Doubletree Guest Suites

In all honesty, I don't know where to start. There were elements of the hotel I enjoyed, yet in other respects, I was very uncomfortable. Apparently many changes have been made in this past year and this hotel went from the Doubletree to the Grand Suites. One excellent thing the Grand Suites did was include a continental breakfast, which was adequate with muffins, bagels, juice, milk, cereals, fruits, and yogurt. Hot options were not available, but this wasn't my concern. The outdoor area was nice with a pool and small tiki bar. The pool was refreshing and clean, going out to 7 feet deep. The rooms were surprisingly larger than I expected with a sitting room and small bedroom behind the front portion of the room. There were two televisions, but my friend on the floor below me had to change rooms because hers didn't work by any means. The bathroom was the most impressive because there was a NICE showerhead with warm water. The hotel is also down the street from Busch Gardens. I appreciated all these things.

However, I also had to change rooms, which was frustrating.

The card key did not work most of the time. At first, I was convinced it was me, so I went to the front and had the key re-activated. However after that, I went back up to the room and couldn't get in. Strange... were there scratches on the back of the card? I couldn't see any. I then asked for a new card to a new room to see if I could swipe the card right, but the room was wide open! I didn't want to enter by any means, so I went down to the front and stated that I would keep my room because I somehow got in again after ten minutes of struggling. Something must have scanned right. I fell asleep the first night, feeling all right about my room situation. I put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door and left for the day to arrive back at 4:30 p.m.

When I arrived back at 4:30, I was frustrated because again the key would not work, so I went to the front and was basically laughed at. The staff was just downright rude at that moment and told me (with hand motions) how to swipe the card. However, the hand motions were done with a smirk on their faces, and I demanded I had my room changed. They asked me my room number, and I told them the number of the first room (which according to the previous day I still had). However, they said that I was in the second room that I never went in. I told them, "I returned my keys and said I'll just stay in the first room!" They then replied, "Uhh... no. Goodness, your belongings may not even be in your first room anymore! Did you check to see they were still there?" I responded with, "I cannot get in my room! I demand that I have my room changed."

They stated, "You need to wait for five minutes" and then about 3 or 4 of them talked in the back room. They treated me like I was psychotic. Eventually, I got into my first room, grabbed my belongings as swiftly as possible (thanking the Lord that they were there) and moved into the second room, which thankfully was closed. From there, things were fine for three more days.

Upon leaving, though, I was charged more than my three friends who stayed. Somehow they all paid $80 and I paid $89. I said that they booked around the same time as me, but I got that same look again and they stated, "Well, the rates must have changed." I then looked at them and replied, "Well, have your extra $36.00." By then, I was done.

So basically, clean hotel, nice shower, nice pool, and adequate breakfast. Rude staff, and apparently there are a number of room changes (based on other reviews I have read).

I was a little frightened about staying here after reading some of the posted reviews. They are all wrong. This hotel is older but it is immaculate. The staff is very friendly....especially Audrey at the front desk. The rooms have just been remodeled. They are lovely. My tv in the bedroom wasn't working and I called the front desk. They were there to repair it by the time the phone hit the receiver. The shower is hot and had lots of pressure. The only thing better than the shower were the big plush bath towels. The continental breakfast is small but adequate. The shuttle service to Busch Gardens is wonderful. You never have to wait longer than about 10 minutes. The drivers are very nice and courteous. There are tons of restaurants within walking distance and the Universal Mall is right across the street. It is in an ideal location. I will be returning to this hotel the next time I have to go to Tampa. It is wonderful!!

We chose this Hotel because of the package with tickets to Busch Gardens Tampa. The hotel is older but updated and clean. The pool area is beautiful and well maintained. The staff was friendly and professional. There was a shuttle offered every hour to Busch Gardens and all we had to do was call and they sent the van to pick us up any time we wanted! Continental breakfast was just great. We wouldn't hesitate to stay again or recommend it to friends and family.

My husband and i have been travelling across Florida for the past two weeks and have stayed in atleast 7 hotels in Southwest Florida. We can both agree that our stay at the Grand Suites was the most comfortable thus far. From the second we arrived in the lobby, which was impressive on it's own, we were greeted by Audrey and Tara as if we'd been returning for years. We asked them some questions about the area and were provided with the exact maps and directions that we needed. The garden/ pool area was beautiful; the landscaping with lush greenery and stone paths made it feel like a private oasis. Our room was warm and "cushy", lots of room for us to spread out and relax , zero tripping over each other (like most hotels). It was so clean that it seemed like brand new and even though we were between two other rooms that were occupied we didn't hear a thing the whole time. The bed had lots of extra pillows and a pillow top mattress so i really did sleep as if i was at home. The next morning we went into the lobby to catch the complimentary Busch Gardens Shuttle and, instead of letting us wait, the manager Amar drove us and another couple himself! The service, the view, and the room was exactly what anyone would want while on vacation. We really could not have asked for anything more.

Stayed for 12 days, great shuttle service and very friendly drivers, very close to Busch Gardens, and Village Inn next door for breafest, with TGI, Red Lobster and others with in 5 minutes.

We are a family of three, were looking for some sort of an escapade from routine. One of our colleagues recommended Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Near Busch Gardens. My kid just loved the stay and so we did. Suites were beautiful. Service was to our liking. Package included shuttle to the Busch Gardens which made the stay double its worth. BTW breakfast was very good.

Returning from a cruise we were booked at the Doubletree by Busch Gardens since we wanted to stay the day at Busch . Before I left I read some of the reviews on-line and thought that perhaps we had made a mistake. The reality was the stay was WONDERFUL! The staff was so nice, giving us extra cookies each time we asked, our room was ready even though we got there at 10 am, and it was a gorgeous suite, immaculate and roomy with plenty of ammenities. The hotel shuttle took us to Busch on request, gave us their phone number and came and got us when we called. The pool was heated and had a hot-tub in the midst of a beautifully lit palm tree courtyard. It was really one of the nicest hotels we've stayed at, and at a great price. We were 15 minutes from the cruise line and the airport, and definitely plan on staying there again.

