I Might Take The Train

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey y'all, and welcome back to All Things Tampa, a
visitor's Guide. This is your ultimate companion for exploring one
of Florida's most dynamic and sun soak cities. From the
thrills of Bush Gardens and the charm of Ebor City,
the waterfront views of Riverwalk, and the sugar sand beaches
of nearby Clearwater, Tampa is a bursting city with things

(00:23):
to see and do. We will guide you through the
best local spots for food, fun, and unforgettable memories. Whether
you're here for a weekend getaway or extended stay, get
ready to discover what makes Tampa a true Gulf Coast treasure.
Let's go and stay two weeks. What do you think
we have been all about Tampa. We have been all
over the place on Tampa and how to get there,

(00:47):
how to get around once we get there. We've talked
about some food and culinary the lights, We've talked about activities.
We've talked about a lot about Tampa. And Tampa's one
of my favorite places, even though I've only been there
a few times. It's one of my favorite places because
it's where Clempson won the national championship and beat Alabama

(01:08):
a few years ago, which just still warms my heart.
But this isn't about me or my football prejudices. This
is about Tampa and about you going there and you
visiting and what that's all about. Okay, so let's let's
let's get into let's I thought about just doing breaking
this down into like budget hotels, mid range hotels, and

(01:34):
luxury hotels, but I'm just gonna lull them all together.
You'll figure it out, so budget friendly to luxury options. Okay,
so you know we've successfully navigated our way to Tampa.
The next The next step is planning the adventure is
securing the perfect hotel or accommodation. Your choice of lodging

(01:59):
significant impact your overall experience, and think about it this way,
all right. I can tell you I've been to I
used to travel for work two weeks out of the month,
and if I ended up in a bad hotel, it
ruined my whole week. I mean it really did. I
would switch hotel halfway through the week if it was

(02:21):
a bad experience. You know, it's just one of those things.
Even though I'm not in the hotel that often when
I'm done with a hard day work, you know, and
I probably having to burn it at both ends because
I'm having to take clients and stuff out to dinner.
When I get back to my hotel room, I don't
want a little bitty closet with a bed in it

(02:44):
and a little fake refrigerator that this smaller than the
one I had in college. I want some space. I
want a decent place. I want it to be nice
and clean. I want a few amenities. Right, So the hotel,
though people say, well, it doesn't matter where you stay
because you're never going to be there, will be on
that okay, because it does matter. It absolutely matters, especially

(03:04):
if you're on vacation. I mean, you want to go
and you want to be comfortable where you're staying. You
want a home base because you don't have a home
anywhere else. Your car is not going to work. You
might not even have a car there. So my advice is,
if you're traveling with a significant other and particularly a family,

(03:27):
you know, a pony up a little bit and we're
going to talk some budget options because we all go
through different stages of life and whatever where you sometimes
you need a budget options and sometimes you're going to
go full out opulence. So We're going to talk about
all of them, but I just kind of want to
throw that in there. Where you stay, don't ever downplay it.

(03:49):
It is incredibly important to your trip. Whether it's business pleasure,
full on vacation, or a long weekend, it doesn't matter.
So your choice of lodging was going to significantly impact
your overall experience, Like I just said, so, influencing your comfort, convenience,

(04:09):
and budget. Tampa offers a ton of accommodation options, catering
to every taste and budget, from budget friendly motels and
to luxurious resorts. This episode, we're going to guide you
through the various choices, helping you find the ideal place

(04:30):
to rest your head after a day of exploring the
city's wonders. And you know what, we wanted to be
a better place than just resting your head. I talked
about this earlier, where you know, it's part of the experience.
I don't want to go somewhere and have that tiny

(04:51):
little room that I'm just feeling like I'm stuck in.
You know, I need some space to move around. That's
why I always like to find a two room deal,
a suite. Maybe you know, if you can get that
extra little half bath, especially if you're traveling with your
significant other, that can be huge. You know, I'm talking

