Howard Johnson Express Arcata, Arcata

WHEN GIVEN A ROOM THAT SMELLED I WAS TOLD THAT IF I WANTED ANOTHER ROOM THEY WOULD NEED TO CHARGE US $10.00 MORE BECAUSE THE ONLY QUEEN ROOM THEY HAD IN THE HOTEL WAS THIS ONE AND THAT WAS WHY IT WAS LESS MONEY. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY ROOM AT THAT RATE AND IT WAS THE ONLY ONE OF IT'S TYPE AND THAT WAS WHY IT WAS LESS MONEY. ONLINE I WAS NOT TOLD THAT I WOULD BE GETTING A ROOM THAT WAS DARK, NEAR THE SERVICE AREA AND WOULD ALSO STINK. I WOULD HAVE ELECTED THE KING ROOM IN THAT CASE I WAS TOLD BY THE FRONT DESK THAT I COULD STAY IN THE QUEEN ROOM AND WOULD NOT BE CHARGED FOR THE SMELL"SMOKE" SINCE THEY KNEW THAT I DID NOT DO THIS. WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT IT SEEMED UNFAIR TO CHARGE ME EXTRA TO HAVE A ROOM THAT DIDN'T SMELL THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAD MADE RESERVATIONS FOR ONE NIGHT FOR ONE BED NOT CARING IF IT WAS A KING OR QUEEN NOR KNOWING THAT THE QUEEN ROOM WAS INFERIOR OTHER THAN THE SIZE OF BED. THIS WAS A VERY UNPLEASENT SPOT BEING TREATED POORLY AND TOLD THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD I NOT MADE RESERVATIONS ONLINE. THE DESK PERSON WAS NICE BUT I BLAME THE MANAGEMENT WHO TO MY SUPRISE WAS SETTING THEIR DIRECTING THIS POOR DESK PERSON TO TREAT US THIS WAY. IT'S ONLY $10.00 AND YES I PAID IT AS NOT TO STAY IN A SMELLY ROOM (IT WAS PRETTY BAD). TOO MANY OTHER HOTELS TO STAY IN THIS AREA. TRY SOMETHING ELSE THIS IS NOT A NICE PLACE AND THE COFFEE IN THE AM WAS COLD AND THE BREAD WAS STALE. I GUESS HOT COFFEE AND FRESH BREAD COSTS A LITTLE EXTRA?

I have traveled extensively and found that there is little difference between this particular Howard Johnson and your average budget motel, i.e. motel 6, super 8, etc. The beds are nicely sized, but so very uncomfortable- again, I've traveled quite a bit and while none of them are great, these were definitely elow average. The bedspread was ripped quite badly, which I thought was just trashy. The pillows were virtually useless- very small and flat. The towels were nothing more than kleenex, there was very few ammenities offered to guests. The continental breakfast was well stocked, but could have used some additional variety. The pool I thought was a nice feature. Overall, it wasnt horrible, but totally not worth the money. We decided to spend a little extra for some extra comfort and did not find it- not even close. Also thought it was pretty bad for housekeeping to open our door ( we did not hear a knock) at 8:00 am and ask for the dirty towels so they could get the laundry going. That was tacky, considering we were still in the process of showering. My advice, if you are in the Arcata area- shop around. There are quite a few hotels/motels nearby that I beleive would have been a MUCH better place for a much better value.