enough for my cardio work out. The fitness room had a TV with all the cable channels and, most importantly, a water fountain. I would have liked for towels to be provided in the fitness room since I didn’t think to bring a hand towel down from my room.

Cost

Las Vegas: $55 per night plus tax. Since I was traveling on government business, I was charged the government rate without sales tax.

Hadley: $89 per night plus tax. This price was subject to increase to $99 per night on weekends.

Conclusion

I’m giving the Howard Johnson two and a half stars, rounded up to three. The Las Vegas (Airport) HoJo rates one star; the Hadley HoJo rates four stars. My friends in New England informed me that the Howard Johnson hotels in New England have a very good reputation as “nice” hotels. If I stay in a hotel again when I return in another month, I’ll be checking into the Hadley Howard Johnson. Even if it were free, I would not stay at the Las Vegas Howard Johnson.


Recommended: Yes