Gram’s Place Bed and Hostel

What a fun place! Eccentric decorations, there were 3 different locked doors total to enter the women's rooms so I felt very safe, huge kitchen with various stocked foods you could help yourself to, the sweet manager lady made tacos for dinner one night for the guests, super social and welcoming atmosphere, laid back and clean, great customer service - very highly recommend for the price. Large free parking lot across the street. The best part were the fun conversations in the hot tub at night with other solo travelers.

The first time I came here early this year I had a good experience. I stayed in the Folk Room, it was inside near to the kitchen and next to a shared bathroom. The room had its own sink. I returned last week since it’s very close to 2 awesome breweries I have to visit while in town, Angry Chair & Woven Water. This time was not as great as the room did not live up to expectations. I stayed in the Adventure Room which was tiny, the picture had to have been taken standing outside the doorway to fit everything in. It opens to the outside but built well so noise from people on the patio isn’t really an issue. There is a sink & the description said “a ring light mirror” but there is definitely so mirror in the room…I had to use my phone camera as a mirror while brushing my teeth at the in room sink. The full bathroom is inside the building around the corner. There is an outside toilet behind a wooden door across from the room, but everyone on the patio will hear you pee and there’s quite a gap in the door people walking would get peek. If people are smoking outside, you walk right into the smell as you exit the room, luckily it did not seem to permeate into the room. While a decent place overall, this room should definitely be $20-25 less than the Folk due to size and amenities not the same price. Would stay again in the Folk but $85 for the Adventure is a ripoff.

All of the staff and guests that I met were friendly, accomodating and helpful. The sheets, towels and blankets were clean, the bed was fine, the shower was clean, the water was hot. It's a little dusty but it was fine.

Awesome place for Gaspy weekend. The staff were so accommodating and friendly. The bed in the dorm was good, I would recommend a mattress topper to make the sleep more comfortable but for the price and atmosphere I would definitely stay here again.

The blues room has its own nice bathroom and it’s very well kept. I couldn’t stay longer cuz work was cancelled and had to drive back home. The area seems to be safe at night and has plenty of parking spots next door. It’s a unique experience and they will show you around and give you a tour. Amazing people 🙌.

The place should be condemned. The rooms smell like mold and mildew! I didnt realise how bad it was until I left and my things that were in the room made my car smell. I left with a head and chest cold. I have multiple insect bites. Well I would say welts. Spiders bites and mosquitoes. Everyone there seems to be living and working there. And on another planet. I would not recommend the place to anyone. Maybe it used to be cool. But not anymore. How it received 4.5 stars is beyond me. Maybe they are making there own reviews?

I LOVED MY STAY HERE!!! Ok it's been at least 5 years since I was here: I could say i wanted to keep this place my little secret. If you knew me, you'd know I get restless, and I like to be left alone. But here I interacted with people, shared meals and beers, and I did not want to leave! The place has a lovely Feng Shui and genius loci. It is as-if Gram himself were hosting. I felt more than just "at home." If you are not coming by car, It's a little bit out of the way; you ought to bring your own food - it's a little bit of a hike to the nearest restaurants. I borrowed a bicycle and rode downtown. I had never been in Tampa before and it was an adventure full of surprises. I will leave it to you to make your own discoveries. I'm not leaving stars for service or location, beds are basic and comfortable enough, i did not lack sleep, bathrooms are clean enough. Your mother does not live here and it's cheap so do your part and clean up after yourself.

