Howard Johnson Rio Rancho/Albuquerque North

The lobby was clean and well maintained, and the pool looked clean too. The room we had was nice, and we stayed on a Thursday night when there were only a few other people around. The courtyard had weeds and the stairs needed paint, while the breakfast area floor could use replacing. It looked like improvements were underway. The price was good, and I'd stay again, hopefully as they keep improving the grounds.

Everyone on staff was very friendly. The courtyard was nice, though the grass needed attention, and the lobby and exterior looked very nicely done. I would've given 5 stars, but the room needed repairs and upgrades for the price. The bathtubs in both rooms we rented drained poorly, and one tub's surface was cracking and peeling. The water got only warmish, not hot. The sink in one of the rooms had almost no pressure, just a trickle. Both rooms had old box TVs, and the Wi-Fi was really slow with a lousy signal.

On checkout morning, staff woke me FOUR times when I was trying to get my last bit of sleep before a long drive. First, someone knocked because they thought my room was empty. Then the cleaning lady asked when I was checking out. Finally, I got two alarming phone calls I hadn't requested. Even with that, I'd stay again because it was otherwise a good experience and comfortable place to be. The staff were superbly friendly and willing to help, and the room was clean and met my expectations.

The worst part was the bathroom. Some towels were folded poorly and looked dirty, the shower drained badly, and the tub looked like it should've been replaced years ago. I felt like I needed to get home and bathe in bleach just to disinfect myself. The whole hotel felt neglected and dirty, and maintenance is badly needed. The rooms were outdated, with a tube TV, and some light switches didn't work. Take your money elsewhere if you want a good night's rest.