need help before and after a January cruise

I hope someone with knowledge of the area can help me. My husband and I are flying into Tampa on the 21st of Jan and departing on the 27th.. We have booked a cruise from the 22nd to the 26th which leaves us the 21st and the 26th of Jan with the dilemna of what to do.I was thinking of renting a car for a day before and a day after the cruise but then what do we do in the area? Also would need a hotel for the night prior and the night after the cruise...Does anyone have a recommendation? I need to add that we are trying to spend as little money as possible. Would appreciate any input ...Thank you

need help before and after a January cruise

Check out the Hampton Inn Ybor or Hilton garden Inn Ybor, may have something inexpensive on the 21st, not sure about the 27th(SuperBowl weekend is Jan 30-Feb 1). Then you can check out the Historic District, Ybor Museum, lots of great eats, GameWorks, and nightlife..hop on the StreetCar to Channelside for the Aquarium, USS Victory Ship, an IMAX, and also eats and nightlife and CHannelside is where the cruise ships sail out of, less than a mile from Ybor City.

If you rent a car, you could check out Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Museum of Science and Industry, Big Cat Rescue, Kayak/Canoe down the Hillsborough River(Canoe Escape), Gulf Beaches....anything in partcular you looking for? How much time do you have on the 21st and 27th?

need help before and after a January cruise

Thank you so much for your speedy and knowledgeable reply. I did not even know that the Super Bowl was located at Tampa and the end of Jan. Guess I may get a hotel further down the coast since they seem to be pricing out higher the closer you get to the Super Bowl date. We actually get in at 10:00 am on the 21st so have most of this day and will be boarding aroung noon the next day for the cruise. We get back aound 8 to 9:oo am on the 26th so will have most of this day and then leave at 12:45 pm on the 27th of JAN. We are really not looking for anything in particular...like to just investigate new areas..like the beach areas and shell collecting...anything different from the New England scene in winter is a treat:%26gt;) It does seem like if we stay in the Ybor City area, we probably could get away without a car rental...lots to do there from your reponse earlier. Thanks again and if anyone else has any insight to share I would be most appreciative.

Car rentals are very pricey that week. You could also stay at my favorite downtown tampa hotel, Marriott Waterside. Next to it is also a Embassy Suites, which is also nice and new. Both are right next to the Channelside District, which is where the cruise ship departs from, and has many shops, restaurants, night places (movie theater, pianobar, trendy bowling alley, etc) The FL aquarium is also right there, which is a must see. While safe during the day and for the most part at night, as with any downtown city, be cautious walking in dark, secluded areas at night.

If you do rent a car, you might want to check out Sarasota. Siesta Key is my favorite beach in Florida. The sand is like flour. St Armands Circle is an outdoor,upscale shopping area that like its name is centered around a circle roundabout.

But for convienence, I would suggest just staying at in the Channelside district, as you are adjacent to the cruise port, and it is an easy cab ride from the airport. You can also take the Trolley from channelside to Ybor for added entertainment.

Thank you so much for the additional info. I did get a car reserved for the day before and the day after the cruise. It was cheaper($27.00 per day plus taxes)

to book the car rentals on line than to call directly.

I will call the hotels near the port but I know that if you go online they tend to be kind of expensive. I still am up in the air on this but am lending towards staying in the port area since it seems that we can walk to so much.

I did call a resort in St Pete(Tradewinds island Grand Beach Resort Since I am an entertainment member, I got a $115.00 rate for beach accommodations but it may be too far to go.

This forum is great and really appreciate everyone who takes the time to respond!!!