Jaunted

Tags: Drug Travel / Drugs / MIA / Crime / → All Tags

A Drug Bust Of Bootleg Little Blue Pills Is Keeping Men Down

Drugs and airplanes hanging out together is nothing new, after all we’ve seen a lot of smuggling rings busted over the last year. Just recently officials caught up with a group that thought cocaine should get a first class seat aboard American Airlines. Well US Customs and Border Protection made another discovery, but this time the drug was a little more uplifting than the usual white powder or wacky tobacky.

Last week officials at the Miami International Airport seized over 20,000 counterfeit Viagra pills. That’s like fifty pounds of bootleg medication. It was a shipment from India that looked a little sketchy, and once they cracked it open they knew the pills were not on their way to your local Walgreens.

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Tags: Football Travel / Sports Travel / Super Bowl Travel / Events / → All Tags

It's Never Too Early To Lock In Your Super Bowl Vacation

With the football season getting underway, hopeful fans are already starting to think about Super Bowl XLIV. The big game will be played in Miami's Dolphins Stadium on February 7, 2010, and sports nuts are already maneuvering to grab tickets and accommodations for the weekend.

Pittsburgh-based travel company Sports Vacations specializes in taking the headache out of creating Super Bowl packages, offering a variety of options that range from the mildly exorbitant to the mind-blowingly decadent.

During the season, Sports Vacations focuses on what the company was originally founded for: arranging packages for Steelers fans as they follow the black and gold around the country. Those packages start with tickets and hotel rooms which the company provides more or less at cost. Then other perks get thrown in depending on the package and the specific game: tailgate parties, fan rallies with local ex-Steelers, autograph and photo sessions, and a bevy of other extras.

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Tags: Celeb Travel / Kanye West / Miami Travel / Beach Travel / New York City / → All Tags

Kanye And Amber Rose Have A Revealing Vacation In Miami, Not Barcelona

'Tis the season for skinny dipping! Yesterday, rapper Kanye West caused quite a stir on both Miami Beach and the internet as his model girlfriend Amber Rose stepped just short of nude.

For most of last night, it was believed that the mini peep-show occurred on a beach just outside of Barcelona, Spain, when actually the couple was just underneath our own American noses, turning their hotel beach into a skin show straight out of Europe.

While Kanye seemed upset with the paparazzi as usual, Amber however smiled and bared more and more skin, eventually going full topless and making search engines go crazy with terms like "amber rose bikini beach pics" and "barcelona kanye girlfriend nude." It only came out this morning that they were in fact in Miami, and had just as quickly returned to New York. This is what happens when you become famous, people; you get to take quick mid-week trips to the beach and frolic with your nude girlfriend. We need to start getting famous.

Related Stories:
· Kanye upstaged by cheeky girlfriend as she frolics in orange bikini [Daily Mail]
· Celeb Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: BigPicturesPhoto]

Tags: Restaurant Week / Miami Travel / Food Travel / Events / → All Tags

New Restaurant Weeks Are Always Nice; Please Welcome 'Miami Spice'

We can't praise Restaurant Week enough, and we're not just talking about New York but about the plethora of other cities adopting the couple-week event with discounted prix fixe meals at the best restaurants. Cities like Boston and Chicago have jumped on the bandwagon in past years, and 2009 now welcomes Miami to the mix.

During August and September, renowned restaurants will serve up three-course mealsקlunch for $22 and dinner for $35—with the intention of discovering "the tropical fusion of ingredients that makes Miami dining so wonderfully out of the ordinary." Some of the hotspots on deck for the promotion: Nikki Beach, Barolo, Meat Market, Cafe Avanti, and Smith & Wollensky (which has an amazing view of the harbor and ocean).

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Tags: Dubious Destinations / Dangerous Travel / Bridges / Miami Social / Miami Travel / → All Tags

The Sex Offender Bridge Probably Isn't Going to Be Shown on 'Miami Social'

Bravo TV has a new show out this season called Miami Social which follows thirty-something year olds living, working and partying in Miami Beach. The show is full of shallow people we wouldn't want to be friends with in real life and yet there's not one totally outrageous diva character that would keep us tuning in again. Not even the regular appearance of the Gansevoort South which serves as the group's de facto Peach Pit After Dark has us interested in the slightest.

Instead we find the Sex Offender Bridge in Miami far more fascinating. It turns out Miami-Dade County has a rule that bans all sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of any school, playground, public park or even bus stops. Since there options are so restricted, sex offenders have been told by the state's corrections department to park their stuff under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, a bridge that connects downtown Miami to Miami Beach.

