Hotel Alba Tampa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton {US-FL}
Dec 28, 19, 8:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,785
Hotel Alba Tampa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton {US-FL}
Need to be in Tampa in late January and came upon this property. Not a single review that I could find here on FT. Is it new to Hilton or just nobody has reviewed it yet? I like the style and location of it. Trying to avoid a business/convention oriented hotel (even though I'm traveling there on business).
Dec 28, 19, 10:38 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,590
It's new to HH, i think it used to be a Crowne Plaza. I am at the HGI Avion this weekend, i wanted to stay at the Alba but needed a 2 bed room which was not available.
Jan 10, 20, 4:03 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,785
Recent reviews on other sites like TripAdvisor and Booking.com since the hotel has changed hands from Crowne Plaza to Hilton are overwhelmingly positive. I'll be staying there next week and give my thoughts.
Jan 13, 20, 6:39 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,785
Am in the middle of a 4 night stay at this property now. My review is below, but in summary - I really like it.
I wasn't arriving until about 9-10pm, so I checked in online in the morning long before my flight to Tampa. I was already booked in their best category room (Vista A La Piscina 1 King Suite), so there aren't any higher upgrades. I didn't need to hope for an upgrade at the front desk. I just wanted to walk into the hotel and go straight to my room with my digital key, which I did.
The property has a main 11 story building with the varying room types (including a large suite on 11), as well as a 3 story building that runs along the pool. All the rooms in the 3 story building are classified as the Vista A La Piscina suites with a full living room, wet bar, large bathroom and separate bedroom with a King or 2 Queens. I'd estimate them to be around 600 sq ft. These are otherwise known as the former Cabana Suites, which is what they were called under the previous Crowne Plaza days. My corporate rate was exceptionally good for all room types in the entire property compared to the published rates, and I liked the idea of stepping out of my room to be within seconds of the pool deck, fire pit, pool bar, fitness center and Spaniard restaurant. So, against my normal preferences, I booked a room on the ground level for the ease of coming and going. I didn't regret it, but on my next stay I may try something on the 3rd floor for comparison. It's only a difference of a quick flight of stairs down to the ground level.
The suite is very comfortable, the bathroom is huge. My room had only a shower (no tub), but it was large enough for more than 2 people...if you're into that kind of thing.
The bedroom window is more like a half window towards the top of the wall, so the only real natural light in the entire suite is from the window in the living room facing the pool. So, if you like a lot of natural sunlight, this may not be for you. The rooms in the main building appear to have larger windows for more sunlight.
The breakfast in the Spaniard restaurant has the buffet option or ala carte off the menu. Gold/Diamond members get the buffet for no charge. They will give you a check for ~$18, but that will be taken off your bill at the end of your stay. The lunch/dinner menu is an assortment of tapas and other entree that should please most pallets.
The fitness center has a rack of dumbbells, some benches, medicine balls, ellipticals and treadmills as well as a station with towels and fresh water.
I like some of the common area features like the hanging egg chairs in the lobby, the shuffleboard and hockey table in the bar and the large L shaped sofa in the corner of the bar. It all makes for a casual atmosphere. It's a laid back place as opposed to a busy, overrun convention hotel. Right up my ally.
Every staff member I've encountered has been very friendly and professional - from the bartenders at the pool bar, to the wait staff in the restaurant, to the front desk staff when I needed a parking tag to put on my dashboard. I had a very small issue in my room (loose sink faucet) and it was promptly fixed.
I've never stayed at another Hilton/Tapestry brand, but I believe this one should be the model all others aspire to be.
The location is in the Westshore area (near the airport) and at the foot of the bridge that crosses over from Tampa to St Petersburg, so it's a prime location for venturing into downtown Tampa or over to the beach areas.
I wasn't arriving until about 9-10pm, so I checked in online in the morning long before my flight to Tampa. I was already booked in their best category room (Vista A La Piscina 1 King Suite), so there aren't any higher upgrades. I didn't need to hope for an upgrade at the front desk. I just wanted to walk into the hotel and go straight to my room with my digital key, which I did.