This is not a hostel but a flop house. Issues! Staff, there were five staff living here with guests. The staff were the Main problem. They had no customer service experience. The did not have any hostel knowledge. The staff were scary looking and illegals. One staff would do laundry at 2 am! She would clean the shared kitchen at 5 am while guest are sleeping! To not help guests she pretended not to speak English. Other staff had dogs barking all day running into rooms. I'm allergic to these mutts. Bathrooms, our shared bathroom wasn't cleaned for four days. Theres no shampoo, soap or even fresh towels or wash cloth proved. No hot water in shower and even the light in the shower was out! Toilet paper too was always out. Bedrooms, you sink into the old mattress. TV didn't work, missing lights at the sinks, wholes in the sheets, I even had mosquitos and moths flying in my room from the broken window. Kitchen, there are two kitchens. Guest are not to use these during sertian times but staff use them all the time! The exhaust fan knob is missing, you have 5 staff living here so the refrigerator and storage is greatly reduced. Also, with all of the freeloaders staff you actually can't even use the kitchen. Deck/Outside. You have some kind of deck to sit at. A broken hot tub that breads mosquitoes! Yes, you get bitten if you sit outside. No bar or and food! Security, there is a code for the gate, house door and room. The codes are never changed. I found that I would use different codes to unlock my door so the codes locks do not work. There are no lockers in rooms to to lock your personals up at as they have at real hostels. I did see cameras but like everything else I am sure they are broken. They didn't even photo copy my id so the only info they have is a debit card. I bet Gram didn't do any background check on the free staff so your credit card info may be stolen. They have really no info on any guest there if there is a theft or incident. Staff do not man the desk nor are they really available during your stay. The cell number they use is often necessary responded to. I sent several with little respoce and always hours later. If you are a single lady again there are no other visitors so you are on your own in a unsafe Location!!! Location, the hostel is 6 blocks from a grocery store and half a mile from Yarbor Historical area. It's not safe to walk at night. They do not have any bikes for visitors nor Ebikes. Hostel, this is a flop house! They do not have any guest ice breakers daily events. There no free passes at night clubs for boat tours. There's no free Happy hours or family meals to meet other guests. Again, this is not a hostel! As you can see, I did request my money back but got no response from the owner Gram. You have been warned!

Gram's Bed & Hostel bills itself as an artist's retreat. The mural on the fence painted outside lends credence to this claim. Mark Holland opened this establishment in 1991 and it is the only hostel/le gite. The business is named to honor singer/songwriter Gram Parsons. The sign at the entrance reads "Mitakuye Oyas'in" (translated to "all are related"). It is an eclectic establishment and a cool part of Tampa, Florida.

The 26 year young Manager had an invisible Eli's and regulations book. She heralded several older guests quite frequently everybody smokes weed and it just stinks up all the outdoor areas I will never waste my money ever again staying there the other employees who clean and do laundry are very kind hardworking respectful young men.

I love this place bc the the staff is very cool and friendly and very accommodating to whatever yr needs maybe at the time and I have seriously blessed by all of these angels !I have recommended this hostel to my daughter and a very good friend of mine bc the rates are affordable because there is no place like Grams place so do yourself and check it bc you will not regret it for any reason!

I'm in process of moving from New York. My job wants me to start earlier then anticipated. So I was looking for a place to basically leave my suitcase and take a nap and shower. This was perfect for me. Most places accommodate my schedule, Bruce and his assistants are always pleasant. I shared a 4 bed dorm style room with another lady. I know on Sunday there was others there. But I haven't seen them since. Breakfast was offered between 7am and 10am. You can make your own toast white or wheat. Make eggs. Coffee or tea. However they do lock up the eggs and milk and butter after 10am. It's been awhile for me having just black coffee. The place was clean.

One of a kind gem in Tampa, helpful staff. Hot tub and breakfast included. Musician friendly. Gotta see it to believe it.

This tampa landmark has been a must stay when coming to this beautiful city. From the people to the eclectic memorabilia this place is a 10 out of 10

I had a wonderful weekend at Gram's Place after biking 35 miles from my house. A great value, a cool location and free breakfast too thank you George! I'll be back.

Absolutely love and enjoyed this place. I stayed at a few hostels around the world and this is definitely one of the quirky ones. I love the layout and random objects to find all around. I thought the outdoor kitchen was pretty cute, there is an indoor one as well. The hot tub was a nice surprise and certainly pretty to look at. The tree house trail was a cool thing to have access to, one end has chairs and a hammock and the other end goes all the way up the top of the roof. The person that checked me in, Mary was super friendly and awesome. We got to chatting about pizza and she recommended a place for me to go. Mary also took the time to show me around, explain the rules and gave me a little history about the property. I am only staying one evening but I would definitely consider coming back for a longer stay next time I'm in the Tampa area. Great value for the cost to stay and what you get out of it.