My broker recommended this hotel to me and my wife during our stay in Tampa while we were relocating from New York. The Doubletree welcomed us to Tampa and they made us feel like a native of Tampa. They were all glad to have us in there hotel and we stayed there for (2) weeks. We found a house and are planning to come back next month...and guess where we will be staying???

You guessed right, the Doubletree! It is about people and they get it at this hotel.

This hotel was awesome! It was less than a 5 minute drive to Busch Gardens and there were plenty of places to eat at along the way. The room was super clean and had a separate living room area with a sofa, TV and dining table. The living room had a bar as well with a microwave, sink and mini-fridge. I cannot say enough about the bed...IT WAS SOOOOO COMFORTABLE!! Lots of feather pillows and a down comforter. The entire suite is tastefully decorated and looks brand new. The only downside of the room was the small bathroom, but it still made due. If I go to Tampa again I will definately stay here!!

I can't say enough about how great this hotel is. The location is perfect, 5 minute drive to Busch Gardens, close to the highway should you want to venture beyond Busch Gardens. Close to upscale shopping centers, and every sort of fast food restaurant you heart desires.

They have a shuttle that will take you to Busch Gardens thoughout the day. It will also take you anywhere within a 3 mile radious of the hotel.

The front desk personnel were extremely helpful and pleasant. Directions to surrounding attractions were printed out without hesitation.

They had a happy hour Monday from 5:30 to 7:00 with free beer and wine. The server was extremely friendly.

The jacuzzi is one of the best I've ever used. It was hot and the jets blasted the water.

The swimming pool, although not olympic sized, is large enough for laps, and very clean.

The grounds surrounding the pool were beautiful, a tropical retreat.

The rooms were large and nicely furnished. The living room had a pull-out sofa, tv with HBO, a table with 4 chairs, a small refrigerator that held a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine and four bottles of water. There was a sink and coffee maker in the vanity that held the refrigerator, and a small microwave. Everything worked and they were all clean.

The bed was extremely comfortable. Airconditioning worked fine. The tv in the bedroom was a convenience, we didn't fight over channels.

The rooms were cleaned before 3:00p.m. The bathroom and vanity, outside the bathroom, were clean and well stocked.

Did I mention the staff were extemely friendly!!

I've been to several hotels and quite frankly, this was one of the best. I'd take it over a 4 star any day.

We needed a room at the last minute (11:00 PM) because our other hotel was disgusting. They were great and let us examine a room before we made our choice. Great taht it had two double beds in one room and sleeper sofa in the other. Two TV's and small bathroom that was very clean. The staff was excellent!!

We recently stayed at the Grand Suites Tampa. We were in Tampa celebrating my hubby's birthday with a weekend at Busch Gardens. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay here. Yes, there was construction going on, but it wasn't really a factor in our stay. This hotel was only about 5 mins. from Busch and was very convient to many restaurants in the area (the deli next door has great food). Our 2 room suite was very clean and comfortable. I believe we must have had a newly renovated room as the furniture and bedding were new. Should we ever go back to Tampa, we would stay here in a heartbeat! We had a wonderful time and Grand Suites Tampa had a big part in making our trip great.

My family and I spend 8 nights at the Grand Suites and had an amazing vacation!!. I was not sure what to exspect with some of the reviews I had read but realized that most people on these sites doing the belly aching often go expecting the stars and moon and want to pay nothing to get it . If you want 5 star then you have to be ready to cough up the big bucks and book a 5 star hotel. The Grand Suites only rates themselves as a two star but I do believe they should be a 3 star minimum.

First off the staff are wonderful both in the office and the front desk as well as the guys working the shuttle bus …. Very friendly, always helpful and you never felt like you were bothering them even when you knew they were super busy. The hotel itself is a big hotel - 120 rooms - but it had this great small hotel feel you didn’t feel at all lost and a just a number. They have all the amenities also .. free shuttle to Bush Gardens and even to a nearby shopping plaza available with little or no advance notice, that was a HUGE plus for us. An amazing free continental breakfast .. I have no idea what other folks are complaining about, I thought it was great … 3 types of muffins, Danish, hot and cold cereals, yogurt, two types of fruit, 2 types of bagels, toast, peanut butter, jellies, cream cheese, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, herbal teas, bottled water, 3 types of juice ….. geez people what more do you expect for nothing?! They have a great little gym set up that my daughter and I tried out one night 4 machines to use with two flat screen TV’s to watch… the pool was small yes, but we were so busy at Bush Gardens and other attractions, swimming in a pool at the hotel was not a priority .. but it did seem to be a fun social area for a lot of other folks who were either in the pool frolicking or having drinks at the little outdoor bar they had set up every evening – so it certainly served it’s purpose. The free computer access and two computers set up in the lobby for guest use are a nice amenity and one we all appreciated, especially my teenage son. The room it self was well appointed with all the comforts – it was lovely to have the two rooms in a suite style set up and with two tv’s, it was a extra nice extra - especially when traveling with kids so that the adults still get to watch what they want and the kids are happy too … I actually believe we were in one of the older rooms but it was clean and well maintained and attractively furnished, they had a small fridge and a microwave that we got use out of, storing drinks and simple snack food items. I would love to go back someday and see the upgraded version when they finish the renovations of the rooms just to compare if they were able to improve any more on it. The beds with the pillow tops were very comfortable and we slept well on them every night. They even have a guest laundry with a washer and dryer which we took advantage of mid week so I actually came home with very little dirty laundry which was nice also.

