Howard Johnson by Wyndham Clearwater / Dunedin

The check-in sign in the lobby said 2:00, but they initially wanted to charge me for arriving then because their actual check-in time had changed to 4:00 and the sign was old. They said they'd waive the fee, so it wasn't a problem in the end. It's an older hotel, but the upgrades have been done well. The rooms were clean and quiet, and the place was nicer than it looked from outside. Other than the check-in mix-up, it was a great stay.

I'd seen some bad Google reviews and felt a little unsure about staying a night with my family. From outside it does look a bit like a motel, but our room was clean, with no odd or cigarette smell, fresh sheets, and two decent sized queen beds. It also had a fridge and microwave, and the bathroom was clean. At that price, that was plenty. Breakfast was decent and fresh enough to start the day, with coffee and tea, bread or bagels, bananas, and waffles. Mr. Tim, the manager, was very helpful. I didn't use the pool, but the seating area beside it was great. There was also a really nice seating area on the second floor overlooking the pool. The location worked well, with a Walmart neighborhood market not far away for supplies and several places to eat along the same road. I noticed an ice machine on the first floor, along with paid guest laundry machines, though I didn't need them.

I was charged for two full days after checking in on January 2 and checking out on January 3, even though I didn't stay overnight at all. At the front desk, I asked for a refund and was told they could at least return one day, but that didn't happen. I was in Room 301 at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham Clearwater/Dunedin from January 2-3, 2026. The room felt misleading compared with the listing, and I felt unsafe and uncomfortable because the curtains wouldn't close fully, leaving people outside able to see in. That was the main reason I chose not to stay. The bed sagged badly and was unusable, and when I asked for another blanket, they said none were available. The bedding was just sheets and one thin blanket. There was a hole in the wall below the bathroom light switch, along with cracks in the walls and ceiling. Between the poor upkeep, missing basics, privacy concerns, and the billing, this was one of the worst hotel stays I've had. It doesn't meet the standard I expect from a Wyndham property, and I'd strongly recommend booking somewhere else.

We left less than two hours after checking in and found another hotel. The marijuana smell in both rooms gave my husband and me headaches. In the first room, there were marks on the walls that looked like food or stains, the headboards were peeling and gross, and even the pillows felt disgusting when I moved them. I didn't dare look at the sheets or blankets. After I reported the smell, they said the housekeeper hadn't mentioned anything, then moved us to a second room that still smelled like marijuana, with air freshener apparently used to cover it. At checkout, when my husband was asked why we hadn't complained about that second room, we'd already been waiting over 20 minutes on hold about a refund. I'll be very surprised if we get one.