At this hostel there are many interesting nooks and crannies... like this outdoor seating area where we just ate lunch (plan-overs from Sunday's Cracker Barrell Cafe dinner). Quite charming!

After checking out of what I think was the Hyatt Tampa Hotel, this place was solid gold. Stayed here for three days after getting married at the Hillsborough County Clerks office, I believe it was in the jazz room. Fantastic for a low-key neighborhood experience. It is the only hostel I've stayed in that has a pool and hot tub and a poolside bar--granted the pool and hot tub at my parent's house in Rio Rancho, NM are fancier but the Miller Lite/Highlife & Corona was aligned with their beer selection. Another very cool amenity were the free bikes; while not the best equipment we had a good time cruising around downtown Tampa and the Ybor City area. Kayaks were also available! Staff erred a little on the pervy side with the ladies at the pool. New husband commented as much about the leering/commentary. Last feature we thoroughly enjoyed was "the crow's nest," which was a treehouse structure you could climb and survey the neighborhood, drink beer, etc. That's where I informed my parents I eloped. As far as cleanliness goes, it was okay. We did not walk away with bedbugs or become hosts to any other parasitic entities upon check-out. It was a little grimy in the corners--like when you stay at an elderly relative's house who has bad eyesight and no cleaning lady--didn't bother me but people who are squeamish about hostels might take this into consideration.

An amazing place to meet random people and have a good conversation clean friendly fun

Awesome hostel!!! Great people and vibe, friendly and helpful management :). Clean sheets, quirky and colorful decor, organized, breakfast included (peanut butter and jam sandwiches- jelly if you're American, eggs and cawfee) Definitely worth the cheap price and more

Arrived 5 weeks ago before I paid decided to check rooms and the result was room looks dirty but the worst was the smell, I decided to run and pay an hotel. My advice is please look where is your room before you pay then you decide if its worth.

Ok so I have to start with a quick little response to the super negative review below who was very concerned with safety. Yes, the neighborhood is a little sketch but it's YBOR! The whole place is sketchy, that's the fun of it... But the hostel is NOT unsafe in any way, there are security cameras all over the premises inside and out, the property is extremely secure. Now for my review: This is THE BEST hostel I have EVER visited. This place is a dream! The decor is a cluttered collection, a vast array of junk treasure that will have your eyes wandering constantly. My sister and I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights and couldn't have had a better time. The staff and owners were EXTREMELY accommodating and super fun to hang out with. We went to tampa/ybor/st pete for the specific purpose of going to a concert and planned on staying for a little extra time to go out a couple nights to bars/clubs close by, but this place was so fun and the people were so chill that we actually preferred to stay there and party instead. Met some great people and some cool travelers. This is the PERFECT place for anyone who has a case of wanderlust. I will definitely be back soon!!

FUNNN!!! Oh yes..... you have to see it before believing it.... When driving up here, I must admit: I felt a bit unsafe. I can't imagine this is one of Tampa's best neighbourhoods, so to speak. So I wasn't really sure what to expect... I had read beautiful reviews about this place, but while we were looking for it, meeeeeeh let's just say: ignore the surroundings and just go for it. It. Will. Get. Better! Gram's Place is basically a hippie playground; it's a 'compound' filled with all sorts of kitschy knick-knacks form around the world, the atmosphere is uber-relaxed, the people that stayed there are mostly young travelers / backpackers and no worries: it's not a hostel that you have to share bunk beds with a whole group (only if you want to), but they have 'private rooms' as well. To be fair, that's a bit more up my alley.... We arrived quite late; Bruce (the owner) opened the door and is such a cool, genuinely nice host! And it felt I stepped into a musical Wonderland; the place is dedicated to the late singer/songwriter Gram Parsons, so the whole atmosphere & all the rooms just breath 'music'; the rooms are musically themed (we stayed in the 'Jazz Room') and all the surroundings are just covered with musical instruments, sheets of music, CD / LP covers and what not. We did some shopping at a local grocery store and used the BBQ; oh yes... there's a great BBQ at one of the patio's for everyone to use as they please! So I stood there, in the warm weather with a can of Miller's, baking my burgers & sausages and I felt like such a Bohemian traveller! Yes, to be fair, I gave it 5 stars as the service was great, the room was tidy & clean, we had our own little bathroom, the atmosphere was just brilliant and totally unexpected. I do realize, this is perhaps not for everyone.... if you're into posh hotels, this is not your thing. If you're up for uber privacy, then perhaps you need to stay in your room. If you're creeped out by the thought that you share a kitchen & you need to do your own dishes afterwards, this is not the place for you. For me, I saw the beauty of it and I loved staying here. It's nothing I have ever seen before and I find it truly unique; it's very low key, it's a tad kitschy, you can definitely play hide & seek everywhere or stand on the roof. They wouldn't mind, it's the traveller's way!