Location wise they are just about perfect especially if you plan on going to Bush Gardens … Next time I go back I probably would not even bother with the rental car that we got half way through the vacation because there is so much so close by you can really walk to them anyway … there are two great places to eat directly next door on each side of the hotel – McAlsiters Deli and Village Inn – The CVS pharmacy that was 24 hrs was a 3 minute walk away and the shopping plaza with the grocery store in it is actually in walking distance also (maybe 10 minutes away) and we even walked to the University Mall a few minutes walk past the plaza one day .. so there is a multitude of food choices all in walking distance .. including a Chile’s not to mention the University Mall is huge! .. it has a Sears, JC Penny, Dillards and a hundred other stores even a multi screen Movie theater .. and a big food court. What more could a person really ask for?!

The only downside about the hotel was really not even their fault … they are currently in full swing with a complete hotel and room renovation as they prepare to switch to a Holiday Inn Suites … but they told me that up front when I booked so I can’t even complain about that … we left early in the morning every day (out on usually the very first shuttle) and were gone almost all day so we really did not notice any inconvenience from noise due to it anyway. I am the type of person who when they go on vacation they go to do and see things not hang out in the hotel room all day long anyway … so for us the Grand Suites was a perfect base … Clean comfortable room, friendly staff, great location and all the extras we wanted and needed to make it a wonderful vacation experience ... they more then met all our needs and at a great price to boot. Would I go back again?! In a heartbeat! Grand Suites gets a big thumbs up from us!!

I stayed during the NCAA basketball tournament. Overall this was a pleasant stay. Our room was clean and comfortable. I would agree that it's probably 2 1/2 star quality, not three star quality. Free internet in the lobby was a big plus. I didn't have my laptop with me and it was great to get online. They have a small outdoor bar area with a older gentlemen tending bar who was very friendly. During my visit the bar was open pretty late, but it would probably close earlier during the week. I wasn't overly impressed with the breakfast in the morning. Not much to choose from. I didn't use the pool, so I can't help much in that department. It is located very close to the University of South Florida and Busch Gardens. The shuttle service was very reliable to Busch Gardens. The hotel is about 15 minutes from downtown. There was some road consturction during my visit, which was worse at night than during the day. The staff was friendly and did a nice job with directions. If I am back in Tampa, I would return for another visit.

I too was a little afraid to book a stay at this hotel after reading some of the reviews.

We found the hotel staff to be pleasant and professional.

The room was clean and looked recently updated.

The bed was extremely comfortable, as was the sofa sleeper.

We enjoyed the pool area, and the shuttle to the parks was easily scheduled.

They are in the process of upgrading the property, but we were never bothered by construction noise, etc.

I would recommend this property and stay there again in the future.

We just returned from a 1 night stay and the accomadations were great! This is first hotel that I have stayed in that had a great shower head and thick bath towels!!! I picked this hotel for the location to Busch Gardens and that they had a shuttle availalbe every hour. I think the continental breakfast needs to be stocked more frequently since that was one of the reasons I stayed at this hotel. The price included admission to Busch Gardens which was very convenient. Would recommed this hotel to family and friends and would stay here again!

We booked this hotel on Hotwire and were really scared when we came back to TripAdvisor to read reviews. We were pleasantly surprised when we got there.

First, we arrived about 10:30 and wanted to see if they had a shuttle to Busch Gardens. They did, it was leaving at 11:00 and the front desk offered to check us into a room early. The room had recently been renovated and was spacious and clean. The furniture wasn't new, but I imagine it to be replaced shortly as they are in the process of turning this property into a Holiday Inn.

The pool area and landscaped courtyard were beautiful and really add the the relaxing atmsophere of the hotel. The pool is maybe a little on the small side for size for the hotel and is a standard bean shape pool. They have a jacuzzi too.

The contintental breakfast in the morning is the typical standard fair for any hotel that offers one -- cereal, muffins, bagels, yogurt, etc.

There is some construction going on, as they convert to a Holiday Inn. I would try to get a renovated room, assuming that there may still be some rooms that haven't been renovated. It's a great location close to Busch Gardens, their shuttle worked out great. I found the staff to be pleasant and helpful for our entire stay. This was a pleasant surprise, as it was the first time I used Hotwire, and I was dreading the hotel after reading previous reviews. I am guessing previous reviewers stayed there before and during the major renovations.

Only stayed here one night, but would have liked to be able to have stayed longer. The front of the hotel is nothing to write home about and I was a little apprehensive, but let me tell you, the front desk staff was EXCELLENT and once you make it to the courtyard area, it is a beautiful oasis. Our room was very well appointed, a TV in the living area and another in the bedroom. Hairdryer, coffee maker, fridge, high end soaps and shampoos, very nice! The housecleaning staff did a nice job of having the room in tip top shape. I was very pleased. There was plenty of space in the room. The pool area was VERY clean and John at the Tiki bar (2 for 1 special until 7:30) was very nice and fun to visit with.

They provide a shuttle service to Busch Gardens, and I've got to say they are the nicest and friendliest front desk staff I have ever encountered. They were very informative, great with directions and helpful hints about the area and very gracious.

The ONLY negative that I have was regarding the "Buffet" breakfast for $8.95. "Buffett" is really stretching it. It is what would be considered free continental breakfast at most other hotels I've stayed at. In the hotel's defense, it is a contracted service and not run by the hotel. I did suggest they look into an alternative service.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

I have stayed at this property twice through Priceline. The rooms have always been clean. We had an issue with water on the carpet but it was taken care of by maintenance. Back when I stayed they had a bar in the patio with complimentary beer, wine and sodas for two hours in the afternoon. All of this for $ 50 a night not bad at all.

we've just stayed three nights there with 3 kids and we had a great time.It is just around the corner of Busch Gardens and as soon as you are in the lobby you are in a quiet spanish style garden. We've loved it and so did our children. The breakfast was perfect for us and the staff was very friendly. The rooms could be bigger but we are on vacation and it was good for us. We are sure to visit Tampa again and stay again there.

