I recently stayed at Extended Stay America Premier Suites in Tampa, Gibsonton while traveling from North Carolina for a funeral.
Pros, the staff was kind and professional, check in was smooth, parking was convenient, and the exterior property was well maintained. I travel with my pet and appreciated that the grounds were clean with no pet waste in the grass. For a pet friendly hotel, that stood out.
Check in is at 3:00 p.m., and while I was hoping for an early check in after a long drive, the room was not available until just before 3:00.
The biggest issue was cleanliness. The moment I opened the door, the smell was overpowering, similar to a boys locker room. While the room appeared neat at first glance, the odor was immediate and strong. The bathroom had visible black residue and hair in the shower. It was clearly not cleaned to standard.
Because I was on a tight timeline for a funeral and had already unloaded my luggage with my pet, changing rooms was not practical. I purchased cleaning supplies and sanitized the shower, toilet, and all surfaces myself.
The next morning I spoke with management. I acknowledged possible staffing challenges, but this felt like long term neglect of cleaning standards. I was offered a complimentary future stay, which I appreciate, but I am not confident the experience would be different.
Professional staff, but housekeeping standards need serious improvement.
