Tampa Advice

[cornishfrogboy]

I have stayed close to Busch Gardens and overnight on several occasions. It works well for us as it gives us control over timings. Whilst the Hotels were ok, the areas were quite frankly a concern.

On one occasion, when staying at the Hampton Inn, we went out and walked a few hundred yards to a TGI , leaving the car at the Hotel as I wanted a drink. I was sufficiently concerned that I booked a taxi back after viewing both the area and the TGI clientele. When we got back, we spoke to the Hotel receptionist who said that we were rather wise and that she would never walk in that area other than in daylight. She said that if we had walked in the other direction, we would have been fine as it was a decent area.

On another occasion, we stayed very near to the Hard Rock in Tampa. That area was not very reassuring either.. neither was the Hard Rock, possibly because it was more a grubby Casino than a Cafe.

I would not look to stay in the area of Busch Gardens without having a car. I do not know enough about the general area to ‘stay safe’ as it is clearly easy to move from decent areas into downright dangerous ones. Sadly, this is the way in many US cities. It is worth remembering that I Drive, LBV and Disney are not really representative of US Cities including Orlando itself. They are tourist areas.

[munmun]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

I have stayed close to Busch Gardens and overnight on several occasions. It works well for us as it gives us control over timings. Whilst the Hotels were ok, the areas were quite frankly a concern.

On one occasion we went out and walked 200yds to a TGI , leaving the car at the Hotel as I wanted a drink. I was sufficiently concerned that I booked a taxi back after viewing both the area and the TGI clientele. When we got back, we spoke to the Hotel receptionist who said that we were rather wise and that she would never walk in that area other than in daylight. She said that if we had walked in the other direction, we would have been fine as it was a decent area.

On another occasion, we stayed very near to the Hard Rock in Tampa. That area was not very reassuring either.. neither was the Hard Rock, possibly because it was more a Casino than a Cafe.

I would not look to stay in the area of Busch Gardens without having a car. I do not know enough about the general area to ‘stay safe’ as it is clearly easy to move from decent areas into downright dangerous ones.

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Thank you for this CFB I was beginning to feel it was scaremongering for no reason.

Sometimes you just know an area is dodgy, you feel it in your gut.

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by munmun

Thank you for this CFB I was beginning to feel it was scaremongering for no reason.

Sometimes you just know an area is dodgy, you feel it in your gut.

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I have been in the Army, attached to the Royal Marines and Commando trained, A Police Officer including on PSU’s and now in my 60s, a Security Guard in a Hospital dealing with Drunks, Drug Impaired and generally violent people, mainly in ED. I played Rugby and Water Polo until reaching 40. I am no ‘Wilting Wallflower’ and have had a lifetime of ‘violent falling outs’.

I am very wary of straying ‘off track’, particularly in US Cities and do my research carefully. I generally stay sober and drive from A to B, particularly at night and when outside of Tourist Areas.. other than maybe in centres of Manhattan, Boston etc. I have a wife and two children to consider and my fists might not match up well against knives and guns.

I take you back to the two Brit tourists who went out for a Burgerking in Sarasota and got shot dead in the street by Shawn Tyson not so many years back. I thought Sarasota was safe.

Yes, you develop a 6th sense.

[munmun]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

I have been in the Army, attached to the Royal Marines and Commando trained, A Police Officer including on PSU’s and now in my 60s, a Security Guard in a Hospital dealing with Drunks, Drug Impaired and generally violent people. I played Rugby and Water Polo until reaching 40. I am no ‘Wilting Wallflower’ and have had a lifetime of ‘violent falling outs’.

I am very wary of straying ‘off track’, particularly in US Cities and do my research carefully. I generally stay sober and drive from A to B, particularly at night and when outside of Tourist Areas.. other than maybe in centres of Manhattan, Boston etc.

Yes, you develop a 6th sense.

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I agree, but my husband likes searching out things so I seem to spend my life in the not so good areas as that is where people pawn things that are actually pretty valuable though others dont realise it. Not so much now as ebay has taken over but certainly up to 10 years ago.

We have spent 35 years going to the beaches area close to Tampa so the areas around Tampa are his searching grounds. I have seen muggings in Tampa, had a gun pulled on me as I sat in a parking lot until the security guy saw what was happening and the guy ran off.

We all need common sense and to follow our gut.

[DonnaD]

Originally Posted by munmun

Donna, as I said before I would have a better experience staying at the beaches. I am not alone in that thought, I am happy for you and others to disagree, this is a forum for debate.

However, Tampa is one of the only US cities I have had a gun pulled on me, perhaps that colours my experience.

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I am sure it does. That sounds very scary. For our visit to Busch Gardens last summer adding on the drive to the beach area would have done nothing to enhance our trip. We would have paid twice as much for a room that was smaller and probably not as nice.

[cornishfrogboy]

The problem with the staying ovenight at the beaches idea as I see it is this...

Day 1.. drive to beach which is past Busch.. say 1 hr 45. Stay night.
Day 2 drive to Busch 45 mins at that time of day and meet rope drop before driving back to Orlando that evening, 1 hour.
SUMMARY.. an optimistic 3 hours 30 of driving and the hassle of crossing Tampa twice plus check in etc at a hotel.

An alternative.. get up early and drive to Busch Gardens 1 hour. Drive back at end of play 1 hour.
SUMMARY 2 hours driving, all simple and without the hassle of another Hotel.

I have used my overnights in a very different way in order to gain advantage...

1. Pensacola, Destin, BUSCH, Orlando as a ribbon.

2. Miami, Venice, BUSCH, Orlando.

3. Orlando, BUSCH, Venice, Naples, Miami.

4. Orlando, BUSCH , Naples, Keys, Miami.

[DonnaD]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

The problem with the staying ovenight at the beaches idea as I see it is this...

Day 1.. drive to beach which is past Busch.. say 1 hr 45. Stay night.
Day 2 drive to Busch 45 mins at that time of day and meet rope drop before driving back to Orlando that evening, 1 hour.
SUMMARY.. an optimistic 3 hours 30 of driving and the hassle of crossing Tampa twice plus check in etc at a hotel.

An alternative.. get up early and drive to Busch Gardens 1 hour. Drive back at end of play 1 hour.
SUMMARY 2 hours driving, all simple and without the hassle of another Hotel.

I have used my overnights in a very different way in order to gain advantage...

1. Pensacola, Destin, BUSCH, Orlando as a ribbon.

2. Miami, Venice, BUSCH, Orlando.

3. Orlando, BUSCH, Venice, Naples, Miami.

4. Orlando, BUSCH , Naples, Keys, Miami.

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Agreed. We did one night near Busch Gardens because we were going to the park for 2 short days as DD can't do long days and it was very hot. If I had to drive to the beach for the hotel, we might as well drive home instead! Just looked on Google Maps, 57 min to Clearwater Beach or 69 min to home in Formosa Gardens area!

[Slore]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

An alternative.. get up early and drive to Busch Gardens 1 hour. Drive back at end of play 1 hour.
SUMMARY 2 hours driving, all simple and without the hassle of another Hotel.

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Thank you for that I think this is probably going to be my option instead.