Love Gram's Place- run by a passionate and caring group of people. Great for the traveling community- you'll meet people from everywhere. Plus the way it's set up is like out of Swiss Family Robinson. Great music history. AND THERES A DOG! We did have a slight problem with the room- we booked the treehouse room and got one inside the main building, but it was still nice regardless. The neighborhood is a quick car ride/bike ride/taxi ride from anything in the city. Not so much the walking part of town.

I just finished staying overnight at Grams. We had a wonderful stay, Christine was welcoming even at the super late hour when we arrived. Our bed in the Jazz room was very comfortable and we had everything we needed for a good nights sleep. This was our first hostel experience and we are happy we decided to stay. In the morning we made French toast topped with a banana and eggs (complementary ingredients). It was great waking up and having a homemade breakfast. We briefly met Maggie (hostel pup) and a cute little cat. Everyone was very nice! Don't forget to bring the basic toiletries -shampoo, etc. We look forward to keeping up with the place on Facebook and Christine's blog in the fall detailing her many adventures!

George is so rude and unpleasant. I can't believe someone like that is managing the hostel. I was a visitor that got invited by a guest there and as I stayed waiting in the living room he stared me down and I was uncomfortable because I didn't know who he was. He then gave me attitude and asked me if I checked in with him. I said "no, I'm with my friends (I said her name) then he looked at me like like I didn't know what I was talking about. I was so confused. He then said "well you still have to check in even if you're a visitor". At that point I felt so uncomfortable by this man's unnecessary attitude. I said "ok" then he proceeded by saying "ok well let's go then" he rudely pointed to the door so I can go with him to check in as a visitor. As I did I went to his office and begin to write down what he wanted me to write down. Then he goes " you wrote down 'guest' when you where supposed to write down 'visitor'" then I said "sorry, it's been a long night" he then said "just write down the date where it said date.". Then I left and he followed me. When I saw my friend he looked at her weird and said "visitors are here till 11pm" then storms off. She looked at me because she too noticed the attitude. Later as she's showing me the hostel we see him and then he goes "you want a tour" I said "no thank you". He then Looked at my friend and proceeded by saying "I tried" and then sits down, she continues to give me the tour. Honestly, I don't know what his deal is or why he thinks it's ok to talk to someone that way, but if that's how he goes about people that could potentially bring him business than he should just quit hospitality all together and get a job that does not involve human interaction. I then found out he was disrespectful toward my friend who Did stay at this hostel. I don't recommend this place so long as that man is still there. It was a very unpleasant experience.

