Mariners Club Bahia Beach Resort
 

Coming to the area for spring training with our 11 yr old son..march 24-28th..having trouble finding available rooms...last yr stayed in clearwater...did find rooms at the Mariners Club..anybody stayed here before? Any other suggestions in the st. pete/tampa area? Thanks so much! Feel free to email me at [email protected]

This is not a bad place but it is definitely a haul from there to Legends Field. I suggest you move a little closer into town. Try some of the hotels in Rocky Point, the islands connected to the Tampa mainland by the Clearwater Causeway. Any of those would be really good. There's a Hampton Inn, others. Google Rocky Point, I can't recall what's there and they keep changing names but you and son will like this area. Highend out that way but oo-lala would be the Grand Hyatt -- what a great spot, maybe you and hubby should come back after you dump the 22-y.o. for a wknd. wink-wink.

Also, in Tampa nearby Legends Field, the Tahitian Inn is good. On Westshore, the Embassy Suites. In downtown there's the Radisson Riverwalk. Waterside Marriot. Ybor City also has a Marriot, I think it is.

Is that a help? I think you'd be happier intown. But it is pretty at the Mariner on the backside of Tampa Bay...

Thanks for the info..we have a room booked at the Tahitian..someone else also suggested the Chart House Suites on clearwater bay?

Travelrn, let someone else stay 20 miles away on Clearwater Bay while you stay at the Tahitian :S-

Travelrn, believe it or not, I'm going to the game on March 27th! Now that's serendipity. Do you have plane tkts. yet? That's Easter wknd, a very busy time here for tourists.

We have the plane tix and we got our phillies vs NYY tix this morning..tix for tampa bay don't go on sale until the 15th. I think we are going to check out the yankees/houston game at legends field on the 27th. What is the closest beach to the Tahitian? Thanks again for all of your great info :)

We're buying someone's season tkts. for that game.

Take a good look at a map before you come. There are some inland beaches on Tampa Bay (such as the one at the Mariner) but you'll likely prefer the Gulf which is spectacular. If you want Nature's version of a beach, with no hotels nor amenities such as food, get on I-275 twds. St. Petersburg. Take it through St. Pete (you'll pass by Tropicana Field, looks like white beer can, where the Devil Rays play) all the way to Ft. DeSoto (follow signs to Gulf beaches/Ft. DeSoto). If you think you'd like some beach food, some outdoor chairs to lounge on, and a quieter beach, take I-275/SP and get off at the Treasure Island/5th Avenue exit. Turn rt on 5th and take the road until it ends, turn left, then right at next light (Central or TI bridge). Go over the bridge until it ends at the Thunderbird with its huge neon sign. Take a left at the beach, go to the next light and take a right. You'll see Caddy's on the right a block or two up. Park in their lot and credit the charge to your bill. The food's OK, your son will like the fries. They often have a volleyball game on-going.

What else does your son like? I have a 15-y.o. so been there, done that. I could make some recs. Are you going to Busch Gardens for a day? Does he skate? There is an indoor skate park, the SPOT (Skate Park of Tampa) that is getting lots of national attention. There's a huge video arcade in Ybor City (recommended for daytime only as Ybor is mostly bars but this is THE spot for video games). The downtown Tampa Aquarium might interest him.