Howard Johnson East Lansing

We'd just escaped a really awful Red Roof in Lansing at 2:30 in the morning, something our family of seven had never done before. This place was clean, had no bugs, and allowed pets. We had two rooms next to each other. The building looks very much like it dates from 1982, and the basics were there: coffee maker, soap, and cable. Breakfast was weak, just bagels, danish, and instant oatmeal. The breakfast bar being in the indoor pool area felt a little awkward. There are rooms with outside entrances and others with semi-indoor entrances around the pool. For $70, I guess it's about what you'd expect. It'll do in a pinch, though I hope to book somewhere better next time. God, I hate Lansing Michigan.

I paid $75 a night for two nights, which felt acceptable, though I think around $65 would make it a better deal. It wasn't an outrageous price, but I still expected a little more. The room was okay, and while the pool and gym are shown in the pictures, nobody was using them and you probably won't either. If you're after somewhere reasonably priced for a night or two, you could start here. Just keep in mind it's no Marriott or Ritz Carlton.

The bed was clean and comfortable, and the location can't be beat. Breakfast was basic but not awful, and the staff were nice, though they weren't much help. I agreed to $182 for three nights but checked out with a $235 bill, about 35% more. The bathroom had mildew, and the showerhead was too low for me at 5'5", let alone my 6'3" husband. The carpet and furniture looked around 30 years old and were scuffed. The TV remote was frustrating, and the buttons on the TV didn't work with their cable. The walls were thin enough that we could hear people walking by and talking. The cleaning lady took the pennies and dimes I'd left on the table, along with the cans, each day. Coffee wasn't replenished when the room was tidied. There was no do-not-disturb knob sign, so we came back after stepping out for just ten minutes and found her inside, twice. I wouldn't stay here again.

At $69, this might be a three-star hotel, but for $99 I expected more. The property is old, which is fine, but the room had that old smoking-room smell, like it was being covered up. Mold in the shower and a dirty bathroom, worn bedding, plus a sticky breakfast area floor. Breakfast was just bagels, muffins, orange juice, and coffee.