Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina in Tampa, FL

We had a wonderful stay at this Marriott! Its a great location! Walk along the intercoastal! Great staff, great rooms! Cannot wait to go back! Breakfast on the patio overlooking the water is superb! Great breakfast buffet! Sit out there for any meal or drinks or just dessert!

Overall, we had an excellent stay and we are quite pleased with the service we received. The lobby, the pool, the river walk, and our room were exceptional. However, the construction out front is a major pain. We also had to dispute some unexpected charges, but the staff handled it very well.

When you book into Marriott's category 5 (upper tier) properties you expect more than when you stay at the simpler, smaller and business oriented properties. When you want a room service breakfast on Valentine's morning ... ahhh nope! We will deliver a meal in Tupperware containers or you can come down and pick it up to go!!! WTH! No tables ... just eat that expensive to go meal at the desk in your room. It dawned on me that I was a witness to the transition of Marriott from a premier destination hotel to a no frills pay as you go airline!! We don't do traditional room service any more. You can get your sack lunch brought up to you and we will charge you a fee to deliver it. SMH... they have a built in Grub Hub thing going on here! Here's the thing ... hotel food is already expensive! Duh! Having it in your room for what ever reason you choose "IS PART OF THE DEAL!" It's one of the many reasons we stayed at your place and not the Motel 6. Somehow now I feel like I just insulted Motel 6! Okay, okay maybe I am being cranky and have unreasonable expectations for a $300 a night hotel. Not likely ... but possible! Of course it could be I was upset by all the crazy construction going on outside and inside the hotel that no one warned me about and may it difficult for me and guests to even get to the hotel!

Unfortunately we did not have the best experience with guest services at check-in. I went to the elite check-in desk and I was not acknowledged as a Marriott Gold Elite reward member nor was the check-in process simple or easy. I had an issue with the rate that I was quoted the day before and was not honored. The person who assisted me at check-in acted as if it was my fault or my issue that the correct amount was not being shown even though I spoke extensively to someone the day before about correcting the Marriott member rate that was showing online. I was told that I would have a water View for the rate of 313.00 per night, and the person who assisted me at check-in advised me that the only option would be the City View for that rate. I asked about my gold status upgrade and she said because it was an elite floor that I was not eligible for the upgrade to the Waterview on that same floor. REALLY?Even though the gentleman I spoke to the day before  advised me that was not a problem . The room itself was lovely, however, the noise from construction on the Cityside was very intrusive and loud. Then at checkout the following day my husband sent a text message to valet to retrieve our vehicle as instructed. The front desk never forwarded that text to valet so we ended up waiting on a vehicle that never came. Finally after about 20 minutes I went to the valet window and asked what was going on and was informed that they never received a request to retrieve our vehicle. Nor had they charged the valet fee to our room. There's definitely a lack of communication and lack of detail to guest services at this location. I've stayed at Marriott's all over the country and I can't say this was my best experience. 

The hotel is nicely located and has access to the convention center. In spite of the construction around it, they were putting ear plugs in the room to use and avoid the noise. As construction was not done by night, I didn’t feel any noise that could disturb my sleep. I was in a high floor anyway. The hotel has a reasonable restaurant that I used for breakfast. There is a Starbucks inside too. The room was good.