Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza

Absolutely beautiful, great location, quite, hip, and very friendly employees. It is always nice to be acknowledged by your name automatically. Very clean--the best part...

The last time we stayed we arrived very late, as a joke I asked for an upgrade and at NO extra charge we were in the Presidential Suite for 3 nights--which if you can get the room--its posh!!!

Great decor and attached to a beautiful mall

The Renaissance is connected to the International Plaza, a relatively upscale shopping mall with plenty of shops and several very fine restaurants. I went with my wife and two teenagers--our 2 nights there we ate at Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen (lots more than just pizza)-both very nice. The hotel room was larger than average, and had a view of the airport--sound insulation was perfect--we could see planes taking off but couldn't hear a thing. Beds were comfy, A/C very good and quiet, big bathroom with nice tub and shower (toilet that was also very quiet--nice for the middle of the night!). We drove to the zoo (15 minutes) and Busch Gardens (also 15 minutes)--very convenient.

The hotel restaurant was also very nice, and the atmosphere was quiet and refined, but not snooty. This would be a great place for families, couples (the courtyard and restaurants looked very romantic, but with the kids we didn't do much about that)--definitely a great place to stay for a weekend getaway.

We have stayed at this property many times and it is always perfect. the staff is EXCELLENT and the hotel clean and comfortable. The management must do a great job because all the employees seem to enjoy their jobs and it shows. Don't hesitate to stay here. the added bonus is the GREAT mall only a few steps away!!!!

We stayed at the Renaissance for 5 nights in Jan 2008. Got an amazing price on PL. I am very, very picky about cleanliness and it was absolutely clean to my standards. Everyone at the hotel was extremely nice. It was an added bonus that the hotel is right next to the International Mall!

There is nothing negative to say about this hotel, it's fabulous!

Absolutely beautiful, great location, quite, hip, and very friendly employees. It is always nice to be acknowledged by your name automatically. Very clean--the best part...

The last time we stayed we arrived very late, as a joke I asked for an upgrade and at NO extra charge we were in the Presidential Suite for 3 nights--which if you can get the room--its posh!!!

Great decor and attached to a beautiful mall

Have spent about 30-40 nights here over the past year for work. While Tampa is not always the most exciting place in the world, I think this is the best hotel to choose while in town (unless you want to be downtown).

The location is excellent. Five minutes from the airport and attached to the nicest mall in Tampa. Several dining options at the mall, from a large food court to sit down restaurants such as Capitol Grille, The Cheesecake Factory, and others. Mostly chains, but good to have a large selection so close to the hotel.

The hotel is nice - set up to feel like you're in a Cuban Mansion. Very colorful decor and is a nice change of pace from the cookie-cutter hotel rooms which are so common. The hotel is new enough that everything seems clean and to be working. Rooms have always been spotless. Not much in the way of views, you either get the mall parking lot, the airport, or a courtyard view. If you get a room on the airport side and are on a high enough floor you can see the bay in the distance.

Fitness and pool area located on first level, both are adequate. The pool area is surrounded by the mall parking lot but you wouldn't really know because the entire area is walled in. On the plus side, this seems to be mainly a business hotel so the pool area has never been very crowded when I've been there.

Have always stayed on the eighth floor with the club lounge. Lounge provides a nice spread with an Italian/Mediterranean theme.

Have ordered room service multiple times and never had a problem. The room service menu is kind of small. The hotel restaurant (Pelagia) has been good to excellent the times I have eaten there.

I would recommend this hotel for business travel and for people who may want a central location for exploring the Tampa Bay area. It is not close to many tourist attractions, but beaches, downtown Tampa, St. Petersburg, USF, etc are all within a reasonable drive. Just don't come here and expect to be five minutes from the Ocean.

Stayed at this hotel for one night in December 2007 just prior to leaving on a cruise out of the port of Tampa. The free airport shuttle was a convenient option since we did not rent a car. The shuttle did take about 30 minutes to arrive however after calling the hotel -- this was the only negative thing I found during our stay. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful with very updated and comfortable rooms and adjoins an upscale mall with high-end shops and restaurants. I thought the decor was very stylish -- definitely not your typical standard hotel furniture. The mattresses were very comfortable and I liked the fact the shower head in the bathroom was very high -- there is nothing worse for a tall person than trying to shower under a showerhead that someone 5' tall would not fit under. I also found the concierge folks to be extremely helpful. We arrived at the hotel after a long flight and were hungry. The mall was very crowded with holiday shoppers and people going out to eat on a Saturday night. The gentleman at the concierge desk suggested a great restaurant in the mall, called over and got us a table immediately without us having to wait, and then gave us a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert. The following morning, a different woman at the concierge desk offered to let my boyfriend use her personal computer to check his email when we found out the internet in the business center was down. Also found a great government rate for this hotel of $98 on Marriott's website. (Yes, they do make you provide government ID). All in all, the staff were very friendly and accomodating and the rooms were clean and beautiful. I would definitely return to this hotel.

