Where to stay in Tampa

[REinarson]

I know there is probably a thread for this already but I could not find it.....so where is a good Hotel to stay at before and after a cruise?

[Betsy's Mom]

Scroll down to North America Home Ports, click on East Coast departures, at top of that page is Florida ports section,click and you are there!:)

B.

[S&S Cruisers 1983]

I know there is probably a thread for this already but I could not find it.....so where is a good Hotel to stay at before and after a cruise?

We loved the Marriott Waterside in Tampa.

[nitnyleo]

Will you be able to walk the gangway or will that be too much trouble also?

[Roadtripster]

I got a great hotel from one of the bidding sites. A 4 star hotel for the price of a 2 star. It really didn't matter where we stayed at because they are all pretty much close to the port and we are taking a taxi or the hotel shuttle to the port.

 

I just went for price and decided to go the bidding way and I got a great deal.

[silentbob007]

I've bid 4* in downtown Tampa and gotten the Intercontinental for a good price. It was a nice hotel with plenty of shopping and restaurants across the street. It's not on the water ($15 cab ride) but has a free airport shuttle and is in a decent area.

[gnparend]

I know there is probably a thread for this already but I could not find it.....so where is a good Hotel to stay at before and after a cruise?

Google and select "Maps" then search on "Port of Tampa" the ships park just south of St Pete Times Forum in Garrison & Sparkman Channel the parking lots are on Channelside Dr East of the Form. All the spot Red dots are Hotels. Prices go up closer to the Pier. Downton is no break either. If cost is not an issue then stay at the Marriott Waterside and can walk to the Pier and the Channelside Mall area. Otherwise think about Hampton on Holiday Inn out by Courtney Campbel Causeway (West of Airport) They may even provide free shuttle service from the Airport. Supershuttle.com can get up to the Port from the Causeway Hotels for $13 one way. Option 2 is goto Clearwater Beach and take the shuttle from there to the Port (30 -40 minute drive)

[REinarson]

Will you be able to walk the gangway or will that be too much trouble also?

 

Is that your attempt of a stupidass remark ?

[REinarson]

Scroll down to North America Home Ports' date=' click on East Coast departures, at top of that page is Florida ports section,click and you are there!:)

B.[/quote']

 

Thanks for your help.

[art4u]

Try the Sailport Resort - all rooms view to the water - and have a kitchen and are huge are very, very well priced and have a shuttle pick up for free to and from airport. Very clean and have free shuttles to and from malls and three restaurants about at 5 min walk away. The shuttle to port via blueone transportation was only about $9 per person.

 

cheers

[TrqoisWtrs]

http://www.chasehoteltampa.com/specials-packages/index.cfm

 

This was a great place. Shuttle to/from airport, to/from port, breakfast, and their complimentary happy hour M-Thur was actually more like dinner. Burgers, dogs, chips wine, beer. Great value for the price.

[tampafish]

Sounds like you already have some great ideas here! I live in Tampa and just wanted to mention that the hotels that are actually in Downtown Tampa are pretty pricey and depending on where you stay it can be far to food/entertainment. Nothing (that I know of) will be in walking distance to the cruise terminal (at least not with a few suitcases).

 

I would advise you to find a hotel that can provide you either access to food and entertainment through a shuttle or you has those things available within walking distance.

 

The hotels out on Rocky Point (Courtney Campbell Causeway - Chase Suites, Residence Inn, Sailport) are not within walking distance of a mall or a variety of restaurants and shopping (I see some hotels have shuttles). The Intercontinential is across the street from a Mall with a variety of stores and food plus there is a Walgreens within walking distance. The Embassy Suites is also across the street from this Mall.

 

If you have specific questions on location post them here and I'll check back. I just hate for someone to come to town and get a great price on a clean hotel and then not be able to enjoy the area because everything is an expensive cab fare away.

 

I hope you have a fabulous trip. If you have some extended time in Tampa there are lots of really fun things to do here.

[luvtovaca]

Tampafish, know anything about the LaQuinta-Airport on Spruce across from the International Mall, I believe?

[tampafish]

It's an older hotel that has (I think) an IHOP in front of it. Not sure on cleanliness, never stayed there. It's not one of those newer LaQuinta's.

 

You could take a some what long walk to the International Mall (you have to walk across 6 lane highway at a light) and find lots of food and high end shopping. It's about 10 minutes to port via shuttle.

 

If you are coming to crash and then go to port it would be fine. I would imagine there would be a large amount of airport noise as it sits right at the end of one of the run ways. Anything on Lois would be around the corner from there and a little more quiet (all though there are some high end strip clubs on that road, so you know).

