Tampa area and hotel recommendations, please
 

Hello again. My husband and 13 y.o. son are off to the southeast this summer to carve more notches into their "we've been to every MLB stadium in the country" belt. I've gotten some great recommendations for the first leg of their trip (Atlanta), but now need info on beautiful Tampa.

They will be flying in at around 1:00 on a Wednesday, getting a car and attending a game that night. They need a hotel for only one night, before they head off to Miami. I imagine they might want to drive around or swim or something like that before they hit the road on Thursday.

I don't know Tampa at all. Can you tell me a bit about the different areas, and recommend one or two to stay in? Also, your hotel recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Forgot to mention -- I don't know what prices are like there, so I can't really give a range. Nothing really fancy and no dives! Priceline is a definite option. Thanks again.

Check out the description of the downtown St. Pete Hampton Inn on their website. It's in walking distance of so many things - including Tropicana Field.

Yes, you definitely should stay in St. Pete, not Tampa, since the stadium is in downtown St. Pete. The Hampton Inn has a great location, but I think it may be very expensive. The downtown Hilton comes up quite often on Priceline, but has gotten mixed reviews - it is being renovated I think. But it does have a good location, and both are walkable to the stadium (via Central Avenue - don't walk at night south of this road). You could also consider Treasure Island or St. Pete Beach, they are an easy 15 minute drive west of the stadium. Bilmar, Tradewinds, Alden, Bonaire, all are reasonable and beachfront. The guys could swim in the AM, check out and be on the interstate in 15 minutes, heading south to Miami the next day.

I'm with Joan and Starrsville. You really don't want to stay in Tampa. The Tampa airport is adjacent to the bridge to SP so you're 15-20 minutes from where Tropicana Field is conspicuously looming like the beautiful gleaming white garbage can it resembles. It's too bad that they didn't come for spring training at Legends Field or Al Lang, both really wonderful outdoor ball parks. But Tropicana has one important necessity -- air-conditioning.

I'd stay at the beach myself. Treasure Island is a straight shot down Central Avenue, like Joan says. It is a fun beach and you'll find reasonable prices in the summer. The Best Western Sea Castle Suites (specify gulf-side) and the Island Inn Resort are nice.

If they want to splurge, the Don CeSar Hotel on SP Beach is an old historic building. And the Renaissance Vinoy in downtown SP is very nice as well. Both have great pools.

Dolphin Resort on St. Pete Beach

Clark, aren't you going to tell us what you like about the Dolphin Resort [-o<

Tandoori Girl -- how do you really feel?!?! I love your characterization of the ball park; a garbage can with air conditioning! I'll be sure to share that with my DH. He'll love it.

Thanks all for the recs. I'll go do my homework now and let you know where they end up.

BTW, how long is the drive from Tampa/St. Pete to Miami?

Iregeo, my sentiments exactly. And they will be your hubbies and sons when they see it. The building is, well, functional but lacks curb appeal (and it is just plain weird to watch a baseball game from inside a building). You can see it from the highway as you approach. Of course, they will have no trouble finding it :O

It is about 4 hrs. from SP to Miami on I-75. The snowbirds will be gone so hopefully the gridlock outside of Naples will also be gone.