TPA to hotel
 

Hello helpful friends!

I am going to the Don in the fall (laugh all you want, I like to plan ahead!) and will need transportation from TPA to the hotel. I will be traveling with either 2 or 3 adults and 2 small kids, needing car seats. So really, we will need more than just a regular car if it is 3 adults and 2 kids . For one, I'd like to be driven since it will be nice to be picked up at TPA and dropped off since we plan to eat/play close to the hotel. But, we will need a mini-van or van and 2 car seats, so does that mean I have to rent a car? I'd also rather not lug 2 car seats on the plane since we only need them to and from the airport. I know I am crazy, but any ideas are welcome.

Thank you!

You could use Super Shuttle, but you may have to provide the car seats.

What is the Don and TPA?

I have rented a car from TPA and dropped it off about a mile fron the Don, the Tradewinds if I remember.

Do car rental agencies provide car seats if requested?

Do limo and car services provide car seats if given advance notice?

Call me Sherlock.

TPA is Tampa (Florida) and "the Don" is the beautiful old Don Cesar resort on the beach there.

TPA=Tampa airport
The Don=The Don CeSar, a SPB hotel.

When I stayed at the Don I learned the hotel was built in admiration of the Royal Hawaiian. Or was it the other way around? hmmmm Now I can't remember.

Anyway, you are complicating the problem with the number of passengers and the car seats.

As I posted earlier, I found it convenient one time to rent a car at TPA and drop it off at St Pete Beach. I wonder if the Don has a car rental desk? Or if they can arrange a drop off and pickup of a car?

My kids grew up a long time ago so I am not too familiar with car seats. But aren't you given the option to reserve car seats when you arrange for a car rental?

I don't know which way that Royal Hawaiian story works, but I do know that the film Some Like It Hot, which supposedly took place in St. Petersburg, was based on the Don CeSar. But of course they filmed it in California and used the Coronado Hotel as a substitute.

Hey Sherlock! :-)

You guys are chock full of info! (Got me on the historical references!) I know it is complicated with the # of adults and # of car seats. I find it much more relaxing to start a vacation being picked up and whisked away to the hotel than having to wait in line for a car rental, get directions, eventually get gas....etc...etc. Does anyone agree with me? I was hoping there was an easy solution. I will contact super shuttle and see if they have car seats available. Car rental places do have car seats and I know that may be my best option, but, see 3 sentences before...

I do appreciate your tips and humor! Thank you!

Check with one of the limo companies. I doubt Super Shuttle provides children seats.

btw, if they are small children, don't you have to use children seats on the plane? (I don't know, I'm just asking)

My son will actually be 4 so he will only need a booster (and he is big for his age) and my daughter will be 2.5 which could also be a booster, depending. Airlines do not allow children to sit in boosters on planes, only car seats per se. I left this out to simplify. ;)

Maybe I will just need to tote along 2 boosters.

Anyone have recs for limo/driver services?

Thank you again!

I did not know that about that movie. It is on the list of classic movies I have never seen. And I have stayed at the Del also.

At one time the Yankees used the Don for a spring training barracks. Then I think it was also used for a hospital during WW11 or something.

One time we took a stroll north on the beach starting from the Don. I noticed the sand at the Don was much whiter and finer than the sand at the hotels north of the Don. Does the Lord look down on the Don with more love? Probably.

My brother has taken limo service from TPA quite a few times to head north to visit our parents. I think he told me he uses "Black Car Service", something like that. Because he joked "I have to call Jack Black limo".

Why not call the desk at the Don and ask them if they recommend a limo company? Then call the company and get the chair situation settled?

It's fun to plan the trip, isn't it rungirl2002?

Hello there rungirl!

I live in the area, and unless you're only going to be here for 2-3 days, I'd definitely recommend renting a minivan. I know the idea of being driven is sooo nice, but it's a straight shot to the Don, only 35 mins without traffic, won't need gas for awhile after that. I can easily give you directions if you'd like.

The Don is not within easy walking distance to restaurants and shops. And with toddlers, I'm sure you'll need some supplies - the closest convenience store is at least 1/2 mile away.

Also, although I've not rented cars at the airport since I live here, Tampa is well known for ease of car rental - most rental cars are located inside the terminal area, no shuttles needed.

If you've read all this, and still want to be driven, then by all means do as El Swainer suggests, and call the concierge desk at the Don and explain about the car seats etc. They are known for their great service!

Have a great trip!

<i>most rental cars are located inside the terminal area, no shuttles needed.</i>

I don't know of one rental car that's parked inside the terminal area :-)

You need to sign the contract down at the luggage pick up area, and then take a shuttle.

It's been a few years since I picked up a rental car at the Tampa airport, but it USED TO BE the case that you exited the baggage claim area, took the escalator up one floor and picked up your rental car right there. Hertz' cars were right there - and Avis and at least one other vendor. Again, that may have changed post 9/11.

As I said, I don't rent cars from Tpa, but here is a description from tampa.about.com:

&quot;Car Rental
The airport has a seven level, 710 space rental car garage. Car rental companies onsite include: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty.&quot;

And, here is a thread from flyertalk.com describing the two minute walk from rental car to terminal:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/archive/i.../t-541387.html

Hope this helps.

I know you can drop off the cars in the garage but I always had to take the shuttle to pick one up. I never rented from Hertz though,

Here's a list from the airport's website -
http://www.tampaairport.com/ground_t...r_services.asp

OK...you all may have convinced me to just suck it up (don't mean to be explicit) and rent a mini-van for the week. It does sound like it is relatively easy, and I appreciate the offer for directions! I will post again, I have no doubt, with additional details closer to the date, but this issue seemed like it could be solved now (vs the &quot;Where do you eat with toddlers, but like good food?&quot; issue).

Yes, El_Swainer, it is almost as fun to plan it as it is to take it! ( am going to call the limo service you mentioned, and the Don and ask. Am I the first person who ever requested car seats?

Thank you, Joan, for the local insight and links!

Thank you, OO, AAFrequentFlyer, starrs, etc. I really do appreciate you taking the time to respond to my inquiry. This will be our first trip, all of us (my son is coming with us to Utah in March) so I am anxious to make it fun and not too stressful. I have always wanted to stay at the Don and it is an easy flight from CT/NY which is key with 2 little ones. I am hoping there is enough for us to do (beach, pool, walks/runs) so that we don't have to drive too much. But, I will save that for another post.

You'll be glad you have a car. Really.

Consider driving up to Tarpon Springs for an afternoon. Have lunch or dinner in a Greek restaurant. The kids will remember the sponges forever. Here's a neat article about the town, but google and read more.

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/276507

I feel like my whole trip has changed b/c of the answers to my post! Maybe we will go to Busch Gardens after all!

;)

Thank you, again!

Take the kids to BG. They really will enjoy it. A mix of rides and animals in a park that is not overwhelming in size. A real memory maker kind of a day.

Thanks, starrs! Looks like fun!