best hotels in tampa – Hotels in Tampa come in all shapes and sizes. So whether you’re looking for a luxury oceanfront resort to celebrate a romantic anniversary or a suite near Busch Gardens big enough to accommodate the family, there’s a hotel in this Gulf Coast metropolis. And while the Tampa Bay metropolitan area is expanding, most of the major attractions and lodging options are concentrated in a few central areas.
The center is an area. You’ll find a variety of accommodations here, from budget motels to 4-star hotels, museums, restaurants, entertainment venues, and the Tampa Riverwalk. More hotels are located in the historic and culturally rich areas of Ybor City and Hyde Park North, also home to excellent dining options.
The neighborhood near Raymond James Stadium in northwest Tampa, where the Buccaneers play NFL football, is also home to some fantastic luxury hotels. This area is also close to the airport if you need to catch an early flight.
Heading north of downtown, you’ll find more hotels around Busch Gardens, an African-themed amusement park revered by families for its mix of safari adventures and roller coasters. Check out this list of our favorite hotels in the Tampa Bay area for all budgets.
Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to current global health and safety issues.
The Westin Tampa Bay
Advantage
Beachfront location on Rocky Point Island, near the airport and restaurants
Modern rooms have large windows and modern bathrooms
Local and global seafood dishes at Aqua restaurant
A lovely indoor pool and hot tub with wooden seats
Some rooms have complimentary continental breakfast, great ocean views, and kitchenettes
Coffee, pastries, and sandwiches at Starbucks
24-hour business and fitness centers
The free area and transfer to the airport
Free Wi-Fi in common areas
friendly pet
cons
Fee for Wi-Fi connection for non-SPG members
Meals for in the establishment and parking service
Beach is small and gets noisy from the highway
Microwaves and refrigerators at the request of the client (for a fee)
Summary
The 244-room Westin Tampa Bay is an upscale beach hotel on Rocky Point Island and near the airport. Stylish, sunny rooms feature minibars, iPod docks, coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee, and modern bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers and soaking tubs. Some rooms offer splendid ocean views, kitchenettes, exercise equipment, and a complimentary continental breakfast. The hotel’s Aqua restaurant serves seafood in a stylish space, and there’s a Starbucks. The beach is small and gets road noise, but there’s a lovely indoor pool, hot tub, and a modern 24-hour fitness center. Business travelers are well catered for with ample meeting rooms, event space, and a 24/7 business center. Wi-Fi is free in public areas, but in-room Wi-Fi is charged for non-SPG members, as is parking. There are several comparable hotels in the area, such as the Embassy Suites Hotel Tampa Bay, so travelers may want to compare rates.
The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas Tampa
Advantage
Located right on Tampa Bay and close to the airport
Modern rooms with private balconies, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges
Bayside rooms have lovely views over the water
Heated outdoor pool with loungers
Fitness center, business center, and several meeting rooms
Tiki-style bar and restaurant serves American classics and seafood
Free coffee and tea in the lobby, free airport shuttle, and free Wi-Fi.
cons
Weathered look and outdated decor, especially in the lobby
Smoking is allowed on the balconies
Some guests complain of noise from the bar and traffic
no free breakfast
Reports that staff may seem uninterested
Summary
The mid-range Bay Harbor is a 260-room hotel overlooking Tampa Bay near the airport. The interiors and facilities are everything you’d expect from the chain, though sometimes dated and needing an update. All rooms have private balconies, and the bayside rooms are trendy due to the lovely views of the water. The hotel has plenty of meeting rooms and event spaces, an outdoor pool, a fitness room, a business center, and a gift shop. The hotel’s tiki-style restaurant and bar is a popular nightlife spot, sometimes prompting guest noise complaints. Wi-Fi and an airport shuttle are free.
Sailport Waterfront Suites
Advantage
On Tampa Bay, with a fishing pier and a modest — and rocky — bay beach nearby.