Made a Yelp account for the sole purpose of writing this (long) review. But first, I'd like to address the one negative review written by a person who clearly has never actually stayed at Gram's: Re: the customer service complaints - I had some issues with my reservation (dates and such) and didn't realize until a week before I was scheduled to arrive. I gave them a call and everything was fixed within a minute. They were professional and courteous the entire time. Had this been at a hotel instead, it would have taken a lot longer to resolve my issue and it more than likely would have cost me money. Quit grasping at straws. Some people will complain about anything. Re: the "safety issue" - complaining Gram's is unsafe because you feel the area is unsafe is ridiculous. To rate this place 1 star based on how you feel about the neighborhood is unfair, especially when you have not stayed there. Based on my experience, I can assure the rest of you Gram's is 100% safe. They have security cameras, security codes and locks on nearly every door, and also work hard to ensure their guests are comfortable at all times even if that means getting rid of guests that make other people uncomfortable or ruin their experience. They work very hard to maintain a relaxed, vacation-y vibe and go about it perfectly. While Gram's is clearly open and accepting of all types of people from all walks of life, it's clear it is not the place for everybody. Especially uppity types that are looking for 5-star luxurious accommodations on the cheap. On to my review! We were in town for a music festival and found this place online. The reviews were stellar we decided to extend our stay in order to enjoy Gram's to the fullest cause it was so obviously our cup of tea. One of the best decisions I've ever made in my life! The owner, Bruce, is awesome - very hospitable! He told us about a million and one things to do in Tampa within the first 7 min of us being there. Bruce and house mum Christine provided us with rides most of the times we needed to get anywhere which was totally unexpected and extremely appreciated! It was honestly like staying with family. The inn is eccentric and cozy. I felt right at home. The decor is fascinating, you always find something new with every scan of the place. There are lots of areas to just kick it and socialize with everyone but everybody tends to gravitate towards the outdoor bar/hot tub area which is well equipped with seating, fans, a stereo system, a TV, the whole nine yards. Basically how I wish my backyard looked. We stayed in the Amsterdam room for 25 bucks a night. I didn't really spend much time up there, just to sleep, so I don't really have much to say. The room itself, bedding, and bathroom were all clean, no complaints whatsoever. The overall vibe of the place is extremely chill and laidback. I've never felt THIS comfortable surrounded by strangers. Met so many awesome people, everyone I met during my stay I felt I knew my entire life! And by sheer luck, some of the other guests we met at Gram's happened to be in town for the same reason as us, so we all ended up going together and enjoying the festival in a group. Also had the pleasure of meeting Maggie, the resident dog, who is the most adorable, food-loving penguin-pup I've ever met. I've always said the people you meet during your travels make the difference between a pleasant trip and the perfect trip. I'm lucky to have had the latter. I can't tell you how happy I am to have ended up here and to have had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, and experience the festival and other parts of Florida with my Gram Fam. This is the sort of experience a hotel/motel cannot offer no matter how hard they try. I will say, however, the one issue I have with Gram's is that I know no other hostel I ever stay at will ever hold a candle to Gram's. Thank you Gram Fam for the unforgettable experience! I had such an amazing time and I can't wait to come back!!

Somehow I ran across a note about this place online and wondered if it had been Yelped yet. It has not, so allow me to share. A few years ago, I used to spend weeks on end working in Tampa and got very familiar with the area. As you can imagine, week after week of hotels gets expensive- and boring. I did a little research and found Gram's Place. What a find! It's not your average...well, anything! Its an eclectic somewhat "hippy-style" lodging where you will not be lonely or bored. Its been described as "a cross between Key West and Amsterdam". I stayed in two different rooms, what are now called the "Blues Room" and in the "Adventure Room." The Blues Room was located in the main house and has a really old kitchen that they call the "I Love Lucy" kitchen. The Adventure Room was basically a shed with bunks. Both were totally adequate- comfortable bed with clean linens and facilities. You can certainly rest your head here. Breakfast was "fix it yourself" at the time, now you can bring your own cereal or head out and grab. The Jacuzzi was very nice and welcome after a long day at work. Best of all though, was the free and easy atmosphere and the music that fellow guests played. It was like staying with a friend. If you are open-minded, not in need of much amenities and would like to feel more "at home" than "on the road" check it out!

I can't recommend this place to anyone. We were driving up close to the place and the neighborhood is horrible. When I drove past the place it looked as sketch as can be. As my girlfriend put it, when I'm not feeling safe then it definitely raises a red flag. Not to mention, some guy was randomly sitting outside, making me feel even more uneasy. I guess the only thing that could've helped would be the over the phone customer service. Whoever we spoke to, to book the room and give the courtesy "no thanks" call, was very rude. I would've hoped for a "cheery" over the phone personality, but that was far from it. It was a simple "hey, what's the name? card number? OK, see ya then" in a very unhappy tone. Then when we cancelled he just complained about how many times he could've booked the room. A real business owner would've known to give all those folks a call back to let them know a room was available and wished us well on our way and asked us what could've been done better. I'm not one to judge a book by its cover, but when safety's involved and I have a gut feeling, I tend to go with my gut. I wish I could've experienced this place and been able to write a review like the other folks have gotten, but safety is key for me and I would never recommend this place to someone if you're trying to stay safe.

