Hotel Howard Johnson Inn Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, USA)

Visitors were overwhelmingly positive about this hotel's location just steps away from the beautiful Pacific Ocean in downtown Santa Cruz, California. It was a two-minute walk from the wharf, beach, boardwalk and Pacific Avenue for shopping. There was also a wide choice of dining options including oceanfront eateries within walking distance. Motorists liked being just one mile off California State Route 1, enabling them to head south to explore the Monterey Bay coast; or north to visit redwood forests.

Guests largely expressed positive opinions about the well-equipped smoke-free rooms, often saying they were more than sufficiently clean, comfortable and spacious. There were reportedly pleasant sea views from some rooms. The inviting outdoor hot-tub was another bonus.

The customer service attracted plenty of positive remarks from reviewers, who often said they dealt with helpful, friendly and attentive employees.

Besides cosmetic issues like dated decor, critics also reported occasional maintenance grumbles over interruptions to the hot water supply and plumbing issues. Moreover, critics said they encountered some cleanliness issues like stained sheets and bathrooms that were unsatisfactorily cleaned.

Musty odors bothered some travelers and there were also occasional reports by light sleepers that noise from adjacent rooms was sometimes audible through thin walls.

Guests were divided over whether they got fair value for money at this hotel. There were good free perks like parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast; although some diners said the choice on offer was limited. Many reviewers said they got a decent amount of bang for their buck thanks to the usually competitive room rates. However, some of those who paid steeper rates to stay during periods of peak demand disagreed.