Howard Johnson by Wyndham Williamsburg — Hotel in Williamsburg

This place is soooo hot! The lobby, the halls, the rooms, the breakfast area... all of it is so insanely hot and the breakfast area is the worst, you probably wouldn't have to be in there long at all before passing out. There was a sign saying that you HAVE to eat the food in the breakfast area. I don't think so! If you want people to eat there you need to make sure it's not 95 degrees and people can actually be comfortable and breathe, not suffocate from the heat. Absolutely outrageous and ridiculous! Also, the food and drink was not well stocked, it kept running out and needing to be replaced... which meant waiting in that crazy heat.

It took our room probably 2 hours or more to finally cool down. The air conditioner looked old so we thought maybe it was messed up and asked to check out another room, but wound up staying in the first one since it finally started working. All the air conditioners need to be replaced. Also, the air vent in the bathroom didn't work in either room and we were told they didn't work in any of the rooms there.

The shower water was even hot. No cold, cool, or even warm... just hot! Not very pleasant or relaxing when you feel like trying to get clean could lead to getting scalded.

There were stains all over the carpeting of both rooms we saw, so disgusting! The carpeting by the bed in the second room looked almost like baby food or oatmeal spit up on it, that had never been cleaned up. We didn't feel comfortable going around barefoot on that nasty carpeting, so we wore shoes the entire time.

Our room didn't have a microwave. The room was also very dark. There was a light on the upper wall by the door and 2 lamps further in the room, but it was still dull. But the second room had 3 lamps and a microwave, so the girl at the desk let us take the microwave and the floor lamp from that room and move it to our room.

I was told that we couldn't get a room on the first floor because those were the rooms they'd steal supplies from for the rooms on the other floors. So strange and unprofessional. But while we were there a pallet full of packages was delivered, so I assume it was supplies for the rooms.

We were on the second floor and kept smelling very, very strong marijuana in our room randomly, even though we were in and surrounded by non-smoking rooms. Turns out that there was a guy who was going out to his vehicle in the parking lot and smoking marijuana and it was coming right in our room through the air conditioner. That's beyond ridiculous, it's a health and safety risk!

One night, around 12:30am, we heard what sounded like a bunch of small objects pound our door. Apparently a small child had fallen and a bunch of ice from a drink hit our door (there was still a lid and straw by the door the next morning). Then we kept hearing children hollering and playing, sounded like they were in the hall, and a door or doors slamming (which if you just let them close on their own they sound like slamming, so loud)... all around 12:30am and lasted for probably an hour or so. So ridiculous! Where's the respect for other people who are trying to actually sleep in the middle of the night?

We hoped to go to the pool one evening, but it was so packed, I don't know how anyone was enjoying it.

We had to use the stairs multiple times because the elevator kept taking so long.

There usually wasn't anyone at the front desk and you had to wait for someone to show up. The night we checked in, the girl at the desk was telling another lady that none of the room phones worked and about how a homeless man had broken in to the motel, which was a bit unsettling. When we went to check out, the lady came out of the back room on the phone and seemed very annoyed and was rather rude with the person on the phone.

The hair dryer in our room had orange paint on it, showing that it wasn't removed when the painting was done. It was a very unprofessional looking paint job. The place needs some major updating and actual professional care.

We...

BEWARE OF THE BREAKFAST! Before we get into the Breakfast, I want to start with how disappointed I am in whomever owns this building. You can see whenever it was made, it was the best of the best, the indoor pool, the conference room, the lobby, the balcony, the spa, the breakfast area that was once a beautiful space, but now has been allowed to turn to ruin. It has everything it needs to be great, but it feels as if the owners are awaiting the day it no longer is profitable so they are able to sell it and tear it down. The rooms are surface level clean; however, when you start to truly look, you begin to see the spots in the tub area that have not been properly cleaned, the filthy filters that do not allow the ACs to work properly, the stains on the mattresses and the cockroaches that greet you when you take a nightly trip to the bathroom. Let’s get to it shall we, the Breakfast. To begin, the breakfast area itself is sweltering. I estimate it to be about 85 degrees (if not higher) and stuffy. There are ceiling fans and two low wall AC units that pull in from the pool area (that is already humid and hot) that do not do a proper job (wonder what their filters look like too). The entire hotel to start is already very warm. The breakfast contains, two waffle irons, a toaster for toast, yogurt, biscuits, eggs, sausage gravy, coffee, tea, and orange juice. The orange juice tasted very sour, my niece brought it to my attention, I tried it and confirmed and another guest also made that conclusion. I should have checked the temperature, but I would not be surprised if the OJ is being kept at an improper temperature. Speaking of improper temperatures, the dairy butter. I noticed on my first morning there, there was a fridge that contained the butter, I retrieved some for myself and noticed it was well melted. Then I went back to check, the fridge was not on. I brought it to the attention of the person at the front desk and they informed me that I should tell someone in the breakfast area, I informed them I did not see any breakfast staff, they then said it wasn’t their area. Silly me to think they would pass the message along. Day two of breakfast and the butter is still in the fridge that is not on and even more melted. I again, not seeing any “breakfast staff,” went to the front desk and informed them again of the issue. They began to argue that it is not their area to deal with and ‘you leave butter out on the counter at home and it’s no problem lollll.’ (Remember the breakfast area is about 85 degrees if not higher) I said, I am not here to argue, but if they wanted to continue the argument I would call the FDA or ServSafe so they could settle the dispute. This is when they finally stopped talking to their friend that hangs out in the lobby area and moved the butter to another fridge. On top of all of this, one day it was raining and a table in the corner was covered and saturated in water, as well as all over floor from a very noticeable water leak in the ceiling and wall. No caution signs of wet floors were visible. There were also other issues, like the vape that was left by our cleaning staff in our “non-smoking room,” the ice machine on the first floor looking like it had black mold in it, vending machines that didn’t work, ice machines on other floors that did not work, cereal and pastries tasted stale due to the heat/humidity, but this is already long enough. All in all, if you want a dive that looks like it could have been a nice place to stay, stay there. If not, spend your money where it will be worth it with clean mattresses, nice staff, AC’s that will work, and...

Worn out, broken, and in poor repair. I got it for $50 per night. However, with the name Howard Johnsons, I wasn't expecting the level of neglect to the facilities and the rooms, even considering the lower price. Walking in, the lobby looked typical. After that, it went rapidly downhill. The hallway to the rooms, was laid with some sort of vinyl material. Looking down the hallway you could see that it had been applied in a incorrect way; waves, lumps etc, and seemed to be a very cheap material. This same material made it into the bathroom. Once inside, the bathroom was tiny. The bath has once, long ago, been a jet tub. But the switch was removed and.covered with a plate. Several fasteners were missing on the tub. The shower head was hanging loose, no longer secured to the wall behind. The tub was no longer level, as water that ended up on the tub ledge ended up pooling and flowing on the floor. The sink wasn't much better and long since seen better days, large scratches from wear were everywhere. As I mentioned, the bathroom was tiny with barely enough room for one person, more closer sized. Walking into the bedroom you immediately notice a musty smell. Literally everything except the tv and the beds was broken, missing parts, or in very poor worn shape. The dresser was missing a drawer. The fridge was flooding with water on the bottom. The light shades were stained. The finish on the furniture was worn and missing finish on many areas. Thrift shop furniture would have looked better to give you an idea of the wear. The A.C. which was a wall unit worked. The were no comforter for the beds just a light cover and sheet. Granted it's summer, but I come to expect it anyway. The carpet was worn and in need of replacement. The pool is enclosed is in a "greenhouse" outside. Very hot and humid due to to being enclosed without ac. Smokers outside were allowed to waft their smoke in. Bright spot was breakfast. Scrambled eggs, biscuits, instant coffee, cereal, pancake machine, susauge gravy, etc. Better get there early, they run out. The general clients was poor blacks and Hispanics with a few folks such as ourselves who just picked the place for a vacation spot. So expect lots of smokers just outside the exits and unaccompanied kids dumping juice and other things into the pool. All but bottom (4 floors) ice makers are broken and have been broken for a long time. Bottom floor barely had any ice as it was constantly being emptied. Overall: place needs a serious refurb, remodal, tear out and gut. It's obvious that the current owner has no intentions of maintaining the place. It is barely worth $40 only because of convienece to Williamsburg and Busch Gardens. I overpaid at 50 and god forbid, i feel sorry for anyone who pays...