Hotels in Tampa, Florida

Tampa Hotels

With long, white, sandy beaches and tempting blue seas, Tampa is a classic Florida vacation spot filled with family-friendly attractions, and with a different experience to be had on every corner. It’s also a major site for business, with the skyline along Tampa Bay filled with shiny skyscrapers overlooking the calm waters. With abundant palm trees and lush greenery throughout the city, the area always manages to always feel close to nature.

Things to see

Busch Gardens is a thrilling combination of a zoo, safari park, and theme park, with wild animal enclosures sharing space with twisting rollercoasters, and even wild animal encounters where you can get up close to exotic species. Florida State Fairgrounds host the 12 day State Fair in February, with dozens of carnival rides, stalls selling fried food favorites, and stalls where you can try your luck to win fun prizes. In the evenings, Raymond James Stadium is often the liveliest place in the city, with NFL team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers holding their home games here. You’ll also find big crowds for the University of South Florida games, where you might spot the next big football star. The stadium even hosts rock concerts and monster truck rallies, so there’s something for everyone. Ybor City is a lively, historic neighborhood where thousands of immigrants from Spain, Cuba, and Italy used to make cigars. Catch one of the yellow trollies that rattle through the district and you can see the old factories, many of which are now bars and nightclubs. The area has a great party atmosphere at night, with Latin music drifting from the bars, and people sat outside the restaurants enjoying traditional cuisine.

Hotels in Tampa

Many 4 star Tampa hotels can be found close to the beach, ideally located for those who are on vacation and want to be close to the theme parks. With family friendly facilities such as outdoor pools, spa tubs, restaurants, room service, and free WiFi, there are plenty of ways to keep the kids entertained. Guestrooms will often have plenty of extra amenities such as rollaway beds, refrigerators, extra towels, air conditioning, and premium television channels, allowing for a relaxing trip. There are also great budget options such as inns close to the airport and convention center, with cozy rooms that often have coffee makers, comfortable beds, and in-room refrigerators.

Where to stay

The area close to Busch Gardens is popular with families on vacation, and the major roads around the area are home to many large hotels. It’s a pleasant, tree-lined area with plenty of restaurants and facilities for tourists nearby. The Tampa International Airport – Westshore area is convenient for business travelers, with many of the big name hotels in this area. It’s also a major business area, with shiny skyscrapers everywhere you look and huge malls for when you need to unwind. Downtown Tampa is perched on the shores of Tampa bay, with many bars and restaurants featuring decks that overlook the calm waters.

How to get to Tampa

Tampa International Airport is located in the northwest area of the city, with downtown just a 15 minute drive or taxi drive away. There’s also a regular bus service to and from the center, taking about 30-35 minutes depending on traffic. St. Petersburg International Airport in nearby Clearwater is just a 25 minute drive away, most of it via bridge over Old Tampa Bay making it a scenic route. Tampa Union Station is close to the downtown area, with the Amtrak Silver Star service running to either Miami or New York City.