Howard Johnson by Wyndham Portsmouth

The Inn is close to plenty of activities and shopping, and the rooms are clean and comfortable. The staff are very friendly too. It sits just off a major freeway. I wasn’t used to roundabouts on a major freeway, so getting around the area felt a bit nerve wracking.

Breakfast was included and, although the selection was limited, it was great. I was glad to see whole wheat bagels, English muffins, and toast each morning, and the coffee was excellent. Staff were always there replenishing things and keeping the breakfast room clean. We were happy with our choice for the three nights. The hotel has clearly had a recent overhaul, with pretty much everything replaced. Downtown is about a 25-minute walk; we did it twice, and it was pleasant and easy to navigate. We checked rates at places downtown and nearby, and this one was hard to beat. I’d stay again. The highway noise is a bit loud if that bothers you, though traffic wasn’t too bad at night when we were trying to sleep.

Just an average hotel, and the area is a little noisy. The shower water was lukewarm, with weak pressure. They also put a $100 security deposit on top of the room rate, though it was eventually returned.

Robbin at the front desk saved our second night. After a nearly sleepless first night in room 311 from cars and motorcycles roaring past, plus a TV blaring next door, I called around 2 AM. The neighbor’s TV soon went quiet. The next morning Robbin was understanding and very helpful, and moved us right away to the other side of the hotel. We could still hear traffic there, but it wasn’t loud enough to keep us awake. That room also felt cleaner, more spacious, and more up to date. Robbin’s quick, professional response stopped us from cancelling. The staff are doing a good job with what they have. The traffic is the main drawback. The hotel is convenient to I-95 and US Hwy 1-Bypass, but it sits directly beside the busy US Hwy 1-Bypass, and you can hear traffic day and night in most rooms. The noise from a TV or children in the adjoining room was annoying, but not as bad as the highway. During the day, the next room had sounded like a daycare, with at least three loud children and repeated noises like a ball being thrown at the shared wall. Both rooms were adequate, but felt worn or tired, as did much of the hotel. The beds were uneven, the hallway carpets need replacing, and the elevator jumped when starting and shook as it moved between floors. In room 311, there were no bathroom hooks or towel racks, so used towels had to go on the counter. In room 304, the king bed’s metal box base squealed almost hilariously whenever I got out on the right side. It made me think of “The Addams Family” TV series. My husband’s side was quieter, though still squeaky. In the second bathroom, there were towel hooks, but the shower temperature and pressure varied widely, from lukewarm to comfortably hot and back, whatever setting I used. It wasn’t relaxing. There was no bathroom fan, so the room got stuffy and steamy quickly. I was almost glad the water wasn’t very hot. On the plus side, our refrigerator worked well, and its microwave seemed better than the one in the breakfast room. Breakfast and drinks were good. The room is much too small for more than a few people at once, but the food was tasty and thoughtfully chosen, with lots of yogurts, microwave breakfast sandwiches, juices, cereals, and more. I think the hotel needs a thorough renovation, though I’m not sure it would be worth it unless it could reduce the highway noise right outside the windows. The location and overdue updates were the problems. If the price is right and you sleep very soundly, it might be fine. We’re unlikely to return, and we’ll be cautious about booking other Howard Johnson hotels.