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Post by obobfla on Dec 23, 2016 15:17:23 GMT -5
obobfla , it sounds like folks might need to share rooms. For frugality, of course. Or for science. ;-) Not a problem, and I am sure some of the group is already working on such arrangements. |
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Post by ricky2669 on Dec 23, 2016 15:26:51 GMT -5
This sounds like a good time for all
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Post by obobfla on Dec 23, 2016 16:10:45 GMT -5
Of the resorts, I have found two that look promising: This one is in Clearwater, which is very near Tampa and St. Petersburg: pierhouse60.com/. Very highly rated. This one is in St. Augustine. Notice the jacuzzis in every room! www.lafiestainn.com/ |
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Post by GeekGoddess on Dec 23, 2016 16:22:44 GMT -5
I could go with either location & yes, I'd want to share room to split costs. I'd be most interested in females as roommates.
Nothing sexual would be presumed by any of us, I think, but even just hugging each other hello may be more physical contact than some of our group get on a regular basis!
Getting to talk face to face & laugh together in person would be incredibly nice!
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Post by obobfla on Dec 23, 2016 16:39:47 GMT -5
I am leaning towards Clearwater/St. Petersburg due to the airport situation. It's incredibly easy to fly in and fly out of Tampa, and the airport is just across the bay from Clearwater. No matter where we choose, I am driving. If someone wants to fly into Orlando and ride over there with me, that is fine.
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Post by obobfla on Dec 30, 2016 14:58:36 GMT -5
I have been looking around at various places. I am still leaning towards the St. Pete/Clearwater area, as to its wonderful sunsets, loads of things to do, and easy access to airports. Want great restaurants? They are there. Love dolphins? There are dolphin tours and the Clearwater Aquarium, home to Winter of Dolphin Tale fame. Art? St. Pete has the Dali Museum. However, it is hard to get a room for less than $200 a night beachside, and the best place run over $300.
St. Augustine is still a possibility. You can fly into Jacksonville, but it's still 30 miles away. Not sure if airport shuttles will take you that far. But St. Augustine does have nice beaches, loads of history, and some romantic settings. There is also a bluegrass festival the weekend of March 17-19. Hotel prices are in range.
Another possibility is Cocoa Beach. The beaches are wonderful. There is history, as man left for the moon there. If you want sights, there is a wonderful wildlife refuge with loads of exotic birds. One beach is clothing optional. But Cocoa does not have the arts or entertainment the other places do. Orlando is less than an hour away, so the airport and nightlife is a bit of a drive. Also, Cocoa is the cheapest option, lodging wise.
I purposely left off Daytona Beach, which has beaches and night life. Daytona is holding Bike Week March 12-19. Unless you are a hardcore Harley fan or want to see women wrestle in coleslaw, I suggest staying away from Daytona that weekend.
I might post a poll to see which one everyone wants. Personally, my heart is in St. Augustine. But for a large group coming in from out of town, St. Pete/Clearwater makes the most sense to me.
