Florida Aquarium, Tampa

Advantages: Great location with lots of optional extras
Disadvantages: Can feel cramped and seemed expensive

The aquarium was recommended to me by friends who own a motel on St Pete's Beach. They are always looking for places to suggest to their guests so we offered to go and try it out and report back to them. I'm glad to say that we had a great time... The aqaurium is located on Channelside Drive, Downtown Tampa and is open from 9.30 - 5pm every day. It was really easy to find and parking was no problem, there was the added bonus of it being located ...
...there were plenty of shops and restaurants around too. You can park at the aquarium, but that will cost you $5. The ticket prices were high, although I suspect that you could find coupons in the various tourist brochures. A general admission for an adult costs $17.95, children under 12, $12.95. An "eco-tour" ticket is available, but that costs $2 more and does not get you into the aquarium. Combo ticket (both the tour and the aquarium was $30.95 ... Read review

Advantages: Ideal up market, up tempo hotel in downtown Tampa
Disadvantages: Limited choice of food

...through the day. There is a small adjacent Starbucks servery which dispenses coffee and biscuits. In previous years there was a second restaurant – the City Bar and Grill – which opened onto Jackson Street and Franklin Street. This is currently closed for refurbishment. THE ENVIRONS. There are several attractions within walking distance of the hotel – all worth a visit (Florida Aquarium, St Pete Times Arena – the old Ice Palace, the University of Tampa, Convention Center, Harbour Island, Tampa Seaport.) Ybor City is a short ride away on the new electric tram system. In fact I can heartily recommend my review of this exciting and vibrant city that I posted some months ago. You could find it at “Tampa – it’s my kinda town” (http://www.ciao.co.uk/TampaReview5314293) OUR STAY We booked our stay through the Hyatt website. A prepayment... Read review

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Advantages: A premier, luxurious, worldwide hotel chain - A superb and generous loyalty card scheme - Can be surprisingly competitive and cost effective if you know where to look
Disadvantages: Minimal representation in the UK

...the following morning. The hotel is built impressively into the terminal building and the balconies look down over the shopping concourse. The kids love the ‘all you can eat’ breakfast buffet especially the fresh squeezed OJ and the huge Belgian waffles with fresh strawberries and lashings of maple syrup. Hyatt Regency, Downtown Tampa This hotel is the usual base for my trips to Tampa. I stayed there to write my recent CIAO review of the city (http://www.ciao.co.uk/opinion.php/OpinionId/5314293). It is the ideal spot for the activities of the downtown area and the waterfront. It is within walking distance of the Tampa Bay Ice Palace (my local rock arena), the Convention Centre and the Florida Aquarium. It has an atrium bar alongside a two story waterfall feature. It also serves chilled draft Ybor Gold beer (if you have never tried this brew you don... Read review

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Advantages: A complete resort hotel for the business traveller, conference goer and dedicated vacationer
Disadvantages: None

...Buccaneers and the Glazer organisation - owners of Manchester United) The highway south leads to the interstate (I275). Westbound leads you over the Howard Frankland Bridge to St Petersburg and its beaches. East will take you to Busch Gardens and then to the I4 (for Orlando and Disneyworld - about 75 miles away). Downtown Tampa hosts its business district, the Florida Aquarium and the cruise ship terminal. BOOKING We book through the Hyatt.com website but do also check with the hotel front desk prior to our arrival for any special offers. On this visit our two bedroom suite was quoted at a rate of $450 per night. However by the time of our arrival this had been reduced to a Summer special of $375 per night. With our suite upgrade card we were charged only for a King sized room for four nights of the stay. The current Hyatt.com rates... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful