Our Guests Love Us– But don't take our word for it!
TripAdvisor is the leading online travel review website. You won't find many hotels that provide a direct link to their reviews (for obvious reasons). We do, however, because we know how hard we work to provide the best stay possible for our guests. Our reviewers know it, and so will you after only one stay.
Philadelphia PA TripAdvisor Member
January 20, 2009
"Wonderful Hotel and Staff I stayed at the Wingate on Dona Michelle Drive for 2 days after New Years. There are two Wingates in the area and the one I stayed at was farther away from Busch Gardens (BG). I thought the web site indicated free transportation to BG but this may have been for the Wingate that is closest to BG. This is the first time I have stayed in Tampa without an auto. I now realize how stranded one could feel without a car! The manager of guest relations was so wonderful to provide me a ride to BG- She was just fabulous and I'm sorry I forgot her name. The young man at the front desk was also very kind and welcoming.
I loved the decor of this hotel- the lobby is as clean as can be- probably the cleanest I've seen yet in Tampa. My room was right across from the laundry area which made it a little noisy but not too bothersome. The room itself was large and clean, the bed was the BEST ever- so soft and comfy- it was hard to leave it behind. There was a nice desk area with FREE wireless internet (one of the reasons I chose this hotel) plus there is a radio that can play your IPOD- I love this feature. There is a second (cordless) phone on the bedside table- good feature.
My room was a king room and it also had a sofa bed. The bathroom was clean and a nice size. The only small area of the room was the microwave, sink and tiny fridge- way too small for my taste but it was nice to have. The free breakfast is another reason I chose this hotel and it was very good- the waffles was the BEST I've tasted in a while.
Although I did not use the indoor hot tub- it was inviting , I wish I had time to use it. I think the pool was outdoors but it was not open this time of year. There is a work out room too that I did not use. The business center located near the front desk was nice to have to be able to print documents.
Because I didn't have a car I had to walk to some of the area stores. Unfortunately the shuttle requires a 24 hour advance notice for a drive within a 5 mile radius- what a terrible rule- if you decide to go to a movie or go shopping at the last minute you would have to call a cab. I tried asking politely for a drive to the store one evening but was told I had to call in advance.
So I walked to a few of the area stores which wasn't a bad walk (if you are used to taking walks). My only problem is that the highways are not pedestrian friendly so you may have a hard time actually getting across the BIG highway. The good thing is that a few of the stores like the Walgreen and some restaurants are on the same side of the street as the hotel.
All in all I enjoyed the stay and would certainly recommend the hotel!"
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