Tampa to Los Angeles Flights

  About Tampa

Nestled on Tampa Bay is the quaint and quintessential city of Tampa in Florida's Gulf Coast. Due to its proximity to Cuba, much of the culture, cuisine and lifestyle is Cuban-influenced. Tampa is a famous tourist destination which sees a huge crowd of travellers visiting during peak season.

Best time to visit Tampa

Tampa's busiest months are from May through August as the weather is hot, just the way some people like it. However, it is the months of September to December that you should root for as the weather is very pleasant and the hotel prices are also cheap and convenient. The temperatures range from 22 degree Celsius to 31 degree Celsius, which is quite ideal if you are travelling from India. The hotel reservations in Tampa during these months are also affordable as they have discounted rates, making the trip perfect. You might even end up getting rooms facing the water, which is quite the sight. Plus, the city also sees fun events such as Oktoberfest Tampa and Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. You should know though that summer is also a good time when it comes to hosting events in the city. They have some really amazing events such as Sunset Music Festival, BeeFest and Bolts Brew Fest. Basically, Floridians of Tampa like their beer chilled and crafted. It reflects perfectly with the way they celebrate beer several times in a year. Despite being hot, the city does manage to attract a lot of crowds and along with them, heavy hotel prices.

The winter and spring months at Tampa are exquisite. Even though the temperature falls to 11 degree Celsius sometimes in January, the season still sees a good amount of tourist activity. Due to this, the flight and hotel charges are also quite steep. In fact, it would be best for you to start looking for hotels and accommodations along with your flight tickets, well in advance. You might still get expensive rates for flights and hotels in Tampa, but it always seems like you can manage to get some online deals. It is recommended that you start three months in advance to book flights and hotels in Tampa for a lush vacation. There are some fun festivals too that take place in the city such as Tampa Pride, Taste @ the Straz, Tampa Bay Beer Week, Gasparilla Pirate Fest and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. While the prices might be steep and even the streets might be full of crowded tourists, you should still opt for this time of the year for a trip to Tampa. The city's vibe is certainly something that would make you want to relax and have a good time.

Places to visit in Tampa

Tampa is ideal for a family vacation and especially for animal lovers. The place has a lot of tourist attractions that would keep anyone engaged. From the Florida Aquarium to the Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa continues to bustle with tourists as there are many natural locales to explore. You can start with the Riverwalk which is located along the Hillsborough River. You can walk it up or use a bike. The Florida Aquarium is recognised to be one of the best in the world and houses a colossal number of marine life with over 14, 000 residing within. It will take you a long time to complete your tour in the Florida Aquarium, but it will be quite an experience. You can also engage in some interesting shows at the Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Centre ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a fun expedition to explore with the family. The zoo has some beautiful animals, including African elephants, orangutans, tigers, koalas, penguins, to name a few species. You can also check out the Henry B Plant Museum, which is located on the campus of the University of Tampa.

Things to do in Tampa

Busch Gardens is a theme park which is sprawled across 297 acres of land. There are many live shows, roller coasters games and shops that would hold your attention. To enjoy the entertainment sphere of Tampa, you should try to get a ticket to watch a show at the Tampa Theatre. The theatre is recognised to be one of the most elaborate theatres in the world. The city also organises several boat tours, and all you have got to do is to pick a cruise or yacht trip and make the most of Tampa. Another fun amusement park is the Adventure Island where you can unwind with your family. Even though the beach is right there, you should visit the amusement park as your kids will definitely love the entertaining activities and rides present. Not to mention how you should indulge in some of the festivals and food tours.