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Post by wewbwb on Dec 30, 2016 17:44:11 GMT -5
I could go with either location & yes, I'd want to share room to split costs. I'd be most interested in females as roommates. Nothing sexual would be presumed by any of us, I think, but even just hugging each other hello may be more physical contact than some of our group get on a regular basis! Getting to talk face to face & laugh together in person would be incredibly nice! A good hug from some of these sexy women may just make me explode. Note to self: Keep a towel close by at all times. (THGTTG speaks very highly of towels) |
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Post by obobfla on Jan 6, 2017 21:26:22 GMT -5
OK, I have yet to settle on a hotel yet, but I think the get-together will be in St. Pete Beach. Although some of the more famous (and pricier) resorts have been booked, there are still plenty of places to stay. Since it is high season for that area, rooms will be in the $200-$300 range. You can also stay in Clearwater, but it will require a car/taxi to join us. I think if everyone gets there by Friday night, we can have dinner watching the sunset on the beach at the Paradise Grill or the Brass Monkey. I would love to try the Hurricane Grill, but it has been getting less than stellar reviews lately. That is sad, because the place had an awesome grouper chowder and crab cakes. It also has a rooftop bar overlooking the beach. The reason I selected St. Pete Beach is because there is so much to do. But if you don't want to do anything at all, no one will bother you. Here are some activities in the area: Art The Salvador Dali Museum is in St. Petersburg. Right now, it has a Frida Kayla exhibit that will go on through April. Sports If you like hockey, the Tampa Bay Lightning face the Washington Capitals that Saturday night. You get to see Steve Stamkos against Alex Ovechkin. For baseball, there are three spring training games being played in the area. In Clearwater, the Philadelphia Phillies face the Pittsburgh Pirates. Just north of there in Dunedin, The Toronto Blue Jays face the Tampa Bay Rays. And in Tampa, the New York Yankees play the Baltimore Orioles. These are exhibition games, but you get a better chance of meeting the players in spring training than you do in the regular season. Music No major concerts that weekend, but there are some great local hangouts. Outdoors You can catch grouper, redfish, snapper, and other fish from piers as well as see dolphins and manatees. Restaurants Many restaurants server stone crab, which is in season. They also feature fresh grouper, which has become a rarity. I am toying with the idea of heading to the original Columbia restaurant in Tampa if anyone is up for Spanish food and a flamenco floor dance show. The Gulf and Sunsets While the Atlantic Ocean is nice, the Gulf of Mexico is more calm and easier to swim. Water temperature will be in the high 60s or low 70s, so it may be a bit chilly to us Floridians, but it's bath water to those used to either the Pacific or northern beaches. And the Gulf Coast is famous for its sunsets. If you want to check out lodgings, use this link: www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g34606-St_Pete_Beach_Florida-Hotels.html. I have not had much luck in getting a group rate, but if you have AAA or AARP membership, there might be special rates. Did I mention the sunsets?  image hosting |
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Post by GeekGoddess on Jan 11, 2017 13:36:52 GMT -5
WOW on that pic! I will be there - -one way or another, I will! I'll want to see the Kayla exhibit and rest of Dali museum. I'd love to try fishing from the pier but not that dedicated to do it for hours & hours. I want to eat fresh seafood and definitely bring a bikini to lay around a bit - dip in, maybe, but I don't know anything about water temps (we swim when the air temp is in the 90's - but I have no clue what that means a pool temperature is?)
I've already mentioned this to my work. I'm off Fridays from school. I may try to travel Thursday night to FL but it's a bit more likely that it would be early on Friday. Return later on Sunday I would guess (whatever checkout time plus a few hours).
I don't travel much (certainly not a lot on my own since moving out). Does this sound right? Tell me if I have a wrong impression but I'm guessing Friday night together then Sat morning & Sat afternoon off doing things in smaller groups and meet up as a larger group for Saturday night dinner, drinks, dancing, whatever (Flamenco sounds nice), and then just hotel brunch and checkout.
If there is something we would do for a Sunday lunch or an early afternoon activity, I wouldn't want to miss that.
It's my mythology that I should wait to around 45 days before the trip to get the best airline ticket prices. Is this a valid belief? And - how soon do I need to know/book the hotel, since you say it is the season (spring training).
Any and all tips & tricks for travel appreciated here!
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Post by misssunnybunny on Jan 11, 2017 16:15:58 GMT -5
I'd love to try and be there, too, see the Dali museum and there are a few gardens/nature preserves in the area also. Friday-Sunday sounds good, getting together for dinners on Friday and Saturday, time for excursions during Saturday day. I have no idea about pricing for airline tickets, don't book often. I looked and it is pricier than even now to travel in March, but it is because those of us in the snowy/cold places want to visit the warmer ones, and is spring break time too. It would be nice if we could be in the same hotel. There is a Hampton Inn about 2 miles from downtown (the downtown one is booked), with the honors program the rooms are under $250: hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hampton-inn-st-petersburg-PIEFLHX/index.html I have no idea if that is a good location?
Have to see about this as a possible trip! |
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