(05:11):
about attle half bath. You know what we call that.
I'm not going to beat it, but that is what
that half path is for. So you're not just sharing
a bathroom all the time. I always look for that
half path. You just need a little more space, That's
what I'm saying. So don't forget. Even in a budget hotel,
lots of times for an extra twenty five dollars, you

(05:33):
can bump up to a two room suite. Now, it's
not the taj mahll No, and may not be the
Rich Carlton or the four Seasons, but you know what,
it's a step up and it gives you some space.
You need some space. Even if you're by yourself, you
need some space. But I'm on the phone, I'm walking
back and forth. What I'm thinking, I'm walking back and
forth and there's no I'm a big dew there's no

(05:54):
room to walk and a lot of these little hotel rooms.
So that's that's just my opinion. So let's see. So
let's begin with the budget conscious traveler. Tampa boasts a
number of excellent and affordable motels, often located conveniently near

(06:16):
major highways and attractions. These establish establishments. They may not
offer the same level of luxury or as the high
end hotels, but they provide comfortable, clean and functional rooms totally. Yep, absolutely,
and it's significantly less prices right, also lower price. Many

(06:37):
budget motels offer amenities such as free Wi Fi, swimming pools,
free parking, making them practical and cost effective choice for
those traveling on a tight budget. So for me, we're
all different. I'm just talking to me when I have
to drive somewhere and say it's a maybe it's a
twelve hour drive or thirteen hour drive, and I'm not

(06:58):
going to do it all one day, because I get
I'm not twenty years old anymore. I'm not going to
drive through the night. So I will find a place
like this what we're talking about, the budget friendly motel
to spend the night on the way up, because that's
really when I'm so tired around, get out of the car.
I'm gonna run through a place, get something to eat.
I'm gonna take it to the room. I probably have

(07:20):
a bottle of wine or something like that in my suitcase.
I'm gonna have a glass wine. I'm gonna eat my
food and maybe watch fifteen minutes of TV and then
I'm going to sleep. I don't even see the room,
I don't see the motel nothing. I'm in and out.
But when I'm at my destination, I want a nicer place.
That's my story. I'm sticking to it. So let's see.

(07:46):
So the free stuff, the free parking, to type budget.
When you're researching budget motels, it's advisable to check online reviews.
It's imperative that you do so. And don't just look
at the first review and see a five star, you know,
go through fifteen or twenty of these things and see
if there's some consistency. You don't want to get there,

(08:07):
like for me after a twelve or thirteen hour drive
and find out that there's no way in heck you're
laying in that bed. You know what I'm saying, No
bed bugs for me, please. So the booking websites, they're
great to use, you know, booking dot comhotels dot com, whatever,
and they do have some good reviews on there. Pay

(08:29):
attention to the location. Proximity to public transportation or key
attractions can significantly reduce your transportation costs or in my case,
I want it as close to the interstate as I
can get it. Websites like Expedia, like I said, will
give you some good, good comparisons. Remember to also check

(08:50):
for deals and discounts. Many motels offer lower rates during
the off season or extended stays. Get luck with your
extended stay. Moving up the scale, maybe I'm just a snob,
but I'm not just a good old boy from Alabama.
Moving up the scale, we find a range of mid
range hotels that offer a balance between price and comfort.

(09:14):
So now we're getting into my range. Okay, this is
a little bit more what I'm looking for at a destination. Okay,
this is the low end of what I'm looking for.
These hotels generally provide a wider array of amenities than
the little budget hotels, including upgrade, upgraded rooms, fitness centers,
there might be some suits that you can get a

(09:36):
hold of, and you can stay in on site restaurants.
To me, that's imperative. I love I don't know, the
food's never great for the most part, but I love
being able to just walk down and grab a burger
and grab a chicken sandwich, grab a salad and a
cocktail or glass of wine, and sometimes even a business centers,
which I think you find in most of these hotels.

