I happened to travel to the greater Tampa metropolitan area recently where I was going to stay — and one of the hotel properties at which I stayed was the Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs.
Review: Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs
Plenty of complimentary parking is available around the entire perimeter of the Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs hotel property.
The front desk is the first thing I saw when I entered through the sliding glass front doors of the hotel property.
Although it was nothing special, the lobby area is nice, clean and comfortable.
Can you tell what time of year it was when I visited?
Anyway, I took the elevator to the hallway, which I took to get to my room.
The Room
For some reason, I forgot to take photographs of the two queen beds; but you can see some of them in the photograph on the left. They were the comfortable beds which are typically founded at Hampton Inn hotel properties — along with the furnishings and the closet, which had a door to it. A climate control unit is located under the window.
An alarm clock and a telephone are situated on the night table between the beds. Two electrical outlets and two USB ports are conveniently located in the front panel of the desk. Access to the Internet with Wi-Fi at no extra charge worked well.
The desk area is to the left of the furniture unit on which the flat-screen television rests…
…and to the right is a long counter area.
A miniature refrigerator, a microwave oven, and a storage area with three sliding wire drawers behind a cabinet door are located underneath the television. Also found is a coffee station with a coffee maker, cups, condiments and other items which are needed for a cup of coffee or tea.
A photograph of the desk area is on the left; while the photograph on the right shows plenty of space on which to place luggage or other belongings. One feature of the room is the two hassocks with handles, which can be pulled out from under the counter area and used either for luggage or to stretch out your legs when seated in a chair.
In addition to the set located at the nightstand between the two beds was another set of two electrical outlets and two USB ports, which are also available on the side of the furniture unit on which the television rests, conveniently alongside the desk area. Little “sliding doors” protect the slots in which the prongs of an electrical cord are inserted.
The Bathroom
The bathroom has ample counter space, with a bar of soap in the soap dish; and plenty of towels and a hair dryer are available on the shelves.
Amenities include shampoo, body cream, mouthwash and conditioner.
I always like when shower curtains hang from a rod which curves outward to give more room to shower without having to touch the curtain.
Another bar of soap and a towel for drying feet were available on the side of the bathtub.
The adjustable shower head was one which gives several options on how the water is dispersed.
The View
Looking out of the left side of the window from the room did not offer much of a view…
…and although a view of the parking lot is not that much better…
…the trees and the swimming pool do help to improve the view.
Two concrete tables with benches are located just outside of the fenced area for the swimming pool; and on the left is a door to the area where breakfast is located every morning.
The Food
Speaking of breakfast, it is included in the mornings — as is typical at Hampton Inn hotel properties, breakfast — and this Hampton Inn includes a station of fresh bananas and fresh apples, a fruit salad consisting of orange slices, pineapples and melons.
I had not noticed the suggestion box which was located on the counter island and being used as a tip box while I was there. For additional details, please read this article which I wrote earlier today.
Assorted dry cereals, a selection of milk, and different types of yogurt are available.
Only YOU can prevent toaster fires. I have to ask: do people really try to toast their waffles in this machine instead of use in either of the waffle irons?
Anyway, oatmeal was on display if you would rather have that than dry cereal.
Although I usually photograph the hot foods which were offered, I admit that I do not quite remember what exactly the food items were — but I do remember that I was not interested in them.
Assorted breads, pastries and toppings are available.
You can easily cook your own fresh waffles in two minutes with the batter you dispense into a cup. Orange juice and other beverages are dispensed from a machine.
You can then top your waffle with whipped cream, assorted flavors of syrup or assorted jellies — as well as real chocolate chips and stewed mixed berries. I really liked these choices.
Assorted types of coffee were located just off of the lobby near the breakfast area — along with generally whatever is needed for that cup of coffee.
If you prefer to dine on breakfast with other guests, you can do so at the community table in the middle of the area where guests eat breakfast. The glass door leads outside to the aforementioned swimming pool.
…or you can dine by the fireplace. I chose this seat at which to eat. Isn’t that neat? I suppose that can be beat; but it was a treat.
Summary
The base rates for the two nights I stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs was $81.60 for the first night and $89.60 for the second night. With the County Capital Improvements Tax, the Florida Sales and Use Tax, and the County Tourist Development Tax added to the bill — all of which totaled $22.28 over two days — the total cost of my stay for two days was $193.48.
Although the hotel itself is nothing extraordinary, I recommend staying here if you plan on being in the Tampa metropolitan area and want a quiet, clean and comfortable place to stay — but realize that you will be 26 miles northwest of downtown Tampa and 14 miles north of Clearwater; and Interstate 75 is 15 miles east and approximately 23 minutes away…
…but despite the inconvenience of the location of this hotel property, plenty of shopping and restaurants are located within a few miles on busy United States Highway 19.
Click on the name of the hotel property for a direct link if you want to book a reservation or find out additional information.
Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs
39284 U.S. Hwy 19 N
Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689
1-727-945-7755
1-727-945-7743 Fax
All photographs ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