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Tags: Cruises / Miami Travel / Travel News / Ships / Carnival Cruises / Costa Cruises / → All Tags

Power To The Cruisers! Carnival Installs Self Check-In Kiosks

Can everyone please welcome the cruise lines to the 21st century? If airlines, notoriously security-focused as they are, can successfully board and fly their passengers who have checked in via a self-service kiosk, then why can't ships do the same for cruisers? Finally, after Costa Cruises saw the light last year and installed some kiosk check-ins, Carnival has come around to allowing their passengers to check themselves in as well, but only at the Port of Miami.

Veteran cruisers know that along with the unlimited buffets and blue water of a cruise, one must endure the grueling discomfort of a lifeboat muster drill and the wait to simply board the ship. You check your luggage, get loaded with pamphlets on shore excursions and a map of the ship, and finally claim your ID/onboard credit card, and all you want to do is collapse into the closet that is your ship-side bedroom.

Now, using the self check-in kiosks, you can zip through the formalities, even set up a cash account for onboard purchases, and finally exchange your checked-in confirmation for your stateroom key. To use this new machine, however, you must pre-register online and be a US or Canadian citizen or from a visa-waiver country. Checked bags can be left with the porters and you are free to board and partake in the farewell Lido buffet, one of the grandest traditions in cruising.

Related Stories:
· Carnival Introduces Self-Service Cruise Check-In Kiosks [CruiseCritic]
· Carnival Launches Self-Service check-in at Port of Miami [Travel Weekly]
· Cruise News [Jaunted]

[Photo: CruiseCritic]

Tags: Celeb Travel / Fourth Of July Travel / Beyonce / Miami / Viceroy Miami / Events / → All Tags

Beyonce Gets A Head Start On Fourth of July Weekend In Miami

Beyonce was spotted getting a head start on the Fourth of July weekend in Miami Beach yesterday, where she apparently went swimming with her clothes on. The singer does deserve a little R&R however, since it's been a busy week what with performing at the BET Awards and double dating with Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow in Beverly Hills.

According to the Miami-Herald, Beyonce isn’t the only one spending the holiday in Miami. Despite the economy, Miami’s hotels are filling up and are expected to be solidly booked for the weekend.

The Viceroy Hotel, a place to see and be seen in the city, is getting into the spirit of the weekend by offering a special package deal that includes a $100 spa credit, breakfast for two, preferred VIP seating for fireworks display, two free drink coupons, 10% off bottle service, VIP access to Club 50 and valet parking starting at $295 per night.

The hotel is also welcoming locals on Saturday by hosting the “Best 4th of July Fireworks Display in Miami”. The festivities include a pool party on their 2-acre pool deck featuring private cabanas and entertainment by top DJs, all beneath a canopy of the city’s best fireworks displays from Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Downtown Miami from 7 pm to 1 am. During the day, local families are welcome to enjoy the hotel’s pool from noon to 5pm. There will also a BBQ and drink specials, tickets start at $5.

Related Stories:
· Viceroy Miami To Debut on March 1st [HC]
· Gwyneth Paltrow & Beyonce: Double Date! [Just Jared]
· Despite economy, South Florida hotels fill up for Fourth of July weekend [Miami Herald]
· Celeb Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: Just Jared]

Tags: Airport Lounges / Delta / MIA / → All Tags

Miami International Gets a Suitably Trendy New Delta Sky Club

Gearing up for a Miami to Mumbai direct and not looking forward to spending 19 hours cramped in your seat, even if it is business class? At least you'll be in for a treat if you're flying Delta, since they've just opened a new and improved Sky Club at Miami International designed to fuse both the Delta and Northwest brands and flyers into one slick space.

The 7,500-square foot space seats only 156 visitors, so don't expect there to be a mad rush on the last bear claw at the continental breakfast spread.

In addition to the sweet perk of free WiFi access, the Club also boasts a "full-service bar with café seating, comfortable general seating areas, a quiet room and even a shower suite." We even spotted a conference room up in that video; we'll be the ones playing hangman on the dry erase board.

Related Stories:
· Delta Sky Club: Miami Unveiled [Delta Airlines Blog]
· Lounging At The Airport: Delta Sky Club [Jaunted]
· Airport Lounges Coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Sex Travel / Miami / Events / → All Tags

Head to Exxxotica Miami for the Educational Value

Just when you thought that Las Vegas got to have all the naughty fun during their annual AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, Miami ups the ante with this weekend's Exxxotica Fest.

