Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore

The staff made the stay. Herb kept checking that we had what we needed for our conference and always had a smile and good attitude. Thanks to chefs Gabe and Marco, the food was excellent, and Christina and Truman were the MVPs behind the bar, keeping drinks coming as fast as we ordered. The room was a bit dated, and since it was behind the elevators I could hear them all night. The shower grab bar wasn’t actually secured to the wall either, it pulled right out.

The on-site restaurant chef was the one bright spot, the food was great and the soup especially good. The manager also moved us to a better room for our second night, which helped. Still, this was the worst Embassy we’ve stayed at, and we won’t return, especially at those prices. In room 1608, the sliding door wasn’t sealed, so hot air kept coming in and the AC made the room swing between hot and cold. The bed was awful and left both of us barely sleeping and waking with back pain. The tile floors were so dirty we had to lay towels down to keep our socks and feet from getting black. The TV and remote barely worked, and the sound was terrible. The place is old and run down and badly needs an upgrade.

This Embassy Suites didn’t meet the brand or my expectations. In the room, there was an unpleasant smell, and when I turned down the air to get circulation going, I saw dust and what looked like mold on the exhaust vent outlets. The sprinkler exteriors had rust, with popcorn-ceiling overspray on some of them. The bathroom floor was dingy and still dirty, and the TV was connected with extension cords. The lobby had a funky odor too, which our three-year-old noticed as soon as we arrived and which set the tone for the rest of the stay. Parking was listed at $18, but came to $25.90 after fees and tax. I’d steer clear of this location, or at least keep expectations low if booking.

The Kennedy Board Room worked well for our in-person work meeting. It was roomy, quiet, and comfortable. The staff set it up nicely, gave us clear parking instructions, and supplied notepads, pens, and water. Shomy coordinated the booking for our group, and I’m grateful for her help. I’d recommend this hotel for business meetings.