I can't say enough about how great this hotel is. The location is perfect, 5 minute drive to Busch Gardens, close to the highway should you want to venture beyond Busch Gardens. Close to upscale shopping centers, and every sort of fast food restaurant you heart desires.

They have a shuttle that will take you to Busch Gardens thoughout the day. It will also take you anywhere within a 3 mile radious of the hotel.

The front desk personnel were extremely helpful and pleasant. Directions to surrounding attractions were printed out without hesitation.

They had a happy hour Monday from 5:30 to 7:00 with free beer and wine. The server was extremely friendly.

The jacuzzi is one of the best I've ever used. It was hot and the jets blasted the water.

The swimming pool, although not olympic sized, is large enough for laps, and very clean.

The grounds surrounding the pool were beautiful, a tropical retreat.

The rooms were large and nicely furnished. The living room had a pull-out sofa, tv with HBO, a table with 4 chairs, a small refrigerator that held a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine and four bottles of water. There was a sink and coffee maker in the vanity that held the refrigerator, and a small microwave. Everything worked and they were all clean.

The bed was extremely comfortable. Airconditioning worked fine. The tv in the bedroom was a convenience, we didn't fight over channels.

The rooms were cleaned before 3:00p.m. The bathroom and vanity, outside the bathroom, were clean and well stocked.

Did I mention the staff were extemely friendly!!

I've been to several hotels and quite frankly, this was one of the best. I'd take it over a 4 star any day.

Stayed with my two boys for 1 Wednesday night late August. Staff were helpful throughout - arrived around 11am and were able to check in - then they got the minibus to take us the mile to Busch Gardens - return trip was organised by asking Guest services at the Park to ring through for us - short delay but good service and quicker & cheaper than parking! Swimming pool small but OK the day we were there - steady stream of people but didn't see it overcrowded. Towels for use in the pool are supplied by the pool which was handy. Beware the squirrels - there is wildlife - small lizards etc round the pool which is not unpleasant but having collected the cookies the hotel provides I put one on a lounger - and it was stolen by a squirrel! It had another go at raiding the cool bag I had down by the pool with me and took some chasing off but gave up eventually.
Rooms smelt a bit of stale smoke (we are not smokers) and seemed a bit gloomy but were acceptable to us - we had a twin room and the sofabed and all slept OK. There is a diner right next door which had the plain items my fussy teenager will eat so tho not gourmet was OK after a busy day, and the location meant I could enjoy the drinks in the breakfast/drinks package as I didn't have to drive. Breakfast was not a great range but pre- roller coasters we keep it light! Having read reviews of hotels nearer Busch Gardens that described a less than ideal neighbourhood this seemed like a good compromise, and there were a few like minded families plus a number of business users using laptops in quiet corners indoors and out! We would want more space in the longer term but for a one night stay it fitted the bill.

We stayed at this hotel after putting in a bid on Priceline. We LOVED it. Even though we purchased the room online thru another agency, the staff was friendly and upon checkin never asked for my priceline confirmation number or anything that would make someone feel akward, all they asked was last name and then number of people in the party so that they could give us the doubletree welcome cookies according to the number in our party. Parking is a little difficult because of the layout of the parking lot and it being a holiday weekend but the hotel itself is wonderful. The rooms were clean and well kept and very spacious. We had a nice king sized bed along with the couch in the living room area that would have pulled out to a full sized sleeper if need be. The dining room table was small but had a lovely light over it. The bathroom wasn't very well lit and the shower pressure was horrible, but we really had a wonderful time at the hotel. We were assigned to room 129 which was wonderful because it's on the bottom floor by the lush garden area, so we weren't too close to the pool and the noise created by that and we had a lovely view of the garden area. The little fridge that you have kinda [--] because it's so small. Our little freezer box dripped water onto our cokes and have of them were covered with ice and you couldn't open them. We were able to fit an entire twelve pack of coke in the fridge and a couple to-go boxes but I wouldn't push it and think that you can fit alot and then bring it all back to find out otherwise. The freezer part only holds about two coke can's so that's not large at all. You have to leave the cabinet door open if you would like the drinks to get cold anyways because the closed door seems to prevent it from getting cold and staying cold. It looks a little odd having to leave that door open, but it works. You feel safe at this hotel and you feel like you are in another world when in the garden area. All of the doors to the rooms are located inside locked doors and you have to have a key to get in to see the rooms and all the plants and this is why I state that you feel safe. The Doubletree also offers a free shuttle within 5 miles of the hotel, which would cover quite a bit of area but we chose to drive everywhere so I can't really comment on that service, I did use it at the New Orleans Lake Pontchartrain facility and it was really great. The pool is nice size and seems like it would hold quite a few people in it, not as many as a large hotel but this one only has 100 some odd rooms so it doesn't need to be massive also located near the pool is a 5 person hot tub, I don't really see the need for this since the pool is heated but it looks nice and is also surrounded by plants. I really thought it was great that you could pay per view movies that are still in the theatre but we decided to go to the one at the University Mall instead because the price was about the same and it's just around the corner. I really felt in the two nights that we stayed at the Doubletree Busch Gardens that it was a great experience and that we really got to know our way around town since everything is so close to the hotel. The last thing I have to comment on is the choices you seem to have in the room. They have signs stating to help save the earth and how much water and utilities hotels around the world wastes cleaning towels that have only been used once, you have the choice to leave them on the rack and that means you'll use it again or place them on the floor which means to please replace them. We put one towel on the floor because it was so wet and then we left the others on the rack and they still replaced all of our towels. You also have the option to place a card on your bed which means you'd like the sheets replaced or to leave it on the nightstand and that means that you are fine with the sheets you have(Another Earth saving choice). Well we left ours on the nightstand and still got new fresh sheets, not that I am complaining I was just stating this to help people understand how nice and clean this facility truly is, although I do think it's odd that you have to put something on the bed if you'd like the sheets changed, and I doubt that everyone actually reads those cards. We did have a non-smoking room so this might have attributed to this nice fresh room, but we had a pleasant stay at this hotel and hope that all others can say the same.

I stayed at the Double Tree from Aug 22 to Aug 26 with my elderly parents and 2 year old son--I was very very disappointed with the room--it smelled very bad! I was also disappointed with the amenities--First, the fridge in the room is located inside a cabinet--its a very small fridge--only holds like 3 coke cans! and its smelled BAD!--I asked the manager to have someone clean it and that never happened. The beds were lumpy and the bed covers looked like they have not been replaced in years! they were old and frayed and of course, smelled too!--also--do not get a room located in the back of the hotel--facing the alley--you will be awaken every morning at 6 am by the Garbage truck--and do not waste your money on the breakfast buffet--there is nothing buffet about it--it costs 7.95 per person and your only choices are scrambled eggs, small hard pancakes, sausage links, and watered down coffee and apple juice. They should not call themselves a hotel--its really a "motel" with three levels---and what can I say about the pool? you will be very disappointed--only four people at a time can swim in it. I have stayed at alot of hotels--and I will never ever again stay at this one---I felt bad for my parents--the smell was overwhelming, but unfortunately I could not switch hotels since it was a Priceline bid and I was pretty much stuck unless I wanted to spend more money somewhere else.