{"id":16632,"date":"2011-09-14T07:00:52","date_gmt":"2011-09-14T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=16632"},"modified":"2018-03-12T12:56:04","modified_gmt":"2018-03-12T17:56:04","slug":"tampa-hotels-died-and-gone-to-heaven-no-its-actually-tampa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/tampa-hotels-died-and-gone-to-heaven-no-its-actually-tampa\/","title":{"rendered":"Died and gone to heaven? No, It\u2019s actually Tampa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Drink up the views of egrets and herons from Armani’s at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Vince Font
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With year-round sunshine and blissful bay views, business travelersknow that there are far worse places to be “stuck” than Tampa. Many moderate Tampa hotels<\/a> are within 10 minutes of the airport, and close to dining and shopping at Westshore and International Plaza. So even if by day you’re toiling away with your co-workers or clients indoors, there’s always a body of water and a sunset waiting for you when the meetings break.<\/p>\n

For starters, if you\u2019re staying near Tampa you can book a room at the Sailport Waterfront Suites<\/a> on Rocky Point Island for under $80 per night. This is an all-suite hotel that offers the kind of views and island atmosphere you might expect to find someplace on the Mayan Riviera. It\u2019s even got a sandy beach and a fishing pier overlooking Tampa Bay, although if you blur your eyes and use your imagination it\u2019s not difficult to imagine yourself halfway across the world at a far more exotic destination.<\/p>\n

For the slightly more costly price of around $100 per night, you can upgrade your experience by booking a stay at the Westin Tampa Bay<\/a>, a classy hotel with an indoor heated swimming pool and health club. The Westin is also located on Rocky Point Island about 4 miles from Tampa International and within driving distance of some of the best seafood places around. And you won\u2019t have to go far to get the tasty catch of the day: the hotel\u2019s waterfront restaurant offers local fish as well as daily imported seafood.<\/p>\n

A little bit further inland and east of Rocky Point Island you\u2019ll find the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay<\/a>, a hotel that delivers a gorgeous view of the bay from a different but no less scenic vantage point. It\u2019s also not just a hotel for humans, but a refuge for egrets and herons, as well — its 35-acre footprint encompasses the hotel, a wildlife estuary and a nature trail. But it\u2019s not all outdoor living here as a trip to the 14th floor and the hotel\u2019s famous Armani Restaurant will show. A stay here will run you around $100 per night.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019d have thought that a business trip to Tampa, of all places, would have you taking in some truly breathtaking sights and putting you within walking distance of piers, marinas, and the beaches of the Courtney Campbell Causeway? Needless to say, a stay in any one of these Tampa hotels will probably ruin you for business trips elsewhere \u2013 or at least heighten your expectations the next time your boss sends you out of town. Do yourself a favor and don\u2019t come home complaining about a lack of waterfront suites if that place happens to be Phoenix; it won\u2019t bode well for your annual review.<\/p>\n

Related resources<\/strong><\/p>\n