Escape to Paradise: Howard Johnson La Plata's Unexpected Luxury
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a review of the Howard Johnson La Plata. Forget the polished travel brochures; this is the unvarnished truth, dotted with my own brand of chaos and… well, let's just say opinions.
Escape to Paradise? More Like a Pleasant Surprise! (With Spices of Chaos)
Alright, so I booked this place, Howard Johnson La Plata, expecting, you know… a Howard Johnson. Perfectly serviceable, probably a bit dated, a place to crash. What I GOT? Well, let's just say it was a roller coaster, and not always the smooth kind.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (Like My Breakfast Buffet)
Okay, here's where things get a little… uneven. The website trumpets “Accessibility.” And, sure, the Elevator was a lifesaver, especially after lugging my suitcase up a flight of stairs that felt like Mount Everest after my long flight. They did have Facilities for disabled guests, which I’d have loved to utilize more actively, if I'd had the need. But I didn't see anything that felt specifically designed for wheelchair users beyond the elevator, which is a shame. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property are always reassuring, but I honestly didn't notice them until I started writing this. And honestly, the whole thing felt a little generic.
The Food… A Gastronomic Adventure (Sometimes Good, Sometimes… Not So Much)
This is where things get interesting. The Breakfast [buffet] was both amazing and a bit of a hazard. On the plus side, there was Asian breakfast and the more standard Western breakfast. The Buffet in restaurant was chaotic, but in a good way! They had a Coffee shop with decent coffee, a total lifesaver, but the real star was the Poolside bar. Sipping a mojito while gazing at the Swimming pool [outdoor] and catching some sun? Pure bliss.
However… the A la carte in restaurant? Hit or miss. Some dishes were incredible, hinting at some legitimate culinary talent; others? Let's just say they were… adventurous. The Desserts in restaurant were a high point, though! I did find the Salad in restaurant a little… lacking, but the Soup in restaurant was surprisingly excellent.
I'm skipping over the Bottle of water because, well, it's a bottle of water. But the availability of Room service [24-hour]? That’s a MAJOR win. Essential.
Cleanliness and Safety: A Surprisingly Reassuring Embrace (Especially Post-COVID)
Look, these days, "clean" is a big deal. And the Howard Johnson La Plata, surprisingly, delivered. They were using Anti-viral cleaning products, which – in my paranoia-ridden mind – got a big thumbs up. The Breakfast takeaway service was there for mornings when I needed to get out of dodge. Daily disinfection in common areas was definitely noticeable and appreciated.
I loved the Hand sanitizer that was everywhere. The staff wore masks religiously, and the Safe dining setup was well-executed. And you could even opt out of Room sanitization which, hello, is a nice touch. I mean, I’m a germaphobe, but even I thought that was a good thing! And Sanitized kitchen and tableware items! Yes, please! My only real criticism would be the apparent non-use of the Doctor/nurse on call, but thankfully, I didn't need them.
Things to Do (AKA: How to Avoid Feeling Like a Couch Potato)
Okay, so "relax" is good, but after a while, you need something. I didn't experience most of the things to do. The Spa? I'd like to say I indulged in a Body scrub and Body wrap, but… I didn’t. I did use the Fitness center. It wasn’t the most modern gym I've ever seen, but it was passable, and good for that post-buffet feeling of regret. The Sauna and Steamroom looked enticing. The Swimming pool was another great chill out zone, though I didn’t take advantage of the Pool with view.
The Room: My Sanctuary (Mostly)
My room. Ah, the room! The bed was comfy and had an Extra long bed, which was perfect for a person who likes to stretch out after my long hours of sleep. The Blackout curtains were a godsend for sleeping off jet lag, and the Air conditioning was essential. There was no Proposal spot, but honestly, that's not something I actively look for. The Non-smoking rules were amazing, and the Soundproof rooms meant I got some much-needed quiet. I appreciate the presence of the Ironing facilities, I may have to wear a wrinkled outfit. The Free bottled water was a nice touch. I liked the Seating area, but the Sofa felt a little worn. And the Shower was, well, a shower. No complaints. There was a Coffee/tea maker, but the Complimentary tea wasn't the best. I'm not sure if that's a complaint or not. It was also a Non-smoking room, which was great!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things (That Make a Big Difference)
Okay, so this is where the Howard Johnson shines. They had Air conditioning in public areas, which was great because it's crazy hot sometimes.
The Elevator was key, obviously. Food delivery? Always a winner. The Daily housekeeping was amazing. The Luggage storage was genuinely helpful because I didn't have room in my car. The Front desk [24-hour] staff were always friendly and helpful. The Cash withdrawal worked flawlessly.
Internet Access: The Good and the Bad (But Mostly Good!)
Okay, so here's a mixed bag. The Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! was a huge plus. I mean, hello? That’s the standard but it’s necessary. The Internet access – wireless was solid and mostly worked fine.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things (That Make a Big Difference)
The Air conditioning in public area was great. The Concierge was genuinely helpful. The Convenience store? Saved my life on a few occasions. They had a Currency exchange, which was convenient. Daily housekeeping was amazing.
Overall: Worth It? Definitely, with Caveats!
So, would I recommend the Howard Johnson La Plata? Yes, absolutely! It’s a solid choice that’s a pleasant surprise. It’s not perfect. It's got some quirks. But it's comfortable, clean (very!), and the staff are genuinely trying to make your stay pleasant. Just adjust your expectations a tiny bit, pack some entertainment for the (very minor) dull moments, and prepare for what might just be a surprisingly good time. And for the price? It's a steal.
Escape to Paradise: TRYP by Wyndham Santa Cruz Bolivia Awaits!Howard Johnson La Plata: My Argentinian Adventure (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Empanadas)
Okay, deep breaths. This isn't a polished brochure, folks. This is ME, on a trip… in La Plata! And, well, here's the messy, glorious, sometimes bewildered chaos of it:
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and the Promise of Meat
- Morning (7:00 AM - Buenos Aires Airport, Ezeiza): Landed! Jet lag is already punching me square in the face. The customs guy barely glanced at my passport, which, honestly, felt like a win. My Spanish is… functional, let’s say. "Hola" and "gracias" are currently my power moves.
- Morning (8:30 AM - Transfer to La Plata): Pre-booked transfer (thank GOD for that!). The driver was incredibly cheerful, despite the torrential downpour. He kept pointing out "cosas interesantes" – buildings I couldn’t quite decipher through the rain-streaked windows. La Plata felt like a wet, mysterious dream.
- Afternoon (11:00 AM - Check-in at Howard Johnson): The hotel lobby was surprisingly grand. Marble, chandeliers, the whole shebang. My room? Decent. Clean, which is all that really matters after 20 hours of travel. I did a quick “Is this a good room for kidnapping?” check (I watch too much true crime, clearly.) and then promptly collapsed on the bed, mostly from exhaustion.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - Lunch - Restaurant at Howard Johnson): Ordered something I think was pasta. I pointed at a picture and made hopeful noises. Ended up with… a mountain of meat. Seriously, a mountain. It was delicious, though. The language barrier is a beautiful thing. I'm pretty sure I ate half a cow.
- Afternoon (2:30 PM - Attempted Exploration): Tried to wander around the city. Got hopelessly lost in a series of very similar, very beautiful, tree-lined streets. Found a little cafe, ordered a coffee (thankfully, I know that word in every language). The coffee was strong enough to resurrect the dead. People-watching was excellent. Everyone seemed effortlessly chic, even when battling relentless drizzle.
- Evening (6:00 PM - Back to the hotel, soul-crushing jet lag): Crawled back to the hotel. Took a nap. Woke up, felt utterly disoriented, and debated whether to have a cry. Decided to order room service. More meat. This is going to be a carb-free trip, I can feel it.
- Evening (7:30 PM - Dinner: Room Service, continued): Ate my meat mountain. The TV had a news show I could only partially understand. The anchorwoman looked incredibly serious, and I felt a sudden and unreasonable urge to start knitting.
- Evening (9:00 PM - Sleep): Sleep came, thankfully.
Day 2: Plaza Moreno and the Empanada Revelation (The Glorious Mess)
- Morning (8:00 AM - Breakfast at hotel): The breakfast buffet was… overwhelming. So much food! So many choices! I settled for some toast, which, let’s be honest, is my comfort food in any situation. Then, it was back to the meat-adjacent food.
- Morning (9:30 AM - Plaza Moreno): Finally, some sunlight! Traipsed down to Plaza Moreno. That cathedral is STUNNING. Seriously, jaw-dropping. The architecture is just… chefs kiss. I wandered around, feeling like I'd accidentally stumbled into a movie set. It felt almost criminal that I didn't know anything about this place before coming. I could have prepared better. But still, it's incredible.
- Morning (11:00 AM - Empanada Quest): Okay, this is important. I had one mission: Find the PERFECT empanada. Asked a local for advice. She pointed me toward a little bakery.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - Empanada Nirvana): This tiny bakery was the most important place in the city. I ordered, and they brought me… HEAVEN. Seriously. Flaky pastry, savory filling, pure deliciousness. I ordered three more. Then I sat, and I ate. I'm not proud of how many I ate. But it was a life-changing experience. The filling was savory, a blend of beef, onions, peppers, and olives. The pastry was flaky and golden, perfect. I wanted to cry, then get back to stuffing my face. This. Was. Worth. The. Trip. That bakery is now forever imprinted in my memory – and my taste buds.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - Museums and Regret): I attempted to visit a museum. Failed. My Spanish is not yet up to deciphering historical exhibits. Wandered around looking for another empanada, found a bookstore instead, and bought a Spanish-English phrase book. Regret over the museum. The empanada mission was a success, though.
- Afternoon (4:00 PM - More wandering): I just kept walking. Trying to soak in the atmosphere, the energy of the city. Saw a guy playing the guitar on a street corner, and it was perfect.
- Evening (6:00 PM - Dinner at the restaurant): Back to the hotel restaurant. This time determined to expand my culinary horizons. Ordered something called "Locro." It was a stew. Delicious, but honestly, I am pretty sure there was more meat. I really need to learn how to cook for myself.
- Evening (8:00 PM - The Great Language Barrier): Watched some more TV. It's all Spanish, but the commercials are universally understandable. I think I now know the best way to sell shampoo in Argentina.
- Evening (9:00 PM - Sleep): Sleep came, once again.
Day 3: The University, Departure, and the Lingering Taste of Perfection
- Morning (9:00 AM - The University): Sneaked a peek at the University of La Plata. The architecture is phenomenal. A real head-turner. I can't help but admire the sheer scale of the place. I don’t know what they study, but it looks impressive.
- Morning (11:00 AM - Last-minute souvenir hunt): Scrambled for souvenirs. Bought a small, rather ugly, but charming, Argentinian flag.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - Farewell Empanada): One last, desperate attempt for an empanada. Back to the bakery! This time, I got to say "gracias" with more fluency (and I think I even managed a "por favor"). I wanted to weep.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - Check-out): Checked out of the Howard Johnson. The staff were incredibly friendly. Gave them a huge smile.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - Transfer to the airport): The transfer was uneventful. The driver was a bit bored this time, but he got me there.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM - Ezeiza Airport): The airport! A sprawling mess, as airports tend to be.
- Evening (6:00 PM - The long flight home): I’m on my flight home, and honestly, I feel… changed. Dirty, but changed. The trip was a blur of meat, confusion, and sheer, unadulterated joy. La Plata? It's a city of hidden beauty, grand buildings, and the most perfect empanadas in the world. I'll be back. I’ll bring a bigger stomach. And I'll finally learn some real Spanish. And, yeah, maybe it wasn't perfect. But it was real. And it was mine.
Post-Trip Notes:
- The Empanada Bakery: Still dreaming about it. Will try to find the address. It deserves to be a national monument.
- Spanish lessons: MUST start IMMEDIATELY.
- Meat consumption: Probably need a detox.
- Overall rating: 10/10. Would absolutely do again. Probably should have brought antacids.
Okay, so...Howard Johnson? Really paradise? Seriously? Spill the beans.
Alright, alright, settle down! Look, when I booked "Escape to Paradise: Howard Johnson La Plata" I was fully expecting... well, let's just say a slightly better Motel 6. My expectations were subterranean. My credit card trembled. I was picturing questionable carpet stains and flickering fluorescent lights. You know the drill.
Then… I walked in. And my jaw. DROPPED. Okay, maybe not *paradise* in the classic, sun-drenched-beach-with-a-coconut-drink kind of way. But this Howard Johnson? This was … *surprisingly* delightful. More like… *Unexpectedly* delightful. Like finding a twenty-dollar bill in your old jeans. Or a decent bottle of wine at the gas station.
It wasn't perfect, mind you. More on that later. But the lobby? Sparkling. The staff? Actually *friendly*! Not the forced, corporate-trained kind. Genuine. Like they were genuinely *pleased* to see me. Which, frankly, is a rarity these days. So, yeah, it earned a few points right from the start. So, yes, the Howard Johnson La Plata is great!
