Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites New Tampa I-75 Bruce B. Downs

The Holiday Inn Express in New Tampa is a small, four-story mid-range hotel that is located close to Highway 75. Many guests staying at this property choose it because it is close to Busch Gardens. Though there are other hotels closer to the theme park, this is one of the most affordable options.

Outside, there's a pool surrounded by tropical landscaping and palm trees. Inside, the lobby features a cozy living room-style sitting area with modern furnishings and a flat-screen TV. There are also tables and a bar area where breakfast is served each morning (free coffee is also available 24 hours a day). The hotel is popular with families and gets rave reviews from travelers who appreciate the freebies, including breakfast, Wi-Fi, parking, and a nightly ice cream social.

Rooms feature generic decor, but are clean and modern, and have mini-fridges as well as microwaves. Rates are much more reasonable at this hotel than other properties that are located closer to Busch Gardens.

The Holiday Inn is located north of Tampa’s city center by Highway 75 in a bland suburban area. It’s far from the coast, the beaches, and the city center. A car is necessary for exploring the area. There’s a strip mall surrounding the hotel, and it includes big box stores like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Michael's. There’s a movie theater across the street as well as a few chain restaurants like Chick-fil-A, TGI Fridays, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and Starbucks. The hotel is less than eight miles from Busch Gardens.

Rooms are average in size, decor and amenities. They are bright and decorated with modern (albeit generic), dark wood furnishings and white bed linens, while bathrooms have tropical green walls and hammered metal frame mirrors. There are mini-fridges, coffeemakers, microwaves, and flat-screen TVs. Larger suites and two-bedroom executive suites are available, which offer kitchenettes and sofas (executive suites also have whirlpool tubs).

Linksters Taproom is a low-key sports bar on the property that locals go to for food and drinks. There is an outdoor lagoon-shaped swimming pool, a putting green, and a landscaped pool deck with requisite Florida palm trees, lounge chairs, and umbrellas. Free continental breakfast is served each morning, as is typical at the Holiday Inn Express chain. The fitness center is small, but equipped with both cardio machines and free weights. Guests can also find laundry machines, meeting space, and a business center on-site.