Not the most luxurious hotel I've ever stayed in but certainly relaxed, comfortable and friendly. It was showing its age a little, being a slightly faded Miami Moderne in style, and the rooms could've been improved with a lick of paint, but they were cool and comfortable and ours had a view of the ocean and boardwalk, what more can you want?

The staff were fine, and the restaurant although unpretentious served some very good steaks; the chef also had a nice line in baked goods in the mornings lifting breakfast a little out of the ordinary.

Decent pool with a poolside bar, too, and the back gate opened right onto the boardwalk.

Downtown Miami Beach was within easy walking distance and downtown Miami just a short bus ride away, so the location was excellent.

If you're not looking for the last word in chic or modernity this is a friendly, laid-back, pleasant place to stay. It's not ambitious or pretentious; it's just comfortable and easy-going. The few very minor problems we had during our stay were dealt with politely and promptly.

I booked a room over the Internet, using the Howard Johnson Web Site and received my reservation number ect but when I arrived at the Hotel there was a sign on the door saying it was shut down!!!! I eventually made contact with a builder inside (with the help of a lovely Polish Taxi driver) who informed me that the Hotel had been closed for the past few weeks and we were not the first people to turn up expecting to stay there. I had to go and get another Hotel and when I contacted Howard Johnson Customer Services they told me that this Hotel was not on their list, they didn't have my reservation number but 'Thanks for letting us know!!!!!
Some customer service, my advice, stay well clear of Howard Johnson!!

I spent 20 days in usa on vacations, went to 5 hotels, and this is the rudest staff of all of them... They force me to pay for the safe, that i couldnt use, first becuase i don t want it, and second, becuase it was broken. The man in the valet parking is an idiot. When i chek in, i arraived, at 2:00 in the morning, the clerk was sleeping in a sofa in the reception, when i went to my room, i phone him, to wake me up at the morning, but he never answer the phone. The last day i have to take my flight at 8:00 and they have to call me at 6:00, they didn t do it, i almost miss my flight.
Stay away...

I stayed with a few friends at this hotel over christmas and new year just passed. I was brought up with the mindset- ' if you can't think of anything good to say, well dont say it'. But, the Howard Johnson hotel really took the biscuit.
The reception area was dull, the breakfasts were really poor value in return for what you paid. The actual main meals were very poor. better off ordering in pizza!
the pool was ok, and the guy on the bar there friendly enough. the rest of the hotel was a very uncomfortable atmosphere and reception team were very surly and it was even a chore to get a decent word of english out of them.
Room service was poor also- from what I cold see the floor was only threatened with a hoover maybe every 3 or 4 days and the beds were made up- that was about it. bins were allowed to over flow in the bedroom and bathroom. and the fact that the safe charge was added on despite not being used every day!
also- this is a 1st for me, if you make a phone call and type an incorrect number, you are charged of it even though you dont get through to anyone! 75cent just to lift the receiver!! and room service tips added to yuor bill. and the service shocking!!
I just hope anyone reading this has the good sense not to book into this hotel!!