Loved my stay here! The staff worked hard to make sure I was comfortable and had everything I needed. I stayed here for just a few days while checking out Tampa and i'm so glad I did, very affordable and I had a good time here, i'm happy I made the decision to stay at Grams Place! Only complaint I have is with Hostelworld who I booked through, they apparently didn't send on my booking and so I called an hour before arriving and they were glad I did because I wasn't in their system, even still though they made arrangements and made sure I had a bed to sleep in that night, great service!!

Fun owner. Great live music. If you are looking for a hostel, this might be the place for ou.

I really loved my stay at Gram's Place! It's hard to find hostels in the US, but this place is awesome. It's super cute/quirky and decorated in a French Quarter New Orleans style outside. As it's a hostel, don't expect too much. I stayed in the "Country Room," which was the larger shared room with four twin beds. They were a little squeaky, but comfortable. Sheets and blankets, as well as fans a space heaters were available. The public space is cool - you could spend an entire day reading all the pictures, posters, books, and general clutter, but in gives in a neat homey feel. Kitchen is open and supplies of breakfast (coffee, bread, eggs, milk, pancake mix, etc.) are all available. I wish I had more time to explore the outdoor area. There is a bar, a cooler with beer (drop $2 in the jar for one), a jacuzzi, and stairs to the roof and a tree-house/balcony. The hosts were very nice and welcoming. I only stayed one night, so didn't get much time to visit/talk with them, but they seemed really chill. I only stayed for one night, and I almost wish I had changed my itinerary so I could stay another day - if I ever go back to Tampa, I'll definitely be at Gram's!

So I called and talked to George and made reservations at Graham's. He said he would send us an email confirmation. We never got an email confirmation that day. So I called back the next morning and he said he was busy and that he would have the email confirmation out by noon. We never received an email confirmation that day either. Called again the following day and he said he would have the email confirmation out by the end of the day. Again, no confirmation. Gave it a day's rest and called him back. All I was trying to do was make sure we had a place to stay while we were in Tampa. He exploded! He started yelling at me. telling me he didn't need our business and that we could go elsewhere! The whole experience was unbelievable! I was literally shaking after he hung up on me!

If you like it when things are out of the ordinary, you need to come here. If you don't, there are plenty of Comfort Inns, etc, around Tampa. We stayed here just one night, and didn't really get to experience what Gram's is all about. This is probably because I'm awkward and stuff, but hey -- I know an awesome hostel when I see one. The space is amazing, for a place you can sit around and enjoy all day, for only $25 or so, it's unbeatable. You are sleeping in a work of art. Hopefully more than sleeping there... the people seem to be really cool as well, and this sort of place attracts interesting folk. I really think Justin F. needs to delete or rethink his review. Yeah, if you get a really bad feeling about a place after driving by once, don't go, but also don't give it one star because you saw "some guy" sitting outside. On that note, you will probably be a little puzzled when you drive up. Gram's doesn't look like a hotel at all, and barely looks like a hostel. Keep calm and carry on... you'll have a great time.

Very welcoming and pleasant place! Very helpful staff - highly recommended if you stop by Tampa

This place is super cute in that quirky, I'm-not-sure-I'm-cool-enough-to-stay-here sort of way. I have been in customer service most of the last ten years. In that time, I have made a lot of mistakes. What I have learned about good customer service is accepting when mistakes happen and recovering well from them. I really think the measure of world-class customer service is measured not by how few mistakes happen, but how you recover from them when the do occur. This review could be a lot different. After checking in at 11pm, I had some time to kill, so I surfed the internet and went for a walk. By the time I was ready for bed, it was 2am. It was only then that I discovered there was a problem with my accommodations. I had to leave at an unfortunate hour and find more acceptable housing. I left a note detailing the issue. First thing the next morning, the manger called, apologized profusely and refunded my account. Yes, there was a problem. But he recovered from it exactly as I would have hoped.