(09:57):
At this point. Their locations are often more soon, providing
easier access to the city's attractions and entertainment venues. Many
mid range hotels in Tampa are situated within walking distance
of popular restaurant shops and cultural attractions, eliminating the need
for constant taxi or ride sharing expenses. Again, online booking

(10:20):
sites are invaluable tools for comparing these prices and reading
the reviews, so this allows you to choose the hotel
that best fits your needs and preferences. Consider things like
the hotel's proximity to your planned activities, the availability of
free Wi Fi, and the overall cleanliness and maintenance of

(10:42):
the premises. These factors can significantly impact your overall satisfaction.
For travelers that are looking for something a little bit
more luxurious like wah that's French, Tampa offers a selection
of upscale hotels and resorts. These are often, you know,

(11:05):
very spacious and elegantly appointed. They're going to have some nice,
big suites or wide range of amenities including spas, fine dining,
restaurants and a concierge service. So this is a vacation, right,
this is where I'm going to stay if I'm going
on vacation and I'm going to stay in a hotel.
Many luxury hotels in Tampa are located in prime waterfront locations.

(11:29):
They offer some really awesome views of Tampa Bay and
the surrounding landscapes. Think about the amenities that are important
to you. Do you value a luxurious spa experience. Yeah,
I don't. Put my wife does, so check that box.
Do you prefer a hotel with multiple dining options? I
do check that box. Do you require a fitness center

(11:52):
or business center? I take my business center with me. Actually,
for the most part, fitness center. Check that box. These
these considerations will help narrow down your choices and ensure
that you select a hotel that meets your specified needs.
So I pretty much need all of those except for
the business center. So beyond traditional hotels and motels, you know,

(12:17):
there are other things, right that we can we can
find that aren't just hotels or chains or motels or
anything like that. So vacation rentals, now these are huge.
Now I'm going to give you rule number one do
not ever say anything or call this anything but what

(12:38):
I'm about to say v R b Oh. Okay, if
you say the other thing that they've tried to change
their marketing to, I'm cutting you off. I'm not going
to say another word to you. And from here I
can turn your computer off and close your headphones up,
because that is the dumbest thing I've ever seen in
my life. That has to somewhat be a market nightmare.

(13:00):
I will not even deal with them. I don't. I mean,
I hear, I hear Coach Saban who There's no way
I could play for him, or could have played for him,
probably because I wasn't good enough maybe back then. But
you know, he's like there spoke person now. And even
though his commercials are hilarious, the fact that he calls

(13:22):
them the V word. Man, you know, I bet he
hates it too. He goes home and tells his wife,
what's her name? Miss somebody? I can't remember that, man,
I had to say that word again, the V word.
So be so here we are so. Vacation rentals often
come fully equipped with kitchen facilities, allowing you to prepare

(13:44):
your own meals and save on dining expenses. This is
particularly attractive option for families or groups of friends traveling together.
You know, I like to go every now and then
just by myself instead of staying in a hotel, I'll
get a vrbo or or an Airbnb and I'll say,
there by myself, I got plenty of room. And guess

(14:04):
what if I need to have a meeting and I
don't want to have it in one of the clinics
or one of the offices, I have them come to
the house. We set up at the big kitchen table,
and we have us a kitchen table meeting. We get
things done. It's a lot less stressful. I like it
like that, I sure do. So you know, sites like

(14:25):
we said Airbnb and vrbo and that is v r
boh for a vast selection of vacation rentals in Tampa,
ranging from budget friendly options to luxurious villas with private
pools and stunting views. When booking a vacation rental, you
need to play pay especially close attention to the location,

(14:47):
the amenities provided, and the cancelation policy. Reading guest reviews
is essential, and you need to book plenty of time
in advance. This isn't really like going on to the
website at a hotel like Hilton dot Com, Hilton Honors,
and just like book Now because these places there there

(15:10):
aren't that many of them, so you need to you
need to plan ahead, you need to book it well
in advance. And if it's if you're trying to book
during the high season, sometimes you have to book as
soon as the high season is over. I know it's
like that in the Charleston area. You better if you
stayed in a place in June and you loved it,
you better book it for June the next year, because

(15:31):
that that's how that's how busy these things are and
they're in high demand. So the choice between a hotel
and a vacation rental often comes down to personal preferences
and priorities, as do most things in life. Hotels offer
convenience and a wider range of amenities, while vacation rentals
provide more space, privacy, and the opportunity to cook your

