Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown

I enjoyed my one night pre-cruise stay. It was nice being on the trolley line because we needed a few things for the cruise and went to Publix. Also the free shuttle to the port was great. Also, the breakfast was plentiful.

Hotel was convenient in a quaint town of Ybor. To get to Downtown, easily took the street car across the road. The staff at the front desk were friendly and welcoming. The room had good setup; big beds. There was table and chair. Refrigerator. Iron and other basic including a large TV. But the bathroom was a disappointment. The sink tap was on the right side and was small. It was impossible to wash properly. The hand lotion bottle was empty. There was no soap dish. No glasses. One full toilet paper roll and the other one half the size. I had to ask for another. There was no number mentioned of the front desk on the telephone so I had to go down to the front desk to ask for the roll and to ask for housekeeping. The ridiculous part is that we were told that for housekeeping, front desk has to be informed 24 hrs in advance. Any was I was there 24 hours so I got housekeeping for the NEXT day. We expected housekeeping sometime between 11 and 1 pm. Well returned from our day trip around 4 pm and still the beds weren’t made, no new toilet paper. I checked the room and it wasn’t vacuumed. I went to the front desk and complained and they said it’s Thanksgiving and “could be” due to staff shortage and it’s possible that housekeeping is still happening for other rooms and our turn hasn’t come up yet. I asked for another toilet paper roll. Around 5:15 pm, the housekeeping lady arrived and at the same time we left for dinner. We returned and were shocked. The beds were still not made. The carpet still dirty. But in the bathroom, the floor was mopped, new towels and body lotion topped up and trash taken out. But NO toilet paper and instead one of the holder was snapped out and broken. I had to go down to front desk again and report. They gave me the same crap about thanksgiving and limited housekeeping being done as it was holidays. At the breakfast bar, they was no concept of separating meat trays from the vegetarians options. The spoon that was being used in sausages were being used in potatoes. I asked the staff twice; first to get new serving spoon but that didn’t work and I asked to get fresh from kitchen and the person said, they had run out it. The bananas, oranges and apples were old and tasteless. We reported this to the front desk as well. What I hate the most Is that that housekeeping stole my cash money. Unfortunately I have no proof and I found out recently as I was unpacking. It’s was the only time I was separated from my bag when I left it in the closet under another bag and housekeeping had suddenly showed up after 5 pm. I don’t know how the person managed to find time to go through our bags and skim money. No wonder the room hadn’t been done. They were busy doing the stealing. I don’t have the proof but I am 100% sure about the theft. I’ll write to the hotel directly as well but my reviewing of hotel here is to grow awareness to be wary of your belongings and always report and complain when things are wrong. I’m sure other people staying at the hotel may have had better experience I was appalled. Their website said $18 + VAT for parking but we were charged $20 + VAT. Overall, I am disappointed.

It was okay. Just that okay. $300 bucks for one Saturday night felt WAY overpriced. Great staff. Let me check in early. Would stay elsewhere next time.

The breakfast menu was fresh and the service was very good. It is located by the stop near the trolley and everything is in walking distance in Ybor.

The front desk staff does a horrible job of explaining the parking which you pay for separately. They have you scan a QR code then prompt you for your last name and room number, but you still pay for parking through a third-party. Absolutely stupid and really nuts. Just tell me you pay parking and leave it at that. It would seem to be a large hotel chain should seem to have a better way of doing this.

Be aware of the neighborhood… Had used this hotel for Moffitt trips, a few years ago, and decided to go back again. The hotel is nice,, quiet, clean, staff is very good, and the front desk was excellent (Tammy. I think) The location is still excellent; walk all around historic Ybor, historic trolley (half block from hotel) to downtown Tampa Bay, Unfortunately, the neighborhood has deteriorated; severe homelessness and everything that goes along with it. IMO it would not be safe for a single female to walk alone, even during the day. My husband and I walked, during the early evening light, to dinner (Columbia 15 min. walk from hotel) ) but coming out at dark we decide to take an Uber back. Sadly, this is not a problem the hotel can control, so will not be corrected anytime soon.