The property has a main 11 story building with the varying room types (including a large suite on 11), as well as a 3 story building that runs along the pool. All the rooms in the 3 story building are classified as the Vista A La Piscina suites with a full living room, wet bar, large bathroom and separate bedroom with a King or 2 Queens. I'd estimate them to be around 600 sq ft. These are otherwise known as the former Cabana Suites, which is what they were called under the previous Crowne Plaza days. My corporate rate was exceptionally good for all room types in the entire property compared to the published rates, and I liked the idea of stepping out of my room to be within seconds of the pool deck, fire pit, pool bar, fitness center and Spaniard restaurant. So, against my normal preferences, I booked a room on the ground level for the ease of coming and going. I didn't regret it, but on my next stay I may try something on the 3rd floor for comparison. It's only a difference of a quick flight of stairs down to the ground level.
The suite is very comfortable, the bathroom is huge. My room had only a shower (no tub), but it was large enough for more than 2 people...if you're into that kind of thing.
The bedroom window is more like a half window towards the top of the wall, so the only real natural light in the entire suite is from the window in the living room facing the pool. So, if you like a lot of natural sunlight, this may not be for you. The rooms in the main building appear to have larger windows for more sunlight.The breakfast in the Spaniard restaurant has the buffet option or ala carte off the menu. Gold/Diamond members get the buffet for no charge. They will give you a check for ~$18, but that will be taken off your bill at the end of your stay. The lunch/dinner menu is an assortment of tapas and other entree that should please most pallets.
The fitness center has a rack of dumbbells, some benches, medicine balls, ellipticals and treadmills as well as a station with towels and fresh water.
I like some of the common area features like the hanging egg chairs in the lobby, the shuffleboard and hockey table in the bar and the large L shaped sofa in the corner of the bar. It all makes for a casual atmosphere. It's a laid back place as opposed to a busy, overrun convention hotel. Right up my ally.
Every staff member I've encountered has been very friendly and professional - from the bartenders at the pool bar, to the wait staff in the restaurant, to the front desk staff when I needed a parking tag to put on my dashboard. I had a very small issue in my room (loose sink faucet) and it was promptly fixed.
I've never stayed at another Hilton/Tapestry brand, but I believe this one should be the model all others aspire to be.
The location is in the Westshore area (near the airport) and at the foot of the bridge that crosses over from Tampa to St Petersburg, so it's a prime location for venturing into downtown Tampa or over to the beach areas.
Jan 27, 20, 5:43 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,785
One recent change that was made to this property is that it is now 100% valet only ($14/night). There was a self park option up until about a week ago. It was convenient in my last stay to park in the rear, near an access gate to the part of the building (with the cabana suites) that runs along the pool. I could come and go easily and without waiting for the car to be brought to the front. Sadly, that's a thing of the past.
Jan 28, 20, 7:10 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Dante's 6th Circle
Programs: British Airways, Hilton Hhonors, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 80
One recent change that was made to this property is that it is now 100% valet only ($14/night). There was a self park option up until about a week ago. It was convenient in my last stay to park in the rear, near an access gate to the part of the building (with the cabana suites) that runs along the pool. I could come and go easily and without waiting for the car to be brought to the front. Sadly, that's a thing of the past.
Feb 18, 20, 9:21 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Platinum/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 976
I've never understood the concept of paying MORE for someone to take my car keys from me.
That being said, I've always been fairly disappointed with the Hilton properties in Tampa, and when I was looking for a place to stay for a couple spring training games next month this jumped out as something I never remembered seeing. Looking forward to checking it out hopefully in the near future.
That being said, I've always been fairly disappointed with the Hilton properties in Tampa, and when I was looking for a place to stay for a couple spring training games next month this jumped out as something I never remembered seeing. Looking forward to checking it out hopefully in the near future.
