When I got offered an invite to jet off for a weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, I was quick to say yes. What better way to escape winter than a weekend by the pool in ever-sunny Florida? The property, which is Florida’s largest casino, was recently expanded to the tune of $700 million, so everything there is shiny and new, like their new 14-story hotel tower and a 223,900-square-foot casino. The grand entrance to the lobby also features one of the coolest pieces of music memorabilia that I’ve ever seen – Elvis’ iconic gold piano, a 24-karat gold leaf plated 1928 Kimball Piano Company Grand Piano! They sure know how to make an impression here at the Hard Rock.
One of the recent additions to the hotel is the Rock Spa & Salon, which is the perfect oasis to spend the afternoon in. I spent a whole morning there, first getting a 50-minute Swedish massage, and then enjoying the relaxation’s area hot tub, sauna, and heated chairs. There are both male/female areas and a large co-ed lounge to hang out in, and a hammock area outside that connects to the pool. Luckily, with a treatment, you get all-day access, so it was nice to be able to go back before dinner for another dip in the whirlpool.
For the foodies, there are plenty of dining options on property. They have everything from a boozy ice cream shop called Aubi & Ramsa to the upscale Council Oak Steaks & Seafood to the Hard Rock Cafe, and many more. I had the opportunity to try Council Oak, Cipresso, Hard Rock Cafe, and Sugar Factory. I think my favorites were maybe the pizza at Cipresso, which serves up Italian cuisine, and the insane milkshakes at Sugar Factory. Sugar Factory is worth a visit for the highly Instagrammable floral walls alone, with neon signs saying things like “Hello Gorgeous” and “Beautiful”. It’s probably the best photo spot inside the whole hotel! You can also get steaming alcoholic 60 oz goblets there for a fun cocktail experience. When I visited, I had the Giggles Snickers Milkshake, and it was the bomb!
One of my other favorite things we did at the Hard Rock was go up to the VIP private gaming parlor on the top floor for a blackjack lesson and tournament with our press group. Normally, this room is where the high rollers get invited to come to play in private, and it sure is snazzy. I’d played blackjack before, but it was nice to enjoy the experience without having to put down my actual hard-earned money. And hey, I even ended up winning our little tournament! I went all-in on the last hand and got a blackjack, so talk about luck.
Last but not least, the pool deck is brand new as well, with 60,000-square-feet of space featuring 3 pools, 20 cabanas, and 700 lounges and daybeds. We spent a whole afternoon lounging around by the pool, sipping cocktails and enjoying two private cabanas for our group. If you were spending a girls’ getaway here for a weekend, I’d highly recommend booking a cabana to chill in for the day. Combine that with spa appointments (which come with all-day spa access, as mentioned before), and you’ve got the perfect day as part of a girls’ weekend or bachelorette party!
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to experience the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. As always, all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which give me a small commission at no cost to you.
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![Toboggan on a street? Only in Madeira, Portugal! 🇵🇹
Madeira was the first stop on my 8-day Captivating Canary Islands cruise with @windstarcruises [hosted]. 🛳️
Luckily, we were docked there over night, so I had plenty of time to explore the port city of Funchal, including with a tuk tuk tour and this exhilarating toboggan ride.
This is the only place in the world you can toboggan on land without snow or guiding rails! You ride down in traditional wicker basket sledges with two runners, hitting up to 30 km/hr as you travel down from Monte.
The toboggans date back to the early 19th century where they were used as a means of transport by the local residents who wanted to travel quickly from the village of Monte to the city of Funchal. And nowadays, they’re definitely a blast for thrill seekers!
👉 SAVE this for your bucket list! Would you ride the toboggans? Let me know in the comments!
#madeira #madeiraportugal #madeiraisland #windstarcruises #cruiseblogger #RSJSCruises #cruisetravel / things to do in Madeira / Madeira cruise itinerary / top tourist attractions in Madeira / what to do at port in Funchal](https://readysetjetset.net/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
