Busch Gardens Tampa Bay hotels

[bnlbebes]

Can anyone recommend a particular hotel near Busch Gardens? I've been considering Doubletree, Hampton Inn, and Best Western.

Are these or any others within walking distance like the Hilton Garden Inn next to Sea World?

 

[NCRedding]

The hotels around BGT are not within safe walking distance of the park, if you are travelling with kids. They have closed the side entrances so that hotels that used to be convenient are not. There are some sidewalks, but they don't always go the entire length, so you might be walking on the grass. DO NOT STAy at the Baymont on 30th--my DD remembers it as the worst hotel she has ever visited.

I would recommend hotels on Fowler Blvd--they looked (from the outside) to be fairly new and in good shape. I also think they would be easier to get into and out of BGT (traffic control is almost non-existent at BGT), so if you leave at closing, you would have a slightly easier time getting back to the hotel.

 

[d4est]

Not one of your choices, but we stayed at the (3*) Radisson Bay Harbor, right on the bay. The room was clean and nice enough and we had a gorgeous view of the bay. We got it on priceline for $47/night in Feb 2004. It was about a 10-15 min drive to BG. We decided to go this route after reading that the hotels right near BG were nasty, old, and not so "safe." Just an FYI.

 

[Melisa1]

I would not reccommend the Doubletree at Busch Gardens. We stayed there in February and the rooms smelled bad and the area was not the best.

 

[N2DSNY]

Has anyone stayed at the Holiday Inn Express @ I-75 @ Bruce B. Downs? It says it's located just 5 miles from Busch Gardens and is located in the "New Tampa".

We'd also like a great seafood place to eat while in the Tampa area. We were down there last year and we ate at Sculley's at St. John's Pass. They had great grouper. Any other great places would be appreciated.

 

[kellymonaghan]

A listing of the hotels nearest to Busch Gardens Tampa is posted here.

I agree with the earlier assessment that while the closest hotels are within walking distance, the walk is not the safest for kids.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Do not stay at the Days Inn on Busch Blvd. The LaQuinta on Fowler is good and the Holiday Inn Busch Gardens on Fowler is OK.

 

[Dopey's Girl]

Until last year, Tampa was home for me. We lived about 3 miles from Busch Gardens. I would not recommend the Holiday Inn Express (neighborhood around it is bad), but he Holiday Inn on Fowler is fine. It is across the street from one of the major malls in the area, LOTS of dining options close, the hotel is maintained fine and it's close to Busch. I suggest driving to Busch for safety no matter where you stay. It is just not convenient to walk there no matter how close you stay. Most of the hotels on Busch Blvd where the park is are not worth staying at. But the Fowler ones or ones listed on 30th street (most of them anyway) are usually fine.

 

[kikipug]

The Holiday Inn-Tampa Busch Gardens (on Fowler) is great. Sign up for HI's 'priority club' (its free) and you'll get free breakfast buffet coupons (great buffet), certificates for free drinks at the bar (2, I think), newspaper, and other goodies. The pool area is nice, the rooms are clean, and there's a TGIFriday's attached, too.

I have stayed there on business several times - nice enough place without breaking the bank.


ETA- Just went to their website - looks like they've added kidsuites, too- not sure if you've got little ones.

BTW- I stay at the Hilton Garden Inn by SW on business quite a bit. (I work for A-B... meetings near the parks... always 'tough' to take!!)

 

[leight]

Do not stay at the Red Roof Inn on Busch- we stayed there the first nite we moved to Tampa as that chain was one of the few who accepted our dog- it smelled horrible and the pond right next to the pool stank as if something had died and was decomping in its depths. Can't imagine how anyone hung out in the pool that night. IT was the most frightening experience but we arrived too late on a sunday nite to see our realtor to get the keys to our rental home so we got stuck at Red Roof. Our car would have been a better choice!

 

[CPM]

I've been many times. Frankly, the only one we care for now is the Embassy Suites. It's a little more expensive, but they have a free shuttle to the park, so no parking fee, free cooked to order plus buffet breakfast and a nice happy hour from 5-7 with free cocktails and snacks. Not to mention the really nice room.

 

[dpratt68]

The Holiday Inn-Tampa Busch Gardens (on Fowler) is great. Sign up for HI's 'priority club' (its free) and you'll get free breakfast buffet coupons (great buffet), certificates for free drinks at the bar (2, I think), newspaper, and other goodies. The pool area is nice, the rooms are clean, and there's a TGIFriday's attached, too.

I have stayed there on business several times - nice enough place without breaking the bank.


ETA- Just went to their website - looks like they've added kidsuites, too- not sure if you've got little ones.

BTW- I stay at the Hilton Garden Inn by SW on business quite a bit. (I work for A-B... meetings near the parks... always 'tough' to take!!)

kikipug was the breakfast free for priority club members or discounted? Was there a good selection?

 

[Motherfletcher]

I rec'd coupons for free breakfast but I think its supposed to be half off the $8 cost. The breakfast is probably worth the $4 at 1/2 price. Bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits, gravy, grits, cereal, coffee, juice, soda fountain.

 

[kikipug]

kikipug was the breakfast free for priority club members or discounted? Was there a good selection?

I thought it was free... but reading the other posts, maybe it was half price... can't remember now... it was on my expense acct... either way, it was really good, and lots of choices- at least when I was there.

 

[dpratt68]

for the replies. One more question-did you find the hotel clean and well kept? After reading some other posts I am questioning why I would stay in Tampa at all. I really want to enjoy parts of Florida other than Disney this trip. thanks again

 

[kjustice]

I live in Tampa and if you are interested in enjoying "other parts of Florida" I wouldn't consider the Fowler area to be a point of interest. I agree with the safety issues and really I wouldn't want to walk on Fowler at all, especially in the evening.

There are other lovely areas, mostly downtown, and especially any of the beaches. The Brandon area is close-by (just south on I-75) and they have clean and inexpensive accomodations as well, but other than the mall, nothing real exciting.

 

[TZMOM]

We're staying at La Quinta Busch Gardens/USF in November. Got pretty good reviews on Trip Advisor. Hopefully will be OK. Went thru Expedia

Have a good time!!
Jane

 

[Aidensmom]

Has anyone stayed at the Holiday Inn Express @ I-75 @ Bruce B. Downs? It says it's located just 5 miles from Busch Gardens and is located in the "New Tampa".

We'd also like a great seafood place to eat while in the Tampa area. We were down there last year and we ate at Sculley's at St. John's Pass. They had great grouper. Any other great places would be appreciated.

Sculley's is a great place - we like to eat there when we go to the beach. There is a place in Brandon (SE of Tampa, from BG to Brandon exit on I-75 will take you about 15-20 minutes) called Jesse's on Highway 60 (which is the road the exit is at) that has wonderful steak and seafood.

Also Shell's on 30th St a little north of Busch Blvd. is also very popular.

 

[Aidensmom]

Until last year, Tampa was home for me. We lived about 3 miles from Busch Gardens. I would not recommend the Holiday Inn Express (neighborhood around it is bad),

Holiday Inn Express at I-75 and Bruce B Downs is not in a bad neighborhood, though there is a LOT of traffic. It is actually in a newer, somewhat upscale part of town.

 

[CPM]

for the replies. One more question-did you find the hotel clean and well kept? After reading some other posts I am questioning why I would stay in Tampa at all. I really want to enjoy parts of Florida other than Disney this trip. thanks again

The Embassy Suites hotel is very clean and well kept. Staff great. Really, it's the only hotel in the area that is above average. They just had a special for $119.00 a night on their web site. Not sure when you are going but that is a great deal for all it includes.