tampa hotel and hotwire

[gram]

We are looking at maybe cruising out of Tampa next year (first time). We have used hotwire numerous times to book a hotel before. Does anyone know what area in Tampa I should click on in Hotwire to get hotel close to cruise port? Hot wire has listed Westshore, bush gardens, downtown, airport, south Tampa & Tampa East?

[mrsrocster]

Downtown is closest. Westshore and airport are plentiful for hotels, but since I live here, I'm not exactly sure which ones give you shuttles to/from the port. I know you can get taxi's and rent various shuttle companies, but again, am not an expert in knowing which ones exactly or their prices. Living in a port city has advantages, we are lucky. I know many of our fellow @ddicts have traveled to/from here and they may chime in with recommended hotels and shuttle/taxi services.

Have fun in your planning!

[iluvcruzin]

I would go with Downtown Gram. We used Priceline and ended up with the Hyatt. It was real close to the port.

[gram]

Thank you so very much for the info. I really appreciate. Now I can start looking in those areas.

[suer182]

We stayed here..

Holiday Inn Express
3025 NORTH ROCKY POINT DRIVE EAST
TAMPA, FL 33607

They offer airport/pier shuttle. Free beakfast. They will also shuttle you to restaurants within 5 miles.

[gram]

Thanks Suer. I will keep that info. Right now we are looking around for next year.

[BSeabob]

A few yrs ago we stayed at a hotel which is now the Wyndam Westshore . So you may want to do some Hotwire homework in that area also. Wasn't very far from the pier. A very nice hotel

[Krazy Kruizers]

I don't use Hotwire or Priceline. I book hotels myself.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Convention Center -- close to the piers -- got a very good price.

[Gayle V]

We also, stayed at the the Embassy suites Convention Center. We were very happy with it. Lots of space, as the room is really two (totally separate). Nice free breakfast and free manager's reception in early evening with snacks. So close you can see the ship. We probably could have easily walked to the ship, if it wasn't for luggage. We booked through Last Minute Travel. Excellent price. LMT is a discount booking site, but they are not like Hotwire . They show you actual pictures of the hotels, so a lot of the time you can easily figure out which hotel you are booking even if the name isn't expressly mentioned. (Example: For the one hotel, that supposedly is not named, the photo of the place was the front of the building which had "Springhill Suites" written across. it. And sometimes they just actually tell you the name of the hotel.