Spacious rooms have attractive beachy decor, full kitchens, and balconies
Outdoor pool with water views
The sunset deck has fire pits and torches
Less than 10 minutes away from the airport; the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle
On-site amenities include laundry facilities, a convenience store, barbecue grills, and beach volleyball
free fishing supplies for the dock
WiFi and parking
Poolside cafe and bar serves buffet breakfast (for a fee)
cons
cleaning is not daily
Not within walking distance of restaurants and convenience stores
No shade pool umbrellas
Gym stands outside in the hot sun
A half-hour drive to the beaches of the gulf
slow elevators
Summary
Sailport Waterfront Suites is a 191-room mid-range hotel near the Tampa Bay Airport. There’s a modest, rocky bay beach, but the Gulf beaches are about a half-hour drive away. Rooms are clean, comfortable, modern, and full kitchens; many offer water views. Overall, it provides a solid value with amenities like a plunge pool, sunset deck, and barbecue area. Still, the gym facilities are outside—a poolside cafe with open bar service after our visit.
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
It’s rare to find a city with one of the best hotels near the airport, but Tampa Bay is one of those metropolitan areas. Located on a 35-acre nature reserve, the waterfront Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay is one of the city’s best luxury hotels and is close to the airport and Raymond James Stadium.
The 4-star, 4-diamond property is a unique destination retreat with a mix of contemporary and comfortable rooms and elegant private casitas. We like the latter for romantic getaways as they are more intimate and surrounded by mangroves.
For amenities, you’ll find a couple of pools, Tennis courts, a 24-hour gym, a nature trail, a man-made beach with sun loungers, a fire pit, and ping-pong tables. Meals are also a breeze thanks to the hotel’s three restaurants: try the Oystercatchers for seafood at a table facing the bay.
Address: 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa, Florida
Epicurean hotel, autograph collection
If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience in a hip neighborhood, try the Epicurean Hotel in historic Hyde Park North. Chef Chad Johnson of the Elevage in-house restaurant is a James Beard Award semifinalist. He cooks up a global menu that is creative and delicious.
Rooms and suites at this boutique hotel are also stylish, with comfortable beds and L’Occitane toiletries in the bathrooms. Other top amenities include an on-site patisserie for an afternoon treat, a fabulous on-site spa with a unique selection of treatments, and a rooftop area with views of downtown Tampa and the bay perfect for a romantic sunset. Sun.
Address: 1207 S. Howard Ave, Tampa, Florida
Florida Palace Hotel
The Floridan Palace is a popular romantic option for couples in the heart of downtown. In a building dating back to the golden age of the 1920s, the hotel has maintained its original grandeur for the past 90 years and is one of the few hotels in Tampa Bay to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The spacious and opulent rooms retain the traditional Beaux Arts style, with layers of gold and antique wooden furniture. The restaurant also has the original ceiling from 1926 and serves a delicious Mediterranean menu.
Address: 905 N Florida Ave, Tampa, Florida
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel
Another airport hotel on the luxury side and close to Raymond James Stadium is the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel. Here you’ll find comfortable modern rooms with large smart TVs where you can stream your favorite shows, iPod docks, and sleek bathrooms. Reserve the club floor if you want access to a special lounge for breakfast and tea.
For dinner, have a bite at the hotel’s restaurant, Pelagia Trattoria, which offers delicious Italian food. Other amenities include an outdoor pool and a business center.
Address: 4200 Jim Walter Blvd, Tampa, Florida
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
If you want to be right in the middle of Tampa’s pedestrian-friendly downtown, check out the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. It offers ocean views and features various spacious rooms and suites next to the Tampa Convention Center. They are all decorated in a modern style and have flat-screen TV.
For families, the suites are a popular option and have trundle beds in the separate living room. They also include a balcony. Enjoy a meal in the hotel restaurant overlooking the bay. There is also a swimming pool, gym, and sauna here.
Address: 700 S Florida Ave, Tampa, Florida
Sailport Oceanfront Suites
It’s not a beachfront property, but the Sailport Waterfront Suites overlooks the bay and is very close to Ben T. Davis Beach, famous for its colorful sunsets. This modern all-suite property is also a great family option. Here, you’ll discover contemporary one- and two-bedroom suites that are ultra-spacious and feature kitchens, pullout sofa beds to accommodate the kids, and even private balconies with views (which are pretty stellar for sunset, too). Some of the suites even have bunk beds.
