Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Tampa-Fairgrounds-Casino by IHG

Hotels
•
Holiday Inn Express
8.6 (467 reviews)
8610 Elm Fair Boulevard , Tampa , US
+1 813-490-1000

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly, helpful staff
Excellent location near fairgrounds/casino (walkable)
Clean rooms and good presentation
Comfortable beds, pillows and blackout curtains
Consistently praised breakfast
Spacious rooms reported by some guests
Cons:
Perceived high price / value concerns
Older building feel; some areas show age
Limited TV/streaming functionality due to remote
Sofa bed accessibility/housekeeping availability issues
Occasional hallway noise (kids)
At least one report of bugs in a room

Categories

Cleanliness
8.7
Multiple reviews note rooms were clean and well-presented (dispensers, tidy rooms), though a few comments mention cleaning could be better and one report of bugs—generally positive but with isolated issues.
Service
9.1
Staff repeatedly described as friendly, exceptional and helpful (front desk, concierge); strong positive sentiment across many reviews.
Location
9.3
Consistently praised for proximity to the MidFlorida Fairgrounds, casino and amphitheatre — walkable and very convenient for event attendees.
Room Quality
8.3
Beds, pillows and blackout curtains received positive notes (comfortable, supportive). Some negatives: older building feel, odd room layout, sofa-bed access issues and an isolated bug report.
Amenities
8.1
Breakfast and in-room toiletries rated well; however guests noted no on-site bar and limited TV streaming functionality due to remote limitations.
Value for Money
7.6
Several guests called the price overly expensive or a bit high for what was offered (one specifically noted nearly $400/night); value seen as the weakest area.
Food and Beverage
8.9
Breakfast repeatedly praised (good variety, healthy choices, tasty coffee); strong positive sentiment for F&B overall.
Overall Experience
8.8
Many guests reported loving their stay and said they'd return; overall very positive impressions tempered by occasional complaints about price, building age and minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-11-05 14:20

Property Description

Convenient Location
Located just minutes from the Florida State Fairgrounds and the Hard Rock Casino, our Tampa hotel offers easy access off Interstate 4, making it a perfect choice for both leisure and business travelers.

Modern Amenities
Enjoy the convenience of modern in-room amenities, such as microwaves and refrigerators, ensuring a comfortable stay during your visit to Tampa.

On-Site Features
Start your day right with a complimentary hot breakfast buffet or grab a quick snack from our on-site convenience store. Stay active at our modern fitness center or unwind by the outdoor swimming pool, adding an extra touch of relaxation to your stay.

Book now and experience the perfect blend of comfort and convenience at the Holiday Inn Express Tampa-Fairgrounds-Casino.

Important information:

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card are required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: TPA

Location

Guest Reviews

8.6
Based on 467 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.7
Service: 9.1
Location: 9.3
Room Quality: 8.3
Amenities: 8.1
Value for Money: 7.6
Food and Beverage: 8.9
Overall Experience: 8.8
W
William • family_with_children • us
9
2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
K
Karel • family_with_children • cz
9
2026-10-25 • via Nuitee
K
Kim • couple • us
10
2026-10-25 • via Nuitee
J
Jeremy • family_with_children • us
9
2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
N
Nancy • couple • us
8
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
R
Ryan • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
S
Susan • couple • us
10
Friendly staff. Clean & comfortable. Great location.
Pros:

Everything.

Cons:

There was nothing I disliked

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
K
Kris • couple • us
8
Pros:

Not at all the hotels fault but on floor 3 there were someone’s kids running,screaming & making way to much noise in the hallway!

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • couple • us
10
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
K
keith • solo_traveller • us
8
Pros:

Nice and clean. The bed and pillows were comfortable.

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
D
Donna • couple • us
8
Great comfortable place to stay!
Pros:

It was a good location, easy to get to. The breakfast was nice, and so were the staff.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
D
Denise • family_with_children • us
10
Loved it. I would stay here again ❤️
Pros:

The room was very spacious and clean.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
R
Roddy • solo_traveller • us
8
Pros:

We liked the breakfast

Cons:

It wasn't anything that we had a problem with.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
T
Tara • couple • us
10
Great hotel with wonderful staff and convenient distance to the MidFlorida Fairgrounds.
Pros:

Even though they are going through a refresh, the hotel was clean and comfortable. The convenience to the MidFlorida Fairgrounds is great since it’s right across the street and walkable.

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
T
Timothy • couple • us
10
2026-09-03 • via Nuitee
A
Ashlea • solo_traveller • us
6
Pros:

Front desk guy was friendly

Cons:

The sofa bed wasn't out. There were 3 of us staying in the room and we had to pull out the sofa bed ourselves because there was no one in housekeeping to help.

2026-09-02 • via Nuitee
D
Derrick • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
T
Tina • couple • us
8
2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • us
9
Clean, comfortable stay right across from the Tampa state fair grounds
Pros:

Great location, right across the street from the venue we were attending, the staff was exceptional and the room was clean and the comfortable.

Great blackout curtains, soft bedding and supportive mattress. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion dispensers that smelled great.

Have had great experiences with holiday inn express lately, and this one’s no different

Cons:

It was a little expensive for what we got, BUT I booked a week out from our arrival and its proximity to the event probably influenced the price and demand.

Also the tv had this very limited remote control and the menu that shows up when you turn on the tv shows there are streaming services available but due to the remotes lack of controls, I couldn’t select them.

The concierge at the desk said this was part of their renovation, so hopefully this won’t be a problem for future stays, but it’s been a couple since I’ve stayed at a decent hotel without streaming options to log into.

Also there’s a couch but it was aimed at the vanity, so another tv or a way for the couch to aim at the one tv would’ve made more sense, the layout was odd. I imagine it was two rooms previously that they opened into one but still strange.

A small nitpick, maybe, but for nearly $400 a night, I start thinking about these things.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
M
Melissa • couple • us
10
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee