Howard Johnson Inn - Albany

I have been coming to Albany every month this year, and stayed in the Howard Johnson all but one of those times. When it occured to me to try and shop around, I stayed someplace else in April, but the fact that I stayed at the HoJo again should say something. For what you pay, this is a great hotel, with staff committed to customer service and who can give accurate directions.

I come into Albany regularly, and after trying out most of the cheap hotels on Central and Wolf, I've pretty much committed myself to staying at the HoJo. They have good wifi, a good selecting of TV stations, perfectly fine rooms, and a very good contimental breakfast that isn't set up in the front lobby, so I can enjoy it in my pajamas without having someone looking over my shoulder the whole time. Housekeeping had the uncommon sense to leave the heat on and the TV on while I was gone for the day- I HATE walking into an icy room in the winter.

I come into Albany regularly, and I've learned that it's usually worth it to pay an extra $5/night and stay in the HoJo than to try to cheap out and not have wifi, or breakfast, or a thermostat, or a host of other adventures. This HoJo is great- I stay there regularly. But this time, I was really touched because I left my laptop charger in the room and the staff mailed it back to me. I had to call them, and set up a shipping and payment plan, but they did it, which saved me a bundle of money and really impressed the heck out of me.

I come into Albany regularly, doing business near the capitol, but not having money to stay anywhere near there. So I've stayed all up and down Wolf Rd. and the part of Central Ave. that's near Wolf. You can find hotels that are $10/night cheaper, but they don't have reliable wi-fi, a continental breakfast, a coffee maker or HBO. The Wolf Rd./Central Ave area contains a mall, and almost every franchise known to mankind, so what ever it is you're craving or forgot, it's close by when you stay here. And you can get onto the highway or Wolf Rd. without making a left turn onto Central- you can feel yourself age as you wait to make a left turn onto Central.

The entire place is dirty, inside the rooms and out. Dirty sheets , carpets and fixtures. Dirty walkways corridors and reception area. The staff was friendly , incompetent ,but friendly.

Hotel rooms were large. Not too fancy, but enough room not to feel cramped. Only issue was the inability to communicate with housekeeping.

The room carpet needed cleaning, I dared to walk on the floor barefeet, the tub was stained, the room phone did not work, any service I needed; I had to go to the front desk in the rain.

Not bad. Clean room. Peaceful.

Just passing through. Not a great neighborhood.

I barely stayed at my hotel and for good reason. For one, the sheets were horrible and I could see the stains, and the whole vibe of the room was unclean. Plus my friends from this area said that it wasn't the safest place in town. If I were to go back to New York, I would not stay at this hotel. One thing that was positive is that the staff and maintance was very friendly.