[luvtovaca]

Thanks Firefly! We are only there pre/post cruise with no car. They have airport shuttle and we will take cab to port. For $63 bucks/night with breakfast and pool, sounds like it will be fine. I called and they said that they shuttle to the mall, too. Hopefully, that is true. Oh, and I grew up next to an airport, so the sound is no problem. Thanks again.

[REinarson]

Tampafish, thanks for being so kind to help out ! We are arriving on a Friday so we will have a day and a half to sitesee. We are renting a car and plan on driving to Orlando for the day or ? on Saturday. There are four of us (two couples) so we want to find a hotel with a two bedroom suite like the Chase or Mainsail suites (any recommendations?) Any clubs you might know for good nightlife close by? Thanks again.

[luvtovaca]

Sooo sorry,Tampafish! I meant to say thank you to you, and I inadvertanly thanked Firefly! So, thanks for the info Tampafish!

[KAYEF]

Tampafish, know anything about the LaQuinta-Airport on Spruce across from the International Mall, I believe?

 

.........that's where we stayed on advice from someone on CC.........Smallish rooms, not new, IHOP very handy, free shuttle in the a.m. after the free breakfast.............

Coming from the West Coast, we got there about 6 p.m.........tired.........just got together with the other folks, ate dinner and crashed.

It was fine; not noisy at all. They parked their car free, BTW.:)

[read52]

We are staying at the Marriott Airport. Are there places to eat around it? What about a grocery store? The clerk said that they have a free shuttle to two different malls. We are from the DC area so I know if you go a bit on way or another you can be away from things. I like to know as much as I can about an area. We are spending two days before our cruise.

[tampafish]

We are staying at the Marriott Airport. Are there places to eat around it? What about a grocery store? The clerk said that they have a free shuttle to two different malls. We are from the DC area so I know if you go a bit on way or another you can be away from things. I like to know as much as I can about an area. We are spending two days before our cruise.

 

The shuttles probably go to International Mall (very upscale, nice bars and restaurant area) and WestShore Plaza (a few nice restaurants, smaller mall). There are no grocery stores right in that area as it's a pretty business oriented area. However, across from WestShore Plaza there is a Walgreens that has a pretty good grocery area for the workers that work in this area. From the Marriott Airport you aren't going to be able to walk to anything as it's on the Airport grounds. However, you aren't too far to Rocky Point (near Courtney Campbell Causeway) where there is a rocky beach that looks out over Tampa Bay - pretty nice beach area minus the rocks.

 

If you are renting a car you aren't excessively far from groceries (closest is probably the SweetBay on Dale Mabry near the stadium. There is an older K-mart there too).

[tampafish]

Tampafish, thanks for being so kind to help out ! We are arriving on a Friday so we will have a day and a half to sitesee. We are renting a car and plan on driving to Orlando for the day or ? on Saturday. There are four of us (two couples) so we want to find a hotel with a two bedroom suite like the Chase or Mainsail suites (any recommendations?) Any clubs you might know for good nightlife close by? Thanks again.

 

If you think you might want to drive to Orlando why not stay on the East side of Tampa so you only have to drive through the I-275 construction once to get on that side of town? The cruise port is on the East side of downtown Tampa. If you like nightlife you might want to check into staying in Ybor City. There is a Hampton Suites and a Hilton Garden Hotel there that are very nice (not sure on pricing). Ybor City is a great area at night with restaurants and clubs (although it can at certain times be rowdy). Also, you can take the trolley to Channelside (right where your ship will dock) and there are some good clubs, bowling, restaurants down there on the water as well. In downtown Tampa on Harbor Island Jackson's is a good time on the weekend (not sure about week nights).

 

The other option on the East side would be the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - I've only been out there once but they've expanded recently and we have friends that really enjoy going out there for a night of fun. It's right on I-4 near the fair grounds. Depending on when you are coming there might be a good concert here so check out the Ford Ampitheater and the St. Pete Time's Forum (which is actually in downtown Tampa) to see if there is something fun going on.

 

If you don't want to drive to Orlando you can check out Busch Gardens (lots of roller coasters, good shows, pretty gardens, animals) or Adventure Island water park both right here in Tampa. If you have a car a day out at Honey Moon Island with a ferry ride over to Caladesi Island is really nice. There are also Botanical gardens and historic florida village over in the St. Pete area. The beach at Ft. Desoto (complete with a great view of the Skyway bridge you'll be sailing under as you leave Tampa) is also awesome. Plus there is a fort and a place to rent canoes.

 

There's lots to do in the Tampa area. Orlando is fun but driving on I-4 is not and for less distance you can go into St. Pete or Clearwater and have just as much fun (a lot less touristy!)

 

I hope that helps.

[REinarson]

Tampafish you are awesome ! Thanks for all the help.