HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Tampa - Airport

April got us checked in quickly and greeted us with a real smile. The price was better than anything I found online, and the beds were comfortable, with plenty of blankets and three good pillows on each. We brought our own pillows anyway. I was especially glad our room had a darkening shade instead of blinds. After an afternoon at the beach, the shower worked well and there was enough hot water for two long showers. The bathroom was clean, and the refrigerator was already running and cold, so we could unpack our ice chest right away. The smoking area just outside the back door has tables, chairs, and a sunshade. My only complaint is that it has no solid roof, so I had to find somewhere else to go when a heavy rainstorm started. We’d stay again. We did hear the people in room 113 getting up around 3 and leaving about 4, which disturbed the room below them, and they let us know. Sorry about that.

The room was spotless, had everything we needed, and the bed was comfortable. Reception welcomed us warmly and handled things efficiently. We came down from Panama City for the England v New Zealland football game, and the hotel was ideally placed for getting to the ground. I’d recommend it and would happily stay again.

The room cleaning policy was a problem. After I got back from work and found my room untouched, the front desk said cleaning had to be requested, and even then it was limited to once a week. For fresh towels, guests have to carry the used ones down and exchange them at reception. There was also water leaking near the front desk, with no warning signs or barrier. When I went to raise it, the manager was arguing with a guest and threatening to evict them. It felt chaotic and unprofessional, so I left without reporting the leak. Noise carried constantly through the walls and halls. I could hear people stomping overhead and every bit of hallway traffic. There’s no pool, and the gym is tiny with almost no equipment. My first impression was poor, and the stay only got worse. I understand it’s meant to be a budget option, but that doesn’t excuse the neglect or management behavior. My job booked it for training; I wouldn’t choose it myself. I’d tell people to stay elsewhere.

With the elevator out of service for days, getting luggage and our kids, including a baby, up and down the stairs was extremely hard. Staff said they’d move us to a ground-floor room the next day, but whenever we followed up, they said none were available. Yesterday they finally said one would be ready after 2 PM, so we packed everything and left it at reception while we went out. When we came back that night, they said there was no room after all and put us on the second floor again, with the elevator still broken. That was incredibly frustrating with children who had to be carried upstairs. Service was awful, there was no manager available to sort things out, and staff made promises they didn’t keep. They showed no concern for guests’ comfort or safety. This was the worst hotel experience we’ve had.