Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa East - Ybor City, an IHG Hotel

The owners have clearly put a lot into upgrading the place, and our room was reasonably maintained. Management also sorted out a room assignment mix-up with us and acted quickly and firmly when the next-door neighbor started hosting a rave. But the hotel has some real issues. I usually figure sharply divided reviews come from people expecting the Ritz for Motel 6 prices. Here, though, the hotel bribes guests for five-star ratings, when a more honest score would be three or four. That sets expectations too high. The “suites” are just regular adjoining rooms, the hallways smelled of pot smoke, and the faucets leaked all night. I wish I’d known the two-queen-bed suite wouldn’t have a separate living room and bedroom. There isn’t much within walking distance, so we needed Uber or Lyft and DoorDash. At 11 pm, a domestic argument got so loud that it sounded like the man screaming was in our room. It did quiet down without sirens, so hopefully everyone was okay. This wasn’t the worst hotel stay, but I definitely had moments when I regretted booking. If you can handle some quirks and need a place to crash before a cruise, it might work. If your stay isn’t five stars, please don’t add to the misleading reviews.

The staff were easygoing and receptive. My room was decent and clean, and there’s a pool, though I didn’t use it. Breakfast is available too, which is a plus for me. There’s a skatepark down the road if that’s your thing.

We chose this hotel for the park and cruise offer. The shuttle was perfect, but the promised 24-hour surveillance while we were on our cruise wasn’t there. When we got back, our motorhome had been broken into and badly trashed, as if monsters or wild animals had been inside. Our e-bikes and other belongings worth $5,000 were gone, and the inside of the motorhome was severely damaged. It had been parked under a light, right across from a camera. When police requested footage, the hotel said the cameras weren’t working then and the security guard had gone home. We learned another car was broken into around the same time, with an attempted auto theft that failed. The hotel credited us for the one night we stayed, but repeated requests for more reimbursement for the break-in have gone unanswered. Based on what happened to us, I’d strongly advise people to reconsider staying here.

This was a great place to stay before our cruise. They have breakfast, cruise parking, and a shuttle to the terminal, with several fast-food places nearby. The pool area was clean, and guests can use a volleyball court too. It’s good value for the price.