Cheap Places to Fly to from Tampa

We get it! Life is busy and hectic and sometimes you just can’t get away for the extravagant vacation of your dreams. Just because you can’t afford to jet off to Tahiti doesn’t mean that there aren’t some splendid locations close to Tampa Bay! Check out these destinations that are affordable and easy to fly to from Tampa International Airport:

• Puerto Rico (2 ½ hour flight from TPA). It is no surprise that Puerto Rico is one of the most affordable places for Tampa travelers to go with flights roughly around $180 round trip! Fly on JetBlue and you will receive complementary television and movies during the flight. When you arrive at San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, be sure to explore the candy-colored shops and watch the sun set over the Caribbean from local Spanish forts.
• Atlanta, Georgia. (1 hour 20 min flight from TPA). Yes, Atlanta is “only” a nine hour drive from Tampa, but why drive eighteen hours round trip when you can leave your car at A1 express and hop on a plane for $138 round trip? If you are craving city life, check out midtown and downtown Atlanta. Olympic Park is always fun to explore and you can even visit where they filmed the popular TV Series “The Walking Dead!”
• Bermuda. (3 hour flight from TPA). Bermuda is a beautiful little island nation off the coast of the eastern United States. Coming in at around $500 round trip, the island is a bit more expensive to fly to, but it is totally worth it! After sampling Bermuda’s famous pink beaches, push your fear factor to its limit with a round of fly boarding, which has you flying over the ocean using a water-powered jetpack! You superhero you!

Once you figure out where you should fly to from Tampa International Airport, make your free online reservation with A1 Express to ensure you get the cheapest TPA airport parking!

Where to eat at Tampa International Airport’s Airside A

Imagine the following scenario: You ride the tram, get through Tampa International Airport security, and arrive at Airside A hungry. Now that you are on the airside of TPA there is no sense in going back through security just to get a bite to eat. Check out some of the delicious offerings TPA Airside A has to offer:

Airside A

·         Pizza Hut. ($). All the time is a good time to grab a slice of hot pizza! Pizza hut is ideal for a quick lunch or a late night snack before boarding your flight.

·         Sam Snead’s Grill & Tavern. ($$). This tavern showcases memorabilia from Sam Snead, a famous golfer. Indulge in certified angus aged beef, ribs, chicken and fresh seafood.

·         Bacardi Mojito Bar. ($). A adult beverage made from famous Bacardi rum is perfect to calm even the most nervous traveler. Have a long layover? Stop and have a mojito!

·         Starbucks. ($). Rum not your style? Grab a Frappuccino for a delicious pick-me-up. Starbucks also serves packed sandwiches and is vegetarian friendly.

·         Zia’s Café. ($). For the healthy ones who want their daily protein fix, Zia’s offers smoothies and nutrition supplements. They also offer a juice bar which is something you don’t see every day.

·         Quizno’s Subs. ($). Since Quizno’s is “build your own sub,” it is perfect for vegetarian and vegan travelers.

Don’t forget to make your free online reservation with A1-Express! We will get you to your terminal with enough time to grab a bit to eat before your TPA flight. Stay tuned for our next post on where to eat at Tampa International Airport Airside C.

Where to Eat at Tampa International Airport

Once you are dropped off at Tampa International Airport by A1-Express’s complementary shuttle, you may want to get a quick bite to eat before proceeding to your terminal. Whether you prefer to sit down at a nice restaurant, pick up a light lunch, or grab a quick bit to eat on the go, there is something for everyone at TPA!

Location: Landslide Building

1.      Starbucks. ($). Because who doesn’t want 24 hour a day yummy goodness!

2.      Carrabba’s Italian Grill. ($$) (10:30 am-9:30pm). Carrabbas is inspired by fresh homemade Italian cooking. TPA Carrabbas offers a variety of happy hour deals and meal specials. The atmosphere is classy and you will almost forget you are in Tampa International Airport!

3.      First Flight Wine Bar by Mise En Place. ($$) (10:30am-10:30pm). This classy wine bar has something for both novice and experienced tasters. First Flight offers simple food to go with wine such as artisanal cheeses and sausages.

4.      TGI Friday’s. ($) (7:00am-11:00pm). Friday’s features an American cuisine that includes hamburgers, sandwiches, steaks, salads, and seafood. Burger patties can be substituted to accommodate for vegetarian and vegan diners. Friday’s is yet another great location for grabbing a pre-flight cocktail.

