Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
358
Lowry Park Zoo, or the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), the motels near Busch
Gardens are much more convenient than those downtown, about 7 miles to the south.
The downtown hotels are geared to business travelers, but staying there will put you near
the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Henry B. Plant Museum, the
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, scenic Bayshore Boulevard, and the dining and
shopping opportunities in the Channelside and Hyde Park districts. Staying in Ybor
City will put you within walking distance of numerous restaurants and the city's hottest
nightspots.
The Westshore area, near the bay, west of downtown, and south of Tampa Interna-
tional Airport, is another commercial center, with a wide range of chain hotels catering
to business travelers and conventioneers. It's not far from Raymond James Stadium and
the New York Yankees' spring-training complex. Check with your favorite chain for a
Westshore-Airport location.
Room rates at most hotels in Tampa vary little from season to season. This is especially
true downtown, where the hotels do a brisk convention business year-round. Hillsbor-
ough County adds 13% tax to your hotel bill.
Near Busch Gardens
The nearest chain motel to the park is the
Rodeway Inn,
4139 E. Busch Blvd. (
&
813/
386-1000
), a motor lodge with very cheap rooms. It's 1
1
/
2
blocks east of the main
entrance. A bit farther away, the 500-room
Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference
Center,
3705 Spectrum Blvd., facing Fowler Avenue (
&
800/362-2779
or 813/977-
7066), is the plushest and most expensive establishment near the park. Almost across the
avenue stands
LaQuinta Inn & Suites,
3701 E. Fowler Ave. (
&
800/687-6667
or
813/910-7500). Just south of Fowler Avenue are side-by-side branches of
Hyatt Place,
11408 N. 30th St. (
&
813/979-1922
), and
Grand Suites Tampa Bay,
11310 N. 30th
St. (
&
813/971-7690
).
Best Western All Suites Hotel
Value
This three-story all-suite hotel is the most
beachlike vacation venue you'll find close to the park. Whimsical signs lead you around
a lush tropical courtyard with a heated pool, hot tub, and lively, sports-oriented Tiki bar.
Bathrooms were renovated in 2007. The bar can get noisy before closing at 9pm, and
ground-level units are musty, so ask for an upstairs suite away from the action. Suite liv-
ing rooms are well equipped; the separate bedrooms have narrow screened patios or
balconies.
Behind Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 3001 University Center Dr. (faces N. 30th St. btw. Busch Blvd. and
Fowler Ave.), Tampa, FL 33612.
&
800/786-7446
or 813/971-8930. Fax 813/971-8935. www.best
western.com. 150 units. Winter $99-$189 suite for 2; off season $99-$109 suite for 2. Rates include hot
and cold breakfast buffet. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Amenities:
Restaurant (breakfast and dinner only); bar;
access to nearby health club; Internet, Jacuzzi; heated outdoor pool; limited room service.
In room:
A/C,
TV, fridge, hair dryer.
10
Tips
Discount Packages
Many Tampa hotels combine tickets to major attractions such as Busch Gardens
Tampa Bay in their packages, so always ask about special deals.