Came to the Renaissance Tampa with a large group of friends to celebrate some birthdays. The hotel is newly built and very stylish in an Italian-Mediteranean style. The decor is a tad garish, but not cheesy.

Major plus for this property is that it attached to International Plaza and Bay Street, an outdoor shopping center with upscale bars, restaurants, and shops. Feels like a downtown walking street.

The guestrooms are good size and very new looking. Again the decor is very colorful, not in a hip boutique hotel style, but more in a festive Disney theme-restaurant style, if that makes any sense.

We had a large group dinner at Pellagia, the hotel's restaurant, which did a great job of accomodating us and had good food (pizzas and tuscan food).

Overall great place, definately one of the best Renaissance Hotels I've ever visited.

My boyfriend and I stayed here in Jan. 2005 to watch the Georgia Bulldogs play Wisconsin. The hotel is great..there is a beautiful courtyard outside. The rooms were very comfortable and clean.

The mall was really nice as were many of the restaurants to choose from.

The hotel was very helpful in getting us a taxi to Busch Gardens one day during our stay.

It is a great place to stay in Tampa!

The Renaissance Tampa International Mall is a very lovely hotel. We only stayed there one night, but we were extremely pleased with the cleanliness and style of the hotel. Our bed was very plush and comfortable. The staff was friendly and helpful. The hotel had a Sunday breakfast buffet that was very good. It was a bit pricey, but I guess probably typical for this hotel. It is located next to a mall, which we didn't have time to visit, but I think it would probably be a fun diversion while vacationing. I would recommend this hotel especially if you can secure a great room rate. Ours was about $133.00 through AAA.

Very colorful, comfortable and very clean hotel. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Step outside of the hotel and you are in a very cool mall with nice restaurants and lots of trendy shops. The rooms are very nice with all the gadgets that you would need. Can't say one bad thing about this place. Excellent choice!!!

I just came back from a business trip and decided to stay at this hotel since it was so close to the Tampa airport. The directions on their website we extremely poor and confusing, and I got lost in my rent a car, but finally was able to figure it out after looking at my AAA map.

Once I arrived at the hotel, I was very pleased with everything. It is a beautifully decorated hotel...very colorful, artistic, modern, contemporary. It looks like a new hotel, very well maintained. My room was perfect. The bed is extremely comfortable. I travel alot for work, so I know a great hotel when I see it, and this one exceeded my expectations.

One of the best things about the hotel is that it is located at the International Plaza, a high end mall. Go outside the hotel, walk up the stairs, and you are greeted with TONS of restaurants, martini bars, clubs, Starbucks, Cheescake Factory, Champions sports bar, independent bistros, a huge variety to pick from. I arrived on a Saturday, and this place seems to be the place to be in Tampa for dining! I loved just sitting in the outdoor eating area of the martini bar and just watch people walking by and enjoying themselves. After I ate dinner, I strolled through the mall and had a good time.

The surrounding city area, however, is more low-key....lots of strip malls and such. But since I stayed only one night, it was perfect. It is an excellent choice for business travelers. For a family vacation with young kids.....I dont know. There is a small to medium sized swimming pool, but after a few days, the kids might get restless.

Overall, I highly recommend this hotel.

I'm not one to give a hotel great ratings, but this one is golden. Stayed there over new years for the Outback Bowl. We just got off a Holland America Cruise and honestly it would have been better to just stay here for a week. Super nice staff, great rooms, and the best room service I have ever had at a hotel. Really, really great. It's close to the airport but you won't notice the noise because the rooms all have double-pane glass. There was a New Years party going on in the courtyard and we were on the 2nd floor RIGHT over it and could not hear a thing. I can't say enough good things. If you have a hesitation, get over it. Stay here. Really.

I spent two nights (Sunday-Monday) at the Renaissance Tampa International Mall. Seventh floor, East side. The staff was friendly and the room was spotless. Nice bed. The only negative was a pizza from Pelagia Trattoria. This is a restaurant attached to the hotel. The dough was flat and flour tasting. The green stuff tasted terrible. Perhaps it was chilantro? I would stay here again. Very nice!

I stayed here for a work trip in November 2005 and loved it so much that we got married here in September 2006. It is extremely convenient to the airport, movies, and plenty of shopping and restaurants. The staff are great and the hotel offers a free shuttle service to local spots in the area.