5.      Burger King/Papa Johns. ($) (5:00am-10:00pm). If quick and cheap is what you are craving, stop off at these popular chain restaurants for a quick pre-flight meal. Burger King offers fast food, including breakfast sandwiches, and Papa Johns is known for their pizza.

Make your free online reservation at A1 Express and stay tuned for A1 Express’s next article on where to eat once you arrive at Airside A!

Easy Car Maintenance Tips

 

Did you know that April is “National Car Care Month?” That means there is no better time to perform a self-check test on your car than right now in the middle of April!  It is important to remember the following car maintenance tips so you can ensure that your vehicle is running properly before the arrival of the summer driving season!

1.      Pop that hood! Pop the hood of your car and inspect all important fluids. Find the dipstick for your engine oil and transmission fluid and check these first. If you aren’t sure where to locate them in your car, search Google to find out.

2.      While you are under there…make sure to check any visible hoses and belts. Make sure that they aren’t brittle, frayed, or loose.

3.      Battery basics. Pay special attention to the battery connections and make sure that they aren’t loose and corroding. If corrosion is present, take a screwdriver or similar tool and scrape the decay loose.

4.      April showers bring…windshield wiper use!! Ensure that your windshield wiper fluid is full. If it needs to be topped off and you don’t have any fluid on hand, you can always use distilled water as a temporary substitute.

5.      Tire tips. Checking tires is probably the easiest type of self-maintenance you can perform! Invest in an inexpensive tire pressure gauge and make sure that your tires are full of air. Remember that if your tires show uneven wear, it is time for a wheel alignment!

 

Spring into April by making your free online reservation with A1 Express the next time you fly out of Tampa International Airport.  

A-1 Express Needs Your Help – No New Airport ‘Privilege Fee’ for Off-Site Parking!

A-1 Express Airport Parking has been proud to serve the Tampa Bay community for nearly 20 years, but today, we turn to you, our customers, to ask for your support.

 Last month, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) proposed a new airport tax of 8.5% to all off-site airport parking companies. If imposed, this tax will present a nearly $300,000 burden to just three local parking businesses, which we feel is unfair. We currently operate a full service business at a very competitive rate, and if this new tax is put into place, we will have no choice other than to reduce services or increase our fees, neither of which we want to do.

 Many of our customers appreciate the added convenience that A-1 Express offers, assisting with their luggage from the time they arrive at our facility until they return from their travels to retrieve their vehicle. We are known for our outstanding service, and providing less is not an option for us.

 The Aviation Authority Board will discuss implementation of this new tax at their board meeting at 9:00 am on Thursday, November 7. The boardroom is located on the third floor, next to the Blue Earhart Elevators, of the Tampa International Airport Main Terminal. The general public is invited to attend.

 We are not against paying our fair share for maintenance and upkeep of airport facilities, but we do feel that 8.5% is extreme. If you agree and would like to support our effort to keep this tax from being imposed, the following board members to ask them to reconsider this tax.

 

Mr. Robert I. Watkins, Chairman
Robert Watkins & Company
610 S. Boulevard, Suite 100
Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-254-3369; F: 813-253-3280
E-mail: rwatkins@robertwatkins.com

 

Mayor Bob Buckhorn , Treasurer
306 E. Jackson St.
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 813/274-8251; F: 813/274-7050
Assistant: Conchita Hilton
E-mail: conchita.tilton@tampagov.net

Victor D. Crist , County Commissioner
Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
601 E. Kennedy, Tampa, FL 33601
or P.O. Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 813/272-5452; F: 813/272-7047
Assistant: Eric Johnson
E-Mail: johnsonek@hillsboroughcounty.org

 

Joseph Lopano, Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box 22287
Tampa, FL 33622-2287
Phone: 813/870-8701; F: 813/875-6670
Assistant: Kim Humphrey
E-Mail:  khumphrey@tampaairport.com

 

Martin L Garcia, Board Member
Pinehill Capital Partners, Inc.
1700 S. MacDill Avenue, Suite 240
Tampa, FL 33629
Phone: 813-253-3999
E-mail: mgarcia@pinehill.com

 

Gary Harrod, Board Member
Harrod Properties Inc
5550 West Executive Dr
Suite 550
Tampa, Fl 33609
813-229-1500

 

 The growth that A-1 Express has experienced over the years is the direct result of continued patronage of customers like you, who support and appreciate our business and commitment to providing you with outstanding service. We value your trust, and we will do our best to continue to be your preferred airport parking facility for years to come.

 For more information regarding this issue, download the fact sheet here.