I will give some credit where it is due:
Decent sized room, quiet, comfortable enough bed, pillows, big tv, decent outdoor pool.
And now the cons:
First thing I noticed walking into my room is that I was pummeled by a strong must & chemical smell. Even the carpet sort of felt damp somehow. I'm sure it must be a cleaning product or something but the chemical smell is so strong that even after leaving the windows open all night, every time i went outside and walked back in the smell was still so very strong that it was instant headache, watery eyes, stuffed sinuses. Walking outside of the room instantly cleared up the symptoms. If it wasn't the cleaning products in the carpet that did that then it must be from the musty smell which likely is mold. The smell constantly stabbed me in the brain. Very difficult to sleep like that. Didn't mention it to the staff because in talking to the other guests outside they had the same complaint. While things appeared clean, because of the dampish carpet and smell I never felt clean.
For the last 10 years I have stayed in many a hotel and motel for work. I'm not that picky. All I need is to feel clean and comfortable and I really don't care about any other amenities. That being said when the floor feels damp and the strong chemical smell makes it impossible for you to relax, I feel like the Howard Johnson is overlooking some pretty standard things.