Econo Lodge Airport at RJ Stadium

It was 42°F outside when we arrived at night, and the room they gave us had no working heat. They moved us seven times, but the heating still didn't work, and they wouldn't give us a better room. It was a terrible experience. They did give us a small heater.

This can work for a short, practical stay if you care more about location and price than luxury. I came in with realistic expectations after reading lots of reviews, and for the right traveler I'd put it at four stars. It gives you a place to sleep near the stadium and airport at a budget rate. If you expect luxury for that price, you'll be disappointed. For a game, concert, or early flight, the convenience may be worth it. The biggest plus is being right across from Raymond James Stadium, with Tampa International Airport, International Plaza, food, and major roads nearby. It's a high-traffic, event-focused area, so weekends and game days can be noisy. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. This isn't a peaceful resort. The hotel is very bare-bones: no pool, breakfast, bar, or continental amenities, just coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the lobby. Some online listings are out of date, which could leave you expecting more. If you're booking for location and price, that may not matter. Our room was clean, the bed was surprisingly comfortable, the newer bedding helped, and the AC cooled it well enough. We didn't see bugs. The rooms are older and need updates, though, and upkeep varies a lot from room to room. Outdated furniture, worn fixtures, slow drains, and uneven floors seem to depend on what you're assigned. If something's wrong, ask to change rooms right away. Several guests said their room improved after switching. The staff weren't especially warm or polished, but we and other guests found many of them efficient, polite, and helpful, especially housekeeping and some front desk employees. They generally do their jobs well despite the volume and clientele. The property needs renovations and better quality control. Still, for a short event or travel stay, it can be a decent functional option if you know what you're getting. The beds can be comfortable in updated rooms, and the staff can be helpful. I wouldn't recommend it to families, long-stay guests, or anyone counting on amenities. I'd come back for an event or early flight, knowing what to expect. Best suited to budget travelers who put location ahead of luxury.

A $157 charge was made to my 5th 3rd debit card through Booking.com, and it included cancellation insurance. I needed to cancel the booking right away, but Booking.com wouldn't correct its error online. The Econolodge employee was no help at all. He laughed about the charge all the way to the bank, mocked me, and told me to call Booking.com and make them fix it. I can't reach Booking.com. Econolodge should be fired, or made to pay for the $157 theft.

The cheapest hotel around apparently overbooks and then lies when it has to cancel multiple reservations. I was next to two other people when I reserved, and we all heard the employee offer a confirmation number. I even told him, “You're good, man, I trust you!” Then the employee who'd offered the number apparently told the old lady who clearly owns the place to cancel my reservation. Turns out I couldn't trust him.