Reasons to Stay at Homewood Suites
Posted on Friday, February 19th, 2010
This particular review focuses on the Homewood Suites Tampa-Brandon location. The all-suites hotel certainly lives up to its name, providing a home away from home. From the housekeeping staff to the front desk to the kitchen attendants, the staff was extremely courteous, helpful, and full of smiles.
Let’s start with the daily breakfast – everyday breakfast items include yogurt, bagels, toast, English muffins, mini-muffins, mini-fruit pastries, fresh fruit cocktail, scrambled eggs, oatmeal and cereal. A Belgium waffle maker is routinely on hand (yum). The hotel rotates bacon, sausage patties (and links), French toast sticks, and different kinds of hash browns on a daily basis. Beverages include Tropicana orange juice, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.
If you’re in a rush or simply want to lounge around in your pajamas and eat breakfast, the hotel provides to-go containers, which truly come in handy.
In the evening hours, the hotel holds a dinner reception with light beer and wine (red and white) served from Monday to Thursdays. From lasagna with garlic breadsticks to grilled hamburgers and baked beans, the menu changes every day with a handy calendar posted on every guestroom refrigerator to let you know what to expect. For the most part, the meals are quite edible and help you maintain your travel budget.
Complimentary Internet and printer are offered in an executive office room. The Tampa-Brandon location provides access to two computers. Guestrooms offer complimentary wired Internet connection for laptops.
Onto the guestrooms – a door separates the rooms in the suite: a main guestroom with connecting bathroom, and a sitting area with a rather comfortable pullout bed. Two televisions entertain each section – perfect for traveling families with children. A small table for dining is located between the sitting area and kitchenette. The amount of space in the suites feels like a cozy apartment setting.
The kitchenette is equipped with a decent supply of plates, cups, glasses, and utensils, as well as a microwave, range with two burners, dishwasher, coffeemaker, toaster, and an extremely ice-cold refrigerator. A complimentary package of popcorn, coffee, creamers, coffee cups, and sweeteners are kept in a convenient beverage holder. The downstairs “kitchen” area (open 24 hours) provides coffee, cocoa, tea, condiments, pepper, salt, honey packets, and liquid creamers, such as International Delights (Irish Cream and French Vanilla).
Exercise and Recreational Entertainment
Want to shoot some hoops? Borrow a ball and stretch your legs on the basketball court, which conveniently has a playing surface comprised of a padded, rubbery material – surrounded by protective netting. Cool off in the 5-foot deep pool with adjacent heated whirlpool. A 24-hour fitness room provides access to an assortment of hand weights, two treadmills, an elliptical machine, and recumbent bike.
Overall, one of the best hotel experiences I’ve had in awhile.
Contact Details
Homewood Suites Tampa Brandon
10240 Palm River Road
Tampa, Florida, United States 33619
Telephone: 1-813-685-7099
