Arlington's BEST Hotel? Howard Johnson Review (Near Six Flags!)
Howard Johnson Arlington: A Review That's Seen Some Things (Near Six Flags, Baby!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn’t your average, sterile hotel review. This is my experience at the Howard Johnson near Six Flags in Arlington, Texas. And trust me, it was an experience. Let's dive in, shall we?
First Impressions: The Arrival and the Vibe (Because, Let's Be Honest, It's Important)
Pulling up, the Howard Johnson (HoJo, if you're feeling friendly) looked…well, like a Howard Johnson. Let's just say it doesn't scream "luxury." More like, "Hey, welcome! We've got a pool and hopefully, some clean sheets." The exterior… it was there. Let’s leave it at that. Signage: clear. Parking: abundant and free. Thank goodness. That’s a small win right off the bat. The parking area was… well, it was a parking area. I saw a few lone tumbleweeds of trash swirling in the wind, and a questionable looking, older car with some ominous duct tape.
The lobby was… functional. The front desk staff was… present. They checked me in efficiently enough, and provided the key card. Now, the key card was a bit wonky - like it had been through a few wars. I swear, at first glance I thought I'd just been handed a cardboard cutout of a credit card. Overall, the vibe was definitely more chill-out-and-relax-after-a-day-at-Six-Flags than ultra-regal. And that’s fine with me, I was there for fun and thrills, not to be pampered.
Rooms: Comfort and Quirks
My room? Okay, here's where it gets interesting. Remember, I'm not a fancy pants traveler. The room was… serviceable. Clean enough. The bed was comfy enough after a long day walking around at Six Flags. Yes, the decor was dated – think browns and beige. And the TV was… well, it worked. There was free Wi-Fi, which is a HUGE plus (and it worked surprisingly well!). Thank you, Howard Johnson, for actually providing decent internet! I was able to stream my stuff.
The Great Wi-Fi Debate:
Speaking of internet, here's something that gets to me about hotels: it's essential to have working Wifi! So, I was relieved when both the public and in-room Wi-Fi were provided for free. And also a little impressed!
The "Things to Do" – Beyond Six Flags (Kinda): Look, let's be real, if you're staying here, you're probably going to Six Flags. But the hotel does offer other things. Like a pool (more on that later), a gym, and a… well, that's about it. It's not a resort, y'all!
Dining – Where Things Got… Interesting: The Howard Johnson does have a restaurant. I tried it out. The food was okay. It was a buffet! I LOVE buffets! But… it was a little awkward because of the Covid-19 situation. There was a little bit of self-serving, though.
- Breakfast: A buffet of hot and cold dishes was provided. If you're someone who likes breakfast, you'll be happy. If you're someone who hates food, you'll probably find something to be mad at.
- Restaurants: There is a restaurant. It's okay!
- Snack Bar: It was serviceable for grabbing a quick snack.
- Room Service: 24-hour room service is available!
Cleanliness and Safety: The New Normal Now, let's talk about something important: safety. I was impressed by the clear efforts the hotel made to keep things clean. Hand sanitizer everywhere. Disinfecting wipes by the elevators. Staff always wore masks. All the rooms had been definitely cleaned after prior guests. I felt safe.
Accessibility Considerations: I did not specifically assess the accessibility features. However, I did note that there was an elevator.
Services and Conveniences:
- Front Desk: Always staffed, helpful, and friendly.
- Luggage Storage: Available! Always great for early arrivals or late departures.
- Cash Withdrawal: Yes.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Daily Housekeeping: Yes.
- Laundry Service: Available, but I didn’t use it.
The Pool: A Tale of Two Swims (and a Few Questions) The outdoor pool was…a draw, let's put it that way. It was certainly there. It was clean. I did see some kids and some adults having fun. But… it also had that slightly… used look. I’d say that the pool looked like someone had used it recently. It was decent enough for a quick dip after a day in the Texas heat.
Overall Impression: The Verdict The Howard Johnson near Six Flags is a solid choice if you're prioritizing proximity to the park and a comfortable place to crash. It’s not a luxury resort, but it is clean, convenient, and offers good basic services. I wouldn't go there expecting the Ritz, but I left satisfied. Some quirks? Definitely. But ultimately, a reasonable option for a fun trip.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5 Stars.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to embark on a whirlwind tour of… well, mostly the parking lot of the Howard Johnson and the glorious chaos of Six Flags. This isn't your pristine, perfectly organized itinerary. This is more like a slightly-stained, slightly-misplaced, slightly-existential map to my sanity (or lack thereof) while attempting to enjoy a vacation.
Day 1: Arrival and the Quest for Wifi (and Decent Coffee)
1:00 PM - Arrival at Howard Johnson, Arlington, Texas, USA. Oh, the grand entrance! "Welcome to… a parking lot" (that's basically the view from my window). The air conditioning? Mildly optimistic. The bellhop? Non-existent. Luggage? Managed…ish. Let's be honest, unpacking is an exercise in strategic chaos after a five-hour drive with three kids arguing about who gets the window seat. My initial emotional reaction: Mild, yet persistent dread.
