Busch Gardens Hotel Question

[Suzan]

We are going to DC and using the 7 day pass for Busch Gardens and was wondering if anyone could advise us on the hotels in Tampa. I have researched the internet but am still not sure where to stay. Looking for a nice, clean place at a reasonable cost. We really don't stay in the room much just need a place to clean up and sleep. Thanks for any advice.

[FlaNative]

I've also been looking for someplace inexpensive and close, for a weekend trip. I have not stayed there or seen it, so it could be less than ideal, but one of the closest I found (on Expedia) is the Red Roof Inn Tampa Busch, on Busch Blvd a few blocks west of BG. If you find something good, please let us know.

[Suzan]

FlaNative,
I've been advised to avoid hotels that are really close to BG or on Fletcher Ave. Most are run-down and dirty. I've thought about trying priceline and putting in a 4 star hotel for around $55.00 as a 4 star should be pretty nice. The only thing about priceline is there are absolutely no refunds if we have to cancel.

[Future Guy]

Across the street from the Busch Gardens parking lot is a pretty nice Baymont Inns. Right across the street from the park is a Days Inn, but I found it to be quite skanky. Fowler Street has some nice hotels, like a Holiday Inn and a LaQuita Inn, about a 1-2 miles away from the park.

[WeLuvDisney05]

We stayed at LaQuinta (on Fowler) last month. :thumbsup2
It was about $115-total for the night. (I know you can get a room there for less than that, just depends on which day you stay). It was very nice & Super close to Busch Gardens. We had heard & read many horror stories about the hotels in the Tampa/BG area & then came across some rave reviews for this hotel....We were very happy we decided to stay there. They have a good continental breakfast & the staff was Great too!
Good Luck!

[Suzan]

Thanks for the advice WeLuvDisney05. I am going to check out prices on this hotel. Did they have any hot items with the breakfast?

[flatline]

stay on Fowler or 30th. DO NOT stay at any properties on Busch Ave.

these are good choices to research:

La Quinta
Wingate
Embassy Suites
Doubletree Inn
Amerisuites

ignore the rest, including the Best Western on 30th.

[WeLuvDisney05]

Thanks for the advice WeLuvDisney05. I am going to check out prices on this hotel. Did they have any hot items with the breakfast?

No problem....Happy to help!

As far as the breakfast goes....Yes, there were some hot items....they had available everything you needed to make your own waffles....Smelled soooo good as we walked into the lobby, Yum! We didn't get to make/have any though b/c we were in a hurry to head over to BG....We Ate some cereal, yogurt & Took Off to the park! I also remember seeing bagels, toast (toaster was there to heat them up), bananas, apples, hard boiled eggs (just to name a few other choices).

HTH!

Have a Great time on your trip!

[rcraw45425]

Hate to poach on this thread but has anyone stayed at the Don Caesar on the Busch Gardens package?

[robvia]

Agree with above posters. The hotels near BGT are dives, because most people stay there with the idea of being close to the park. They stay close because of the free shuttle, but you pay for it because those hotels usually charge a little bit more.

What I've learned to do, is stay farther away, even if it means driving 10 minutes.
There is a Ramada Limited near the expressway. Haven't stayed there, but it looked nice. I've stayed in a Holiday Inn Express on I-75 south of I-4 once, it was clean.

So pick your favorite hotel chain, get a good rate, and don't worry if you're a few miles away and have to pay for parking. It's better to arrive the parking lot at 08:30am and go in early. Most shuttles leave at 9am, and then you've lost that early morning advantage.

[goofy4tink]

We stayed at Doubletree Guest Suites on Rocky Point Dr. a week or so ago. It was beautiful. We got a deal that included a terrific free breakfast buffet. It is situated on a causeway, so the views are incredible. It was about 25 minutes away from BG but about 8 minutes from Tampa Intnl. I was going to book the Baymont but my ds advised against it...said it wasn't the best of neighborhoods. Now, after driving in Tampa and seeing the area around BG, I would have to agree. The Doubletree that we stayed at is about 2 minutes off of Rt. 275, which will take you very close to BG!!

[Motherfletcher]

Hate to poach on this thread but has anyone stayed at the Don Caesar on the Busch Gardens package?
We stayed at the Pink Palace and went to BGT. I don't think their package deals are the best. It's quite a drive to BGT from DC.

[Motherfletcher]

What I've learned to do, is stay farther away, even if it means driving 10 minutes.

I've stayed at the Fowler hotels and still prefer the Seminole Hard Rock or the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay and their short drives. The Renaissance Vinoy in St. Pete is another outstanding hotel with a little longer drive.

[Suzan]

We stayed at Doubletree Guest Suites on Rocky Point Dr. a week or so ago. It was beautiful. We got a deal that included a terrific free breakfast buffet. It is situated on a causeway, so the views are incredible. It was about 25 minutes away from BG but about 8 minutes from Tampa Intnl. I was going to book the Baymont but my ds advised against it...said it wasn't the best of neighborhoods. Now, after driving in Tampa and seeing the area around BG, I would have to agree. The Doubletree that we stayed at is about 2 minutes off of Rt. 275, which will take you very close to BG!!

Thanks goofy4tink. Can you tell me how you got the b'fast deal or is it included with all stays? If we can get a good b'fast that would be worth
a higher price for the hotel.

[goofy4tink]

Thanks goofy4tink. Can you tell me how you got the b'fast deal or is it included with all stays? If we can get a good b'fast that would be worth
a higher price for the hotel.
I believe it was about $130 a night total. It was a suite, with a terrific heavenly type bed in the bedroom area, separate vanity area, bathroom, tv in an armoire, doors that closed to the living area. Living room had a kitchenette (sink, micro, fridge), dining table, sofa (into sofa bed) desk, tv in an armoire.
The buffet breakfast had normal type stuff..pastries, bagels, donuts, cereals. But, it also had a self waffle maker. My dd had a ball making her own waffles. Also had an omelet station...dh was very happy. Bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes. Very yummy.
The special was a romance special or some such thing. they seemed to have a bunch of different specials on their website.

