Howard Johnson by Wyndham Holbrook

Basically a Motel 6, and that's generous. The staff were pleasant and the room decent, but I was PIIIIIIIIIIISSED about the breakfast. At Howard Johnsons I used to get nice breakfasts. Here it's cereal or a waffle maker so they can advertise a hot breakfast, and that's it. No coffee in the room either, so you have to walk back to reception to get it. The Jacuzzi/pool closes early. If you're in Holbrook, go to La Quinta. Nothing else is in the same class.

For the price, our room worked perfectly for what we needed. The location is excellent for I-40, there's plenty of parking if you're towing, and the ground-level loading right at the room made getting luggage in and out easy. We found good value in what was there, at least in our room. I'm not a princess, but I do have standards, and for me it comes down to how clean a place is, not how new everything is. Everything looked clean and decently maintained. The room was inviting, though it had a closed-up smell at first. Once we opened the doors while bringing in our luggage, it aired out. The decor mixed new pieces with older ones put together nicely. Jacey (sp?) checked us in pleasantly, explained everything, and had us in the room in about five minutes. The firm mattress was super comfortable and we slept really well. Good wifi and a range of Direct TV channels helped us wind down. The next morning Sujan, the manager, was helpful and accommodating. Breakfast was the usual cold cereal, waffles, toast, coffee that could be stronger, and some fruit. I also liked how clean the breakfast area was, especially the spotless large windows. That says a lot about their attention to cleaning details. As snowbirds, we'll be back.

I chose this hotel specifically for the indoor pool and hot tub for my kids in December. But I arrived well after 11 PM and found out they only let guests use them at certain times. I wasn't about to pay for another night just to wait until pool hours. They also charged an extra $16 per child on top of the room rate, and I have four kids. I booked through Priceline. If I'd known about the pool restrictions and the extra cost for the children, I wouldn't have stayed here. They didn't provide a fitted sheet for the pull-out sofa bed either.

Staff were super friendly, welcoming, and extremely helpful. This was a very comfortable overnight stop on our recent road trip, and a nice stay for the money. The motel has been redone recently: painted rooms, wood-look flooring, new drapes and furniture, more outlets, and lamps with outlets and USB ports. The heating and cooling unit is updated and fairly quiet. There's a mini fridge, microwave, and hairdryer, but no coffee maker in the room. Coffee and tea are available in the lobby around the clock. Breakfast has cereal, oatmeal, toast, waffles, muffins, apples, coffee, decaf coffee, tea, milk, and juices. If you're diabetic or follow a specific diet, be prepared. There's also a small gym on site. The pool and hot tub are open from 2 to 11 PM. Highly recommended.