Awesome hostel & great staff. There's something wrong with you if you don't like this place! I already miss it

Well where to begin, I saw this place on the internet & thought no way,but I kept coming back to it !! & I thought there is something so weird about the place I will give it a go. so I flew from U.K. to give it a chance? I am glad I did I stayed for three weeks, & i loved it I liked the staff who were always helpful & the amount of different people I met from all over the globe were all very cheerful & glad they stayed here I got on well with everyone. and they even enjoyed me playing my Bagpipe at a reasonable hour of course. I can say I think this place is unique with unbeatable atmosphere! but you have to remember it takes two to tango, what I am trying to say is embrace it & it will embrace you in return. when I return to Tampa I will be back at Grams Place.

An eclectic bohemian hideout that you won't forget. The only thing better than the diverse and friendly neighborhood is the sweetness and hospitality of Bruce and Ronda. I spent my first night having in Tampa having a glass of wine and chatting with both of them before dipping in to the hot tub. It was a night I'll always remember as it was a magical introduction to Tampa. I was sad to leave a place that felt both like home and like a vagabonding trip through time. I can't stay away and am happy that I can make the occasional trip to stay the night there.

This was my first hostel experience. I absolutely adore this place. I cannot express how much I loved staying here. I stayed in the country girls dorm bunk room. July 4th week, '15 from Sunday-Friday July 3rd. I wanted to avoid weekend holiday traffic so I came before the 4th of July celebrations and this was an excellent strategy. The entire place was clean, cozy and mostly quiet. Since I stayed in a communal room there were a couple of in one night out the next day guests so that made it difficult to sleep, but that was only two nights. From Tue-Thu night I had the entire bunk room to myself. Which is good bc I'm a light sleeper. I had to share a bathroom with another couple and a small group throughout week, but I was just using this place to nap after beach trips and sleep at night so we never ran into any issues. They offer free basic breakfast which helped bc this was a budget beach trip. I was able to see ybor and have delicious beer at cigar city. I saw how pretty Tampa was at night with the lights and water. Drive by the Davis island yacht club for some puzzle like pictures of the boats. You will more than likely see a manatee if you head down just a few more minutes southeast to Apollo beach. It was convenient to EVERYTHING and at $25 a night as a solo, young traveler that can't be beat!

where to start....grams place is one of a kind. We heard about it through the lonely planet and the review prepared us for a quirky hostel......but quirky does not begin to describe this one of a kind experience. I would urge anyone, whether on a budget or not, to swing by grams place. The over all theme is music, but within each corner of this eccentric connection of structures are many themes...from the 1950's 'i love lucy' kitchen (complete with antique stove and features), to the hawaiian kitsch, fairy lit, pink flamingo lined garden decking with jacuzzi. We stayed in the rock and roll room in the main house, complete with en suite, wifi and tv. Cheap enough for those on a budget and a comfortable and sociable lodging experience for those more luxurious travellers. There are also dorm rooms for those on a shoestring budget. On the other side of the house there is an alternative modern shared kitchen and t.v lounge with all the expected amenities and comforts of a home from home. Laundry facilities are also available. The place was packed out when we were there, people from all over the world chatted over beers in the jacuzzi, swapping travelling stories and advice. The owner was on hand to dish out beers, keep the music playing and help organise kayaking trips and outings to the beautiful beaches nearby, and if you need a timeout from the chat, you can escape to adventurous roof decking for a quiet moment. Grams place is ideal for travellers looking for something more sociable and homely than the hotel/motel downtown...........enjoy!

In a country that is lacking in the hostel department, I was plesantly surprised to find this place. Helpful, friendly staff that is very accommodating. I was there during the week, but I was told that on weekends they have live music. Place is also nice and affordable, but I recommend having a car to get around if possible.

I've stayed here numerous times over the past months. It is a very welcoming environment. The staff (Christine and Philippa) are quite wonderful and are more than accommodating and can point you toward anything worth visiting in the area. It's very eclectic and quirky with something interesting in every nook. I would suggest this stop to anyone on there travels.

