Title: Historic Charm, Spacious Rooms & Great Tampa Location…read more
I stayed at Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, while attending a conference, and overall I really enjoyed my stay. I would definitely recommend this hotel, but I also want to give an honest review because there are a few things future guests should know.
First, the location is excellent! You're right in downtown Tampa and conveniently located near the convention center. The hotel has a beautiful historic feel--I was told the property is around 100 years old--and I loved that the renovations maintained its character instead of making it feel like every other hotel.
I had a spacious corner room with a large bathroom, and I was very comfortable. Unfortunately, when I first arrived, I found hair in the shower. I took a picture and notified the front desk. I travel with cleaning supplies, so I handled it myself, but cleanliness upon arrival definitely needs more attention. I also requested housekeeping on certain days and had a couple of instances where my room wasn't serviced. Once I brought concerns to the front desk, however, they were responsive and worked to resolve them.
Valet is basically your most convenient parking option. During my stay, the hotel changed valet companies, but guests weren't properly notified. I discovered the change one morning when trying to retrieve my vehicle. That's something management should communicate directly to guests, especially when the hotel is responsible for their vehicles.
Now, the complimentary shuttle within three miles is a GREAT amenity, particularly for business travelers. However, during our conference there were sometimes around 20 people waiting for a shuttle that seated approximately seven. The driver would take one group, return, and repeat the process. Hotel Flor should consider having two shuttles during conferences or high-occupancy periods. It's an excellent benefit, but it needs enough capacity to actually accommodate the guests using it.
I also enjoyed having Dan's restaurant and the coffee shop right inside the hotel. The food at Dan's was good, prices were reasonable, and eligible Hilton food and beverage credits could be used there. The coffee shop could use a little more variety, but Starbucks is only about a block away.
The location, spacious room, historic atmosphere, restaurant, shuttle, and overall convenience outweighed the issues I experienced. Hotel Flor has personality, which I appreciate. Improve the housekeeping consistency, communication, and shuttle capacity, and this property could be an exceptional downtown Tampa stay.
For business travelers, conference attendees, or anyone wanting to stay downtown without being in a cookie-cutter hotel, I definitely recommend giving Hotel Flor a try.