Howard Johnson Express Inn – Claremont

Road noise is bad! Beds are as hard as the floor. The room was clean although the structure is old. Looking for low budget this is your place.

The smell hits you immediately: stale cigs and cheap booze mixed with desperation. The staff was nice enough and you could tell they’d love to do better if they could. The rooms were serviceable. I guess they ‘d do in a pinch, say if you were on the run from Johnny Law or hooking up with they type of professionals that hang about truck stops.
Oh, and there was a dead opossum in the pool.

Well, what can you say about a hotel that still expects you to pay for your reservation when you arrive, see a dead possum in the pool and opt not to stay?
Nothing very flattering I assure you.
I’d write a more detailed account but honestly I’m rather disgusted.

A good 3 star place. You get what you pay for.

I honestly think that the room prices were decent.
The only catch is that it’s right next to a freeway, so if you’re a light sleeper, you may want to get a side of the hotel that is opposite the freeway.
The rooms are clean, staff is nice.
It’s also kind of hidden, so when you’re looking for it, make sure you look hard. It’s behind a gas station.

Now I know why it was the cheapest hotel in the area. It is right next to freeway so you hear the traffic all night. The entry areas (including lobby) smell musty. The lobby isn’t even connected to the buildings. I called at 1030am requesting a portable crib. I was reassured it would be in the room before I checked in. I did not check in until 5pm yet it was still not there. I was told the onside mgmt would get when they returned and I was reassured they’d be back before 7pm. At 730 I was called and told they would not be back until 930 or 10pm. That is when I finally got irritated with them and told them they needed to figure out how to get it to me ASAP… the mgrs were called and I was then told they’d be back in 20 – 25 min.
They have spent money to upgrade rooms… granite counter tops (bathroom, desk, end tables), automatic lights and safe, but carpet looks original and for having a satellite dish they don’t have a lot of choice for tv, especially kids, there was NOTHING for my toddler to watch.
They have an unheated pool and no jacuzzi :(