Post: #1

I am going to Tampa at the end of January for a quick 3 night vacation. I am trying to figure out where to stay. It would appear that I should aim for Ybor City or Hyde Park. I understand that at that time of year hotels are going to be pricey, but I would like to maximize my logistics.

Right now, my gut feeling looking at the concentration of night spots says that I should aim for Ybor City and then uber it to Hyde Park and other places like the Hard Rock Casino if I'm curious.

I plan to do plenty of drinking so I won't be renting a car.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Post: #2

South Howard (soho). I believe it might be right next to Hyde Park. If you go for gasparilla I can't imagine you getting an affordable hotel. It's very hard to uber as many of the roads are closed off and there's crazy traffic everywhere. Most people during the day will either go down to bayshore for the parade or go to parties at someones apartment on Saturday until night time.

Post: #3

What are you going to do in Hyde park? Buy some hiking boots? Stay in ybor

Post: #4

(12-31-2015 05:06 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  What are you going to do in Hyde park? Buy some hiking boots? Stay in ybor

Thanks.

Post: #5

(12-31-2015 07:19 PM)beta_plus Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 05:06 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  What are you going to do in Hyde park? Buy some hiking boots? Stay in ybor

Thanks.

There's a dirtier level though if you want to know.. Ybor is closer to the casino but the haunt of nastiness lurks on the Hispanic side getting there and back if you choose more sketch and danger but still in the same area. I'd choose and have myself many times.

Post: #6

Does channelside still have any action? AJA used to be alright, but that was years ago.

Post: #7

I spent an afternoon in Ybor and Channel side last week, Ybor is older and more trendy but a bit rough, there's probably twenty tattoo parlours and another twenty cigar shops there but tons of bars and restaurants. I partied there a few years ago and it was packed on the weekend but it does attract a rougher crowd (there's public housing projects near by), I could see things popping off there in a bad way but I didn't have any problems. Channel Side is nice and more modern, there's an area with a bunch of bars and restaurants (Hooters, etc) that is located between the Florida Aquarium and the arena where the Lighting play. If there's a hockey game on then Channel Side would be good (lots of drunk Canadian tourists to hit on if they are playing a Canadian team), otherwise, I can't see it being that great in the late evening. I don't know other party areas but I spent the day at Clearwater beach near Pier 60 last week and there's gotta be some action around there, it was 85 degrees and that beach was packed with tourists, hopefully the weather is as nice during your visit.

Post: #8

If you want hot 21-35 year old girls you want to hit South Howard. Here's a map outlining most of the bars. Like other said ybor can get rough. MacDintons usually does an all you can drink thing on Friday and gets packed with young girls. If you go to that area there are tons of bars to bar hop and you can't go wrong.

Post: #9

^ make the same map of ybor.

Post: #10

(12-31-2015 08:21 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 07:19 PM)beta_plus Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 05:06 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  What are you going to do in Hyde park? Buy some hiking boots? Stay in ybor

Thanks.

There's a dirtier level though if you want to know.. Ybor is closer to the casino but the haunt of nastiness lurks on the Hispanic side getting there and back if you choose more sketch and danger but still in the same area. I'd choose and have myself many times.

I gotta be honest. My experience with Latina girls is that they are generally indifferent to me. When I only have 3 nights, while I love to explore for the sake of exploring, if I'm chasing tail my gut feeling is that's not a path worth my time exploring.

(01-01-2016 04:44 PM)scotian Wrote:  I spent an afternoon in Ybor and Channel side last week, Ybor is older and more trendy but a bit rough, there's probably twenty tattoo parlours and another twenty cigar shops there but tons of bars and restaurants. I partied there a few years ago and it was packed on the weekend but it does attract a rougher crowd (there's public housing projects near by), I could see things popping off there in a bad way but I didn't have any problems. Channel Side is nice and more modern, there's an area with a bunch of bars and restaurants (Hooters, etc) that is located between the Florida Aquarium and the arena where the Lighting play. If there's a hockey game on then Channel Side would be good (lots of drunk Canadian tourists to hit on if they are playing a Canadian team), otherwise, I can't see it being that great in the late evening. I don't know other party areas but I spent the day at Clearwater beach near Pier 60 last week and there's gotta be some action around there, it was 85 degrees and that beach was packed with tourists, hopefully the weather is as nice during your visit.