Held at the South Beach convention center, the largest adult entertainment event on the East Coast runs from today through Sunday and plans to rope in (literally and figuratively) all the biggest stars from behind the "adults only" door at your local video store. Of course Ron Jeremy and Sasha Grey—who was recently in a movie at the Tribeca Film Festival—will make appearances, but we're more interested in the educational aspects of the conference.

Entrance for each day runs $35, or $85 for all three days, and this allows you the opportunity to sit in on such rousing seminar sessions as: erotic story writing, becoming a porn producer, creating an adult website, successful single swinging, and our favorite "I’ve Twitter’d all over your Facebook and now it’s MySpace." Where do we sign up?

Related Stories:
· Exxxotica Miami (NSFW) [Official Site]
· Exxotica Miami Beach Event [Miami Herald]
· Sex Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: stfu]

Tags: Celeb Travel / Rihanna / Chris Brown / Star Island / → All Tags

No Umbrella-ella-ella Needed for Rihanna and Chris Brown

As far away as they thought they were getting from the world's prying eyes, it wasn't far enough: After their Grammy-weekend altercation, Rihanna and Chris Brown have both been spotted in tropical climes.

The Barbados songstress was originally pegged to have flown home after the attack, but she later took some friends with her to Punta Mita, Mexico for a few days of R&R. She rented a private villa where she and her guests were seen hanging out by the pool and playing volleyball -- with little trace of the injuries displayed in photos of that fateful night.

Meanwhile, Chris Brown was spotted jet-skiing in Miami at Diddy's house on Star Island. But People magazine reports that Rihanna has joined him there. Sources inside the house say the two are reconciling, but they have not been seen out in public together. Meanwhile, Chris heads back to L.A. today for his arraignment -- Rihanna is not required or expected to appear.

Related Stories:
· Rihanna's Mexican vacation [Life & Style]
· 2008: Summer Date Travel: Rihanna and Chris Brown Are Amused [Jaunted]
· Rihanna and Chris Brown Are Back Together [People]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]

Tags: Architecture Travel / Art Deco / Architecture / Winter Travel / Restaurants / → All Tags

Miami's Ultimate Art Deco Weekend, Courtesy Of Buenos Aires

In our minds, any time's a good time to obsess over the art deco explosion that is Miami. But toss in horrible weather in the Northeast right now and a special event, and the city looks even hotter than usual.

Despite the name, Art Deco Weekend 2009 starts Tuesday, January 13 and continues all the way through Sunday. This year's theme is Down Argentine Way, leading to a focus on the architectural ties Miami has to Buenos Aires. (There's nothing that can generate more buzz than name checking 2005's hottest destination!)

Along with lectures, tango shows, films, street performances and a parade, the Miami Design Preservation League will host a gaggle of walking tours of the city's art deco district. If you need even more architecture, an exhibit at the historic City Hall on Washington Avenue will also run all weekend. Most everything is free, though the tours will cost you $20.

To refuel between events, we'd recommend stopping by the Fontainebleau Hotel for the all-you-can-drink-and-eat Sunday brunch at Scarpetta. Fear not, weak mimosa-phobics: Thrillist reports a menu including truffled mushroom fricassee, scrambled eggs with pancetta, beer-braised short ribs and bottomless Bellinis.

Related Stories:
· Art Deco Weekend [Official Site]
· All-You-Can-Eat Scarpetta Sunday Brunch [Thrillist]
· Miami's Five New Must-Try Restaurants [Jaunted]

[Photo: Bill McIntyre]

Tags: Celebrity Vacations / Celeb Travel / Lindsay Lohan / → All Tags

Lohan's Sunny New Year

Say bye-bye, 2008! Lindsay Lohan relaxed on the beach with some family friends in Miami on New Year's Eve before proceeding to her hosting gig.

She may have lost the honor of best celebrity traveler in 2008 to Rihanna, but Lohan had what we believe most sports programs call a "rebuilding year." When she was snapped at clubs, it was at girlfriend Samantha Ronson's side--and she didn't make a return visit to rehab. Maybe this year she'll actually make some decent movies!

Related Stories:
· 2008's Best Celebrity Traveler Of The Year Was... [Jaunted]
· Atlantis Dubai Parties With 20 Million Dollars and Lindsay Lohan [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Popsugar]