We stayed here after leaving another hotel. I wished we had booked this originally! It was very comfortable and reasonably priced. A great place to stay when you are looking for a true suite hotel near Busch Gardens.

My boyfriend and I went to visit Busch Gardens for my birthday weekend and wanted a nice place to stay near the park. After researching most of the properties near Busch Gardens we decided on the Doubletree.

Finding the place was pretty easy, it's just one turn off of the road you take when you exit off the interstate. It's near a large number of restaurants, a mall, and other places to shop. When we arrived, there was a medium amount of traffic at the check-in. The desk clerks were extremely welcoming, friendly, and kind. We received 2 warm chocolate chip cookies as per the Doubletree tradition and were promptly assigned our room.

The night we checked in there was a graduation party going on in one of the ballrooms near our room. Some of the music could be heard until about midnight. Other than that, first impressions were very nice. Upon entering there is a living room with TV, couch, dining table with 2 chairs, and a counter with sink, refrigerator, and microwave. Inside the "bedroom" area there was a TV, sink area and bathroom. The bathroom was quite small- barely enough room for the shower and toilet. Everything else was more than sufficient for living areas. We were very happy with the room as a whole. Each suite is personally climate-controlled so you have your own A/C system with thermostat, not a wall unit. All the bathroom products provided are from Neutrogena, including face wash, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotion, and shower cap. Towels and washcloths were thick and soft. The linens were of good quality, and the bed was nice to sleep on- not too firm.

Soundproofing needed to be worked on in my opinion but we didn't have many problems with that either; as mentioned before, the party going on as well as occasional door slamming and clatters from adjoining rooms were present but not to any large extent. If you get a room near the pool and spend any time during the day there, it may be noisy. The room was very clean as far as I could tell.

There were a few nitpicky items I noticed: some cigarette burns in the comforter (to my knowledge was a nonsmoking room), scorches from cigarettes on the nightstands, a few little paint chips here and there in the doorways, and what looked to be perhaps a little water stain near the corner of the tub on the exterior. Other than that, no big flaws.

The second night of our stay the parking lot was packed full; apparently there was another party going on that night. We went to the office and asked where we could park because the hotel lot was full. There was a restaurant next door, The Village Inn, that they referred us to. The sign in the parking lot said, "Parking for the Village Inn only," so we were a little hesitant, but the car was still there in the morning.

I've seen some people commenting that it is in a "bad area of town." I don't necessarily think that, but there is some "trash" around so to speak in the restaurants and mall. You shouldn't feel unsafe at the hotel, as there is no indication it is anywhere near anything you might consider dangerous. It is by no means in a sleazy part of town; just the clientele you will be sharing restaurants/movie theaters/mall shops with will not be your upper class Gucci types.

Busch Gardens is a 5-minute drive from the hotel. We did not use the hotel shuttle so I cannot comment on that.

We weren't greeted with a smile and as we had arrived an hour early our room wasn't ready and we were asked to come back. I wasn't sure what to expect but when we finally got to our rooms they were fine. Dark, yes, as has been previously mentioned but we left the doors open when we were in and watched the squirrels and unusual exotic birds in the lovely garden. The property has a Spanish feel to it. The beds were comfortable. The bathrooms are tiny. The pool is small but was not too busy when we were their and we used it. The hot breakfast, which was complimentary as i am a gold Hhonors member, was average. Would stay here again if in the area.

My girlfriend and I stayed at this Doubletree Suites on a Sunday night into Monday morning (we're actors, so we often only have Mondays off) prior to a day trip to Busch Gardens. The check-in process was quick and painless, and we were quickly on our way to our 2-room suite on the second floor, just off the elevator. The parking area is well-lit, and butts up to a Village Inn restaurant next door. We did not partake, but hotel guests can receive a 10 percent discount there.

Our room was lovely. Clearly, some recent renovation has taken place; I smelled fresh paint. The rooms are spacious, though I'd say the 2-room suites are ideally sized for 2 people only. The room doors are of that odd garden apartment variety - mostly glass, and you draw privacy curtains across the threshhold in order to close out the light and passersby. My girlfriend and I quickly thought of the Disney Haunted Mansion: "This room has no windows and no doors!"

The bed was a lovely king; just too soft for either of us to really appreciate. Bed boards are available at the 'Tree, so in retrospect, I suppose we could have whined for one.

The rooms are mostly dark carpets and dark woods, so better lighting is in order. Thick cream glass shades and amber fixtures do not light adequately. If you want sunlight, everyone walking past your room is going to know what you're up to.

The water pressure is SAD. Not only sub-par, and quite a letdown, considering the thirsty towels in the small but functional shower. The sink unit is outside the bathroom proper, a feature I LOVE to see.

Busch Gardens is only 3 minutes away, and on a Monday in January it was EMPTY. All in all, rock on, Tree!

We stayed here one night on our visit to Busch Gardens. I paid $50 ($63 with tax) on Priceline. It came with free continental breakfast (toast, muffins, bagels, yogurt, some fruits, instant grits and oakmeal, coffee, juice, and tea, etc.), so the price was very reasonable. I could tell there was some renovation done in the rooms, such as bar area with granite counter top and solid surface tub surrounds in the bathroom; however, the room just felt "old". I just can't explain it. It is as if they did only half a renovation. The tvs (2) were at least 15 years old, the furniture looked antique-ish (not in a good way), but the curtain and bed spreads were newer looking. Also, this was the first hotel that I stayed at where the hotel room door was made of glass. That was very odd to me due to safety reasons.

The pool area looked beautiful with a waterfall. The pool was heated, the hot tub was not. The pool goes from 3.5 feet to 5, 6, then 7 ft without any kind of markings, except the writing on the outside edge of the pool. The could be a little bit dangerous for a novice swimmer.

The hotel offered free internet and mini fridge and microwave in the rooms. That was very nice.

