Ottakee Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) I might be making a trip to at St.Petersburg with my girls and would like some information in the area, safety, where to stay, etc. We would likely be flying into Tampa and renting a car. Edited January 25, 2016 by Ottakee Quote
creekland Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 If you're wanting to stay on the beach... we love St Pete Beach - miles of walking, oodles of shells, nice flat beach with calm water. Safety is pretty good in most of Pinellas County IME, at least most areas that tourists frequent. 1 Quote
Ottakee Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 I need economical. This would not really be a "vacation" trip although we would like to sight see if we get there. Economical though is key....way more than beach views, etc....esp considering we live 15 minutes from one of the top beaches. We would likely be there 3-4 nights. Quote
Katy Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) nm Edited July 22, 2016 by Katy 1 Quote
3 ladybugs Posted January 25, 2016 Posted January 25, 2016 Try HomeAway. My grandmother was able to get a condo a block from the beach, and within walking distance of my mom, as she lives there, really reasonable. Now my grandmother was there for a month, so I am sure she got a better deal per night then you would with a 3 day stay, but it is worth a look see. I agree that the beach is safe. I have never felt not safe on the beach. Quote
Ottakee Posted January 25, 2016 Author Posted January 25, 2016 I don't know when we are coming, if even for sure. Quote
JonesinIndiana Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 Stay away from any motels or hotels along US 19, which is also known as 34th St N or 34th St S. Some of those are in unsafe areas. 1 Quote
creekland Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 I just ran a search on Hotels.com and off season, some of the St Pete Beach places are similar priced to others more in St Pete itself. In season that will change, of course. Not all the motels on US 19 are in bad areas. You can use price to figure out a little bit of which ones probably aren't the best. In general, you're going to be ok in a typical chain motel (La Quinta, Comfort Inn, etc). Perhaps for some I wouldn't go walking at night, but overall St Pete is quite a nice city - my favorite. Crime rates are definitely different/lower than many other cities. Tampa has more well-known bad areas to stay away from. St Pete? Not so much. Quote
Ottakee Posted February 7, 2016 Author Posted February 7, 2016 This trip is still a possibility. Possibly later April or May, maybe March??? We just in the past 2 weeks located my girls bio sister who is older than them. Now they want to go visit and meet her. Even if they offer for us to stay with her and her adoptive family I think it might be more comfortable for us to have a hotel and some space as this will be an emotional trip for all of the girls. Depending on when I could get airline flights using miles I am thinking a Friday- Monday trip or so. Are there any other safe hotels that might be cheaper even 15-20 minutes away? They live the more south west side of St. Pete. 1 Quote
creekland Posted February 7, 2016 Posted February 7, 2016 March is going to have higher prices due to spring break. Better prices will likely be available in mid April after Easter is finished. You can try searching on Hotels.com to get an estimate on costs. Quote
Ottakee Posted February 7, 2016 Author Posted February 7, 2016 Thanks. We want to avoid Spring break season. Then again it might be fall before we go as well. 1 Quote
LibraryLover Posted February 7, 2016 Posted February 7, 2016 www.sandvistamotel.com Perfect location, great price. Not too far from St Petersburg. It's not a Hilton, but it is everything it says. Safe, and across the street from the beach. 1 Quote
Ottakee Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks. I see prices are dropping once you hit May. Just the opposite of here where prices start going up then. If we go, I would want to avoid the hot of summer as I can handle below zero temps but wilt when it is above 80 and humid. Quote
creekland Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks. I see prices are dropping once you hit May. Just the opposite of here where prices start going up then. If we go, I would want to avoid the hot of summer as I can handle below zero temps but wilt when it is above 80 and humid. Uh, you'll want to go in March or April then. We lived there for 5 years and all of my guys were born there. By the time my oldest was born (in latter April), it's already HOT by my 50 - 80 comfort zone standards. Here, I looked up an average temp link that looks pretty accurate to me: https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Florida/Places/st-petersburg-temperatures-by-month-average.php Quote
Ottakee Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 Uh, you'll want to go in March or April then. We lived there for 5 years and all of my guys were born there. By the time my oldest was born (in latter April), it's already HOT by my 50 - 80 comfort zone standards. Here, I looked up an average temp link that looks pretty accurate to me: https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Florida/Places/st-petersburg-temperatures-by-month-average.php By the looks of that chart......I would be happy there in Dec. or Jan.......I like a hoodie way better than shorts. Is it really humid there? Here in Michigan near the water it can be 80-90% humidity in the summer and that gets miserable. Then again, if it works to go see my girls' sister, we will go when it works for her family and free airline tickets. 1 Quote
creekland Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 By the looks of that chart......I would be happy there in Dec. or Jan.......I like a hoodie way better than shorts. Is it really humid there? Here in Michigan near the water it can be 80-90% humidity in the summer and that gets miserable. Then again, if it works to go see my girls' sister, we will go when it works for her family and free airline tickets. It's always humid there, even in the dry season. Being surrounded by big water will do that. In the winter, the humidity feels good. 2 Quote
SebastianCat Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 It's above 80 degrees in Tampa/St. Pete from the end of February through December. Humidity can run 80-90% from May through November. But everything is air conditioned, and the closer you get to the coast, the more you'll have a seabreeze, which cools you considerably. It sounds like you want to come in April, after the spring break crowds leave but before it gets really hot. I wouldn't recommend trying to come in the fall, unless you are thinking November or December. August and September are still very hot and humid. 1 Quote
Ottakee Posted February 8, 2016 Author Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks for the tips. We are taking this slowly as it is all new to the girls to find a bio sister. 2 Quote
creekland Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 To be fair, out of the 5 years we lived in St Pete, it only got below freezing (down to 30) twice for a very short period of time overnight. It was kind of cool to see a slim layer of ice on puddles. It can feel cold to those who live there, but it rarely felt cold to northern visitors. Locals would have coats on by 68 degrees or lower. Tourists would be in swimsuits laying out on the beach or even going in the water. Each thought the other was crazy. Quote
Ottakee Posted February 9, 2016 Author Posted February 9, 2016 It is a lot what you are used to. 38, sun and no wind and I can be out in jeans and a hoodie and feel fine. That humid biting wind though makes a bug difference. My daughter now really wants to go see her sister as she found out it is near Winter the dolphin, and there are manatees and dolphins to see....and lizards to catch. 2 Quote
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