Howard Johnson Maingate East

[lfw]

Friends of mine have recently booked the HJME for Dec 22-Jan 4. Despite my giving them the various websites to search for bargains, I think they just booked the cheapest thing they saw, and as it is already paid for, I don't think they can cancel it. What should they know about this property? I think they just booked the standard room, does HOJO have a preferred membership like HI for free upgrades and perks? I can't stand the thought of my family stuck in one room with 2 double beds for 1 week,(I'm booking a suite or villa) I don't know how they will manage for nearly 2!

 

[Tom'sdad]

If it is anything like Ho JO west gate then it is pretty awful, probably the worst hotel experience I have ever had.
I hope it is not.
Ben

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I've stayed at the HJME three times and kind of like it. Note, when we go as a family, we like to go cheap, as we spend precious little time at the hotel and like to save the bucks for other things.

The hotel is what it is, a hotel. Rooms in my opinion are not fancy but adequet. A little dark, and the bathrooms were clean but standard. Good location to the parks, plenty of restaurants and convenience stores without walking more than two minutes.

A STRONG suggestion: This is a 550+ room hotel. We've always stayed in the same area and I've heard people both on this board and at the hotel complain about other areas of the hotel. If it were me, I'd pay the extra five to ten bucks (with patience and persistence, we've always paid five) to get the "double delux." This gets you a microwave and fridge, which may or may not have value to you. But it gets you a "pool" view, which means you face into the pools rather than out to the highway or parking lot.

Second, request ground floor, not second floor. Minimal stairwells means if you're in the wrong place, it can take you five minutes to walk to your car that's parked right under your room.

Third, there are two pools, one with a bar and one without. Request to be near the pool with no bar (may I suggest room 8114 or there abouts?). The pool with the bar also has the hot tub. This pool is usually crowded early morning and night, meaning no place to sit. You'll wake up to the noise of swimming children in the morning and screaming drinkers at night.

We found the back pool quiet and peaceful and really, really enjoyed relaxing there.

My two cents: it's a decent hotel for the money, especially if you're only there to sleep and lay back a bit in quiet moments. But get the double delux and stay away from the bar pool.

Pat