Tampa Travel Forum

I will be travelling to Tampa at the Begining of May 2007 for a conference. I was there a couple years ago (for 1 night) so I did not see much of it. What would be some sights a person should see ? I am very easy going and enjoy almost every thing. Anyone volunteer as a guide :-)

We will be going on a 5 night cruise in January and once we debark, we'll want to rent a car because we're spending 4 days in Treasure Island. My question is...is there a rental car agency near the Tampa Port or will we have to get back to the airport in order to do so?

Thanks for any help!

Deb

My family and I are spending a couple of days in Tampa. One day will be spent, inevitably, at Busch Gardens. The other one, well, that's not set in stone yet. We were trying to decide between a few different things. So, if you've been to Tampa and can help us decide, go ahead: Which would be more fun, the Lowry Park Zoo or the Florida Aquarium? We have a two-year-old.

Discuss!

Paula :)

Hello all!
I'm flying to Tampa on 23rd December (hopefully) and staying til Jan 3rd. Im looking for suggestions of the best flight company/website to get a cheap flight from. I'm not familiar with a site to get a cheap flight to this area. I'm hoping to fly from Edinburgh Scotland, but I guess I could go from anywhere else in the UK if it was worth a treck to the airport to save a couple more quid! Has anyone found a bargain that i'd be happy with? What price should I expect? I've seen flights around £700 at the moment and I feel that's a bit steep, but I don't want to hang about in case it gets worse than that! Cheers, meashX

We are flying in and out of Tampa and need a clean economy family hotel. We are considering the Quailty Inn at 400 E Bearss and I 275. We need to be at the airport by 7 AM . Can anyone tell me how the traffic is that time of day from the Quality Inn to the airport and is there any other places closer to the airport that are in a good location, clean and reasonable price.

I'm looking for options for a rehersal dinner for 25 people in November. We are all from out of town, so something different from the standard chains would be fun. We would like to keep a moderate budget so nothing incredibly fancy.

Thanks.

Hello. I will be in the Tampa/ St. Petersburg area in a couple of weeks, traveling around a lot, and was wondering what areas to avoid. I am no stranger to crime so I get very nervous in bad areas and would appreciate any and all advice. Thanks to everyone that replies!

Well that pretty much sums it up , will be in Tampa next month for 3 days. Do locals have a favorite? thanks:-)

I would like to collect different point of views in breif about persons who are living or been to Tampa city which is located in florida... I am doing this to try to understand my own feeling about being there ...thanks :)

Hi, friends, I know this belongs to the St. Pete Forum (I posted already there too), but it's hardly visited by anyone...

I'll be staying at Don Cesar soon, could you, please, let me know what's in the area around the Hotel. With that I mean at a walking distance ONLY (say a radius of maximun 10 bloks), since I know St. Pete myself already. Are there any recommended restaurant, dinners, etc. in the area? Are there shops, etc. around this area?

Thanks in advance!

Brandonmarlo

Staying in Orlando area as a home base and want to do day trips to Florida points of interest. Me, wife two teen daughters and two 5yr oldboys. Nice family beach around Tampa or Clearwater, and ideas? Also any reccomendations for other Tampa must sees?
Thank you
Jim

Hi,

I'm thinking about heading to Florida on a J1 working holiday visa this summer - maybe staying someplace in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and hopefully working in the area from June to September.

Has anybody ever been there before, and if you have, can you give me any advice on how suitable it'd be for a j1 working holiday (nightlife, cost of living [food, drink, transport, seasonal jobs], any info you have at all really).

Appreciate any advice you can give.

Hi,

I'm thinking about heading to Florida on a J1 working holiday visa this summer - maybe staying someplace in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and hopefully working in the area from June to September.

Has anybody ever been there before, and if you have, can you give me any advice on how suitable it'd be for a j1 working holiday (nightlife, cost of living [food, drink, transport, seasonal jobs], any info you have at all really).

Appreciate any advice you can give.

We are going on a cruise and my husband's parents are driving from Estero, Florida to see us when we fly into Tampa. Want to find a restaurant near the airport that we can plan to meet them at for lunch.

I am desperate to do somethin..... any suggestions about photography clubs?

Thanks so much for everyone's input. It really helped me alot. But I also want to know about Clair-Mel City in East Tampa. My cousins goes to Clair-Mel Elementary. Is that a good school. When I was down there I saw the school but I want my son to get the best education. Coming from Georgia, I want to make the right educational decision. Also about the jobs in Tampa. I know I am asking a lot of questions but I really want to know.

Thanks So Much!!

I am a single mother of a 9 yr old son living in Ga. I am hoping to move to the tampa area but I was wondering about the area near Hyde Park. With my son possibly going to Gorrie Elementary. I have relatives down there that lives in the Clair-Mel City area. I just want to know more about the areas. I hear that South Tampa has some flooding problems. I don't need that. lol. Is there a lot of entertainment for us. Is Channelside a fun place to be. I am moving from a small town and want a little more opportunities and excitement. What about the jobs and affordable housing near Gorrie because I want to live as close as the school as possible. Please! let me know which area is better for us. I want to live near family but i also want to be in the best area. Please! help. I visited Tampa only once and I really enjoyed it but I still have to get used to things. Any info will help.

Thanks so much!!

SouthernGul2006

hi, i have been searching for apartments for my move to tampa. it has been difficult because of my dog. most of these so called pet friendly communities have strict restrictions on breeds. i found 2 that may be possible and would like to get any feedback i can on the area. or if anyone knows about the complex itself that would be great.

1. arbour ponds...2901 north dale mabry highway
Directions

Take I-275, exit north on Dale Mabry. Head north on Dale Mabry and we're approximately 1 mile on the right between Chili's and Kash n Karry. (2 blocks south of Raymond James Stadium).

2. arbor lakes...6161 north memorial highway
Directions

From I-275, take the Airport-Clrwtr. exit. Follow signs to Eisenhower. Turn left at Memorial & continue west. We're on your right before Hillsborough Road

any info on these apartments or the area would be appreciated.

We are considering relocating to the Tampa area. We would appreciate any suggestions on "family" cities/suburbs in the surrounding Tampa area. Areas that were suggested to us were: the New Tampa area (Tampa Palms, Lutz), Brandon, Ruskin, and Apollo Beach. Please include pros's and con's and places to avoid. Thank you

Hi everyone,
I've been reading this board for awhile now and so now want to ask some advice about my own move. Being a 24 old single gal moving to a new city, I wanted to live in an area that was safe but fun and close to work. I'll working at the Federal Courthouse Downtown. It seems as if the Hyde Park/SOHO area fits those needs...(correct me if I am wrong!)

Given that I been searching craigslist and the other apartment sites for something in that area. The Madison seems like one of the nicest/safest in the area. Does it still have all the advantages of being able to walk to fun areas? Has anyone viewed the building? thanks

i am going to be moving to the area within the next few months and i just wanted info on nice areas of town, employment opportunities, and apartments.....etc....anything would ba helpful....thanks a lot.....daysha

Do you have any information on Land o Lakes, Fl? I am looking at my options in the Tampa area and this area seems to be the most reasonably with a good high school, but I am concerned about any other racial tensions in this area. I am from New Jersey and everyone mingles with one another. That's about the only thing I like about Jersey! I want my children to grow up without a distinction between colors or cultures of people. Please help any info is good. Thanks

I am going through a divorce. I am considering moving to either Tampa or San Diego. I am from Lancaster, PA, and I am seeking warmer weather. Being from a small town, I seek to live somewhere safe, so I do not necessarily need to live downtown, but near it would be nice. I want to be able to get to Lightning games (I know several front office staff, players and announcers well) and to Bucs games and be able to see the Yankees in ST. I will probably end up working in downtown Tampa (Sales Management).

I am looking to rent to start, and value affordability. I am never home. My kids will visit for most of the summer.

With your advice, I may also consider living in Clearwater, Denedin, St. Pete or the like or, maybe even better, a small town. I'd love to find a family to rent an upstairs apt from or the like.

Your help is appreciated.

Hi everybody,

I am currently visiting downtown Tampa and I am looking for a store where I can buy some sports swim wear. I saw in some Tampa pages that the 2 biggest malls are near the airport but a mall doesn't necessarily hold a store that sells sports swim wear as I found out the hard way...

If any of you could show me the way I would be very grateful...
Greetings from FunnyBeee

ps: where can a gal find some juicy crab legs around the downtown Tampa area?
I know where to go for a mean steak, Bern's if I am not mistaken, but I haven't got a hook up for the crab legs yet.

My wife and I are traveling to Tampa at the end of January to visit her sister. She (her sister) is new to Tampa and is still learning about the area, so I thought I'd solicit soem ideas from VT. We could be considered "foodies", but we dislike restaurants that attracts the "scene", and prefer the out of the way gems, hole in the wall joints, places with character(s), and comfortable neighborhood places......all with good food/wine/beer of course. Local cuisine preferred. Any ideas? We would also like to find a beach w/o the crowds......wait, is the weather warm enough for beach-going at the end of Jan?

My place is small and I will be having a baby so them staying with us
may be a bit too much. I'm thinking asking them to just use their stay down
here as a vacation also. What are some hotel around Tampa that are near a few
attractions. Also, what about Clearwater? Any nice economical place to stay on the beach? What places have your parents/grandparents enjoyed while in the Tampa/St. Pete area?

does anyone know anything about these apartment complexes?

* the falls
* lakeside villas

i am looking to move to one of them (probably) in late january and i was just wondering about them. if anyone knows of any other super-fantastic apartments in tampa (actual tampa . . . not like the surrounding areas. i like living as close as possible to the city centre) please let me know. thanks!

i've decided to make the move down to tampa. since i've never been there i've been doing as much research as i can online and have spoke to a few people about the area. does anyone have any suggestions as far as nice apartment complexes? or even a particular section of town i may want to focus on looking? its hard to get a feel going through all the apartment guide websites because obviously they make every complex seem very nice. since i dont have a job lined up as of yet i would like to find an area that is centrally located in a nice area. one thing that is strange to me in looking for apartments is that almost everyone i see is a gated community...that just makes me think crime is a significant issue.
any info would be appreciated....thanks

We are flying into Tampa Inter. Airport on Thursday and would like to find a nice beachy hotel (work is footing the bill) with or near outside dining/bar. Any recommendations?
Also, how long does it take, generally, to get from downtown Tampa at noon to Orlando/Kissimmee/Davenport area?
Thanks!

what's the best (time-wise) way to get to ft. lauderdale from tampa assuming a hurricane doesn't eat florida?