Where to stay Tampa/Ybor City
 

I am looking for some help from someone who is knowledgeable about Tampa. We are heading there for a Buffet concert in late February. We will be there for 3 days. Concert is at the Ice Palace, Ybor city is on our list for nightlife. Where should we stay? Thanks, mark

I'd suggest the Hyatt adjacent to Tampa International. Well managed. Excellent restaurants. Informative website. Do stay tuned to this posting, because reliable advice will arrive sooner or later. And if you're interested in broad, powdery beaches, let that be known as well.

We were hoping to stay somewhere with some atmosphere around it. If we are wanting to be near Ybor City and the Ice Palace, why would we stay near the airport. Are the other hotels, B&B's or Inns in Yber City or downtown Tampa no good?

On the contrary, I'm certain there are wonderful places near Y City and downtown Tampa. I recommend Hyatt solely for an enjoyable association in past months. Convenience is a consideration, but hostelry quality, now there's a quality as rare as a good day on the NYSE. Like Porsche, accept no substitute. C

Ybor City is a wonderful party place but is surrounded by an area of Tampa that isn't very safe. So although you'll have a great time partying there, you won't want to stay nearby.

You got some thorough replies to your request a couple of weeks ago, and unfortunately, nothing has gone up in the interim. :&gt; <BR> <BR>That Hyatt, aside from being close to the airport, is 15 minutes from the Ice Palace, but you are right, "the atmosphere around it" may not be what you are looking for...situated on Tampa Bay in a 35 acre nature preserve traversed by boardwalk for better viewing of Roseate Spoonbills, Great Blue herons, Snowy egrets, wood storks, Sandhill cranes, Oystercathcers, and the occasional osprey, to say nothing of the dock and the pair of manatee that live in the channel behind it in warmer weather. You can fish from the dock if so inclined, or charter the 53' Hatteras sitting there ($$$). Thrown in for good measure you'd have found a 4* restaurant with awards from both Zagats and Wine Spectator, a couple of pools and tennis courts, and choice of villas or tower. It's a so close, but a far cry from Ybor City. Oh yes, one more claim to fame now...team hotel for the Ravens while they were in Tampa for Super Bowl. Excuse the chill in the air...but its has been a cold winter and we're sorta grumpy. Yours was an honest mistake. <BR> <BR>The broad powdery beaches (snow white in case you hadn't heard) north of Pier 60 in Clearwater would be a draw too, but light years from the nightlife in Ybor. The only hang up there is that darned rotary and all those hard to look at tanned, toned bodies on the sand volley ball courts! <BR> <BR>Look back at the reply by Tampa Mom, I believe it was, to your last note. She provided a fair number of alternatives. Ybor is not a place for B&Bs and Susan is absolutely correct--do not get lost heading east of Ybor at night. <BR>

The Joan Embry of Tampa Bay - Marlin and Jim would be proud. As predicted, reliable advice has landed. Toned bodies on the sand? But hard to look at?? Small bar? Wings? A numbered pier? Snowy sand? Challenging rotary? My goodness, I'm burning daylight. Get US Airways on the horn. Ciao