Beautiful hotel in a great location. Staff service is impeccable. Very convenient to the airport. Hotel pays attention to every small detail to make your stay enjoyable. Would highly recommend for business meetings and conventions.

MY husband and I stayed at here while attending our daughters graduation at USF the week of Dec 16th. I can not say enough good things about this hotel. It is close to the airport and across the street from the International Plaza Mall. We ate at several restaurants and just people watched under the open air atrium that connects the mall and hotel. Once you are back at the hotel you do not here a sound. The shopping was great. I would recommend this hotel to anyone staying in Tampa. The front desk was very helpful and the rooms were spotless. The bathroom was very modern and housekeeping did a great job. We plan on always staying here when we visit our daughter. She just started a job in one of the buildings right across from the Mall

This hotel was fabulous. It is very modern with a hip decor. The room service and staff was awesome and friendly. It is right in the middle of the International mall and next to all the trendy resturants and bars. It is close to the airport and the stadium. We could not have stayed anywhere better. Great rooms for the value.

Great hotel, new modern look. Rooms large, new furniture. Good food in the hotel restaurant (Pelagia, rated top in country).

Next to large shopping mall (plaza international) and various restaurants. I travel every week, and this hotel is probably on my top 3 for business travellers.

I stayed here with my husband and son for 2 nights in July. The hotel is new, clean, quiet and nicely decorated. The rooms are a good size with a large bathroom. Pool and workout area are great as well. Had the breakfast buffet, which was fine. In the shops connected to the hotel is a deli for breakfast, lunch, dinner or takeout, saves time and money. Lots of restaurants as well as the mall foodcourt to. The mall is high end with Nordstroms, Dillards, and then some. Overall a wonderful experience, great value. (It is near the airport, and though I could see the planes, I did not hear any).

We just returned from a 6 night stay at this hotel and I must say it was wonderful. Not only is the hotel beautiful, i.e., room decor, lobby, etc., but the staff goes above and beyond to be helpful. The bed was extremely comfortable and the bedding was first class. We utilized the pool which is not extremely big but never once was crowded. A call for a rollaway and extra towels (2 different calls) were both handled and delivered within minutes. Each afternoon in the lobby they offer complimentary delicious olives and breadsticks. We ate dinner at their wonderful restaurant and visited the attached shopping mall and other restaurants within close proximity. I would definitely return and stay here again.

We stayed for one night the weekend before Christmas and loved the Renaissance! Check in was smooth even though the hotel was completely booked. Our room was ready several hours early. We stayed in a king room on the seventh floor. Our room had a beautiful view of the airport runways (absolutely NO air traffic noise...very well insulated) and Tampa Bay as a backdrop. The room was plush...beautiful white bedding piled with soft pillows and a wonderful down comforter. Also, two comfortable chairs and a flat screen TV. The bathroom was marble, plenty of very soft towels, Qtips, cotton balls, even a night light!

The hotel lobby is grand...candlelit at night, cookies and hot cider were available at various times. The hotel bar was comfortable with excellent service. The restaurant was beautiful with a very tasty breakfast. We didn't use the pool or spa because of rain but the water in the pool was definitely heated and would have been great if the weather permitted.

Our reservation included a shopping package....highly recommend this if you are planning to shop at the adjacent mall. It included valet parking, free breakfast for two in the hotel restaurant, a $25 dinner gift certificate to a variety of Bay Street restaurants and a discount coupon to many of the malls shops and restaurants (many buy one get one free cocktails at the various bars!)

Overall, a fantastic stay. We have stayed at many hotels in Tampa, but this will be the one we return to.

My husband and I spent 3 days there for our 10th anniversary and it was perfection! Each and every member of the staff was friendly and helpful. The hotel was beautiful and clean. The courtyard was comfortable and relaxing. The hotels location just off Bay Street in the International Mall was a major plus, we were just feet away from all kinds of wonderful stores. There was always something to see and do. The In Room Dining was convinent and delicious! I would most definatly recommend this hotel to anyone looking to relax and be pampered!

We just returned from the Paul McCartney concert in Tampa. We loved staying at the hotel. It is more like staying in a beautiful master bedroom. The walls are yellow with full length drapes with sheers. The bed had a comforter and dust ruffle, Furniture is very nice, The bath is small but pretty with granite tops on a free standing vanity. The hotel is grand! Beautiful furnishings throughout. The International Mall is awesome with many places to eat and upscale shops. We loved all the choices of food. We did eat breakfast at the hotel, good but $15 each. Go to TooJays, a deli on the plaza for a great breakfast with Belgium Waffles, bacon, sausage, homemade toast, eggs and potatoes all for $7.00! Here is what I did complain about: The AC blows right on you in the bed, the bed is not comfortable. Everytime my husband turned over it woke me. The pool is not attended to with virtually no bar service. No one cleaned up out there all day. The staff is friendly and helpful. The conceige called us a cab for downtown. Expect to pay $20 each way. The cab driver in the yellow cab drove like a maniac coming back. Channelside downtown is full of restuarants and a movie. We diidn't go to Ybor since we heard it was on the wild side with a lot of kids. We are 50.