Food and Restaurants in Tampa

Tampa's food is heavily Cuban-inspired. It is Cuban food and waterfront dining that the locals recommend and for all the right reasons. You can enjoy the lip-smacking seafood with Cuban flavours while watching the sunset. It is quite a sight and the ideal dining experience one can ask for. One of the best waterfront seats that you can find in Tamp is at the Oystercatchers, which is associated with Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. The place has the freshest and best seafood that you'll find in Tampa. While Oystercatchers does have a great view of the water and the best waterfront in Tampa, you can also opt for Cafe Dufrain which is located in the Harbour Island. The establishment gives a fancy spin to locally sourced dishes. For some exquisite Cuban food, you should visit Ybor City and make reservations at Columbia Restaurant. The establishment is recognised as one of the top-notch in all of Florida for serving the best Cuban cuisine. Besides Cuban, you will also find Spanish and Caribbean meals from the respective kitchen. What's fascinating is how you'll find flamenco performances while you relish the food.

La Teresita Restaurant is another fun establishment that makes lip-smacking food and offers a great vibe. For special occasions, you should visit Bern's Steak House. The dining scene of the said restaurant is exquisite, and the food is divine. Far off to the other side of the spectrum is the Rooster & the Till, which basically has beautiful farm-to-table dishes to cater to the American tapas. Ulele is also a lovely joint which is perfectly nestled on the Tampa Riverwalk. They specialise in Native-inspired cuisine which includes charbroiled oysters with garlic butter and cheese. Tampa Riverwalk also has many other food joints that would get your attention. They favour Cuban food interspersed with wood-fired pizzas. Hillsborough River is another famous point where the foodies will have a good time indulging in classic to modern dishes.

How to reach Tampa

Flight connectivity to Tampa from India is quite good. Although there are no direct flights that fly to Tampa from India, a plethora of connecting flights and layover options are available. Thanks to a slew of flights that fly to Tampa from the US as well as some European cities, travelling to Tampa is not cumbersome. Instead, it is actually very convenient. Some of the airlines such as British Airways, Swiss, United Airlines, Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Alitalia, Delta Air Lines, Qatar Airways, United Airways, American Airlines, Air France, Vistara, have impeccable flight connectivity to Tampa from India. The most convenient and popular route to reach Tampa from India is by flying to Miami and getting a connecting flight from there. As both the cities are in the Florida state, travelling via domestic routes becomes easier if Tampa is the destination. From India, there are various international routes to reach Tampa, such as from London, Zurich, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Rome, Toronto and Newark, to name a few. Some of the cities require a transit visa.

Specific countries have rules that require the travellers to hold a transit visa. If you have layovers or connecting flights from cities such as Zurich, Frankfurt, Toronto, Paris, London, Newark, to name a few, you will have to produce a transit visa. This visa cannot be used to step out of the airport as it is only to showcase that you are visiting the said city's airport to board a connecting flight. Flight tickets to Tampa are not cheap. Rather, they are quite expensive. One of the main reasons why travellers opt for Miami instead of flying to Tampa is because of the expensive flight tickets. However, if you have managed to save well and have enough in your bank account to make the trip happen, then you might be able to snag some flight ticket deals to Tampa online. It would be convenient if you also booked your hotels in Tampa while booking your flights. The accommodation in Tampa is just as expensive, which means you will have to make prior bookings, probably more than six months in advance. This way you will get amazing deals online plus you will get to save up for the same in the city.

  About Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States of America. Even though it is majorly popular for Hollywood and a tour of the Paramount Pictures Studios and Warner Bros. Studios, there is more to LA than that. It is one of the fanciest cities to live in and worth every penny spent. LA also has the Malibu, Venice and Santa Monica Beaches that offer a couple of water activities. You can also go hiking at Griffith Park and Angeles National Forest. A lot of tourists prefer a guided tour of the city, but it can take a while since it's a big city. It would, however, help if you plan in advance and make a list of things you want to do and places you want to visit in LA. You also need to make sure that you book your hotel in Los Angeles way in advance. For all you know, you might even run into your favourite celebrity here in LA.

Best Time to Visit Los Angeles

LA is one city that you can visit whenever you want and is at its affordable best if you have planned the trip well in advance. June to August is summer in LA, and it is also a high season. The temperature ranges from 15 to 29 degree Celsius. Booking a hotel in LA during the high season is quite expensive, and you won't even get cheap flight tickets to LA if you are flying during this season. However, if you are not wound up by a budget or have no trouble bearing the heat, summer is ideal for visiting LA for you. You can also be a part of LA Pride that happens in June and the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in August. Since the city is buzzing with tourists, it will also be difficult for you to enjoy some quiet time for yourself. You will constantly find a lot of tourists, almost every place you go to.

