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.