Let's talk rooms. What do you *really* remember? Be honest. Did they have a continental breakfast, and was it, you know, at *least* edible?
Okay, room confessions time. Because listen, I've seen some hotel rooms. I've seen rooms that look like crime scenes (thankfully, I wasn't involved, just the unfortunate witness). I've seen rooms that smell like despair and sadness. So I was prepared for the worst.
The room at the Howard Johnson? Clean. Really clean. Which, honestly, is the biggest win. The bed was… comfortable. Not the cloud-like luxury of a five-star resort, but hey, I slept *well*. The bathroom? Spotless. Bonus points for decent water pressure in a budget hotel setting! Seriously, I have a *real* issue with weak hotel showers. It's a personal pet peeve.
And the continental breakfast? This is where things get… interesting. Yes, there was a continental breakfast. And, yes, it was… *edible*. The coffee? Weak. Very, very weak. Like, I-need-three-cups-to-feel-alive levels of weak. But hey, they had bagels. And those little pre-packaged muffins! I, actually, have to say that I ate at least three of those every day. And the staff was friendly enough to not even judge me. But this breakfast was really it's weakness!
Okay, so it's clean-ish. But what about the *vibe*? Was it packed with families? Creepy people who clearly live there? Give me the lowdown.
The vibe… ah, the *vibe*. This is where the Howard Johnson La Plata really surprised me. It wasn't the typical sterile, corporate hotel vibe. It had… warmth. There was a genuine sense of… community? That sounds insane, I know. But it felt like a place where people were *actually* enjoying themselves.
Yes, there were families. Kids running around. A little bit of chaos. But it wasn't the loud, obnoxious kind of chaos that you get at some kid-focused resorts. It was… manageable. There were also couples. And a few solo travelers. They all seemed… chill. Like they were all happy to be there. I even chatted with a few people. (And I *hate* talking to strangers!)
And the creepy people? Nope. Didn't see any. Which, let's be honest, is a win in *any* hotel situation. I walked around that place at night and I was not creeped out at all. I actually quite enjoyed the vibe!
The Pool! Is there a pool? And more importantly, is it a *swimmable* pool? Or a swamp filled with questionable… things? Please, detail.
Okay, the pool. This is the *make-or-break* moment for any hotel, in my humble opinion. I mean, what's a vacation without a little poolside lounging? I'd heard whispers. Rumors. Things that could have ended the hotel's reputation right then and there.
And the Howard Johnson La Plata… *had a pool*! And, here's the kicker… it was *clean*. I repeat: CLEAN. Crystal clear. No swampy algae. No suspicious floating objects. There were even some fluffy towels! (which is a luxury, obviously...)
I spent an afternoon by that pool. And I mean, I just *relaxed*. Read my book. Sipped a lukewarm soda (blame the vending machine, not the hotel!). And just… chilled. Seriously. It was wonderful! This might be the highlight of my stay.
Okay, fine, it sounds… decent. But *what about the internet*? Because, let's be real, nobody wants to be cut off from the world. Was it fast enough to stream, or dial-up speeds?
The internet… ah, the modern-day essential. I need cat videos, people! And important emails (sort of). The internet at the Howard Johnson La Plata was… adequate. Let's go with that.
It wasn't lightning fast, by any means. I'm not sure I could have streamed a movie without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. But… it was usable. I could check emails. I could browse the web. And I could, most importantly, upload pictures of my delicious bagels I ate at the breakfast. So, for the price, and the fact that I just expected it to be nonexistent, I was more than happy! I did get the job done!
So, is the Howard Johnson La Plata *actually* a worthy "escape to paradise"? Would you go back? Be honest!
Alright, the million-dollar question. Would I go back? Absolutely. Without a doubt. It wasn't paradise, with a capital "P." But it was a genuinely pleasant and unexpected escape. It wasn't trying to be anything it wasn't.
It was clean, the staff was friendly, and the pool was a slice of heaven. It was affordable (which, let's face it, is a major selling point these days). It had those weirdly delicious muffins. And I found a certain charm in its… simplicity. In the middle of nowhere, this hotel gave something special. It was a good time.
Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. Just don't go expecting five-star luxury.Anna's Belgrade Beauty: Stunning Serbian Apartment You NEED to See!
