Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

Review: Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North

“B am bam bam bam bam” is what I relentlessly heard as I awoke from my sleep on a recent Sunday morning prior to 9:00 in a suite at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North hotel property — and this was on the day when I was to check out of the hotel and go on the return portion of a road trip which was expected to last for at least six hours.

I spent the weekend in the greater Tampa metropolitan area where I experienced Halloween night in Ybor City — amongst other experiences, which I intend to document in future articles — and I had slept only several hours all weekend, starting with no sleep prior to the road trip south to Tampa. I was really looking forward to a significant amount of sleep so that I may be refreshed for the return trip, so I did most of my preparation for the trip the night before: I showered and packed my bag — except for airing out the stale scent of smoke from the pair of jeans and polo shirt which I wore the night before at a cigar bar — and even took photographs for this article despite the room being rather dark so that I would not have to take any time away from sleeping in the morning…

…but alas, that was not to be. Once I was awakened, I collected my belongings and went to the front desk to check out of the hotel.

The woman behind the front desk smiled at me and asked, “How was your stay?”

“I would have been completely satisfied with the stay had it not been for the banging noises which woke me up before 9:00 this morning,” I replied. “I was really hoping to get some sleep for my car trip today.”

“Oh,” lamented the woman behind the front desk. “They are doing construction in the hotel.”

“…on a Sunday morning before 9:00? That might be reasonable during the week when people need to go to work; but not on a Sunday morning.”

“The construction workers were not supposed to be working that early today,” she replied as she handed me a business card. “Contact the manager of the hotel and let him know of your experience.

I then checked out of the hotel.

I was unable to contact the manager of the hotel for several weeks; but I eventually did send to him a polite e-mail message pertaining to my situation. By the way, I never requested compensation either in person at the front desk or in the e-mail message.

He never did respond to my e-mail message. To me, not acknowledging communication from a guest is poor customer service.

The Room

Upon walking into the room, I noticed a sitting area of sorts…

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

…complete with a couch — which I did not check to see if it opened into a bed — a chair, a coffee table…

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

…and a flat-screen television atop a dresser with drawers.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photographs ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

Next to the entrance to the suite was a desk with a telephone and mirror; and when walking in further, there was the typical cabinet usually found in rooms in a Hilton Garden Inn which included a microwave oven, small refrigerator, a coffee machine with items to prepare a couple of cups of coffee, cups, an ice basket, and other items — as well as storage if needed.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photographs ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

The photograph above and to the left shows a view of the hallway towards the bedroom from the sitting area of the suite; while the photograph above and to the right shows a view of the hallway from the bedroom, with the door of the entrance in view in the background.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

On the left in that hallway on the way to the bedroom is a closet — complete with hangers, an ironing board, an iron, a plastic laundry bag, two extra pillows, an extra blanket, and a luggage rack.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

On the right in that hallway on the way to the bedroom is the entrance to the bathroom.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

The bathroom was one which you would find in virtually any Hilton Garden Inn hotel property. Amenities included shampoo, body lotion, conditioner, soap, tissues and cups — plus a hair dryer.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

I like when the shower bar is curved outward, which gives more room while taking a shower. There was plenty of hot water for the shower; as well as a satisfactory amount of water pressure. There were also plenty of clean towels — no stains or hairs embedded in them.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

The shower head appeared to be a bit grungy looking — probably attributed to the mineral content in the water in Florida — but it was loosely anchored to the wall. I had to be careful with maneuvering the shower head — a minor complaint at best.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

I then entered the bedroom.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

The bed was quite comfortable — which made the noises caused by construction workers that much more annoying and thus the stay more disappointing.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

This is a good view of the closet area, from which I already removed the luggage rack and placed next to the flat-screen television atop a dresser with drawers — which was identical to the ones in the sitting area of the suite.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

This is the flat-screen television in the bedroom. I never did get a chance to watch any television — not that I watch much television in the first place.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

I managed to get photographs of the view, which included the swimming pool area. It actually looked quite inviting — especially as the weather was rather hot; and the humidity was so high that my camera lens and mirror were fogged with a significant amount of moisture after stepping outside from the air conditioning, preventing me from taking a picture of the exterior of the hotel property.

The photograph at the top of this article of a nature preserve seemed almost like a painting to me. The view was green, relaxing, quiet and serene.

Summary

Had it not been for the noise from construction workers which awakened me on a Sunday morning when I preferred to sleep in, this would have been a comfortable and satisfactory stay which I would recommend — especially at a total room rate of $88.70, which included all taxes and fees.

The suite itself — to which I was apparently upgraded, as that is not a standard room at a Hilton Garden Inn hotel property — sufficed for me; but it may be cramped for a family with three or more people.

The lighting in the suite overall was rather dark, as it could use some brighter lighting; and the shower head unit needs to be repaired.

The hotel property itself is located in a quiet location conveniently off of Interstate 75 at exit 266; and the drive to Tampa is approximately 20 minutes. It offers free parking; a complimentary shuttle service to offices and attractions within a radius of five miles, although there are not many restaurants nearby; and a heated outdoor pool, whirlpool and fitness center.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North
13305 Tampa Oaks Boulevard
Temple Terrace, Florida, 33637
+1-813-342-5000
+1-813-342-6000 Fax

All photographs ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

  1. I wrote Hilton’s corporate office a few month’s back about a complaint Hampton Inn & Suites Portland/Hillsboro-Evergreen Park’s manager ignored, got a reply within hours and got a refund check for $170 (1 night stay). Must have the right email address, not general one.

    1. Thank you for that information and imparting your experience, Silver.

      I might consider going that route — but not for the compensation. Rather, if there is a failure in service, it needs to be reported in order for improvement to occur.

  2. I have stayed at a number of HGI’s in Florida, but I have never found one that had suites. AFAIK, that is not the standard.

    I think HGI’s are very nice. I enjoy them thoroughly, especially since one of my perks is a free breakfast, and HGI’s are better than most breakfast buffets.

    However, my one complaint is that the rooms with two rooms use those tiny “three-quarter” beds, but they don’t advertise them as such. I always think to myself: if I showed up with a couple of 8 year-olds for a soccer tournament and got 3/4 beds, I’d be pretty unhappy.

    1. I agree that Hilton Garden Inns are nice, Joseph N.; and yes, suites are not typically the standard in Florida or anywhere else — although that room is typical of a suite at a Hilton Garden Inn hotel property.

      If you want clean and comfortable lodging which is predictable and consistent — with amenities at room rates that will not drain your wallet — that brand is typically the way to go.

      As you can tell by the photographs, I usually request a king bed. I do not recall the last time I stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn hotel property with double beds…

  3. I stayed at this property last May. I was also upgraded to the Junior Suite (on points). I thought it was a lovely little property. There is a large mall about a 10 / 15 minute walk away (I remember the PF Changs fondly). The hotel shuttle service will also take you to local restaurants.

    1. Because all I wanted to do was sleep soundly, Wembleygal, I did not know about the large mall.

      Other than the construction noise, I liked my stay at this hotel property.

      Thank you for that information.

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