Quality Inn & Suites Near Fairgrounds Ybor City

Bordered by an interstate and
highway and surrounded by a parking lot, the Quality Inn & Suites Near
Fairgrounds Ybor City is situated in a lackluster locale, though it's convenient for
drivers and popular with guests headed to the nearby Florida Fairgrounds or
Hard Rock Casino. The low-rise, two-story cream building has the generic look of
a value chain hotel, with interiors to match, though it's well-maintained and
clean. The lobby has shades
of brown and cream, with a dark wood front desk, tiled floors, dated patterned
armchairs paired with brown couches, and potted plants. A low wall separates
the space from the equally bland breakfast room (picture patterned carpets, and wood and
cream tables and chairs). Though decor is generic and lacks character, the
spaces are clean and functional and the atmosphere is friendly due
to attentive staff. The hotel grounds surprise with a lovely heated outdoor
pool flanked with blue lounge chairs and plenty of places to relax under the
shade of an umbrella or palm tree. Picnic tables and a barbecue grill on a
small grassy area are a thoughtful touch, even if views over the parking lot are
not too scenic.  The reasonable rates and proximity
to the highway attract budget travelers who don’t mind a short drive into
downtown Tampa, though there are several other comparable hotels in the
immediate area worth checking out. Business travelers are enticed by the
convenience of a business center and meeting rooms. Special cruise packages
that include parking and shuttles to/from the port attract many cruise ship
guests.

This hotel is sandwiched between
Interstate 4 and a busy highway, in a bit of a sketchy area four and a half miles away from
downtown Tampa (a 10-minute drive). There’s not much in the area besides a gas
station around the corner and a handful of fast-food options within walking
distance. Ybor City, a historic Tampa neighborhood founded by cigar
manufacturers and populated by a large amount of Cuban, Spanish, and Italian
immigrants, is two miles away (a five-minute drive). The hotel’s location is
convenient for travelers in town for events or concerts at the Florida State
Fairgrounds as well as the Hard Rock Casino, which are both four miles away (a six-minute
drive). The Port of Tampa is also four miles away and the hotel’s cruise packages
attract many cruise goers. 

Rooms are clean and spacious,
with olive-colored accent walls that match the bedspreads and complement the
wooden furniture. The rooms are fairly spacious and well-maintained but decor is typical, generic, chain style -- from the carpets and patterned curtains to the wall art. All rooms
have work desks, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, and some have
microwaves. Suites are also available, with separate living rooms that are
outfitted in tangerine-hued patterned couch and armchair sets that are a bit
dated. Bathrooms are standard, with shower/tub combos, and ample sink counter
space, though some fixtures are a bit dated, like the showerheads and hair dryers.
Views vary, with some rooms overlooking the pool, and others with lackluster
views of the parking lot. Traffic noise from the nearby interstate and highway
can be an issue in some rooms.

The hotel’s most notable feature
is the heated outdoor pool and lovely surrounding area bordered by palm trees and plants. Blue lounge chairs and shaded tables circle the pool, and there’s
even an inviting gazebo-like area with wicker furniture. Cool colored lighting
illuminates the water at night, and a modern sound system plays unobtrusive music. A picnic
area on a grassy lawn has a barbecue grill available for guest use. The hotel
also has a small fitness room with a couple of modern machines, as well as a business
center, guest laundry facilities, banquet and meeting rooms, and even a small
shop stocked with snacks and toiletries -- a convenience since there’s not much
within walking distance of the hotel besides a gas station. There’s a breakfast
room in the lobby where a free hot breakfast buffet includes eggs, waffles,
pancakes, sausage, baked goods, and cereals. The hotel lacks a restaurant
however, and dining options in the immediate area are lacking and limited to a handful of fast-food options within walking distance. Freebies include
Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, daily newspapers, coffee in the lobby, and freshly
baked cookies at check-in. The hotel offers a shuttle service to the port,
though with a fee.