Hotel Advice--Airport/Hard Rock Casino

I could use some advice on picking a hotel for ONE NIGHT. I芒聙聶m really only going to Tampa to 芒聙聹pick up芒聙聺 my elderly father and accompany him back to Michigan. My plan was to fly in on Monday (2/27), spend the night in an inexpensive hotel near the airport, chill out, get warm, maybe go to the pool, etc., then meet my Dad at the airport Tuesday morning and fly back to Michigan with him.

THEN芒聙娄.in my hotel searching, I find out that there is a Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Well, that changes everything. J

So, my question: Can anybody suggest a hotel either: a) near the airport that would have easy access to cabs to and from the casino; or b) near the casino that would have easy access to cabs to and from the airport.

I芒聙聶m looking first and foremost for the most economical plan, but I芒聙聶ll be a alone, so wouldn芒聙聶t want to be in a total dump.

Any suggestions/advice? Thanks!

Hotel Advice--Airport/Hard Rock Casino

I would call the Hard Rock about if they have airport shuttles. I can%26#39;t imagine a casino wouldn%26#39;t, but you never know. A cab fare might be rather expensive. It%26#39;s probably about a twenty minute drive between the two (if you can keep a 60mph pace on the highways, and the I-275/I-4 junction is sometimes bottlenecked which would add another 10 minutes). I%26#39;ve made it in 12 minutes before, from almost at the airport to the Hard Rock exit....but I%26#39;m not a cabbie making money.

The Hard Rock is probably the furthest out of Tampa you can get and still be considered ';in'; Tampa. And actually, the airport and the Hard Rock are almost on the opposite ends (East-West wise) of Tampa. If you go much further West from the airport and you are in water, if you go much further East from the Hard Rock and I believe you are in Plant City for the Strawberry Festival.

Getting to the HardRock from the airport is rather straight forward...get on I-275N through Tampa, take I-4 E and get off at the Orient Road exit (which is like exit 5 or something close to that). If you are on I-4 and you pass I-75 then you%26#39;ve gone too far.

The last time I was at the casino there are only two types of gambling. Poker tables that are usually packed and I hate waiting, and slot machines that are actually Bingo games. A lot of regular gamblers complain about the tight slot machines, which they may be a little tighter than most would like; however, most people don%26#39;t realize they are Bingo machines and you are actually playing the little Bingo card at the top center of the machine. Then you spin the machine to see how much you won from the Bingo game (if you won the Bingo game). And I%26#39;ve seen quite a few people just push buttons and change a winning Bingo card for another and lose money they didn%26#39;t need to.

My first time at this Hard Rock I won $83 from the slot machines. But that was once. Mostly I%26#39;ll either win like $25 or lose $45. Very low stakes. I%26#39;m just screwing around, though. I wish they had craps tables there. I%26#39;d be all over that (I%26#39;d even set aside more money for it).

Hotel Advice--Airport/Hard Rock Casino

For your one night I%26#39;d forget the casino and just get a hotel on the water (Tampa Bay) around the Rocky Point area...enjoy the views and the water, eat at one of the little restaurants out there. The bay is pretty and there are some reasonable hotels at Rocky Point...Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn, Sailport. More expensive, but reasonable if you can get it on PCLN, is the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, one stop light before Rocky Point. With luck you might even see some dolphin or manatees (if you are there late spring when the water has warmed up some). There are waverunner rentals in that area if you are so inclined, and you are 5 to 10 minutes from the airport.

I suggest what OO had to day and stay in the Rocky Point area outside the airport, Holiday inn Express in nice and has good rates. Residence Inn has not existied there in quite some time, it is called Chase Suites. Hang by the pool, walk on the Bay, Munch at Bahama Breeze, Landrys, Rusty Pelican, or Castaways.

Sorry you are right, Chase. Old habits die hard.

Bahama Breeze is good too and nice views. Oystercathcers too--More expensive but great food and beautiful views. I have to say up front it was part of my husband%26#39;s hotel there, but we%26#39;ve been transferred and I have no interest in furthering their business now. It really was my absolute favorite seafood restaurant in town, his or not.