I think this is the worst hotel I have ever stayed at - we booked through Hotwire, so didn't know what we were getting... we booked 2 adults, 2 children. We were late arriving and found ourselves in a room with one bed - they did move us. But the best way to describe this place is a "dump" - cough up another couple of dollars (if that) and stay anywheere else.

An older property to be sure but for under $75 (Canadian) it was a good deal. We were told we could have a harbour view for about an extra ten bucks when I called to make the reservation Didn't up grade. When we got there we were on the 3rd floor on the harbour view side. So we got a harbour view anyway- although not at the top of the hotel. The room had a small balcony (no chairs out there unless you took the one from the room.) All rooms had kitchenettes I read. My friend told me that it had once been a residence not a hotel, hence the reason for the kitchenettes. While we never used the stove, we made ice cubes and used the coffee maker. Fridge was really cold and could not keep friut in there but didn't attempt to turn down the fridge. Nice to walk down to the place where the ferry lands (Alderney ? Landing - sorry about the spelling) on Saturday and got some fresh squeezed orange juice and home-made pie for breakfast. We were there at 8:30 so it opens early. No pictures on the walls, only one bedside table. I liked that there wasn't a fan automatically coming on when I went into the bathroom. Nice adjustable shower head. My partner found the bed too soft. I thought it was ok. Real blanket on bed not one of those thin new man made fiber things. There were extra pillows and also an extra blanket right in the room. Television very small but not a problem for me. Free use of internet in the lobby. Nice to be able to check one's email. Sign said to be courteous to others and limit use to 15 minutes. Staff friendly.

I found the location of the hotel in Dartmouth was ideal...in a very safe area one block away from the ferry to Halifax and public library. True, it's a sleepy little residential area, but Halifax is only $2 and 10 minutes away, so this location is the best of both worlds.Considering the cost of the room was very reasonable compared to bigger hotels in Halifax, this was perfect for me.The furnishings of the rooms weren't ultra modern, but the room I had was spacious, cozy, clean and comfortable, and the kitchenette was VERY clean and a real godsend (even equipped with plates, silverware, etc.!) The other "perk" that I LOVE is you get a complimentary pass to the Dartmouth Sportscomplex (YMCA-type gym facility) which is only a 10 minute walk through a lovely little park. Last, (but NOT least), the staff there bent over backwards to make me feel welcome and comfortable. All were extremely pleasant and helpful, but Tammy and Noelle were especially outstanding in every way. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again, and neither should you :-)

Well, it's a mixed bag - I had a very pleasant stay there for the most part, but there are issues that should provoke caution. The hotel is right across the harbor from Halifax in Dartmouth. It’s much less expensive than any other rate I could find for a very nice room - 2 room suite with a kitchenette with a balcony with a lovely view of Halifax. I found the lowest rate on Howard Johnson’s own website, $76 CDN. WiFi was $9.95 the first day, $4.95 after, parking is $5 a day outside or $7 covered, but on street was free on the weekends. The rooms are pleasant but not luxurious, the kitchenette comes in very handy - it had a microwave, sink & fridge along with cutlery and plates. There were some signs of wear in the room (my ceiling had what looked like repaired water damage - perhaps what the previous poster mentioned?) and the housekeeping was indifferent to careless. Most seriously I came back one day to find my room door slightly open - evidently the cleaning person had not completely shut it when leaving. Nothing was missing, but that was an unpleasant surprise. Front desk staff is very friendly and helpful. The location has its advantages - it's easier to deal with a car in Dartmouth, and the view of Halifax is prettier than the view from Halifax. However, Halifax is known for its pubs and nightlife, and if you’re in Dartmouth, that means crossing a toll bridge and finding parking. Most of the Halifax hotels are right within walking distance of all of it. If you'd like to sample the nightlife, I think it would be worth it to try and stay at least one weekend night in downtown Halifax, even at an increased cost. In summary, the hotel isn't a dump, but proceed with caution.