My husband and I stayed at this property for one night after our visit to Busch Gardens. We got the room for $50.00 on Priceline, so it was a great value for us and it was only 1 mile from the park. The hotel staff was extremely friendly and the hotel was clean. We had a two-room suite that was wheelchair accessible. Although clean, the carpeting in both our living room and bedroom was badly stained and the room could have used a coat of paint. We had a very comfortable, king bed with lots of pillows and bath products were from Bath & Body Works. Although this was an accessible room, the bed was very close to the bathroom door, making it a bit difficult to maneuver getting into the bathroom in a wheelchair. Continental breakfast was included and very basic. The area around the hotel is very industrial and not at all attractive. All the rooms have glass-paned doors, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable about security. We did not have the opportuntiy to take advantage of the pool, but it looked very nice. There was also a hot tub. The room was definitely worth the price we paid.

Stayed for a long weekend at the end of March '07 there to be near Busch. Being a business traveller, i felt comfortable finding a double tree so close to the park. Great shuttle service (drivers were very friendly). Hotel is clean and pretty garden area. Didn't use the cafe for meals but it looked small so i went next door to the village inn for my breakfasts. I had requested a non smoking room but got a smoking one on the lower level. Smell was very faint and after running the a/c fan it wasn't noticeable. I did hear a garbage truck very early one morning but being from a large city, that is nothing new. The fridge was not stocked as in other hotels and while one front desk person was extremely helpful in answering my questions when i arrived, the other woman behind the desk barely looked up and mumbled responses to her coworker instead of addressing me directly with answers. Sidestreets are not anything to walk around in and when i drove up we passed a set of railroad tracks? Don't know if they are still in use (never heard a train while i was there) but would be very loud if they are. Small pool but very clean. I paid $40 from the airport to the hotel and didn't see much as far as rests. in the walking area. 24 hr. CVS at the corner and a bank right near by. If i ever went back to Tampa, it would be to another hotel location for sure.

My husband, 13 year old daughter and I stayed here for three nights at the end of February. The setup was very comfortable, with a fold-out bed, TV, table, sink, coffee maker and microwave in the sitting area, two double beds, generous selection of Neutrogena toiletries, iron and ironing board, and huge bath towels. The only thing sorely lacking was an in-room safe.

The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful throughout our stay and gave us delicious, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in. The hotel provided free shuttle service to and from Busch Gardens, which saved us a lot of time and money.

The swimming pool was heated, and there was also a jacuzzi. A tiki bar served drinks in the evening, and there was a manager's reception every night from 5:30-6:30.

Breakfast was included in our rate since my husband is a Hilton gold member - it was around $10 if you had to pay. Every day was the same - scrambed eggs, tater tots, bacon, sausage, some fruit, yogurt, cereals, bagels, and make-your-own waffles. Even when we arrived first thing in the morning, the potatoes and eggs were a bit cold.

Housekeeping left a bit to be desired. They never replenished our coffee, and we had to call three times before the front desk ended up taking care if it themselves. They were nice enough to give us some cookies along with our coffee refill.

Cleanliness was a bit of an issue. Our bathroom floor was very grimy along all the edges and corners and looked like it had never been cleaned. The jacuzzi was also very dirty the first day, although someone did eventually clean it. We had to remind the people in the breakfast room to remove dirty dishes from previous diners.

The neighborhood is just OK. Don't look for anything other than chain restaurants nearby. We drove to Channelside, where there are lots of shops and some nicer restaurants, including a great Tapas place. Be sure to stick to the highway if you go there or else you'll drive through a pretty seedy (scary) area.

I would recommend this as a place to stay if you are planning to visit Busch Gardens and other nearby attractions. It's a great setup for a family or a few friends traveling together.

Just staying for one night, I was a bit unsure after the previous 2 reviews. Our rooms were clean, but tiny. Beds were comfortable. My sons used the pool, and it was clean and warm. We had drinks in the courtyard in the evening, and the bartender was very friendly. We were given coupons upon checking in for a free breakfast in the Courtyard Cafe. Again, nothing special, but adequate. With Busch Gardens tickets included in our price, we got a very good deal on the rooms (for a "suite" room). This was just for a regular package deal on the Doubletree website.

I stayed here with 3 kids as we visited Busch Gardens for 2 days.

The room size is good, but not for more people than 4. The hotel is fairly clean, but could use some updating (paint mostly) The pool is nice, small but not crowed. The breakfast room was being updated, so we ate at the Village inn next door each morning which was good and reasonable. The hotel seemed very safe with all the doors facing into the courtyard. I would stay here again. It is a great locatin to the park!

To kind share a little light from the managements response dated back May 2004...the hotels still has (inside) problems that renovations do not relieve. My honest observation:

The Suites are small compared to our usual vacation stays with Embassy Suites. We decided to stay because of the slightly better value. Well the front desk and lobby area is small. If you use the luggage cart, you must prepare for a long hike to a single elevator location that's toward the rear of the building.

The service was spotty. We had to explain the next morning that we were guest for breakfast, because we had not received our breakfast coupons upon check-in. Couldn't believe they weren't tucked in the hotel key pouch as is the norm.We were told to contact the front desk for verification. The head staff at the Dining was not friendly (although we tried) due to being more concerned with serving "hook ups" to go trays to fellow employees. That same morning I called 3x's for a toilet paper rack that was missing from our bathroom...total time (1hr.). If you like going on family vacations where you do most of the service, this is the spot!

Stayed with my two boys for 1 Wednesday night late August. Staff were helpful throughout - arrived around 11am and were able to check in - then they got the minibus to take us the mile to Busch Gardens - return trip was organised by asking Guest services at the Park to ring through for us - short delay but good service and quicker & cheaper than parking! Swimming pool small but OK the day we were there - steady stream of people but didn't see it overcrowded. Towels for use in the pool are supplied by the pool which was handy. Beware the squirrels - there is wildlife - small lizards etc round the pool which is not unpleasant but having collected the cookies the hotel provides I put one on a lounger - and it was stolen by a squirrel! It had another go at raiding the cool bag I had down by the pool with me and took some chasing off but gave up eventually.

