Towneplace Suites By Marriott Tampa Clearwater

The location worked really well for us, with shops, markets, and restaurants close by, and it was easy to get to Clearwater Beach, St. Pete, and Tampa. We also appreciated the included parking, since parking can cost a lot elsewhere, and the apartment kitchenette was handy for a family trip with kids. Breakfast had a nice range of breads, muffins, yogurt, milk, cereal, oats, eggs, and waffles. The bathroom setup was frustrating. It had a shower instead of the expected bathtub, which was fine, but the glass only covered part of the shower and water got all over the floor each time. Housekeeping also missed our room for a day and a half. We had to take out the trash and request towels and dishwasher soap. Then we were charged for the soap, even though we asked because the housekeeper hadn't cleaned or left any the day before. I'd come back for the location and amenities.

The room was great, modern, and the staff were friendly. But the EV charging setup caused a real problem during my stay. There are four chargers serving two stalls, and plugging more than one car into a stall trips the breaker and shuts off all four. Three other cars were charging when that happened, so nobody could charge until morning. The breaker tripped again, and I only got a charge after another car left. Even then, I reached just 50%. If you arrive with a low or empty battery, you could be stranded or need a tow. That's unacceptable for something advertised as an amenity. The hotel doesn't have an electrician on call overnight, so the system needs attention. I strongly recommend an upgrade, such as Tesla Universal Wall Connectors, and using the federal business tax credit, 30% up to $100,000, to help with the cost. Reliable charging infrastructure matters. Until it's fixed, we'll stay at the nearby Hilton, which has a more dependable setup. I hope management takes this seriously. The rest of the stay could be excellent if the charging issue were resolved.

Housekeeping did an excellent job, and the gentleman working the third shift was very nice. But I reported a sewer smell in the water in my room and everyone acted like they'd never heard of it. I checked reviews and found numerous complaints about the same smell. They really should investigate the water, and it ought to have a filtration system anyway. That's why I'm giving three stars.

The staff were super nice, but I can't think of another reason to recommend this hotel. The location is noisy, right off the highway, and the inside doesn't look like a brand new hotel at all. The “suite” was tiny, even smaller than a regular hotel room. It had a full kitchen but nowhere for two people to sit and eat, nowhere to put luggage, and no safe. There were little ants all over the kitchen. I'm surprised by all the good reviews.