March to May is the spring season in LA, and though the prices don't really drop during this season, it is an ideal time to visit the city. The weather remains pleasant, and there are fewer tourists as compared to summer, which makes it all the more better. Though you might not be able to book a hotel in LA at an affordable price, you will come across quite a few discounts and flight deals to LA online. You can attend events like the Los Angeles Marathon, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Jazz Reggae Festival and so on. With fewer tourists, you will also enjoy the Hollywood tour more than you would with tourists overcrowding the city. The temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius and makes for quite a pleasant day. The evenings are perfect for you just to take a stroll around the city or the beaches if you are planning to visit any.

September to November is another best time to visit LA since this is when the tourists leave. The weather turns quite pleasant, hotel prices drop and so do prices of flight tickets to LA. The temperature ranges from 11 to 28 degree Celsius. You won't have to worry about splurging more than your budget or stepping out in the sun a lot if you are visiting in autumn. If you are lucky enough, you might even get a chance to attend the Emmy Awards or at least the red carpet as a fan. Make sure that you have your passes arranged in advance. December to February is winter and temperature range from 8 to 20 degree Celsius. It rains quite a lot during winter and LA is not as cold as the other cities in the US like New York or Boston. However, you will bump into celebrities here since the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Grammys are also hosted during this season. Don't forget to catch the Hollywood Christmas Parade if you are going to be around during the festival.

Places to Visit in Los Angeles

A Hollywood Tour is a must when you visit Los Angeles. Paramount Pictures Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Warner Bros. Studios are popular tourist attractions in the city. You can go on a guided tour of the studios and might even run into your favourite celebrity. If you want to spend a day near the ocean, you can head to Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, Zuma Beach or Malibu Beach. You can also head to the Universal Studios. Not only will you get to visit popular movie sets here but you can also try the movie-themed rides that the place has to offer. Be it The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Walking Dead or Transformers, you can try whichever one is your favourite or all of them. The Museum of Jurassic Technology is another tourist attraction in LA that you would not want to miss. It's a blend of fact and fiction and has very little to do with dinosaurs. If you are heading to the Los Angeles Zoo, you can also visit The Griffith Observatory later. It is a planetarium that lets you observe the moon and stars through a Zeiss telescope.

Take a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now you don't have to hire a guide here necessarily if but you might come across interesting stories if you do. You can head to the Chinese Theatre later on that has hand and footprints of popular actors. Disneyland is another famous attraction that you can visit with your friends or family. It has two waterparks and four theme parks. You can also visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art if you are an art lover. LACMA, as it is called, opened in 1965 and showcases artefacts from Islamic to European artists. If you want to do a little window shopping or go on a shopping spree, head over to Rodeo Drive, you will come across a lot of high-end designer stores, and you will also spot a lot of expensive, fancy vehicles.

Things to do in Los Angeles

Park near Lake Hollywood or go on a hike at Griffith Park to take a picture with the iconic Hollywood sign in the background. It is one of the most popular landmarks in LA. Griffith Park is one of the most popular places to go hiking in Los Angeles. Venice is an eccentric neighbourhood in Los Angeles, and you might want to catch the sunset at Venice Beach. You will find numerous street vendors, tattoo parlours, international cuisines and a few street performers. You will have a great time here. You can also try bicycle tours in the city, a very eco-friendly way of getting around the city. You can reserve a day for museum tours and other sightseeing tours, another day for studio tours and another one for Disneyland. Heading to the beach and indulging in water activities in another popular thing to do in LA. You will certainly not get tired of living the luxe life here.