Rooms smelt a bit of stale smoke (we are not smokers) and seemed a bit gloomy but were acceptable to us - we had a twin room and the sofabed and all slept OK. There is a diner right next door which had the plain items my fussy teenager will eat so tho not gourmet was OK after a busy day, and the location meant I could enjoy the drinks in the breakfast/drinks package as I didn't have to drive. Breakfast was not a great range but pre- roller coasters we keep it light! Having read reviews of hotels nearer Busch Gardens that described a less than ideal neighbourhood this seemed like a good compromise, and there were a few like minded families plus a number of business users using laptops in quiet corners indoors and out! We would want more space in the longer term but for a one night stay it fitted the bill.

In all honesty, I don't know where to start. There were elements of the hotel I enjoyed, yet in other respects, I was very uncomfortable. Apparently many changes have been made in this past year and this hotel went from the Doubletree to the Grand Suites. One excellent thing the Grand Suites did was include a continental breakfast, which was adequate with muffins, bagels, juice, milk, cereals, fruits, and yogurt. Hot options were not available, but this wasn't my concern. The outdoor area was nice with a pool and small tiki bar. The pool was refreshing and clean, going out to 7 feet deep. The rooms were surprisingly larger than I expected with a sitting room and small bedroom behind the front portion of the room. There were two televisions, but my friend on the floor below me had to change rooms because hers didn't work by any means. The bathroom was the most impressive because there was a NICE showerhead with warm water. The hotel is also down the street from Busch Gardens. I appreciated all these things.

However, I also had to change rooms, which was frustrating.

The card key did not work most of the time. At first, I was convinced it was me, so I went to the front and had the key re-activated. However after that, I went back up to the room and couldn't get in. Strange... were there scratches on the back of the card? I couldn't see any. I then asked for a new card to a new room to see if I could swipe the card right, but the room was wide open! I didn't want to enter by any means, so I went down to the front and stated that I would keep my room because I somehow got in again after ten minutes of struggling. Something must have scanned right. I fell asleep the first night, feeling all right about my room situation. I put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door and left for the day to arrive back at 4:30 p.m.

When I arrived back at 4:30, I was frustrated because again the key would not work, so I went to the front and was basically laughed at. The staff was just downright rude at that moment and told me (with hand motions) how to swipe the card. However, the hand motions were done with a smirk on their faces, and I demanded I had my room changed. They asked me my room number, and I told them the number of the first room (which according to the previous day I still had). However, they said that I was in the second room that I never went in. I told them, "I returned my keys and said I'll just stay in the first room!" They then replied, "Uhh... no. Goodness, your belongings may not even be in your first room anymore! Did you check to see they were still there?" I responded with, "I cannot get in my room! I demand that I have my room changed."

They stated, "You need to wait for five minutes" and then about 3 or 4 of them talked in the back room. They treated me like I was psychotic. Eventually, I got into my first room, grabbed my belongings as swiftly as possible (thanking the Lord that they were there) and moved into the second room, which thankfully was closed. From there, things were fine for three more days.

Upon leaving, though, I was charged more than my three friends who stayed. Somehow they all paid $80 and I paid $89. I said that they booked around the same time as me, but I got that same look again and they stated, "Well, the rates must have changed." I then looked at them and replied, "Well, have your extra $36.00." By then, I was done.

So basically, clean hotel, nice shower, nice pool, and adequate breakfast. Rude staff, and apparently there are a number of room changes (based on other reviews I have read).

we booked the Grand Suites Tampa by priceline. It said it was a 3-star but i don't think it was. The rooms were in need of a makeover for sure. They smelled musty and were dark. Dark carpet, dark curtains, dark bed spread. The bathroom as teeny tiny. You couldn't just walk in and close the door. You had to scootch around behind the door and then close it. Ceiling looked a bit moldy in the shower. The sink was in the room, outside of the bathroom. The tvs, though there were two of them were old and crackly & the sound was not good from them. It was also hard to control the room temperature. It was either too hot or too cold. There were also noisy guests the first night which kept us up. we didn't sleep well either night, due to noise of other guests & room temperature. The upside to the hotel was out of the rooms. The staff was welcoming and very nice. There was a van and driver always ready to drive you to Busch Gardens without a problem. Very nice guys- even if they had just taken some guests there, they were always happy to take your group. The people at the front desk were always nice and helpful. The pool was nice, though not heated and the courtyard was a good space to layout, though they had a spa that was not heated at all. There was a tiki bar with a happy hour daily which is nice. The complementary breakfast was completely acceptable with pretty good coffee, fruit, muffins, cereal etc. My kids loved it. There was a good deli next door with an excellent variety of food. We ate dinner there both nights as my children liked it a lot. I'm a vegetarian and found good things for me there as well.

The hotel was very close to Busch Gardens, which was great. The rooms were nicely furnished, although the bathroom ceiling showed how old the hotel truly was. The courtyard was nice with lots of plants and a nice pool. The only thing that ruined the stay was the humongous bugs my husband and I saw running across our rooms.

We booked two rooms next to each other to accommodate us and our two children. This obviously wasn't an isolated incident since both of us saw a huge cockroach looking thing running across the floor. Yuck. Cannot say I would return.

The Grand Suites Hotel was not very nice. They had tried to update the hotel but it does not look completed. The layout was very confusing. The pool was very small. In addition, we asked for a non-smoking room with two double beds and they gave us a smoking king room. We had to change rooms and the service was mediocre. There had been vouchers to eat breakfast at the hotel two nights, but they gave us two so we could only eat free one night. The only good thing about this hotel was the proximity to Busch Gardens, you went two blocks and made a left, and the parking lot was there.

