The Westin Tampa Bay — Hotel in Tampa

I chose the Westin Tampa Bay for a number of different reasons, and then fretted for several months based on the reviews posted between when I booked the room, and now. I need not have fretted nearly as much. While I am normally someone who stays at Hyatt's, this hotel was perfectly comparable in almost all ways. The room we stayed in was recently renovated, the bathrooms were functional and I enjoyed the layout. They were 3/4 size rooms, which worked perfectly fine with me. My room was at the end of the hallway, and other than hearing doors when they closed, I didn't hear anyone in their rooms or anything. Checking in was easy, and I realize I'm writing during a holiday weekend so presumably everyone is on their best behavior but the gentlemen working the valet were very nice, even though I wasn't using their services. Parking is not free, but I both read reviews of places when I decide to stay there, as well as the information the hotel sends me when I book, which the others who reviewed presumably did not. It wasn't a surprise, and most hotels I've stayed in, DC, Minneapolis, NYC, etc all have had parking charges even for self parking so this isn't an abnormal practice. They even have in and out privileges which some hotels do not have. I did not ask if the valet parking had in and out privileges. The hotel currently does not have a pool, but I wasn't expecting one reading the reviews. That being said, when I first booked the hotel, it did have a pool on the description. I think it's been since taken off since they're in the process of adding it, and it's not there now. If I come back next year when they have finished the renovations on the hotel and completed the pool area, I'll update my review. I have not checked out, but I presume that will not be an arduous process. They charged a 100 dollar incidental charge, and I think the parking will be taken out of that, so for 3 days, there will only be a few dollars coming back to me. I did charge it to my debit card, so I realize that will take a few extra days/weeks. That's on my bank, not the hotel. My only real complaint, and the reason this hotel gets 4 stars instead of 5, is that my party consisted of 4 people, and we booked separately. When I book like this at a Hyatt property, I can call them a few months in advance even, and ask them for adjoining rooms and they make a note of it. I've never not gotten adjoining rooms when staying at a Hyatt property. This time, I called a few months in advance, and they told me to call a few weeks in advance. I called a few weeks in advance, and they asked me to call a few days in advance. I called a few days in advance, and they told me I had to call the morning of. I called the morning of, and they said they can only make that accommodation at the hotel. We arrived at 7, and they had already given out all their adjoining rooms. I understand, it's a busy weekend, but the lack of transparency is frustrating. All in all, it's a small thing, and it doesn't affect the end result of my stay, but it's just something to take note of.

Other notes: There is a small beach area, it's not for swimming in. There's like a jet ski rental that looks nice, and then chairs for lounging in and umbrellas that weren't too good at blocking the sun but that's okay. You can get towels from the front desk, but they are like regular sized towels so if you want a towel to cover your chair, it would be better to bring your own. Getting places is easy, and while there is a toll road near the hotel that you can use to get to northern bound destinations, it's easy to avoid and there are plenty of grocery stores or other places to access without utilizing it. The toll is also like 1.50 for two miles so it's not that much.

The express elevator was out of commission when I was there, but the other two hotels were running. They were quick, never overly full even despite the busy weekend.

All in all, it's a perfectly good hotel. I would likely stay here again at the price I paid, and the negative reviews I think are drastically blown out...

We were repeat customers for more than 3 Years!! Now we will NEVER be back, due to the poor management of Matt Gerber and their staffing capabilities. This Westin seems to have declined in the last couple years and it's a shame to see. We used to love coming here.....

We PAID for a Waterview Room, However our FIRST NIGHT, we had trouble with our TV's Volume being stuck at 100, with no way to turn it down, rendering the TV unusable. Called the front desk, they sent a Tech Gentleman, who did not come into my room, came only with a remote controller, handed me the remote with a smirk on his face while his arm rested himself on the Door Frame. I took a moment.. I showed him that the remote he just gave me doesn't fix my issue. He noticed I had an Apple TV plugged in with an HDMI to the TV. He tried to blame it on my Apple TV being plugged in. I told the gentleman, I bring this device with me every time I come to the Tampa Bay Westin with no issue and I believe it may be the TV. Reminding you, the reader, that this gentleman they sent to fix my TV is still standing in the door way, resting against the door frame, has not come into the room to diagnose my issue and see what is really happening with the TV. This ends with him telling me to adjust the HDMI cords and plug them back in and out or move them to a new port and it'll fix the issue. Seeing that he didn't want to come in at all now, putting the ball in our court without looking at the TV, without seeing if everything is properly plugged in, without seeing if the Remote is Responding to the TV, visa versa... Seeing he wasn't going to come in, we agreed and said okay we will try to fix it. Thanks.

So, that happened around 9pm after a long day.. From 9pm to 10pm, as the customer, I'm to diagnose the TV and see why its not functioning the way it should be. I'm pulling out all HDMI cords, readjusting cords, trying to get the TV to work. During this process my wife and I had the TV tilted so I could reach the back of the TV and move cords around and the TV ended up falling onto the backrest of the chair causing a crack in the screen. So at this point, you can imagine our frustration, RECAP: We called for help, received NO help, we were forced to Troubleshoot our own TV and in result, accidentally cracked the TV screen. Very unfortunate.

