17 Tampa Florida Travel Tips (What You Need to Know)

Use these best Tampa Florida Travel Tips and Vacation Ideas to start planning your next fabulous vacation!

Tampa Florida Travel Tips and Vacation Ideas

So are you planning a trip to Tampa Bay, Florida… home to sunshine, sandy beaches… and the country’s only annual pirate invasion?? 😉

Dreaming of your next vacation is almost as much fun as actually going on vacation.  So I think it’s time that we start some vacation dreaming, don’t you?!?

With this Tampa Bay Travel Guide you’ll learn the best sights to see, things to do, restaurants to visit, and the favorite hidden gems of the locals!

So don’t leave home without first reading these fun Tampa Florida Travel Tips for the best things to do in Tampa and the surrounding areas.

Whether you’re planning to visit Tampa for the weekend or the week, read these Tampa Florida things to do BEFORE you go…

Related: How to Travel for Free or Cheap (21 Budget Travel Tips)

What To Do In Tampa Bay

Now keep reading for all the very best Tampa Florida travel tips and things to do shared by myself and your frugal friends…

Patti said: “The Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, Clearwater Aquarium (home of Winter & Hope from Dolphin Tale I & II), Ringling Brothers Museum in Sarasota, PJ’s restaurant in Indian Rocks Beach area and of course the beach.  Can you tell I live nearby and go often?

If you are a baseball fan, remember that Florida is where the spring training happens so catch a game with your favorite team playing. If you are looking to go to a concert, check out who is performing at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Cuban food in Ybor City, or just touring that area.”

Anne said: “Ybor city!”

Janelle said: “Love Tampa! Go to Ybor City (before it gets dark) and have lunch or dinner at the Columbia restaurant.  The Ropa Vieja and Godiva Chocolate Cake are delicious!”

Jennifer also said: “Ybor City and the Columbia Restaurant!”

Score Free Coffee at Starbucks!  With all the time spent outside in the sun and at the beach… you just might be needing a caffeine fix and a snack!  There are so many Starbucks locations all around Tampa, so check this out…

Starbucks Money Saving Hacks

Michele said: “The Columbia Restaurant is a must, as well as the Museum of Science and Industry.”

Meredith said: “If you have children, must go to Clearwater Aquarium and see the stars of Dolphin Tale.”

Paige said: “Love Lowry Park Zoo.  Shopping at International Plaza (best mall there), Ybor city, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stadium, Yankees preseason game or their minor league team, Aquarium in Clearwater — meet Hope and Winter from Dolphin Tale, Busch Gardens.”

Carmen said: “Lowry Park Zoo. Busch Gardens. Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey.”

Lauren said: “The Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, MOSI, Lowry Park Zoo, Malibu Race Track, Glaziers Children’s Museum. Travel over the bridge to St. Petersburg and there is Great Explorations Children’s Museum, The Dali Museum, Clearwater Aquarium with Wynter the Dolphin, #1 beaches! and the list goes on and on!”

Don’t Need a Car?

If you won’t need a car during your trip, be sure to check out Jayride to find the best deals on airport transport and airport shuttles around Tampa!

At Jayride.com you can compare prices, choose from several different companies, and book your transfer with the best deal.  It’s a great way to get from point A to point B without a car!

Renting a Car?

Score a Deal on your Tampa Florida Car Rental!  There are so many beautiful places to explore around Tampa and Orlando… and you’ll need a car to see a lot of them!  There are a few easy Rental Car Hacks to slash your costs that you’ll want to put to use!  Here are my favorite tricks to save BIG on car rentals…

21 Ways to Save Money on Rental Cars

Margie said: “I was stationed at MacDill AFB. Definitely drive down Bayshore Blvd., and check out the views and the houses.”

Wendy said: “Tarpon Springs is close by. Beautiful place to visit & check out the sponge docks!”

Liana said: “I live in St. Pete which is right across the bridge. We have the best beaches over here, Fort Desoto is awesome, you could spend a whole day out there. The aquarium in Tampa is also pretty amazing, as is the Lowry Park Zoo. In Clearwater we’ve got Winter the Dolphin and that aquarium is fairly inexpensive.”

Terry said: “Not in Tampa, but in St Petersburg just outside of Tampa is the Salvador Dali museum. Amazing!”

Susan said: “Ca’ D’Zan, the home of the Ringling Circus King and his wife. Not in Tampa, but a short drive south to Sarasota. And Bern’s Steakhouse.”

Tampa On A Budget

To keep your vacation budget-friendly, you’ll need to plan ahead.  One of the first things you’ll want to do is start stashing cash away for your  ‘Tampa Trip Fund’.

Need to increase your travel fund stash?  One of the easiest ways is to make extra money on the side in your free time!  Here are my favorite tricks for ramping up the vacation budget…

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25 American Airlines Flight Hacks (Weird Tricks Everyone Should Know)

Where to Stay in Tampa

Wondering how to plan the perfect hotel stay for your next vacation?  It’s so much easier than you think!

Don’t book your next hotel without knowing these secrets shared by Hotel Staff and Frequent Travelers…

75 Hotel Hacks Everyone Should Know

In addition to hotels, I also recommend staying at a VRBO when visiting Tampa on your trip.  VRBO has so many vacation rentals listed by owner, and they can be such a great way to find nice lodging that is way less expensive than the hotels.

I’ve personally stayed at multiple VRBO’s, and loved every one.

Not only were they often significantly cheaper than the nearby hotels, they also came fully stocked with handy amenities that saved us SO much money!

Now do you want to know my favorite tips and tricks for saving BIG on a VRBO?  These little known hacks will save you SO much money!  Check this out…

How to Slash The Cost of Your Next Trip Using VRBO

When You First Arrive, Stock up on Cheap Food and Supplies at Walmart!

Picking up a few of your essentials at Walmart will be is an easy way to save BIG!  Grab some full-size sunscreen, food and snacks for your room, and any gear you need.

Want to sweeten the deal even more? Here are a few of my favorite tricks…

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More Fun and Frugal Vacation Ideas

Now that you’ve had fun reading through these fun Tampa Florida Travel Tips to help plan your vacation fun, start dreaming of even more amazing Florida vacations with these frugal travel tips below…

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So… have YOU ever been to Tampa Bay before?

What are some of your favorite Tampa Florida travel tips for places to see, food to eat, and things to do, etc?

Leave a comment & share!