Beautiful hotel. The customer service was flawless from beginning to end. The Bellmen even opened and closed my car doors for me. Can't say enough. The hotel was well decorated and the room was clean and flawless. One of the best hotels I have EVER stayed in.

Our recent stay was smooth with impeccable service. We stayed with our young children while in the Tampa area for medical reasons. We arrived mid morning and were told that our room was ready and waiting and that our requests of a refrigerator and certain pillow type had already been fulfilled. Our room overlooked the courtyard and was lovely and quiet. We neither heard planes nor other guests during our stay.We saw few children during our stay but ours were certainly made to feel welcome by the staff. The lobby concierge was most helpful in providing directions and inquiring how she could be of assistance to us during our stay.Our requests for extra towels and coffee were met with a knock on the door within 5 minutes. The staff were quick to assist with any inquiry. As we were leaving my youngest stumbled upon a paver and fell, immediately 3 staff members were there checking on her and one staff member went rushing to get First Aid supplies. We certainly find no fault with this hotel or its' staff we had a wonderful stay and look forward to another.

Husband, I and 14 year old daughter recently stayed here for 3 nights. Chose hotel based on reviews written here and we were not disappointed.

Room was reasonable size with 2 queen beds, and free internet connection. Staff are all very friendly and helpful. The hotel is in a good positon next to a large shopping mall and a good selection of restaurants. Would recommend Toojays for breakfast.

Nice swimming pool which was never crowded with plenty of sunloungers.

The only thing the room could have done with would have been a fridge. There was space for one under the coffee maker, but for some reason there wasn't one there.

Just returned from Tampa. We choose this hotel for several reasons and it worked out very well for us. This really is a business hotel, which we had to keep in mind. We traveled with two children. We always need to have a hotel with a good pool. Aside from location, that is one of the main reasons that we chose this hotel. Many of the Tampa hotels really seem to lack a good pool. This pool was a good size and had a nice pool area but it wasn't maintained as nice as we would have liked. It was very nice on our first day but it didn't appear to be cleaned again for another two days. Too many things floating in it for me. I should have probably said something but we were pretty busy outside the hotel. As for the rooms, very nice and very clean. The hotel was well kept and the people working there were very helpful and pleasant. It has a great mall attached to it with many food options. As for the location, it was perfect for what we wanted to do. Close to Busch Gardens, St Petersburg & Clearwater Beach. We would stay here again if back in the area.

Extremely helpful staff. Very friendly place to stay. Location is good close to things without being in the middle of everything. Smoked a cigar,sat in a rocker in the courtyard with a cocktail life is good.

I stayed at this property for one night last week. The valet was nice enough to let me park in the driveway while I checked in and dropped off my suitcase as I was leaving right away for the ballpark

Check in was prompt and painless. My room was in great shape. I had a minor problem with the TV. Engineering came up to fix it within 10 minutes. Good quality linens in the bathroom. Comfy bed.

The Renaissance at the airport in TPA is a very nice hotel with valet parking if desired, though this traveler did not bother with valet parking. The rooms are medium-sized and almost sumptuous, the bedding is soft, and front desk service is accurate and impeccable. The hotel is very expensive and well located for local businesses, shopping, and the stadium.

My daughter and I went on a short trip for summer fun and stayed here our first night. One of the most beautiful hotels we both have stayed at. I was a bit concerned when we rolled up in our Ford and saw the valet parking nothing but pricey cars, like Lexus and BMW's that we were a bit out of our element for a Florida vacation but was soon comforted by the staff who welcomed us warmly.

The check in was a breeze and our room was ready even though we checked in early. The room was very clean and fresh. My daughter looked out the window and squealed with delight as she saw the MALL, right next door. The International Mall is a great place to shop and eat all within walking distance. We drove over the Tampa devil rays game that night which was fairly quick, 20 minutes, and enjoyed the baseball game.

This hotel is great and would be a good location if your plans include shopping, eating,Tampa sports venues or just relaxing. You'll have a great stay. We had a great rate by booking on the Marriott website for a weekend stay of $139.00 a night. Watch out for the added fee of valet, they encourage it at the front desk, but you can self park for free in the lot.

