Hilton Garden Inn Lakeland (Florida)

I agree with everything the previous review said; our experience was similarly excellent. I would add that there is a nicely equipped fitness center with a bike, treadmill, elliptical, free weights, and even a kit that you can take to your room (has yoga gear, a medicine ball, strength bands, etc)

For us, this also made a great "base camp" for seeing the local Spring Training teams: Tigers, Mets, Yankees, Devil Rays, Phillies, etc. You can go online and see that the ballparks a a little spread out, so this was a great location.

Meanwhile, the hotel staff couldn't have been any more accomodating. Also worth mentioning is the great and reasonably priced food on-site. There is enough variety in the menu that a week's stay found us eating there most meals.

The breakfast buffet is much better than most; in addition to what's out (fresh fruit, yogurt, hot food), a cook will gladly make waffles, pancakes, omelets, etc. Get the "B&B" rate that covers this, or pay 9.99 for the really nice buffet.

A nearby large mall also has tons of shopping, and several places to eat: Chilies, Mindy's, Mongolian Grill, and others.

This hotel does a lot of its business with conferences, and to families staying, those clients are invisible...so while the pool area isn't huge, there were very few people there on most days...another plus!

GREAT value, GREAT service, very good food.