AAFrequentFlyer

In few weeks I will need to stay at the hotel for 1 night before my big trip to South Pacific and Hong Kong.

A regular king bed room is $149.
A Bay view king room is $169
A Casita is also $169
and finally, a Regency Club room is $179.

I really don't need the RC room as we will be going out for dinner the night before and brunch on Easter Sunday.

What I really want to know is if the Bay view rooms are worth the extra $20 but more importantly what is a Casita style room and where is it located and does it have a Bay view?

I do remember that the wife of the hotel's manager was a regular here so I'm hoping she's still around and could help me with the decision, but if anybody else has some info, please feel free to post.

Thanks

OO

Yup still here...at least for another two weeks. We've been transferred to San Antonio so will be gone by the time you arrive. Those room rates look very good! Absolutely a bay view is well worth the extra. Each bay view has a full view onto Tampa Bay, no looking around a corner to see it. The sunsets are wonderful. Looking straight down you are looking onto the mangroves which front the bay and where you'll see roseate spoonbills, herons, ibises, egrets etc roosting. There is a boardwalk from the hotel through the mangroves to either a gazebo or to the seafood restaurant and casitas, depending on the branch you take. The other view looks toward the airport and the city, which is interesting to some, but there is no comparison.

The hotel is situated on 35 acres on the bay. The tower sits at one end of the property, and the casitas, Oystercatchers, tennis courts and one of the pools at the other end. A road leads through the property to this area from the hotel, or it's a 5-10 minute walk from the hotel to the casitas. You can drive it with your own car or use the hotel shuttle if you would rather not walk.

The even numbered casitas front the water--those with the lowest numbers will have a bayview, but the higher even numbers view is blocked by the mangroves, plus, by that point they front Fish Creek, an estuary, not the bay (still Fish Creek has manatees and occasional dolphins, but especially manatees as they seem to have found that it's a nice protected area for them and their newborn. The odd numbered casitas have no view except very tropical landscaping out the door, but then, you are used to that at home. You can request water view casitas if they are still available. My guess is that there is a price differential, and as these are very popular on the weekends especially, you need to reserve early.

The casitas remind me of small villas in Bermuda. They have white tile roofs and pink stucco exterior walls with hibiscus everywhere. There are both single rooms and two story loft suites with living, dining, and bar area down, and bedroom up in the loft. Floors are saltillo tile down with area rugs in the seating area. Decor is nice...light, and new a year ago (maybe two by now--hotel as well). All casitas have double doors as well as the entry, with a small patio outside. You feel less like you are staying in a hotel in this area. If there is any negative at all to the casitas, it is that those that face away from the water get some airport noise. Some hear it, some don't, but I should mention it. This is where we live though, and it has never bothered me. The planes do stop flying around 11, and don't start up again in the morning until about 6:30.

Are you doing Oystercatchers Easter Brunch? It sells out very early so if that's your plan, make reservations ASAP.

It sounds as if you have a wonderful trip coming up. Hope it starts out absolutely beautifully with us! Bon Voyage....wish I could have met you AAFF!

Tandoori_Girl

Wow. Those are great rates. Definitely get a bay view -- this is the absolute best sunset in Tampa! I guess you could see it from the casita but I'd go for an upper-floor room myself. What a view.

AAFrequentFlyer

OO,

Thank You very much. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

At this moment I'm holding two reservations, one for the Casitas and one for Bay View. I'm leaning towards Bay View, so I will release the Casita res in few days.

Congratulations (I think) on your move and good luck with the new assignment!

Maybe your husband could put in a good word for me with res to put me in a nicer, higher floor bay view?

Thanks again!

Sobehappy

I believe we have a casita version on the west coast, larger perhaps but basically the same layout. It's sort of a step-up from an efficiency apartment, I gather. Rather nice for a weekend retreat.