Howard Johnson Toronto Lakeshore

I don’t get all the negativity around this hotel! Sure there are a few things not as good as they could be, but overall it was great for us.
The good: quick check in, easy to find, free breakfast on site with waffles, cereal, toast … Usual stuff but great.
Yes, the room was on the smaller side, but it was very comfortable for one looking for a hotel to serve its purpose, maybe not the best «all day» room to move around in but for the price it’s very generous.
The bad: It’s beside the streetcar station so you may or may not be bothered/​awoken by some screeching streetcars going by throughout the night. It is infrequent but does come by every so often.
The parking isn’t only underground as some say, there are a few above ground spots, although not many and you may not find one if you get there too late in the evening. The underground isn’t as scary as some put it, although sure, it could be better.
If you use their parking, you have to walk about 2 blocks to get back (10 minutes) and at night, you may come across some interesting folks. Also, it’s an additional charge to park with them.
If you’re ok with those few unpleasant things about the hotel, then you should find your stay here to be a good one, if not, maybe it would be worth the extra fifty or so to stay somewhere else. Do keep in mind the parking is an extra charge here and it’s not on site (if you’re shopping around).

I thought Howard Johnson was a rep-​able hotel that competes with hotel chains. I went inside and booked a room and checked in they gave me the cards to swipe and entered the room on the 3^rd floor and the room was taken already. Their was actually people inside, it was embarrassing. Imagine if they were going at it. What a stupid mistake they did. I went all the way downstairs and they said sorry and gave me anther room. Went up stairs again and the freak an cards didn’t work. I was pissed already! I went all the way down stairs again and they apologized and gave me new cards. I went to the 3^rd floor again and looked at my girlfriend and we said that were to tired to make love going up and down the stairs. L.o.l. Anyways we went in and oh my god! What a dump. Really Howard Johnson! The freaked mattress looked like it was dragged down the street by a streetcar. It was all stained like my neighbors teeth. I was discussed and felt like I was in a crake house. Hello hello people are you guys ok. Take their license away. Please don’t even go here. To make the story short we left I could sleep their no way. Now I’m writing this review all itchy thinking of it. Knock the building down.

I don’t complain often but just had to share, as the experience I had at this hotel was THAT bad.
Had no electricity at home due to the ice storm. I made the mistake of picking Howard Johnson at 14 Roncesvalles Ave in Toronto for my stay. The absolute worst hotel room I’ve ever been in, and the worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously, no joke. I don’t think I got 4 hours sleep the whole night I stayed at this hotel due to the noise from the streetcar hub on the same corner and due to the bone chilling temperature of the room.
Absolutely ridiculous that A/​C units would be left in the window in these tiny rooms (especially at this location) all winter long. It was like having the window open all night with non-​stop street car noise right below my bed and cold air negating the small amount of heat coming out of the rad. Freezing cold all night, with no way to turn up heat! I actually had the hair dryer running in the bathroom to try and warm up in the middle of the night. I had to wear my jeans over top of my pjs and it was still cold.
The room was so small only one bedside table fit beside the bed. I actually laughed out loud when i entered the room it was that small. Wasn’t laughing for long however.
The room was dirty (ugh) with stained a comforter and stains on the walls (I actually took pictures as I couldn’t believe what I was seeing) and there was filth behind and beside the bedside table etc. Ever pull your fridge away from the wall… that is the kind of filth I’m referring to. Bathtub chipped and the shower curtain I didn’t want to touch.
Smoking room (all that was available to me) absolutely wreaked. The smell was somewhat expected, but it was like sleeping in an ashtray.
All for the low price of around $ 135.00.: (as I had a dog and paid for parking. This hotel is not cheap but the condition and the service sure is.
The parking was a 10 minute walk from the hotel in an old apartment buildings underground parking lot. Walking back to the hotel after parking quite far from it is not recommended at night due to the area (some shady characters roam the streets near the hotel in the evening).
When I complained about the noise and the fact that the room was dirty and freezing at check-​out the next morning after a horrible sleep the desk staff merely agreed that all the streetcar activity below can be loud and that it was a problem. No apology or sympathetic ear whatsoever. No offer of compensation or discount — nothing.
When I emailed Howard Johnson Canada to complain after the stay, they told me to call the general manager and he would be «happy» to resolve the issue. When I reached Eugene he was confrontational and rude. He accused me of «ruining his business» by sending Howard Johnson Canada a private message via their facebook page. He also accused me of sneaking my dog in (I had called and booked prior to arriving and told the desk staff I had a dog with me prior to stepping foot in the hotel and had my dog with me on check in (?!) He over-​talked, not allowing me to even describe my experience and was confrontational and aggressive. Eugene (manager) reluctantly offered me a $ 20 discount which I have just refused due to the fact that he was so rude and his attempts to rectify the situation after his hand was forced by Howard Johnson Canada were laughable. Not only the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had but lousy customer service when lodging a complaint too.
I can’t believe I paid $ 135.00 to stay at this hotel when I would have been more comfortable sleeping in a bank machine cubby/​lobby with a sleeping bag, or a bus station etc. At least I’d have been warm and it would have been relatively quiet and likely a lot cleaner.
NOT staying at this the Howard Johnson at 14 Roncesvalles Ave in Toronto is highly advised. Spend your money elsewhere and save yourself from a BRUTAL hotel experience.

This is not the worst hotel I have ever stayed in, but it is VERY BAD.
What you need to know:
Make sure the you are looking at the right price when you book online. The website lures you in by using discounted government or service member rates as the default. You need to click that you are not either of these things to get the general rate. Otherwise, you will be disappointed when you try to check in.
The parking is blocks away in lot that the hotel staff does not monitor. I paid $ 12 for a «parking pass» (xeroxed paper with the previous holder’s greasy fingerprints on it) only to trek over to the lot and find it full. Ended up going back to get a refund and found a lot down the block on Queen that was cheaper and closer. Didn’t even try to park in the underground garage, which, from what I could see, looked like a set for one of the Saw sequels.
Roncesvalles and Queen is a busy intersection. You will hear everything that happens out there from your tiny room.
Bottom line:
If you’re a government employee or a service member who doesn’t need a place to park your car, maybe you can rationalize staying here for the discount. If not, avoid.

Worst hotel ever! Picture a crack house with a receptionist. Parking is located 6 blocks away in the underground of a lovely government subsidized building. Pretty sure a homeless man slept in my car.

It’s located on a busy intersection so it can easily be missed. Do note that there is no parking lot at all, so for someone like me who drove in, this was one of the biggest downsides. However, there is street parking available that you can pay, I believe it starts at 8am and ends at 9pm, but between those hours, it’s free. Checkout time is 11am, so I had to wake up, pay the meter at 8am for the maximum of 3 hours and check out. The rooms are very tiny, but they provide everything that you would need, such as wifi, air conditioning, heater, etc. The staff was friendly and fast. You pretty much get what you pay for, and it’s close proximity to downtown Toronto is the biggest appeal.