[Suzan]

I believe it was about $130 a night total. It was a suite, with a terrific heavenly type bed in the bedroom area, separate vanity area, bathroom, tv in an armoire, doors that closed to the living area. Living room had a kitchenette (sink, micro, fridge), dining table, sofa (into sofa bed) desk, tv in an armoire.
The buffet breakfast had normal type stuff..pastries, bagels, donuts, cereals. But, it also had a self waffle maker. My dd had a ball making her own waffles. Also had an omelet station...dh was very happy. Bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes. Very yummy.
The special was a romance special or some such thing. they seemed to have a bunch of different specials on their website.

Thanks again for the info. Just one more question. I went to the Doubletree site and found the offers. My question is: did you make your reservations thru the internet special and if so did you get the type of room you requested, ie: non-smoking. I called the toll-free number as I am not fully trusting of putting my credit card info on the web and the girl told me that the room requests are not always honored over the net. I don't think we could handle a smoking room but I hate to pay $50.00 a nite more to make the reservations over the phone to guarantee a non-smoking room.

[flatline]

allow yourself some extra time if you stay at the Rocky Point location. traffic is pretty heavy coming across the causeway into Tampa in the morning.

[goofy4tink]

Thanks again for the info. Just one more question. I went to the Doubletree site and found the offers. My question is: did you make your reservations thru the internet special and if so did you get the type of room you requested, ie: non-smoking. I called the toll-free number as I am not fully trusting of putting my credit card info on the web and the girl told me that the room requests are not always honored over the net. I don't think we could handle a smoking room but I hate to pay $50.00 a nite more to make the reservations over the phone to guarantee a non-smoking room.

I booked it, and prepaid, on-line. Got what they called a standard king room, non-smoking.

As far as the location...we had to drive to my ds's before we went to BG. He is over on Harborside Dr...off Hillsborough. We then took Hillsborough almost all the way to BG. But, it was about 11:00 on a Sat. When we were done at BG, around 4:30 or so, we just took Fowler to Rt 275 almost right to the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Took about 20-25 minutes that way, and very easy. I think I have the street names correct.

[flatline]

I booked it, and prepaid, on-line. Got what they called a standard king room, non-smoking.

As far as the location...we had to drive to my ds's before we went to BG. He is over on Harborside Dr...off Hillsborough. We then took Hillsborough almost all the way to BG. But, it was about 11:00 on a Sat. When we were done at BG, around 4:30 or so, we just took Fowler to Rt 275 almost right to the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Took about 20-25 minutes that way, and very easy. I think I have the street names correct.

those streets are correct. there's another Doubletree closer than the one on Rocky Point on Cypress. and there's the one about 5 minutes from BG.

[lovethattink]

I had to take a state exam at USF and stayed at La Quinta on Fowler Ave. It was very clean, had a refrig and microwave, and an iron. I think it was $59/night and that was in Oct. http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ977&propId=977&savedSearchQuery=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lq.com%2Flq%2Fpr oxySearchRes.do%3FsearchCity%3Dtampa%26searchState %3DFL%26availability.palsra_IND_M%3D%26availabilit y.palsra_IND_D%3D%26availability.palsra_IND_Y%3D%2 6availability.palsra_OTD_M%3D%26availability.palsr a_OTD_D%3D%26availability.palsra_OTD_Y%3D%26availa bility.palsra_NRM%3D1%26mapProvider%3DMapQuest%26s earchType%3DGEO%26promocorp%3D%26x%3D43%26y%3D11

[goofy4tink]

those streets are correct. there's another Doubletree closer than the one on Rocky Point on Cypress. and there's the one about 5 minutes from BG.

Thanks, I'll have to tell my son that I actually remembered the street names correctly...after being there only 36 hrs!!!! Loved being out on Rocky Point though....it was quite beautiful since we faced the water and not off towards the airport.

[NCRedding]

We stayed at the Baymont across from the park several years ago. I can say it was the worst motel I have ever stayed in. We had a king suite, which was two connecting rooms--one had a fold out sofa, the other a king bed. between the two rooms, we still had trouble having working things--neither phone worked; the bathroom in one room had a fan and light that was dangling from the connections; in the other bathroom's shower, the water pressure was tied into the water heat, so if you wanted a strong pressure, the water was too hot to stand; the living area was infested with ants; the door on one room stuck and the veneer peeled off when you opened it. It was incredibly difficult to drive to BGT from there, and we couldn't walk because they had closed the sidewalks.

The area on Fowler looked much better.

[DOOM1001]

The worst Motel I've ever stayed at was the SAFAR INN on Fowler, not Safari Inn , SAFAR INN, I repeat DO NOT STAY HERE, NO MATTER WHAT.

A pretty good hotel nearby BGT that i've stayed at would be a Sleep Inn on Fletcher right by I-75.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :banana: :rotfl: :rotfl: :banana: :rotfl: :rotfl: :banana: :rotfl: :rotfl: :banana: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Suzan]

Thanks everyone for the info. I finally settled on Sailport Waterfront Suites.
Got a good deal for a suite with onlinehotels.com. It is on the Bay so hopefully we will have a nice view. If anyone has stayed here could you advise if the place is nice? With onlinehotels I can cancell anytime before
4:00 pm the day of arrival without any penalties, so if anyone knows this place is "bad" hotel please let me know.
Thanks!