I really enjoyed staying at this hotel. It was pricey, but it was absolutely gorgeous and a pleasure to stay here. I would rate it a 5, except that on Thursday night, I went back to my room after dinner and drinks (about 11pm) to find there was an incredible bass music sound coming from outside. Apparently, I was put on a side where there is a nightclub across the parking lot, and I could hear the bass pumping - very loudly - from my room.

At midnight, when I called the front desk because I couldn't sleep, I was told that the music may last until 2:30 am. I asked what my options were should I desire to sleep that night. I was told I could be moved to another room, but one with double beds, rather than a king bed. Mostly I was too tired to move, so I chose to try to stick it out. Luckily soon thereafter the pumping bass stopped.

There is an olive bar set up in the evenings, and they do have a starbucks for morning coffee. The premises are just gorgeous, with muted italian tile and splashes of color all over the place. I really enjoyed being here. I was actually on business, and I plan to return with my husband to have some leisure time - I liked it that much! Just next time I will make sure I'm not on the night club side.

I definitely recommend this hotel.

This is a newer property with a great location at the International Mall placed RIGHT next to the Tampa Airport. The hotel does well by most measures -- rooms are pleasantly designed and decorated, public spaces are inviting, hotel restaurant is above average, and the location is terrific.

Downsides: very thin walls, expensive internet connection, high rack rates (can be negotiated)

Excellent hotel, mediterranean theme. Rooms were comfortable and very clean. Two adults, two kids stayed with no problem. The pool area was immaculate, parking was ample and staff was very friendly. Hotel is adjacent to international plaza mall which allowed for many, many options for the evening meal (cheesecake factory was great for take-out and poolside dining). There was a build-a-bear workshop in the mall which was a big hit with the kids. Easy access to I-275 and I-4, and you are literally next door to the airport. We used the hotel as our base of operations for a 5 day stay in the tampa/orlando area and loved it.

Our stay at the Renaissance Tampa International Mall was absolutely perfect. Renaissance Tampa International Mall is located close to everything mall/ shopping, restaurants and sights. The rooms were immaculate and the bedding was lovely, Gym was modern and the pool was great. I can't say enough about the very helpful staff and the amenities.

We came in late and had not had dinner so a few steps from the hotel is a fancy food court with upper scale / casual restaurants (i.e. Capital Grill, Sushi, Cheesecake Factory etc. ). The food court also had late night entertainment which was a nice option to have available walking distance. A Starbucks is located in the hotel lobby and is open early in the morning another convenience.

Only slightly negative comment and I was told that it was because I was on a top floor was the low water pressure in the shower which was a light spray apparently if you get a room on a lower floor the pressure is better?

All in all a very good choice when coming to Tampa!

My girlfriend and I made a weekend trip to Tampa. I booked this hotel based on the reviews and the location next to the International Mall. First I wil state the positives.

-The location of the hotel is right by I-275 and in the heart of Tampa. The airport is nearby and I could see the football stadium from my room.

-Check-in was a breeze. Took less than 5 mins.

-Our room was nice. We got a king size bed with a courtyard view. The view was not spectacular. Certainly don't book this hotel for the courtyard view. The bathroom was nice and had plenty of towels in it. The bed was comfortable and we slept pretty well for the two nights.

-We ordered room service for breakfast one morning and it was delicious. It was delivered at the time promised and the price wasn't too bad for what we ordered.

-The mall food court and the row of restaurants in the plaza outside of it is closest to the hotel. A great selection of food and drinks. Of course the International Mall is probably the best mall in Tampa with any store you want.

-Staff was friendly and accomadated all our requests.

The negatives

- Parking sucks. To park you have to park in the mall parking lot. You can valet your car but it costs $13 per day. There are rows of spots that are closest to the hotel but that is reserved for valet. On a hot sunny day it's not fun to have to hike to your car. Depending on the time of day you park you might be further out.

- When we checked in there was a nearly full open can of Mountain Dew sitting on the night stand. How housekeeping missed that beats me. Also a sheet that went over the bed had some dark stains in it. We removed that immediately.

-Thin walls. We could hear this woman next door to us crying and a man screaming at her. Luckily it didn't go on all night but we could hear clearly what they were saying.

I debated between this hotel and the Renissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg. Next time I'd try the Vinoy because it has gotten great reviews as well and it's nearly the same price.

The Renaissance Tampa International Mall is a good hotel if you need to stay in Tampa. I think you'd be happy with it at the right price.

Very nice hotel. We really liked that you could just take a short walk to 6 restaurants. Parking was a little inconvenient, in that you had to park in the Shopping mall parking lot. Hotel was really nice. The room was very comfortable and clean.

Tampa Renaissance is a business hotel but nice touches raise it well above the typical convention accommodations.