Once this happens, we call the front desk, we are very transparent with them, we are exhausted, spent a lot of money for our room's TV to not function properly, like, please help! Right?

Front desk says they have no extra TV's only option for us would be to move rooms. Before we agree to move rooms, they offered to send the Tech Gentleman from earlier back to our room. Once he arrives, I asked for him to come into our room this time and diagnose our TV, I told him the remote didn't fix our issue so I was trying to do as he suggested (move around the HDMI cords) and it still didn't work. NOW he finally comes into our room.. As he approaches the TV he notices the crack and started getting loud with us, telling us no wonder our TV doesn't work, this that and the other, which in return made me grow frustrated and it basically became a shouting match right in front of my wife! My wife had to say ENOUGH! GET OUT OF OUR ROOM! At first request he wouldn't even leave! He kept turning around and pointing at us and the TV! It was Devastating..

The Result: Move to a worse room, NOT a Waterview Room. BUT The TV IN THIS ROOM WORKED! VOLUME WORKED! Did'nt get Comped for DOWNGRADED ROOM

Matt Gerber the GM, when we spoke to him on this issue, looking for any help at all, He sided with the Technician, "Trusts his word over ours" because he "has seen dead bodies with him"!! WHAT??!! What does that have to do with us!!! Not once empathized what we went through, NOTHING! Awful experience!!

I asked to see proof that the TV's are actually $800 and he would NOT FURNISH PROOF!

The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is because KIM behind the desk, decorated our room for Stevie B Freestyle Explosion. Thank you, Kim!

Never...

STAY SOMEWHERE ELSE. The hotel is run down and dirty. When you walk into the lobby, you notice it immediately. The front desk staff was not knowledgeable and failed to provide required items for just a typical stay. (Did not realize this was needed until later). Chose free breakfast option as welcome benefit, she did advise the hours, but only after we asked. Advised we would be parking in the garage. No needed info given. Go to parking garage to park car. Unable to get past the barrier. Using key card did nothing. Had to hit help call button. There was no response from the hotel staff, but the security bar went up. Walked over to the disgustingly dirty elevators and went up to our room. Inside of Hotel was just as rundown when you get to the room floors. We were on the top floor and did have a nice view of the bay. Get into bed as we were tired of traveling. Wake up next morning at 5am to sunrise in our eyes as the shade for the curtain was broken. And would not go down the entire window. Tried to fix curtain to no success. Go back to attempt sleep with sun in eyes. Go down for breakfast, was asked for vouchers to show free breakfast, advised we didn't get those but our room should be listed as qualified. Rude agent said no you have no breakfast. Advised that was incorrect we do and I would handle it since she was unwilling to assist with the error. Went to the front desk and asked about vouchers that were needed for breakfast and were given vouchers for each day of our stay. Advised that our key card didn't work last night parking and was given a QR code card that was needed to access the garage. Requested someone come fix the curtain shade in our room and extra pillows be brought up. Went to eat breakfast, buffet was Fake eggs, bacon and sausage. A little bit of overly ripe fruit and pastries. We left for the day. Had to get cleaning crew to help us leave as our room door lock was malfunctioning. Deadbolt would not release, so unable to close door all the way. We returned at 1am. Our door keys would not work to open the door. Stop at the front desk and get key cards reset. Went into the room and found the curtain was partially fixed but still not functioning properly. No extra pillows had been brought up. 15 hours after the initial request. Called the front desk and asked for pillows. Night agent advised, "They were busy, and he would do his best." Unacceptable. We asked 15 hours ago. There is no reason this was not already provided. The next day, we again awake at the crack of dawn due to the broken curtains. Multiple silverfish bugs in the bathroom. Disgusting. Return mid day. Key cards again do not work. Bring new card up to me as I refuse to come back and forth for an ongoing issue. I get into room and the door lock is again malfunctioning. Employee advises he knows they have had issues with door locks in the past and he will have engineering come check it out. Use the restroom and notice even though cleaning crew has been in to refresh the room. The dead bug bodies are still on the floor. GROSS! We head back out. Return and have note on the floor saying door had nothing wrong with it. Again unable to close door of room. Unbelievable. Have video of issue so how is nothing wrong? And 2 staff witnesses. Next day, breakfast is not buffet so we check it out. Can pick anything we want from the menu, 6 choices. Food is bland and unseasoned. Ask the waiter where the pool is as we would like to spend the day there. They respond that it's closed and "I shouldn't tell you this but it's like someone died in there. It's like a dungeon. And it's like that as we failed to take care of upkeep on it". Last day, We go to get breakfast at 10am. Advised when we walked in it's ended. Your breakfast goes until 10:30. Kitchen staff replies oh guess you're right, begrudgingly. Speak to the manager. Asked she educate the staff as it's a big customer service issue with a lot of the issues. She advised the hotel has just been bought out and will do renovations soon. That has nothing to do with your...