We stayed, luckily, for just one evening last weekend. The rate was reasonable ~$95, and justifiably so. We checked in after a hot day at Busch Gardens, the front desk person seemed distracted ... talking on his cell phone while "servicing" us. The room key worked, however another family was clearly camped out in the room already. There were laptops, luggage and other clear signs of occupation.

After some time, we were directed to another room, unusually hot. After 3 painful hours in 85 degree plus indoor weather, and two visits from maintenance, we were finally provided with a room with working a/c.

The hotel is not very clean and the neighborhood is questionable.

Overall the hotel is in clear need of better service, maintenance and management. I would recommend this as a budget hotel, with a rate of $70 or less.

We arrived late with no reservations. The rate was $95. We were surprised to find that our room had just been used for someone else's

pleasure. The sheets were tossed back, and it was evident that someone was in the bed after it had been made. Also a part of a

"Lifestyle" condon was found in the bedskirt. When checking the closet, someone recently tossed a wet washcloth and left it there. (Apparently, for freshening up quickly) The sink was dirty and grimy.

We reported this to the front desk. I told them I didn't know they had day rates as well. Since it was so late, we checked another room.

There was some weird lady walking around and pulling on all the door handles. Kids were in the pool at night.

On the brighter side, the shuttle bus to Busch Gardens and the drivers were wonderful. The front desk people were helpful also. Would I ever go back?...nope! I will stay at the Embassy Suites up the street for $30 more and get a full free breakfast.

The carpet in the room is so dirty that our socks turned black as soon as we took our shoes off in the room. The quality of their mattresses are terrible, that we all got backache after the trip. AC is loud and emits odor when it is turned on. Towels are all sticky, very sticky... I felt uncomfortable when using it...

The only thing we like is that fact that it is a suite, so we got a living room and a bedroom. Their lobby is very modern, the appearance of the hotel is Spanish style. First impression was very good, but beware when you step into their rooms...

BTW, the location of the hotel is not in a safe neighborhood, we booked it because it is close to Busch Gardens, we will never stay close to this area ever again!

The staff of the hotel was very friendly even as they explained that the infestation of large love bugs in my room was not a problem since the bugs were harmless. Other than the friendly staff, the other positive for the Hotel was it's close proxmity to Busch Gardens. On the negative side, the property needs renovation and the room furniture and carpets were in dire need of replacement. Also, the rooms are not friendly for business travelers as there was lack of electrical outlets and no in room internet service or WiFi. If I had paid the normal published rates for this hotel vice the half off discount rate that I obtained through Hotwire, I would have been extremely unhappy.

Great location, bad physical condition. Not up to Doubletree standards, smaller rooms everything looks worn. Needs renovation. Good location,close to Busch Gardens with a free shuttle.

I had the opportunity to stay at this hotel on business this past week. Typically you can count on consistency in hotels with the Doubletree name - I was wrong this time. The hotel is dreary and I don't think I've ever stayed anywhere that smelled so strongly of mold. I ended spraying the pillows with cologne just so I could get to sleep.

Rating is at best 2 star. The restaurant isn't working and no attempt is being made to open it by owner, according to some employees. The bathroom fixtures and pluming need attention. The toilet was damaged and stopped up in our first room and flushed poorly in our second. The pool cleanliness was not maintained well. The carpets needed deep cleaning.

Some of the employees were very nice and caring, while others were rude. The bed was comfortable and the storage for clothes was excellent. I was told I was getting a kitchenette...a microwave, coffeemaker and small refrigerator is not a kitchenette, even though the desk clerk assured me it was.

The brand "Doubletree Guest Suites " is sulled by this one...It should be brought up to standards and then it would be a great place to stay.

Excellent breakfast at the Villege Inn next door.

This hotel is currently undergoing major renovations. The hot tub was closed and filled with green, stagnant water. The main entrance to our room area was blocked due to construction.

They provide a shuttle to Busch Gardens - have to put your name in and reserve a time. We did that upon arrival & were told to be in the lobby at 9. They didn't have our name on the list and were told we could wait until 9:45 when they had space on the van - this was after several people arrived and put their name on the list while we waited. We ended up driving ourselves since we were meeting family there and didn't want to waste any more time waiting for the shuttle.

There is only 1 small elevator to service the entire complex and it is a very long walk from parking to some of the rooms. At check out, the elevator was filled with laundry carts, either filled with dirty linens or empty. Housekeeping staff yelled to us from other floors and instructed us to remove the carts at our floors.

Front desk personnel were extremely unconcerned and did not respond to our comments/complaints, not sure she was actually conscious.

I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. It is convenient to Busch Gardens but there are other hotels in the area and I would definitely look for something else.

The hotel is definitely older. The furniture and carpet in our room was not very clean. Looks like they are renovating rooms and it is certainly needed.

We chose this hotel because it was close to USF and about $30 lower than nearby hotels. I booked a no smoking room, which the hotel confirmed they had available rooms.

On the night we arrived, we were given a no smoking room. Even though the room smelled like cigarrete smoke, we decided to stay in it since it was past midnight and we were only staying until the next morning. What a mistake, The cigarrete odor was so bad that neither my wife, daughter or me slept that night.

The next morning, I informed the clerk at checkout that the room reeked of cigarrete smoke. All she said was that they did not have any double bed rooms that were smoking room. That's it: no apology or good will jesture.

It wasn't worth the $30 savings. We won't stay here again.

A supposed 3 star hotel rated by Priceline. The problems started when we arrived where we were informed that the water would be out for three hours. Well 9 hours later the water was still out. Also the TV did not work properly, the color was shot. The fire alarm was hanging by wires from the ceiling. The bathroom was dirty and the vent cover was hanging off. The staff was nice but that is all I can say about them.

We got out as fast as we could. We were the lucky ones for there were a ton of hotels booked out for the nights we were there.

