Hotel Reco/Location Needed

We are thinking about spending New Years Eve in Tampa. (A few friends in late 20%26#39;s/early 30%26#39;s). We thought Ybor City would be fun as it seems to have a large amount of bars/restaurants, etc. I%26#39;m curious though since I%26#39;ve never been -- if its rundown/dirty? We%26#39;d still like to stay in a nicer hotel, shop, sun, eat good while we%26#39;re there.

Does anyone think Ybor is not where we would want to stay? Is the Hilton Garden Inn a nice option or just average?

Any thoughts, recos are greatly appreciated. THANKS!

Hotel Reco/Location Needed

You may get a few very different opinions about Ybor City, but I%26#39;m in my early 30%26#39;s and have lived in Tampa 19 years. I find Ybor to be clean, fun and safe, but like all cities Entertainment Districts, you need to be aware of your surroundings.

Hilton garden Inn is a great hotel in the heart of Ybor(also nice is the Don Vincente Bed and Breakfast and Hampton Inn Ybor). The OUtback Bowl is New Years, so NYE in Ybor is very busy with a parade, and fireworks. There are MANY bars and restaurants for ALL kinds in Ybor. Some of my favs are Prana, Code, Amphitheater, Green Iguana, Blues Shark, James Joyce Pub, Gaspars Grotto. Restaurants include Laughing Cat(Italian), Acropolis(Greek), Samarai Blue(Sushi), Bernini(Italian), Columbia(Spanish), La Creperia(Crepes), Green Iguana(American), Big City Tavern(American), dish(Mongolian Buffet), Tampa Brewing Co(American). Ybor is a National Historic District, picture the French Quarter in New Orleans on a very smaller scale(10 blocks by 3 blocks). There will be many out of towners in Tampa for he holiday.

You also have the streetcar that can take you downtown to Channelside(about 1 mile), where there is yet another Entertainment Venue with lots of Restaurants and Bars.

TBO.com and TBT.com can provide even more info about New Years happenings. Ybor.org and Channelside.com will provide more info on the Entertainment Districts.

Hotel Reco/Location Needed

Tampan -

Thanks for the reply, I figured that might be the case. Would you be willing to share your thoughts on a couple other items for me?

*I looked into the Marriott Waterside which I believe is by Channelside which you mentioned in your post. That seems to be a nice place and VERY close to YBOR as well. What do you think about that in comparison to Hilton Garden?

*Also, thanks for all the bar/restaurant recommendations....any place you%26#39;d pick over others for a really nice dinner on New years eve?

Thanks again for your help! Looking forward to getting out of the cold, snow that is bound to be in Chicago by then!!!

Have personally stayed at the Marriott Waterside and it is a great hotel, go to the Marriott website and they have a photo tour of the hotel, the Columbia Restaurant is a personal favorite and highly recommend it, Ybor will be alot of fun on New Years, Tampan had some great suggestions...have a great time :)

I would dissagree strongly with Angel, saying Ybor is dangerous that time of year is ridiculous, the saying ';there is safety in numbers'; apply here. It is more crowed than normal but as in any ';party place'; you use common sense, you stay where the crowds are which is 7th AVe., the main street. Dont wonder down unlit side streets where there are no people. You guys should have a great time and you may want to check out the Hampton Inn in Ybor, a lot less money but still in the heart of things, clean, safe and nice. I suspect you wont be in your rooms very much and you may want to say your money for the cover charges as I suspect most the clubs will have them then.

I prefer Marriott Waterside to the Hilton Garden Inn...more upscale, nicer atmosphere.

Tampan gave some great options for things to do in Ybor. For vacation, I think Ybor is great. Personally, I haven%26#39;t gone down to Ybor in years, though. Are you going with all girls or couples?? I prefer the bars in the Soho district, but I%26#39;m sure Ybor would be fun for New Year%26#39;s.

I%26#39;d suggest keeping Ybor as an option (you can still get down there easily by trolley or cab from Marriott Waterside) but also check out the websites Tampan suggested closer to New Year%26#39;s time.

Sometimes bars/clubs in S. Tampa offer higher cover and drinks are included (sometimes tickets need to be bought in advance). I know Jackson%26#39;s and Mangroves have done this before. Also, there have been concerts the past few years. You%26#39;ll have a great time!

Great comments from above..Marriott Waterside is a GREAT hotel, on the water, awesome pool deck, marina and riverwalk out back. The streecar has a stop there that can take you to channelside(a few blocks) or to ybor(about 1 mile). Either way, stay in Ybor or downtown would be fine.

Dinner in Ybor for New Years - make sure you make reservations if you are planning this, but i%26#39;d recommend Big City Tavern in Centro Ybor Entertainment Complex. Make sure you request a balcony view for dessert or both dinner and dessert to watch the parade and partiers.

Prana is 5 levels, each with a different type of music, VIP on third floor, 4th has a glass portion that you can look down onto the third floor(or they can look up-watch those skirts, lol), the top is a rooftop with a live band(usually raggae) with awesome views of the city and ybor.

As mentioned, I do tend to hang out more in the HydePark/SOHO districts, on the other side of downtown from Ybor. But i%26#39;d recommend goign to Ybor and/or Channelside for NYE.

Thanks everyone! This was all very helpful -- looking forward to the trip now!

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