Positives:

- Nice lobby opening into large stone-paved courtyard with fountain.

- Open air restaurant/shopping area next door (great gelato shop). Adjacent to upscale mall (Tiffany, Nordstrom)

- Free shuttle to/from Tampa airport which is less than 10 minutes away.

- Attentive staff. (Offered a free drink at the bar when shuttle was slow with airport pick up.)

- Hotel opened in 2004 and rooms were fresh looking with all expected amenities (high speed internet, ironing board, etc.)

- Room was large with room for desk and two club chairs as well as an alcove with coffee/tea service. Larger than average bathroom with marble vanity and limestone tile floors.

- Room had Marriot's new Revive bedding - lots of fluffy pillows, down comforter, all white.

- Turn down service with excellent Belgian chocolates.

- The food at the meeting I attended there was much better than typical banquet food. Dinner at the Pelagia Trattoria was excellent (lentil soup, grilled scallops).

- Complimentary selection of gourmet olives in the lobby

- Check in (mid-week) and checkout (weekend) was quick and efficient.

Neutral

- Decorated in sort of a "Tuscan" theme. Yellows, blues, and reds with wrought iron accents. My personal preference leans more contemporary but it was not unattractive. It did achieve the advertised "Mediterranean villa" look but some areas (like the elevator lobby on the 8th floor) bordered on garish.

- Value. My conference rate was $149 in September 2005 and cheaper rates were available for the same dates. Six weeks later, the rate for my club level room jumped above $300. You might get a deal or you might not.

Negative

- Location if you plan to do anything in Tampa. Location was great for me because I flew in, went to meeting at the hotel and flew out but for someone who wants to go to Busch Gardens or downtown, this is off the typical tourist routes.

- I was on the club floor but the lounge is closed on the weekend so I was only able to use it once on Friday night.

Overall, this was an enjoyable stay in a hotel that was centrally located for vistiting many of Tampa's tourist attractions. It was a meticulously clean hotel, with every attractive modern spanish decor and architecture - much attention to detail (in the Marriot way). The staff was always friendly and attentive. The pool, hot tub and excersie facilities were adequate, but a bit on the small size given the size of the hotel. The restaurant in the hotel was very good, and worth dining in or getting room service from. It is a contemporary italian/meditarian restaraunt with an innovative menu not common in most hotels. The apple tart with caramel sauce we had delivered to our room was phenomenal (you can only appreciate it if you see it)! The hotel is adjacent to an upscale mall with high end chain restaurants, such as Cheesecake factory and Blue Martini, and a very nice gellateria with authentic Italian gelato. Nearby (within a few blocks) you will also find Roy's and Fleming's (upscale Hawaiin and steakhouse, respectively) - both very good, although expensive.

The biggest problem with this class of hotel in general is it caters to business people with expense accounts, and therefore likes to nickel and dime their customers. Charging $12 for valet parking and $10 for internet was especially disturbing. No problem with parking, though - you can just park in the mall parking lot, although during peak hours it might be a decent walk to the hotel lobby. The only other complaint is that I like to jog daily, and prefer staying in hotels near residential areas. I felt a bit uncomfortable jogging in this area after dark, since this is surrounded by commertcial areas (i.e. strip malls) that are abandoned in the early morning. Finally, I can really appreciate a balcony when traveling to Florida from the cold North in the winter, and this hotel completely lacks that. A handful of hotels in this area seem to have balconies for every room, including hotels in a slightly lower budget class.

Overall, though I paid $92 dollars, which was a decent values for this class of hotel. I think some of the 5-star reviews are overblown, but it is a very nice hotel and if you can get it at under $100 it is an excellent value.

I live in Orlando and decided to take a spur of the moment trip down to Tampa for Saturday night. I chose the Renaissance because of the good reviews and it looked really nice. I wasn't let down at all by the hotel. It's very colorful, clean, and everyone was helpful and really nice. The rooms are comfy and quiet. The resturaunt there was top notch, EAT BREAKFAST THERE. I've heard the dinner is also top-notch - I wish we would have ate dinner at the hotel in retrospect.

The only thing I didn't like was that we were way out away from downtown (oops). The saving grace is that there is an upscale mall attached that has an outdoor plaza called Bay Street with some cool things like a Cheescake Factory and a Blue Martini jazz club and other bars/restaraunts. We ended up spending the afternoon browsing the mall, napping and then stayed out late that night at the Blue Martini (get there early). Not too bad, but if you're going to actually see TAMPA, you might consider something that's downtown.

Overall, really nice hotel though!

Check in was fast and easy, great service from beginning to end. We stayed two nights, had to go find soap for the following night.The breakfast is marvelous you must dine in. The decor of the hotel is beautiful, room somewhat smaller than average but it presented everything. No microwave I guess so you can eat at the restaurants. The mall is a short wall away and it is a grand one indeed. You don't need to go look for party spots they are a step away and high class I might add. Overall a great place to stay would do it again.

Attended a conference at this facility early February. It's nicely appointed and in a great spot close to the airport and attached to the high-end International Plaza. My room was clean and adequate, however the temperature range on the shower was limited to scalding hot or chilling cold. Nothing in-between. Did not matter whether I showed in the evening or in the morning. Probably would not stay here with family, but a solid business hotel.

Long story short, this hotel was not terrible by any means, but it also was not incredible and certainly nothing near five star level that some reviews commented about. I will preface my review by saying that my favorite hotels are boutique hotels with style or hotels that stay up on technology. This hotel has the Marriott chain's sense of adequate style and knowing that the hotel was built just a few years ago in 2004, is a huge disappointment with its lack of technology. Additionally, the service I experienced was faux friendly, incompetent, and overall poor.

I will start first with the location, since I believe this is a great positive to the hotel. It is attached to the best mall in Tampa, and is very convenient for walking not only to the mall but a large selection of decent (albeit, chain) restaurants to eat at if the hotel's selection of food doesn't do it for you. It is also located very near the airport, which is convenient if flying in or out. It is not near the beach, so if you are vacationing here, it is probably not a great location unless you flew to Tampa strictly to shop, which would be sort of weird, but to each their own. It is very close to Dale Mabry and the Tampa Bay Bucs stadium, making it a good choice if you're attending a game/concert there.

The lobby and grounds of the hotel are nice, and probably a step above a standard Marriott, although I didn't find it the stylish bliss that some previous reviewers did. The workout area is standard with no locker rooms, but about six treadmills and a couple of other machines that look onto the pool and mall parking lot beyond.

The pool is larger than it looked on the website, but given that its setting is a mall parking lot, it's not incredibly relaxing. That being said, I only saw a couple of people at the pool the entire time (my room overlooked the pool) so you should have it to yourself.

The room is tiny. Period. I realize that hotel rooms are not huge, but these (and I looked at a few due to incompetence on their check-in staff) are not only narrow as most hotel rooms are, but there are very short, meaning that the bed area is very close to the hallway. Not only does it feel very small, but you can hear foot traffic in the hallway with ease while you lay in bed. Other reviewers commented that the walls are paper thin, but I disagree, as I had neighbors on both sides and could not hear them. I could, however, hear anyone speaking or walking in the hall with clarity.

The bed in the room was not bad, but it didn't make me miss it when I checked out, and I was very glad to return to my own at home. It was a standard Marriott bed. They have updated the bed with a white down duvet rather than the flowery print comforter that's on their website. It helped their style, but it still was just very average for a hotel bed. The pillows are rather small, but adequate.

The bathroom has good style, but is nothing incredible. Actually, the bathroom has good lighting and a stylish vanity. Its size is standard and the shower/tub combo is nothing different from any other regular hotel I have stayed in. The provided toiletries are above average and provided by lather...the highlight of the whole room.

The room does not come with a bathrobe or minibar, which are not huge concerns of mine, but it's an example of how the room is very standard.

The technology in the room is disappointing, especially given that the hotel is so new. There is no wireless internet, the wired internet cable is very short and restricts you to the desk, the television is very bulky and takes up a ton of space on top of the dresser (haven't most new hotels figured out how to conceal the tv better?), and the only good lighting of the room is in the bathroom.

The service at the hotel was anywhere from faux friendly to incompetent. At check-in, I tried to use their self check-in machine, although it crashed both times I attempted to use it. I had to use the front desk. I requested a high floor with an airport view and a king bed if possible. I was given a second floor room with two double beds overlooking the courtyard. I called the front desk upon walking into my first room. No apology, but who cares, they sent a woman up who gave me keys to a new room. This one was on the third floor and overlooked the pool/parking lot, but since it had a king bed, I decided that it would be sufficient.

I ordered room service twice. The first time was late at night (around midnight) and the person taking my order didn't understand the menu (I had to read the menu to him) and he seemed very confused with how to place an order (I was on the phone with him literally for 10 minutes to order an omelette). That being said, the omelette was perfectly cooked and delicious. The second time I ordered room service was for breakfast and while the woman who took my order did so expeditiously, she completely messed up my entire order. I was late for a business meeting, so I ate it and didn't complain. Again, the food was very good even if it wasn't what I ordered.