Hmm... so how rough is Ybor City? I'm used to dealing with rough spots such as East & West Baltimore, West Phili, SE DC, Oakland, not so friendly looking neighborhoods of Istanbul and Cairo, etc ... but when I'm looking for 3 days to get away, enjoy the weather, and start my drinking part of the day after working out & lunch, they're not really what I'm looking for.

Post: #11

Ybor is not rough at all there's cameras on every corner the cops watch when it's busy during the day it's very safe.

Post: #12

How is St Pete compared to Soho and Ybor in quantity and quality of lizards ?

I don't see St Pete mentioned on here but I heard it is very active and great place to meet chicks

Am looking at moving to Tampa. South Tampa is way to expensive so am thinking of St Pete close to the highway, drive across the water doesn't look too long

Is traffic really bad in Tampa ?

Also is it feasible to park at at soho or ybor without paying ? Only been out there once and out by macdintons the parking was horrible.

Post: #13

Just spent 5 days in Tampa before Christmas and I stayed at the Westin Harbour Island downtown. Good walking distance to other hotels, bars, and right on thte bay. Short Uber ride to both South Howard and Ybor City. The talent on South Howard, especially at Macdinton's, was definitely legit and more abundant than St. Pete but St. Pete definitely seems like a better spot for day game.

If you want to hit Clearwater, St. Pete, etc. definitely rent a car for your trip.

Post: #14

(01-04-2016 04:31 AM)B-Nut Wrote:  How is St Pete compared to Soho and Ybor in quantity and quality of lizards ?

I don't see St Pete mentioned on here but I heard it is very active and great place to meet chicks

Am looking at moving to Tampa. South Tampa is way to expensive so am thinking of St Pete close to the highway, drive across the water doesn't look too long

Is traffic really bad in Tampa ?

Also is it feasible to park at at soho or ybor without paying ? Only been out there once and out by macdintons the parking was horrible.

Last I remember traffic in Tampa could get pretty bad, but nothing more than you would see is any other fairly large sized city.

For parking in soho or ybor. In Ybor the side closer to I-275(? I forget which) about 2-3 blocks up running parallel to Ybor there were spots with meters that don't need payment past a certain time at night.

For Soho, again you would have to park at least 3 blocks from the Soho are but even finding spaces there was always a pain and more hassle than it was worth when going out after everyone had already arrived and started hitting up the venues.

Post: #15

Maybe McDintons should offer lodging for you guys so you don't have to learn anything.

This is a huge area get in a rentacar and explore it then park it wherever you stay and uber your drinking time .. This is pretty much standard for any place USA without mass transit.

And don't worry you won't get hurt here unless you fuck up real bad.

Post: #16

Near soho, I go to school here and before I hit 18 i would go to Ybor. After coming of age and going to Soho the talent is so much better in Soho. You do have to have game though there is A LOT of good looking people out there.

Post: #17

Bumping this thread. Anyone have any recommendations on where to stay (assuming I'd be living here, not just passing through) if you are looking at not owning a car in Tampa? I've been looking to relocate to South/Central Florida but I don't want to own a car. I know FL isn't the best place to live sans car unless you're in South Florida, but figured I'd post here anyway to see if anyone had any ideas.

Post: #18

You can stay downtown Tampa where the action is happening or somewhere near Ybor. Bear in mind that rent will be more costly. You really need a car in Florida but Uber is thriving locally so you can definitely use that for getting from A to B. There is a bus service downtown Tampa and although the buses and their schedules are by no means comparable to real pedestrian cities (I think of New York in particular but I believe Detroit, DC, New Jersey are also competitors), you can get around to a certain comfort during reasonable hours.

Post: #19

That's great man, thanks for that. Are there any liveable neighborhoods near the airport? Say near the Westshore Plaza?

I'm looking at that area now because my work would be out that way, but commuting from downtown would be doable as well, albeit slightly far. Like 30 mins each way on bike. Would prefer if the commute is like 15 mins, but not mandatory.

(04-15-2016 05:46 PM)Moma Wrote:  You can stay downtown Tampa where the action is happening or somewhere near Ybor. Bear in mind that rent will be more costly. You really need a car in Florida but Uber is thriving locally so you can definitely use that for getting from A to B. There is a bus service downtown Tampa and although the buses and their schedules are by no means comparable to real pedestrian cities (I think of New York in particular but I believe Detroit, DC, New Jersey are also competitors), you can get around to a certain comfort during reasonable hours.