Great spot and great price, very homey and cozy with decent amenities. Its in a quaint part of town, will be staying here every time we come to tampa. We had the private room but met ppl in the common areas, everyone was nice & staff very helpful.

I came across Gram's Place while looking for a reasonably priced place to stay for a conference. I thought the idea of themed rooms was great, and even staying in a private room I paid a lot less than the prices offered at other places in the area. Booking was easy, as was check-in. I met some very nice people from around the world. I was only a couple of miles away from the conference I was attending, very convenient to everything Tampa has to offer. There have been comments about the area... eh, it was safe inside Gram's Place and even when I was outside no one bothered me. On the other hand, I don't go to new places acting like a tourist, so people don't generally know I"m not from the area. Bottom line: you meet good people in a chill atmosphere and you feel very much at home. I plan to return the next time I'm in Tampa.

It's a hostel...so be familiar with hostel lodging or you might be disappointed. This said, Gram's place is the ONLY reasonable, safe housing choice if you are flying into Tampa on a budget. It is a 70's throwback and you will meet a lot of really nice people. Bruce, the owner is a warm- hearted sweet man who will chill with you and throw back a beer or two with you on the patio. Luis who is the property manager couldn't have been nicer and set us up with a couple of bikes to use while we were there. There is all sorts of really unique music memorabilia and also there is impromptu jam sessions on the weekends. Many of the guests are international and frequent hostel travelers. You can save a bunch of money by cooking up your own food in the community kitchen and Bruce is nice enough to provide coffee and eggs and bread for you free in the morning. Its more a community than a hotel room. Also it is close to bus lines, but the neighborhood is not located in any tourist area, although there is a small park next door.-- NOT recommended for families with young children. But 2 people can easily share a private room for $60 or a single can get a bunk in a shared dorm for @$ 25. There are all kinds of little nooks to sit on the small property with a book and relax. The beaches of Clearwater are only about a 30 minute drive away and Ybor City is a decent day trip for shopping and history.

Great getaway hidden away in tampa heights. Eclectic music paraphernalia everywhere, comfortable lodgings and the chance to meet new friends. 10/10 would recommend.

I only spent one night here but I found it very enjoyable. The rooms were very clean and the owner was extremely kind and welcoming. A cool place to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

Great place! Had a great time there, bruce and luis were so nice and they welcomed us like we were family.

i stayed here several nights: in the "train room." It's really a cell with 7 5 foot-long inch-thick mats -- two on floor -- in stacks. The metaphor: a train car: in fact a jail, I presume, or submarine. Air foul/ poisonous [as in every hostel, since rebreathed all night]. Over-bright room light had motion sensor: went on if you exhaled. All night. People smoke filthy stinking cigarettes everywhere w/ impunity -- including hosts; one host shouted into her cell phone beginning at 7am. The location? In the middle of nowhere -- and that's saying something, since Tampa is all nowhere. Go elsewhere? Yes. And: don't go at all.

I hope the owner see and read this review. The woman who is employed at this hostel answer the phone is very disrespectful and lacks customer service. Although its a hostel and the rates are cheap, she do not know how talk to people. Therefore, if the owner see this review i hope he or she rectify and address the situation promptly. This incident happened at 5:14 August 6, 2016. Might be a nice place and i visit Tampa periodical, but i would never know because you have a lousy incompentent employee.

I was amazed with the place, the friendly atmosphere, and every single detail about Gram's Place. The decoration surprises you with a cute and fun message on every corner! It is a magical place where you can relax, meet great people and make new friends (I did) and also enjoy the live entertainment and concerts held by the place over the weekends. Have a special room you desire? Ask and they might have exactly the room you are looking for! The rooms are themed and super fun, you will have a great time. Breakfast is included and for nerds like me, there is free Wi-Fi for guests and you can surf the web outdoors on the second floor with an amazing panoramic view. I look forward to coming back to see my new friends soon. Yes, I met some awesome people at Gram's, some that I will bring along during my life's journey as friends for my lifetime. Highly recommended, very happy and will definitely be back!

Had a great time at Grams place! Bruce was very accommodating and friendly and we will definitely be back when we are in the Tampa area.

This is the America worth fighting for. Place was funky & quiet& 'can do' at the same time.