Car hire Tampa

Introduction

Tampa is a city on the Gulf of Mexico on the east coast of Florida. It is an attractive city with lots of tropical green and beautiful beaches nearby. One of the biggest attractions is the Busch Gardens amusement park, which has a large safari park linked to it. The historic Ybor City is worth a visit both during the day and night. During the day for the historic buildings and at night for its night clubs, bars and restaurants. Around Tampa you will find many, excellent golf courses.

Population

Tampa has a population of almost 350,000. The city is part of the so-called Tampa Bay Area (which includes St. Petersburg and Clearwater), where approximately 2.7 million people live.

Location

Tampa is located in the west of Florida, on Tampa Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. The rest of the conurbation is on a peninsula between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Economy

The service industry is the most important factor in the local economy. Banks, insurance companies and telecommunications companies have offices there. The port is also important: almost half of all the commercial shipping in Florida goes through the port of Tampa. Furthermore, tourism plays an important role: the port is an important destination for both regional and international cruise ships.

Airports

The airport is located eleven kilometers west of the city center, right on Tampa Bay. Tampa International Airport is easily accessible by rental car. The airport is located along Interstate 275. The exit to the airport is clearly indicated.

An alternative airport is Saint Petersburg Airport, which is used mainly by budget airlines.

Public Transport

Tampa has excellent public transportation. There are buses, trams and trolleys. For tourists the TECO Streetcar (tram) is very practical. The line goes from Dick Greco Plaza in the center to Centennial Park in Ybor City. There are two trolley lines. These trolleys look like trams, but they actually are buses. The green line only runs on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm until 2am.

Traffic and Parking

Except for morning and evening rush hours, it is not difficult to drive a rental car in Tampa. The street pattern is clear and the city is bisected by several highways: Interstate 275, Interstate 4, Veterans Expressway (toll) and Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (toll).

There are several parking facilities in the center of town. You can also park in the street, but be careful not to exceed the parking time. In some districts, it is free to park in the street after 6pm, in other districts only after midnight. Also, parking spaces can be reserved for residents only. Please read the instructions at the parking meters.

Hotels

Tampa has a wide range of hotels. Both budget travelers and those who seek luxurious accommodation, will be able to find a suitable room However, Tampa is extremely busy during summer. During that time we recommend you to book your hotel room well in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Tampa we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Tampa
• Official website Tampa
• Tourist Information Tampa