There’s no restaurant on-site, but those with kitchens will appreciate the barbecue grills and kitchens. Other amenities include a geothermal pool and outdoor gym.
Address: 2506 N Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida
Le Meridien Tampa
The interior design of Le Meridien Tampa is the hotel’s best attribute downtown. Inside a former federal courthouse, the location is ideal for accessing many of Tampa Bay’s top attractions, meaning once you get out of the immediate neighborhood, it can feel a bit gritty.
The hotel transformation has preserved many of the original courthouse details, including a sign pointing to the judge’s chambers, marble columns, and historic light fixtures. However, the rooms and suites have a more modern look and are clean and comfortable. There is also a French restaurant on site serving fresh seafood.
Address: 601 N Florida Ave, Tampa, Florida
The Westin Tampa Bay
If you’re in town for business at the Tampa Convention Center, The Westin is a great luxury option just two blocks away. It’s also just a 10-minute walk from the city center, set in lush grounds.
The hotel is right on the water on the harbor island and has its own marina. Other perks of staying at this mid-rise hotel include a variety of contemporary rooms and suites with soft pillow-top mattresses that offer city or bay views from floor-to-ceiling windows. There is also a heated outdoor pool, an exercise room, and a restaurant with views of the harbor.
Address: 7627 W Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, Florida
Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore
Another hotel near the airport and the Buccaneers’ home at Raymond James Stadium, the Crown Plaza, features a mix of rooms and suites with contemporary decor, city and bay views, and clean beds covered in white linen.
Suites are perfect for families as they come with pull-out sofa beds for the kids in a separate living room. Alternatively, if you have a baby, they can sleep in the bedroom while you watch TV in the living room without fear of waking up. In addition, there is a heated outdoor pool with cabanas, a 24-hour fitness center, and free parking. Also on site is a restaurant focused on Latin America.
Address: 5303 W. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, Florida
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Tampa
Another luxury option, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel is on the eastern edge of Tampa (so you’ll need a car to get around) and is popular with couples. The property has an Art Deco style combined with modern design in its rooms and suites. These feature Egyptian cotton sheets, duvets that cover soft padded beds, exclusive toiletries, and luxurious Hard brand robes. Rock.
The best rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and extra-spacious bathrooms with separate showers and whirlpool tubs for relaxing nights (yes, you can also order room service from one of the multiple menus from the on-site restaurant). There is also a relaxing spa and swimming pool located. The hotel is also pet-friendly if you are traveling with a dog or cat.
Address: 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, Florida
The Westin Tampa Waterside
One of several Westin-branded hotels in the city, the Westin Tampa Waterside features rooms and suites with modern decor. The brand’s trademark Heavenly Beds (super comfortable) and floor-to-ceiling windows in most feature fantastic views of Old Tampa Bay.
If you can’t live without an in-room spin bike or treadmill and other fitness-focused extras, book one of the WestinWORKOUT Rooms that come with both. Otherwise, you’ll find property amenities like a bayfront beach, a heated indoor pool, and super-friendly staff. There is also a highly respected in-house restaurant, AQUA.
Address: 725 S. Harbor Island Blvd, Tampa, Florida
Best Family Hotels in Tampa
If you’re heading to Tampa with the family because you have planned a trip to Busch Gardens, you may want to book a cheap hotel or motel option to keep costs realistic. Fortunately, Tampa has several good-value properties that cater to families as well.
Emerald Greens Condo Resort
Head to the Carrollwood Country Club grounds and the kid-friendly Emerald Greens Condo Resort if you want to add some playtime to your family vacation. The country club is home to three golf courses, as well as a clubhouse restaurant, swimming pool, several tennis courts, and a fitness center with a steam room.
Condominium accommodations feature spacious bedrooms and screened-in porches overlooking the clubhouse, tennis court, or pool that are perfect for family game nights.
Address: 13941 Clubhouse Drive, Tampa, Florida
