Clearwater Beach is probably your best bet .... Note that Clearwater and Clearwater Beach are two distinct places. Clearwater Beach is the barrier island off the mainland of Clearwater. Read that forum for ideas on where to stay.

You should be able to get a place there within your budget as the Winter visitors would not have started to come in and the Summer holidays are over.

If wanting to be on a beach, check out the Clearwater, or St. Pete Beach forums. On Clearwater Beach, the Travelodge, or Magnusson Hotel are a couple of the more affordable ones. Walk to a good variety of restaurants, shops, beach bars, marina, pier, activities, etc. Very walkable beach area.

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http://www.cooters.com/

http://www.crabbybills.com/BW.html

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http://jimmysfishhouse.net/

http://www.starlitecruises.com/

Public transport between the places in your topic is scant to non-existant. On Clearwater Beach itself there is a bus service that runs the among the populated places.

It would be helpful to know what type of activities you enjoy. With your criteria of restaurants and bars within walking distance I think Clearwater Beach would be the best option, if you want to be near the beach.

St Petersburg, as opposed to St Pete Beach, offers a vibrant downtown area with lots of restaurants and bars. There are also museums in the area. If you are not interested in the beach downtown St Petersburg would be a good option.

The other option for a city experience would be the Ybor City area of Tampa.

Most visitors to the Tampa Bay area come for the beaches, so that's why many recommendations will be to stay on the beach.

St Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira beach might all suit.

As for budget, Sept is low season, so you could find beachfront then. I had good luck finding beachfront around $120 incl taxes on hotwire at a busier time of year.

Many thanks for the all the advice & comments, sounds like the beach front locations should prove a good base.

I note the comment about public transport being virtually non-existent and was hoping to use this to get to a Buccaneers game. If there are no buses would the advice be to drive and park near the stadium (in which case can you recommend where to park?) or is it feasible to catch a taxi, particularly if staying in Clearwater Beach or St Pete Beach?

From st Pete, it is easy to get to a Rays game, but not the buccs. You would drive and park there.

There is some public transport, but it all depends on which town you choose.

For the Bucs games there's a large grassy lot on the stadium grounds that is used for parking. Many go early and have what is called a tailgate party - with bar-b-que grills going. I don't know how much they charge for parking but usually the lot is full for a game.

I am a Bucs season ticket holder. You can park in the Bucs lots or you can park in someone's yard in one of he houses off of Himes Avenue near the stadium for about $10, depending on how close you are.