Need a good place to stay near University of Tampa

Not sure of hotels as I never used any down there (I lived in New Tampa for a number of years). The aquarium downtown is pretty nice. The NHL's Lightning have some home games coming up if he'll be in the area then: 2014-2015 Regular Season Schedule/Results - Tampa Bay Lightning - Schedule

As far as food options go, if they want some nice dining, Bern's Steak House is probably the best in town.

 

I stay there from time to time for work. The Courtyard in downtown Tampa is nice. You could probably almost walk to the University from there. It's quiet, has valet parking and is a step up from most Courtyards.

If they like coffee Buddy Brew a few blocks west on Kennedy is awesome, they have their own roaster right inside the store.

I always eat at LeeRoy Selmon's, it's a cool sports bar close to International Plaza mall.

 

Sheraton Riverwalk (just across the River from UT), Marriott Waterside or the Westin Harbor Island are all within walking distance of UT and all of them are nice properties. Lots of entertainment/dining close by - Hyde Park/SOHO. For dining I would recommend either Ocean Prime or Eddie V's - both are less than a 10 minute drive away from the hotels.

Depending on when they visit - weather permitting - all the great Pinellas County Beaches are about 30 minutes away. Would highly recommend Honeymoon Island or Clearwater Beach.

Feel free to PM me if they have more specific questions.

 

Not a very nice property anymore, I switched to the Courtyard from this property.

 

Good to know - thanks

 

There is a new Starwood hotel that is very trendy and right across the bridge from the University of Tampa called Aloft. It's right on the water and very beautiful. A short 3 minute walk and you'll be at the campus.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts

As others have mentioned, Bern's Steakhouse, Eddie V's, Ocean Prime are all excellent restaurants. I would especially go to Bern's for their dessert room experience. You can choose to go there just for dessert but call ahead for reservations. Their wine menu is one of the best in the world.

Tampa Bay has many things to do such as Busch Gardens, Clearwater Aquarium and Curtis Hixon Park where there is an art museum just a 5 minute walk north of the Aloft hotel. From there you can view the campus skyline and the downtown Tampa skyline. You can also go to Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach for a dinner cruise, rent jet skis, ride on a speed boat or just walk around and take in all of the surroundings. Shepherds Beach Resort on Clearwater Beach is also brand new and has a great buffet and is usually packed on the weekends. They have live bands and DJ's that play late in to the night on the weekends. You can also show the kid the nightlife in the SoHo district in South Tampa on Howard Avenue.

Enjoy Tampa Bay!

 

I've stayed in 2 Aloft hotels--never again. They're trendy but I think all of them are refurbs of older hotels and I know the one in downtown Tampa was since I passed it 100 times while it was being built.

 

The building has been there for a while but we had an event there and all the rooms, bar, restaurant and lounge were pretty nice.

Epicurean is another nice hotel in the SoHo district right across from Bern's Steakhouse. It's about 10 minutes away from the University of Tampa.

Upscale Tampa Hotel | Autograph Collection - Epicurean Hotel

Good luck!

 

Never been to the Clearwater Aquarium, but drove by it on my way to the beach this past weekend. Didn't look that large, but the aquarium in downtown Tampa next to Channelside is nice and much closer to UT than Clearwater.

Speaking of Clearwater, it's not as close to Tampa as it seems due to traffic. I think it's about 45min-1 hour depending on traffic to get across 60/Courtney Campbell Causeway (that part is the fastest). It adds so much time we actually got a hotel for a night in Clearwater visiting from Orlando. We didn't feel like driving 4 hours in a day for the beach. It is a nice beach, though. Also home of the first Hooters restaurant if you care enough for that stuff.