Food and Restaurants in Los Angeles

LA has a very diverse range of cuisines, and since it is a famous place for celebs to be at, you will find a lot of restaurants here that are either owned by celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Gino Angelini. You will also find celebrity chefs recreating their signature dishes at other restaurants. If you want to grab a quick bite instead of waiting around at a restaurant, you can try the food trucks that serve sushi burritos, quinoa bowls and loaded hot dogs. You can also sign yourself up for a guided food tour since LA is known for its eclectic dining scene. The city is also known for its nightlife. You can head to The Varnish and ETA, and they are some of the best cocktail bars in the city. Diddy Riese Cookies is a fast food place that serves you delicious food. If you are in the mood for Italian food, you can try Raffaello Ristorante or Angelini Osteria. Tocaya Organica is the place you go to for Mexican or Latin food. Karl Strauss Brewing Company is an amazing brewpub.

How to reach Los Angeles (Transportation)

The Los Angeles International Airport is about 30 km away from Downtown LA. It is the world's third busiest airport. The flight connectivity to Los Angeles from India is excellent. Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, British Airways are some of the popular airlines that fly to LA with layovers at Istanbul, Singapore, Hong Kong and London. The frequency of flights to LA from India is quite good, and you will get to choose from a lot of them. The LA Airport is well-equipped, and you can expect first-class treatment even if you are not a VIP. There are restaurants, cafes, duty-free shopping areas, taxi services, almost everything that you need here. You can also chill at the airport lounge while you wait for your flight.

  About Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is located in Westchester, about 30 km away from Downtown Los Angeles. It is the primary airport that serves Los Angeles county and all the metropolitan that surrounds it. The airport is recognized to be the third busiest airport in the world with respect to passenger traffic, domestic and international. It is also the second busiest airport in the United States and follows Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airport is easily the largest international airport on the West Coast of the US.

In fact, Los Angeles International Airport also serves as a major getaway for international flights and operations to the US. The airport is also renowned for its status as the world's busiest origin as well as the destination airport. This means the airport sees travellers either commence or conclude their journey than use it for connecting flights. Los Angeles International Airport also operates the four legacy carriers of the US, American, United, Alaska and Delta. Hubs have been designated to the airlines.

About Airport Terminals

Los Angeles International Airport has a total of nine passenger terminals which comprises of 132 gates in total. The arrangement of the gates is in the form of the letter U and have been numbered to make it easier for the passenger. Tom Bradley International Terminal is completely out of the equation though. With the expansion of the Midfield Satellite Concourse North, international flights can now be accessed from the Tom Bradley Terminal (TBIT). With TBIT, 12 new gates have been added to the Midfield Satellite Concourse North. The terminal and runway have also undergone tremendous improvement. Terminal 1 is reserved for domestic flights as well as international check-in counters are also available. Terminal 2 has been allotted to Aer Lingus Airlines, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, West Jet and Delta Air Lines. Virgin Atlantic also has a Clubhouse that has been installed in the terminal premise. The structure has a luxurious overview that has been inspired by the West Coast luxe lifestyle. Terminal 3 has recently been given wholly to Delta Air Lines. The airlines plans to make some extensive upgrades to accommodate better passenger experience. The terminal also has check-ins of airlines such as Interjet and Virgin Australia, Avianca and Copa.

Terminal 4 has been taken over by American Airlines. The upgrades to the terminal were recently completed and with ticketing counters, restaurants and a direct connection from the terminal to the newly opened Tom Bradley International Terminal. The link has been created to enhance connectivity for passengers who need to reach the other terminal for connecting flights. Terminal 5 sees airlines such as Hawaiian Air, Air Canada (only arrivals), American, American Airlines, Allegiant Air and Frontier. They have recently upgraded the face of the terminal with additional restaurants and ticketing lobby. New baggage carousels have also been installed. Terminal 6 has the departures for Air Canada and all operations of Alaska Airlines, Boutique Air, Thomas Cook, Viva Aerobus and Mokulele Airlines. Latest check-in kiosks have been installed as well as numerous security screening points. Even the lobby's decor has undergone alterations. Terminal 7 is again reserved for domestic airlines, United Airlines and United Express. A new United Club Terminal 7 lounge has recently been opened. Terminal 8 also has flights of United Airlines and United Express with better ticketing lobby and enhancing seating.

