Howard Johnson Express Inn - Tampa North/Busch Gardens

The continental breakfast was awful and worthless, and this will be my first and last stay at a Howard Johnson. I was kept awake all night by guests coming and going in the hallway, and the security door was broken. The shower was broken, with hair on the wall; the bathroom cabinet had a foot by foot chunk missing, and a 6 inch hole in the wall was hidden behind a trash can. There were only two pillows, both flat. The room smelled, apparently masked with an air freshener. The universal TV remote wasn’t coded for the TV, so it didn’t work.

I’ve stayed here twice already, and October 23 will make it three. The rooms I had, 206 and 204, were very clean, with spotless bathrooms and no bugs or odors. I’d choose a non-smoking room, though. The smoking rooms downstairs had a slight cigarette smell, which didn’t bother me since that’s what I’d expect there. The non-smoking rooms also seem cleaner and more updated. The grounds are well kept and free of trash. The property has security cameras all around it and a black cast iron gate around the whole place. I’ve felt safe here, even walking alone to the corner store at midnight for snacks. It’s right off a major highway and easy to reach, with plenty of places to eat nearby, many within walking distance. I’m not from the area, but based on my stays and the reviews I’ve read, I’d say give it a try in a non-smoking room. I know people can have bad experiences at lower-star hotels, but this one deserves at least three stars. It’s about five minutes from Busch Gardens and ten from MOSI and other attractions. I’ve never had an issue with the hotel or neighborhood, and I’ll keep coming back when I’m in Tampa.

The beds were okay, and the room was a decent size with a balcony, but I wouldn't stay here again. The bathroom was disgusting, the carpet filthy, and some of the towels had stains. There were cigarette butts all over the highway.

This was one of the worst hotels near the mall. I picked it because I wanted to be close to Universal Mall, but both rooms they moved me to still had bed bugs. I ended up with bite marks, and I posted pictures of the bugs and bites.