Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North Busch Gardens

I'm months into a stay here, with months still to go. The staff are wonderful and helpful, and whenever my room gets serviced it's fresh and really clean. Any maintenance problems I've had were fixed promptly. I'd highly recommend it if you're visiting Tampa, especially if you're here for the Hard Rock, which is only about seven minutes away.

If you have allergies or asthma, please avoid this place. Construction in the downstairs restaurant area wasn't properly covered, leaving the entire corridor dusty. The old rooms had mold, and the AC vent was dirty. I booked a weekend getaway but had to find another hotel at 2:30 a.m. after my throat swelled and I got wheezier. This place is far from hypoallergenic, and people should be warned. There was wear and tear, which is fine and expected, and the front desk staff were pleasant and tried to help.

The hotel itself is in rough shape: dirty floors, stained carpets, and only one working elevator. The dinner service was a mess too. We waited more than 20 minutes just to be acknowledged, and after an okay but not great meal, 6 out of 10, we waited 43 minutes for the bill and had to chase down the server to pay. I saw several diners sit down and leave without ordering. We gave breakfast a try, and it was a little better, but still poor. The food service manager deserves a flogging. I'd never stay here again, and I'm surprised Hilton lets them use its name.

The people were wonderful, and the staff and customer service were nice. But the hotel is older and didn't meet the standard I expect from Hilton properties. During my visit, I had two plumbing problems that seemed tied to aging infrastructure. Parking was also a struggle: the lot is small, crowded, and difficult to navigate. The breakfast area is so cramped it overflowed, and staff had a hard time keeping up.