1:15 PM - THE WIFI SAGA BEGINS. Seriously, how can a hotel in the 21st century have WIFI that's slower than dial-up? I swear, I spent fifteen minutes just trying to load a simple Google search. I'm pretty sure I saw a tumbleweed roll across the lobby. My husband, bless his heart, is already on hold with tech support, sounding suspiciously like he's about to start crying.
1:45 PM - Coffee. The Lifeline. Found a questionable coffee machine in the lobby. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned since, well, the invention of coffee. The coffee itself tasted like lukewarm swamp water, but hey, caffeine is caffeine. Needed that to power through the next…
2:00 PM - Exploring our new home. I'm officially calling our room "The Dungeon of Questionable Decor." The paint is peeling, the floral wallpaper is judging me, and the bedspread looks like it was designed by a committee of deranged clowns. My children, though? Ecstatic. They're already staging a full-scale pillow fight. My emotional reaction: a slow-building, simmering rage alongside a sudden, intense urge to buy a gigantic bottle of wine.
3:00 PM - Poolside…Maybe? The pool is… well, let's just say it's seen better days. The "lifeguard" is a faded sign in the corner. The kids are already covered in sunscreen and ready to jump, and then I see it: A rogue piece of unidentified debris floating in the water. I try to be optimistic, but my optimistic thought is quickly drowned out by my children's desires to swim. So here we are… Swimming.
6:00 PM - Dinner Plans Go South. I was hoping for a charming Tex-Mex place, but the TripAdvisor reviews for all nearby restaurants screamed "Avoid!" So, grocery store it is. My emotional reaction: exhaustion, a growing love for boxed mac and cheese, and a profound appreciation for anyone who can cook a decent meal after a long day of travel.
Day 2: Six Flags – The Rollercoaster of My Existence
8:00 AM - The Six Flags Rush. Packed lunches made, sunscreen applied (and reapplied, and reapplied), and tickets in hand. The drive to Six Flags (thankfully, it was close!) was a flurry of backseat bickering and frantic attempts to locate lost toys. My emotional reaction: a desperate prayer to the amusement park gods for a smooth day.
9:00 AM - INTO THE FRAY. We were officially in the park. The sheer volume of people was overwhelming. The smells of frying food and artificial sugar assaulted my senses. The gleam in my children's eyes, however? Pure, unadulterated joy.
10:00 AM - First Ride: The Torture Begins! We started with a "kid-friendly" ride that was actually terrifying. My youngest screamed, my middle child looked like he was about to faint, and I clung to the safety bar as if my life depended on it (which, at that moment, it might have). My emotional reaction: a mixture of adrenaline, mild terror, and a begrudging sort of fun.
11:00 AM - The Quest for the Perfect Photo, and The Incident. We attempted a staged family photo in front of a cartoonish prop. Kids refused to smile due to a sugar crash, a rogue pigeon swooped in and stole my lunch (turkey sandwich), and the camera battery died. My emotional reaction: I wanted to set the whole park on fire, but then I thought what a great story it would make if I told it later.
12:00 PM - Lunch and a Reality Check. Pizza – the universally accepted fuel of theme parks. The pizza was okay, but the people-watching? Spectacular. I observed a couple arguing over a stuffed animal, a teenager glued to their phone, and a dad trying to navigate a stroller through a sea of humanity.
1:00 PM - More Rides, More Mayhem. The lines were LONG. We waited. The kids whined. I tried to distract myself by people-watching. Saw some amazing rollercoasters, and even though I'm afraid of them, I watched people scream and laugh with unadulterated joy.
3:00 PM - The Desert Dreams. We spent two hours in the park, and the lines were still unbelievably long. We waited to get on the merry-go-round, spent 20 minutes, and waited another hour to get ice cream. My emotional reaction: This is worth it, because my kids are happy.
5:00 PM - The Grand Finale (and a Quick Escape). One last ride, a final souvenir, and then… freedom! The drive back to the hotel was thankfully uneventful. My emotional reaction: pure, unadulterated relief and a deep appreciation for the fact that I survived.
7:00 PM - Dinner, Sleep, and Daydreaming. Back to our room… more mac and cheese. Sleep, that sweet, glorious sleep. If I could have one wish right now? It would be for a clean room. But no complaints.
8:00 PM - Emotional processing! I'm not sure how many more days I can take, but I can already tell this vacation will be one for the books.
Day 3: Farewell (and the Start of the Laundry)
8:00 AM - Breakfast of Champions. Found a stale donut in the vending machine. Served it with lukewarm coffee. Feeling a bit nostalgic for the chaos.
9:00 AM - Goodbyes. The kids are already asking when we can come back. I am already looking at the laundry and dreading the post-vacation mess.
10:00 AM - Checking Out. The front desk staff was surprisingly friendly. Apparently, that's a nice touch.
10:30 AM - The Road. Let the games begin.
