Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Absolutely. The only thing Tampa needs is a direct rail link to Westshore and Downtown.
Tampa has been widely recognized as very user friendly since the day it opened.
Your right, the biggest problem is its connection to downtown. Public transit is weak, and the current interstates are under a lot of construction. Tampa has been getting serious about light rail though. I have looked at all the maps for the proposed rail lines, and in all of them, TIA is linked very well to the rest of the city, especially downtown.
I like MIA, a lot of people think it's hectic and crazy but it's a pretty nice place, they are doing construction on it as well. Also they are including the Grand Central Station right next to it. Ofcourse I like JFK as well, I would like to see what LAX is like some day. Orlando has one of the nicest airports in the country and I also enjoy Tampa International. LaGuardia is nice but I like JFK more. IMO though airports really don't matter when talking about like amenities and things like that, the only problem you might run into is bad customer service but besides that how much time do you actually plan on spending IN the airport? It's not supposed to be a mall, it's just supposed to get people from one place to another.
For a medium-sized airport that isn't a hub, the Portland airport is pretty good. You can get there directly on the MAX train from downtown--plus they've got a few decent stores including branches of the local mega bookstore Powell's. Food choices aren't that bad either---I like to get a beer and some German food at Gustav's while I'm waiting for a flight.
I also dig JFK--at least the new JetBlue terminal---it's pretty swanky with highend bars and such.
Location: Austin, TX/Chicago, IL/Houston, TX/Washington, DC
10,138 posts, read 15,928,719 times
Reputation: 4047
The very first time I felt like an airport is lively outside of Chicago was when I went to Atlanta in May of 1999. I loved the food, the airport was nice. It was lively, and I like that about an airport.
At one point, Pittsburgh International Airport was rated the best in the U.S., and third-best in the world, by Conde Nast Traveler. Then US Airways de-hubbed. Last I've heard, PIT is still at or near the top of customer satisfaction rankings among major U.S. airports.
The ugliest airport I've ever been to was New Orleans MSY.
Not much to look at is it? Pretty much NO food or shopping opportunities either...a Smoothie King, a bad "Cajun" fast food place, and a bar. No real chain restaurants or any kind of shopping other than a shop with magazines and candy.
Coolest airports I can remember were Hamburg Germany (seemed HUGE), Toronto, and I also liked Atlanta for the short time I was there.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.