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March 20, 2025 • 16 mins
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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, everybody, and welcome, Welcome to Tampa. Man, Tampa. I
bet even Tampa's pretty cold today because I don't know
obviously what day you're listening to this, or what time
of day or anything like that, because all I can
tell you right now is that it's like thirty three
degrees in Charleston, South Carolina, a little bit of icy stuff.

(00:23):
And I am quite sure that even Tampa all the
way down to Miami is chiley today, but I can
tell you it would be warmer than it is here.
So I'm all about going to Tampa right now because
it's probably going to be really warm in about three
or four days. So 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

(00:46):
how to get there, 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

(01:08):
and beat Alabama 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

(01:33):
range hotels, and 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.

(01:57):
Your choice of lodging 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.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
I mean, it really did.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
I would switch hotel halfway through the week if it
was 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

(02:38):
want a little bitty closet with a bed in it
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.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Right.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
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 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

(03:16):
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, you know, 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

(03:39):
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. 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

(04:02):
to significantly impact your overall experience, Like I just said, so,
influencing your comfort, convenience, 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

(04:25):
going to guide you through the various choices, helping you
find the ideal place 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,

(04:45):
it's part of the experience. I don't want to go
somewhere and have that tiny 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

(05:06):
if you're traveling with your significant other, that can be huge.
You know, I'm talking 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.

(05:27):
Even in a budget hotel, lots of times, for an
extra twenty five dollars, you 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

(05:49):
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 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

(06:14):
located conveniently near 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.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yep.

Speaker 1 (06:31):
Absolutely, and it's significantly less prices right also lower price.
Many 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,
and we're all different, I'm just talking to me when

(06:52):
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 going to do it all one day, because
I get I'm not twenty years old anymore.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
I'm not going to drive through the night.

Speaker 1 (07:04):
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 a bottle of
wine or something like that in my suitcase. I'm gonna

(07:24):
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. So

(07:47):
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.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
You don't want to get there.

Speaker 1 (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.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
Get luck with your extended stay.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
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. So
now we're getting into my range. Okay, this is a
little bit more what I'm looking for at a destination. Okay,

(09:21):
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
hold of, and you can stay in on site restaurants.
To me, that's imperative.

Speaker 2 (09:41):
I love. I don't know.

Speaker 1 (09:42):
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.

Speaker 2 (09:57):
At this point.

Speaker 1 (09:58):
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 sites are invaluable

(10:21):
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 the premises. These

(10:44):
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, very spacious and

(11:08):
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.

Speaker 2 (12:18):
Other things, right.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
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 I'm.

Speaker 2 (12:38):
About to say v R b Oh.

Speaker 1 (12:42):
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. I will not even deal with them.

Speaker 2 (13:03):
I don't. I mean, I hear, I.

Speaker 1 (13:04):
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 them the
V word, man, you know, I bet he hates it too.

(13:27):
He goes home and tells his wife, what's her name?
This somebody? I can't remember that, man, I had to
say that word again, the V word?

Speaker 2 (13:36):
So be so here we are so.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
Vacation rentals often come fully equipped with kitchen facilities, allowing
you to prepare 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

(14:01):
and I'll say there by myself, I got plenty of room.
And guess 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

(14:24):
sites like 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.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
And that's awesome.

Speaker 1 (15:55):
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 excellent value in
Tampa depending on your specific needs. For those seeking a

(16:18):
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.
So we'll pick up with some more boutique hotels next
time as we get more into the best the Tampa
has to offer. So until next time, you guys, have

(16:38):
a great day and God bless
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