This isn't just a trip; it's a survival story. A story of sticky hands, questionable coffee, and the enduring power of family. And if you’re very lucky… maybe you'll find a half-eaten churro in your backpack, a final, sweet taste of the adventure.
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1. Okay, so, is this Howard Johnson actually the BEST hotel, like, EVER?
HA! Best? No. Let's be brutally honest. "Best" implies a level of... sophistication this place actively avoids. More like… the hotel. The one you end up at after a day of coaster-induced nausea and the desperate need for air conditioning. It’s a survivor, this Howard Johnson. It's seen things… and maybe, just maybe, those things involved a slightly worn-out Jacuzzi.
Look, it's not the Ritz. But it *is* close to Six Flags, which is the ONLY thing that matters after you've spun upside down for three minutes straight on the Titan. Proximity, my friends, is EVERYTHING.
2. Alright, alright, fine, not the "best." But is it… clean? I'm a bit of a germaphobe, okay?
Okay, so… clean. Let's say "functional." My last visit? I think I saw a dust bunny the size of a small dog. I’m not joking. It was a *behemoth*. Honestly, I was half-impressed and half-terrified that something that fluffy could *survive* in a hotel room. Did I mention the slightly… *sticky* feeling of the carpet? Yeah. Might be a good idea to pack some flip-flops. Or, you know, a hazmat suit. Just kidding... mostly.
Still, the sheets seemed… clean-ish. And the bathroom, well, it hadn’t actively tried to kill me, which is a win in my book. Though I did notice a slight… mildew scent. But hey, character, right?
3. The pool… is it swimmable? I need a cool-down after a day of screaming.
Ah, the pool. Now, this is where things get… interesting. The last time I was there, and I kid you not, there were more kids doing cannonballs than actual water volume. It was a chaotic, chlorine-infused free-for-all.
On the plus side, it *looked* like water. I didn’t see any obvious… wildlife. But honestly, the sheer volume of screaming children might make it a deal-breaker. Consider it an adventure, though! You might just make some new friends (screaming children included).
4. The breakfast… is it actually *breakfast*, or just a sad continental excuse?
Okay, so the breakfast situation… remember that episode of *The Simpsons* where they went to the all-you-can-eat crab place? It's *kinda* like that, but with slightly less crab and *way* more lukewarm scrambled eggs. And the coffee? It's… brown. And vaguely caffeinated.
Don't go in expecting a gourmet experience. Think… cereal, pastries that may or may not be from this decade, and maybe, if you're lucky, a waffle maker that actually works. But it *is* free, and after a day of Six Flags, you'll eat anything.
5. Let's talk about the staff. Are they, like, friendly? Or are they just weary from dealing with theme park tourists?
The staff… bless their hearts. They’re the unsung heroes of the Six Flags experience. They've seen things. They've heard things. They’ve probably smelled things I don't even *want* to imagine. They are, generally speaking, doing their best.
They're not always overflowing with sunshine and rainbows, but they're usually polite and helpful. I had a *slightly* mortifying incident involving a vending machine and a bag of chips that refused to be dispensed (long story, involving gravity and a lot of awkward jiggling), and the guy at the front desk actually helped me out. He might have chuckled a little. Okay, he *definitely* chuckled. But he helped! So, yeah, they're alright in my book.
6. The location! Is it *really* as close to Six Flags as everyone says?
THIS. THIS IS THE GOLDEN TICKET. Yes! It's practically *across the street*. And that, my friends, is worth its weight in gold after a day of battling crowds, enduring the Texas heat, and potentially losing your lunch on The Titan. You can practically *smell* the funnel cakes from the parking lot. (Which, actually, might be a good or bad thing depending on your tolerance for fried dough.) Seriously, it’s a lifesaver.
7. Okay, spill the tea. Any truly HORRIBLE experiences? Like, the WORST thing that happened to you there?
Okay, buckle up. I have *one* story. One fateful night I was there, and let me tell you, the AC in my room was just… *chumming*. It was not cooling, just spewing lukewarm air and a faint odor of despair. I called the front desk, and a very nice but utterly flustered maintenance guy showed up. He tinkered. He fiddled. He swore silently under his breath. Nothing worked. I ended up sleeping with the window open, listening to the glorious soundtrack of Texas nightlife: sirens, distant laughter, and the occasional yelp from a dog that *really* needed to go outside. It. Was. Humid. And I was covered in mosquito bites by morning. Never again... never again. I asked for a refund and they gave me... a discount to use at the gift shop. I took the discount, out of pure exhaustion.
8. Should I stay at this Howard Johnson? Be honest!
Look, if you're looking for luxury, this is not your place. If you're searching for a place that evokes cleanliness and reliability, also not it. But if you're prioritizing convenience, proximity to Six Flags, and the kind of experience that's so memorable it might scar you for life… then, yes, absolutely. Just pack some earplugs, a hazmat suit, and a healthy dose of humor. You'll survive. And you'll have a story to tell. Maybe. Just maybe.
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