About Airport Authority

Los Angeles International Airport is owned and operated by the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWAL). LAWA is actually a branch of the city of Los Angeles and has a team of seven members on the Board of Airport Commissioners. They govern the management and administer the airport's functions. The statutory body owns Los Angeles International Airport as well as Van Nuys Airport, which is located in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles World Airport was acquired in 1928 by the Los Angeles Department of Airports to take up operations of Los Angeles Municipal Airport (as it was named earlier). Later in 1997, the Department of Airports took on a new identity and named itself Los Angeles World Airports. The organization was previously owned and operated by Palmdale Regional Airport along with Ontario International Airport. However, it is now an independent body. The authority has managed to bring about tremendous changes in upscaling the passenger experience and infrastructure of the Los Angeles International Airport. They even received the Sustainability Award after the renovation of their Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Los Angeles World Airports has enabled its department of police that go by the name Los Angeles Airport Police. They are often referred to as LAXPD or LAWAPD too. The department is recognized as the fourth largest law enforcement entity in Los Angeles County. There are about 1,100 law enforcement, staff and security personnel employed by the LAWAPD. They sometimes even patrol jointly with the county's police department (LAPD). Additional police personnel have been assigned to LAX security too.

Top airlines flying from Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport caters as the focus city to airlines such as Air New Zealand, Qantas, Volaris, Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Meanwhile, it is also known to be the only airport in the United States to cater to all four US legacy carriers, namely, American, Alaska, United and Delta. In fact, designated terminals have been allotted to accommodate these airlines at the Los Angeles International Airport. Aside from the legacy carriers, the airlines also see tremendous action on the international front. Airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Copa, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Saudia, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Volaris and WestJet, have dedicated flights flying to Los Angeles Airport on a regular basis.

Facilities at the Los Angeles International Airport

Nursing stations - Nursing stations or child care rooms are present at the airport for mothers with infants. The room is regularly sanitized and kept clean to ensure that it doesn't cause discomfort to the mother or the baby.

WiFI - WiFi connections can also be availed at the airport for free. You can get details of the same at the information desk. The WiFi services are unlimited so you can use it for as long as you want.

ATMs and currency exchange - Dedicated ATM kiosks and currency exchange counters are also present at the arrivals of the airport.

Medical services - Medical centres and emergency rooms are also available at the Los Angeles International Airport. You can make medical purchases. In case of an emergency that takes place at the airport terminal, there are paramedics available to immediately tend to the case.

Animal relief centre - There are provisions of animal relief areas where travellers flying with pets can visit. The areas are reserved specifically to help out pets and their family.

Art programs - The airport has a one of a kind art experience where they host programs that travellers can indulge in.

Lounges - Los Angeles International Airport has exquisite lounges and VIP rooms. The lounge is available for VIPs as well as first-class and business-class. The hospitality is great while the lounge also offers spas and other such services.

How to reach Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is well-connected to the city centre and has various modes of transport available to and from the airport. You will be able to reach the Los Angeles International Airport with much easy if you simply opt for FlyAway bus service that is available at the official website of the airport. The service basically helps bridge the gap between Los Angeles International Airport and Union Station. It also caters to other locations in the city so you can easily reach the Los Angeles International Airport without much hassle. The buses also work on regular schedules so you might have to learn a bit about the same before you plan your travel options. Los Angeles International Airport's website has already shared the bus schedules on their website so you can peruse through the same to get answers. 11:40 PM is the last bus while it starts at 5:40 AM. The timings can change depending on the air traffic and other such conditions. There are free shuttle buses that can reach you to different terminals within the LA Airport premise.

Car rentals and taxis are other options you can choose to reach the Los Angeles International Airport. You can either book them on apps such as Uber, or you can also hail a taxi from the street. The chances of getting those might be limited in LA, but you can always try. As for rentals, if you have just landed at Los Angeles International Airport, you can find rental booths at the arrivals area. You can make your car rental bookings here and leave for the city.