Isabella36

Hi,
My friend and I would like to go to Clearwater for a week during March Break. I know that this is also a busy time as students/families travel during this time but it's also the only time that my friend and I can go away. I have never been to Clearwater but my friend went once about 3 years ago. I read wonderful things about this destination, and decided to join her. Ideally, we would like to book a package deal (flight/hotel together) but I am not sure which other travel sites allow this. I only know of Expedia. I looked at a few other travel sites but they only allow you to book flight/hotel separately. Can anyone recommend some other sites that may be useful to book flight/hotel together? My friend found a flight for $943 return including taxes from March 15-20 but this does not include hotel. I'm not sure how much hotel would cost on top of this.
We are not looking to party. We just want to get away, relax, have fun, and enjoy a get away from the cold winter, and stresses of life. I'm in my early 40's and my friend in her late 40's.
We will be departing from Toronto Pearson. I'm not sure about which airport to fly into. Is it St. Petersburg or Tampa?
I would appreciate any information you can provide to help us plan our trip.

jumper22

try kayak.com, it'll source lots of different web sites all in one place. you might find that getting a separate flight and separate hotel might be more cost-effective too, so don't rule that out. whatever hotel you find, be sure to read reviews on tripadvisor.com and here, to make sure it's a decent place, before committing to a package deal. you would be flying into tampa, a major airport and an easy quick drive to clearwater. i'd also recommend signing up on kayak for their "flight alert" and get a daily alert sent to your email for flights between tampa and toronto, that way you can jump on the best flight when the prices drop. have fun! i was raised in florida and have many a great memory of spring breaks in clearwater

Ackislander

Clearwater will be a lot warmer than Toronto, but it may not be warm enough for what you want to do.

Tampa is a great airport, and it is very easy to get to Clearwater from there, but you should look into flights to RSW (Ft Myers or officially Southwest Florida Regional Airport) for a part of Florida where it will almost certainly be warm to very warm.

You do not want to stay in Clearwater but in Clearwater Beach. Ditto Ft Myers vs Ft Myers Beach or Bonita Beach, etc.

gmoney

Fly into Tampa airport and stay at the Sandpearl in Clearwater Beach.

http://www.sandpearl.com/

Easy Peasy!

There will not be much difference weatherwise between Clearwater and Ft. Myers.

Isabella36

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.
I looked into Sandpearl but it is $$$. I can't afford $700-800/night. Neither can my friend. I am looking for something more along the lines of $1300.

I didn't realize that there is Clearwater and Clearwater Beach. Do you know if it will be warm and sunny during March Break?

I was talking to an agent today (friend of a friend) and she suggested for the cost of going to Florida at this time of year (March Break), to go all-inclusive to the Caribbean. She suggested Cuba but not sure if I want to go here. She said that the flights to Florida are almost double the price b/c it's March Break season.

I'm going to keep looking and see what type of flights come up. I will also sign up on kayak, and check out a few other destinations. Any other suggestions? I did some research and came across Puerto Rico, Tobago, Bahamas (but realize that this may be expensive as well).

Isabella36

Oh! I also read about Isla Mujeres and Nassau. They both sound nice.

Isabella36

Sorry. Perhaps I should ask in that forum!