(15:53):
own meals. And that's awesome. Save a lot of money too,
because you go to the grocery store, you're not eating
out every single time. And let's face it, restaurants in
the hotel they're expensive. I mean, everything in there is expensive.
It's convenient, but it's expensive. So both offers option offer

(16:13):
excellent value in Tampa depending on your specific needs. For
those seeking a truly unique lodging experience, consider boutique hotels.
We haven't talked about that yet, and these are really
cool too. I like these. I could deal with a
little bit smaller room to stay in a hotel like
this for a few days. This will be a long
weekend er for me. These smaller, independently owned hotels often

(16:36):
boast distinct personalities and focus on personalized service. They frequently
showcase a local art and design, offering a more intimate
and authentic experience compared to larger chain hotels. Many of
these boutique hotels in Tampa are located in the historic
districts or the charming neighborhoods, not just right down Tampa,

(17:01):
providing easy access to all the attractions, and you get
a much more immersive experience within the culture of the
neighborhood in that part of Tampa. They offer unique amenities
and design elements reflecting the city's character and culture and
lots of times the owner's character and culture, if you

(17:23):
know what I mean. So that's pretty big too, and
it's in the owners of these boutique hotels and the
people that work there are take it very seriously and
that's good. You're going to get really good service in
these You should anyway, So no matter your budget or preferences,

(17:44):
it's crucial to book your accommodation advance. We talked about that,
particularly with the vrbos and airbnbs, but also with the
hotels and anything that you're going to book during peak season,
you better get on it. You better get on a
week's ahead of time, sometimes months ahead of time. Just
need to know when you're going to travel. And we've
talked about that in some earlier episodes. Remember that Tampa accommodations.

(18:07):
That scene is dynamic. There are new hotels and other
lodging options that are just they're popping and popping up
right and left. So even beyond the information provided here,
you know, research, we didn't talk about particular hotel change
or anything like that. I'm going to do a whole
section on that and restaurants, and I'm gonna lump all

(18:28):
that together. Right now, we're talking generalities so that we
know how to what we need, what fits our priorities
and our needs, and how to book those, when to
book them, all that kind of good stuff. So by
carefully considering, you know, all the factors that we've talked about,
we can pretty much ensure that you're going to have

(18:51):
a seamless and enjoyable stay in Tampa. And that's what
it's all about. Because Tampa is an amazing place, freeing
you up to fully experience the city's myriad of attractions
and activities. The preparation that you put into choosing your
accommodation or your hotel or your VRBO will significantly impact
overall quality of your trip. So it's what you need

(19:14):
to do. As soon as you as soon as you
hang up your your headphones or your computer with me,
you need to Why don't you just like open it
back up and just google Tampa. This is where you
want to go and start looking for some hotels. If
you're a Hilton Honors person, if you're a Marriott bondvoy person,
whatever it is that you generally travel and use, take

(19:37):
a look and see what they have. Because you probably
have some points built up from that, and using points
for a vacation that you've earned through business, that's a
special that's what those points are really for my opinion.
So I think that what we've done here, we can
we can make your Tampa adventure that much more memorable
and enjoyable. Now that you're armed with the knowledge, you

(19:59):
can infinitely move on to the next stage of planning
for your exciting Tampa get away. We're going to look
at the individual hotels. We may do that next Yeah,
that's what we're going to do next time. So listen.
I hope you guys enjoyed, and I hope that we
will see you next time. But while I'm thinking about it,

(20:21):
I want everyone in the world to know that this
is my twentieth year wedding anniversary with my incredible wife,
and I'm doing these podcasts. I'm thinking about, you know,
making some reservations and taking a little trip myself. So
Tampa may be on my list. I don't know yet.
You never know with me last second traveler all the

(20:42):
way through. So just so you know, I'm not just
talking about it, I'm doing it. I think I want
to take a train though, yeah, I definitely want to
take a train. I want to take a train ride
to Tampa and just have a great week to share
and to share and celebrate twenty whole years of amazement. Anyway,

(21:04):
until I see you next time, and God bless