Probably the worst part of my experience was upon exit. I had to get to a business meeting for which I was running late, and the gate to the self parking lot was malfunctioning and wouldn't let me out. I called the hotel front desk from my cell and the woman was annoyed that I had an issue, but said she would send someone out. I waited five minutes (literally five minutes, not an angry man's five minutes) and called back. The same woman told me that someone would be out within a minute. I waited an additional five minutes and then I finally had to jump the curb.

Overall, if you are looking for a hotel to retreat to for a vacation, I highly recommend that you do not stay here. If you have business in the area and your company is picking up the bill, I would assume that it is a good choice as you can walk to a number of restaurants and the hotel is not horrible. It is also a good/adequate choice if attending a nearby game, but the normal price of $350 per night is outrageous for what you actually get. If it were my money (not my company's) and I spent more than $150 on this room, I would feel like I had been ripped off.

Initially I found our room to be quite comfortable and clean. Being a light sleeper, it appeared that we were in for a quiet night's sleep as we had to awaken early to catch a plane. But after midnight the party people started coming back to their respective rooms. The doors were slamming shut and then we were awakaned to music in the room next door. The party was continuing next door and the walls did not keep out the noise. We called the front desk and the music did quiet down but the remaining couple seem to be having a good time until about 2:30 a.m.

Stayed there four nights last week in a socalled deluxe room for USD 369. My friend had a standard room for USD 189. The rooms were exactly the same, The only difference was that the standard room pointed towards the airport which is very noisy and the deluxe room is more quiet. None of their rooms have a safe - something you expect for that money. Neither do the rooms feature a minibar. The only real good thing about the Renaissance is it's location. Other than that it is a way overpriced.

Based on previous positive reviews, we used Marriott points for an overnight stay.

First impressions: semi-aggressive valet guys, nice spacious lobby with high ceilings and excellent quick check-in at front desk.

At the front desk, we inquired about the unusually small room size, 288 square feet as indicated online, and the friendly front desk person moved us to a larger accessible room. The accessible room was well over 350 square feet with helpful features such as extra shelving and storage space that are probably not available in other rooms. The common areas and the rooms are very clean. As a matter of fact, the entire hotel, except for the parking lot, has minimal signs of wear and tear. Contrary to Marriott site information, this property has an uncovered walk way on the second floor near the International Plaza food court. Therefore, in case of inclement weather, carry the wind/water resistant gear for protection.

All in all, Renaissance Tampa International Plaza has the feel and look of a business traveller destination with an adequate breakfast buffet and excellent restaurants within walking distance. For fine dining, we recommend the Capital Grille for lunch with the properly prepared tremendous tasting key lime pie, and for dinner check out Roys Restaurant across the street on Boy Scout Blvd(?) to enjoy Hawaiian style seafood.

Oh yeah, to avoid the motivated valet guys and anxious bell hops, utilize the self parking in the rear of the hotel with access through the ballrooms near the business center and main elevators. Also, stay away from the business center services due to extraordinary and unnecessary fees. We did not inquire about wireless internet for the rooms.

Impressive hotel,but priced very high for central florida,parking is a problem and can be easily towed away if staff isnt thoroughly informed,which had misinformed me about when and where to park.which is on mall property,not theirs. $130 to be towed 3 miles. Convenient for the airport and not much else.

Having read all of the glowing reviews of this place on Trip Advisor, we were very letdown. Front desk staff lacked training, our room was small and stale smelling, and it was a nuisance to be obliged to use valet parking everytime we went out. The breakfast buffet was mediocre--no orange juice, terrible bread--and the swimming pool and fitness center were very disappointing, too. Tampa's a fun city, but it still needs a great hotel.

The Renaissance is a horrible hotel for travelers who need good cellular or VPN connectivity - and the staff doesn't care that you cannot work or keep in touch from the hotel!

We thought our stay at this fancy 4 star hotel would be wonderful. Most reviews we read were above average. Upon check-in on August 11, we found hair on the pillows in our bed and hair on half empty shampoo bottle in the bathroom. After calling the manager to come to our room, she assured us the room they were going to move us to would be better and paid for our lunch. Although we were satisfied with the new room, that quickly changed. We were in town for a wedding and after getting back at midnight and getting to bed, we were awakened to a steam cleaner cleaning the carpets out side our bed at 1:45am. I called to the front desk and told them what was going on at which time they assured me it would be taken care of. Went back to sleep and at 2:11 am, the cleaning crew was back outside our door with the same cleaner. This time, after calling the front desk and not being too pleasant, they assured me my room would be comped and they would handle it. After checking out the next morning with no sleep, they assured us at the front desk that nothing would be charged to our credit card. NOT SO. 3 days later I am now seeing charges on my card and just had to fight with them to get them reversed. I called corporate Marriott who did not seem to care at all about our experience. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS HOTEL TO ANYONE. EVER......