Any suggestions on where to stay in Tampa Thursday night? A place that I can stumble to after pre-fest shows and not get bedbugs?

There's a Days Inn near Transitions. It's a million miles away from luxury but it'll do a job.

not sure about the bedbugs, but theres a days inn is walking distance to transitions and it was pretty much in Festers hand last year... i think adress is melbourne ave

if you want to get away from a big chain, check out grams place.. stayed there '08 and last year Mon / tue when I arrived and before I picked up some friends in orlando ... kind of alternative hostel totally dedicated to Gram Parsons .. they have like 25 beds and last year on tuesday I think we were something like 20 people there, one australian girl not connected to the Fest + 19 fester ... 18 from them out of the UK and me... it was great to hang out in the backyard.. the owner bruce was totally fester friendly

will stay there again this year when I arrive the weekend before Fest, but we probably hend up at the days inn for thursday prefest, as we probably just arrive for the show and so just need a place to crash afterwards...

if you would arrive like tuesday/ wednesday and some time to hang out and don't mind hostel style, I definitly would recommend grams place.. 20 festers at that place - It was great... if you just arrive and hit right away to the show, I guess days inn is more practicle..

Holy fuck. That is amazing

glad to help and to be able to make some advertisment for that crazy place

We're all staying at the Days Inn North which is pretty close to Transitions from what I can see, we've a van though so not fussed to drive if needs be. Plenty of boozing will happen from thursday onwards I'm sure!

How does one book a room at Gram's? Looks pretty cool.

http://www.grams-inn-tampa.com/

my wife and I are staying here on Weds! rock n roll room i think, or maybe blues..

There is a hotel right next to Transitions that you can walk less then 5minutes and already be there(Not to sure of the name but will try and remember next show I go to there). I personally have never stayed there(Have a house of my own in St. Pete) but I'm willing to bet money that you can get a free hooker with your room lol. Definitely on the sketchy side, but hey you can walk to your room drunk from the venue and not be bothered by any of the employees

Pretty sure you're describing Days Inn.

lol yeah probably. It's funny because I've been going to shows at Transitions for 5 or so years and still don't know the name of that place haha. Always just trying to get my Sweet tea from the gas station next to it