Howard Johnson Enchanted Land

Dirty and disgusting. Garbage bags were left on the stairs, the carpet hadn’t been vacuumed, there was a burned iron stain on it, and the bed was hard. I only stayed because it was midnight, my kids were asleep, and no nearby hotel had a room. We left early in the morning to check into another place so my family could have a clean shower. When my husband went back for the phone charger we’d left on the wall, the cleaning couple were making the bed. We’d said we were leaving, but they hadn’t even changed the linens. The most disgusting thing I’ve seen. Zero stars, this place isn’t worth paying for. Never again.

The customer service was about the only good part. In the first room, the toilet seat was broken and water was all over the bathroom. I tried calling the front desk, but the phone was missing most of its buttons. When I did reach someone, the speaker didn’t work, so I had to walk down there. They moved us, but the replacement room wasn’t much better: its phone was also missing buttons, and only three TV channels worked. The AC was too cold and I couldn’t adjust it, so I unplugged it. The walls and front door were stained and scratched and needed repainting. There was a ten page directory in the room, but every page had been torn out and even the cover was missing. The mattress was hard; the sheets had holes and cigarette burns. Good luck trying to shower or brush your teeth, the water stinks and the smell stays on your skin.

Even a few days after leaving, thinking about this place still makes me sick. The rooms are disgusting, with stains on every blanket that make me doubt they’re washed properly. There are holes in the walls, and the bathroom is tiny and dirty. The staff were extremely impolite and discourteous, and I didn’t feel safe or comfortable there. This hotel is a disgrace to Howard Johnson. It was cheap, but I’d look elsewhere. The owners clearly don’t know how to care for a hotel. I wouldn’t risk staying even a few nights; I’d refuse even if someone paid me. I’d rather sleep in a car. Don’t believe me? Go see for yourself.

For around $80, we got a place to sleep for two nights while trying to do Disney on a budget. It wasn’t the worst hotel I’ve stayed at, and the deal worked for a young couple. The sheets were clean, but the blanket was crusty, and we found a cockroach. I wanted to befriend him, but my girlfriend killed him. The beds were some odd hybrid size, almost like someone turned a full into a square. My feet hung off unless I pushed my head almost against the wall. The door felt about as secure as I did in middle school, though locking it made me feel somewhat safe. We’d read the reviews after booking and weren’t sure what to expect, since people called the place filthy and the staff rude. Our room wasn’t exactly clean, but it wasn’t that dirty either. Long live the hojo.