Nasty, smelly, dirty rooms. Had to change rooms 3 times. First room: TV broken. 2nd room: AC did not work. 3rd room: smelly and musty. Breakfast is NOT included. Don't waste your money on the $9.95 buffet. Waiter cleared the buffet half hour before scheduled finish time. The whole place was very dirty and all 3 rooms we tried had broken-down furniture that was scraped & scratched. Looked like salvage items. We didn't even want to sit on the furniture in the "suite." Very unsanitary. YICK!

I will stary by saying I am a Hilton Diamond Member, and I normally love almost every hotel from their family of hotel chains, including Doubletree, when I stay there. BUT THIS WAS A NIGHTMARE! While at dinner, my room was broken into by someone breaking the glass pane in the door ( first stupid design flaw ) and literally stole everything but my clothes, including my luggage. I lost my laptop, camera, toiletries, briefcase, EVERYTHING. When I returned from dinner, I noticed the broken window, looked in thru the door and noticed my stuff was gone and contacted the front desk. They called 911, and the assistant manager, who apparently could not be bothered and wouldnt even speak with me. I told the clerk to tell him I did not feel safe and I wanted to check out and have them foot the bill for my hotel across the street (Embassy Suites) which he agreed to. The next morning I went to see him and he pulled me outside so to not alert the other guest of what had happened, and he basically threw up his hands and said they are not responsible for items lost or stolen. I told him he IS responsible to provide a safe place to stay, which they didnt do. He then told me he felt they had gone above and beyond the call of duty by not charging me for my stay and paying for the hotel across the street. I told him that was the least they could do. After the incident, I called the hotel manager, Ron something, numerous times. He called me back once, and left a voice mail, and never called me back. I was getting no where with him, or the hotel, so I began calling everyone at HIlton Corporate I could think of. I called every week, and finally got someone who told me they would contact RON at the Doubletree. When they finally spoke with him, he told the corporate office he had filed a claim with his insurance company and it was denied... COMPLETE LIE! How could he have filed a claim when he never spoke to me to find out what had actually been stolen. I have never been more disappointed in a hotel and the way I was treated as I was by them. I ended up filing a claim on my homeowners insurance, and got a portion back of what was stolen, and then was cancelled by them. Now I pay 3x more for homeowners insurance than I was because of the claim.. so I am still paying for the burglary at this hotel... and what did they Doubletree give me? A credit of 100.00 for my stay and Corporate sent me 2 free night stays coupons. That was it. Am I Bitter... HELL YEAH! So I strongly suggest DONT STAY HERE! Non Existant Security, Glass Panes in the Doors, Bad Neighborhood, and a Staff of Managers that could have cared less about a customer, not to mention a diamond member with them.

Room smelled very strongly of Air Freshener, overpowering. I complained at desk and asked what it was covering up and was told "nothing" they probably mixed it too strong. I asked to not have room sprayed again for 3 day stay. By 3rd day air freshener wore off and mold odor took over, family all had headaches and stuffy noses.

Used single washer and dryer located in stairwell. Dryer had no lint trap and by the time 2nd load was washed, realized dryer heated up wet clothes but did not dry them. Compalined to management and was told "oh, guess we should put a sign on it." It was 9:00 pm. and I was in no mood to seek out laundrymat. Had wet clothes drying all over room.

Entry doors did not require use of key to get in even tho it was posted on doors. Found doors propped open with sticks.

Saturday night wedding reception in interior courtyard restaurant drew large crowd of rowdy partiers and parking lot fights till wee hours of the morning. Old and worn, dark room decor depressing. Only plus, really close to Busch Gardens.

I was sent to the first room with a very musty smell and the air-conditioner not working. I then was given a key to a second room with a musty smell, like the smell of sun-tan lotion, stained furniture, light fixtures that looked like they came from a garage sale and a lot of flying bugs in the living room section (to which I closed the door).

The air-conditioning was loud and there was a loud mechanical noise outside the window. There were a lot of dead leaves still on the bushes around the patio. I would not go back or recommend it. I have been in lovely Doubletree Inns, but somebody slipped up here.

It was already after nine when I got to the second room and

I had to get up at six. I figured that trying more of their rooms would not be a useful exercise and I had already paid on the web for the room.

Boy...where to begin.

The pictures make the hotel look good. The pool looks nice. Sounds like a great location. Everything you could ask for...especially for Busch Gardens, which was one of the reasons my family spent a few nights in the Tampa Bay area on our tour of Florida.

I've stayed at a Double Tree hotel before-the one in Denver, Colorado. Now that is a nice hotel. After staying there, gaining trust in the Double Tree name, and after seeing the pictures of this hotel, we decided to book it.

We were driving in from Orlando. And yes, this hotel is close to Busch Gardens. Very close. However, let me share with you some other things it's close to.

This hotel, and Busch Gardens, are located somewhere between the industrial area and the slums of Tampa.

It is across the street from a brewery.

Save for Busch Gardens, there are no other tourist attractions around.

It is generally in the bad part of town.

They do not have rollaway beds; in my family of four guys, we needed one. When we asked for extra bedding, in order to make a bed on the floor, the man behind the counter did not know what "extra bedding" was.

We get into the room, and it is just awful. The lighting is terrible. The rooms (we had a 2 room suite) were small; hardly any space to walk around on. We had a very scenic view from our room...of a swamp. The doors were flimsy, easy to break into; not exactly a great feature to have, especially in a bad part of town.

The entire hotel was a dump. we were in there for maybe 15 minutes before changing our reservation to the Quorum Hotel; very nice, in a good part of town, and maybe 10-15 minutes away from Busch Gardens

When we told the guy at the counter we had changed the reservations, he just smiled and said "Okay, have a nice day." As if this happened quite frequently.

This hotel is not worthy of the Double Tree name.

Don't stay here.