Close User Name Password
Login Register
Travel alerts straight to your inbox:
 

tampa Travel Guide

Tags: / / / / /

US Airways Rough Landing Not to Blame for Billy Mays' Death

June 29, 2009 at 12:23 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

It was a bad week to be a celebrity last week. We spent the weekend mourning Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon but it turns out we've still got some more mourning left to do. Famous pitchman Billy Mays, who you probably remember from the Oxiclean commercials, died at his home in Tampa, Fla. yesterday, hours after a rough landing at the Tampa airport where the US Airways plane he was on blew out a tire as it touched down.

Mays had told news reporters after he got off the plane that something had hit his head. He also complained about not feeling very well before going to bed later that night.

Tampa police initially said that any connection between his death and the landing was "purely speculation." Indeed, the results of an autopsy where just released moments ago and the Hillsborough County Coroner said heart disease, not the rough landing, was to blame for Mays' death. Either way, the world has lost its best "pitchman."

While Mays only had about 4,000 Twitter followers before his death, that number has jumped to 10,000 today. But we can't imagine US Airways is too happy about his last ever tweet which he wrote just after landing:

Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."

Related Stories:
· TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead in Florida home [Newsday]
· Us Airways coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NY Daily News]

Tags: / / /

Lohan, Unafraid Of Patriot Act, Pitches Fit On Delta

February 3, 2009 at 8:45 AM | by egw | 2 Comments

It's so, so hard to be Lindsay Lohan. But we'd sure love to get away with the tantrum she pulled Saturday morning when she was mistakenly booked in a coach seat for her Delta Airlines flight out of Tampa.

Lohan accompanied girlfriend Samantha Ronson to her DJ gig at the ESPN Magazine NEXT Party Friday night, but didn't bother staying for the game. When she discovered she was in the cheap seats for the overbooked flight, Lohan stomped and swore, telling someone she was with (possibly Ronson) to visit her in coach "in case I die," according to FOX News. Soon after that, a seat "magically" opened up for the squeaky wheel.

more ›

Tags: / / / / / / / /

Celebrities Invade Tampa for Super (Bowl) Exposure

February 2, 2009 at 12:00 PM | by egw | 2 Comments

For your favorite celebrities, last night's Super Bowl XLIII between the Steelers and the Cardinals was really just the hangover brunch to a weekend of nonstop partying.

On Friday night Lindsay Lohan looked bored while girlfriend Samantha Ronson DJ'd with Benji and Joel Madden at the ESPN the Magazine Next Party in a downtown Tampa tent. (They later ran into Brody Jenner and girlfriend at the Maxim party in Ybor City.) Meanwhile, Paris Hilton showed off a new haircut at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino while M.C. Hammer, star of last night's Cash4Gold.com ads, mugged on the red carpet.

On Saturday, "Gossip Girl"'s Chace Crawford, Blake Lively and Penn Badgley faced off against Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian and their stepbro Brody Jenner in the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl. Kim Kardashian was MIA for the game, probably because she was off prepping for the night's Leather and Laces Party, where she mugged for the cameras with co-hosts Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra. And Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, who just discovered Twitter, live-tweeted their attendance at The Giving Back Fund's "Big Game-Big Give" event in South Tampa, which provides guidance to entertainers who want to start their own charities. That's how we know that he pulled a stray hair out of her nose. Ew?

But there was one star everyone wanted to see, and she didn't even make the parties: Jennifer Hudson made her first public appearance since the tragic murders of her mother, brother and nephew in order to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the game. There wasn't a dry eye in the house -- and that was before the 100-yard interception!

Related Stories:
· Arash Markazi: Super Bowl Party Report [SI.com]
· Five Super Bowl Parties To Watch Instead of The Game [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

Tags: / / / / / / /

Five Super Bowl Parties To Watch Instead of The Game

January 30, 2009 at 10:15 AM | by egw | 0 Comments

All this and a game too? News about the flashy parties going down this weekend in Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII frankly makes us more excited than the game itself.

The fun begins tonight, when Lindsay Lohan, Joel and Benji Madden and Lil' Wayne will be jamming to Wyclef Jean at ESPN Magazine's NEXT party in a tent pitched at 202 S. Morgan Street. (ESPN's public, less prestigious party is Saturday, a tailgating spectacle featuring Sean Kingston.) Fergie and Diddy will be partying at the Ritz Ybor on Friday with Maxim, and there's always Johnny Drama's gig at the Seminole Hard Rock.

How about something a little more sporting? DirecTV's Celebrity Beach Bowl in St. Petersburg offers a lot of star-spotting, although the picks are somewhat random -- but if you ever wanted to see Blake Lively tackle the girl from "The Unborn" (Odette Yustman), now's your chance! Other players we love include Brody and Frankie from "The Hills," Christian Slater and the three oldest Kardashians. Real football players Reggie Bush and Eli Manning will coach each team. Make the losers buy you drinks at T-Pain's Thr33 Ring Circus (GLC Entertainment Complex, 1910 E. Seventh Ave.)

Related Stories:
· Gas Up The Jet, The Private Jet For The Super Bowl [Jaunted]
· Johnny Drama Hosting Super Bowl Blowout at Seminole Hard Rock [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Page Six's now-defunct blog from last year's Giants victory party. Oh, Eli.]

Tags: / / / /

How to Get to Raymond James Stadium for the Big Game

January 27, 2009 at 2:18 PM | by BS | 0 Comments

Despite the canceled parties and record $1,000 ticket prices, the NFL still estimates 100,000 gridiron fans will make their way to Tampa Bay this Sunday to attend Super Bowl XLIII. So you can bet traffic on the roads and security checkpoints will be a super nightmare.

The good news is you can drive in and park next to the Super Bowl stadium aka Raymond James Stadium, which is a few miles outside downtown and is right next to Tampa International Airport. But, as you can probably guess, it'll cost you. Parking permits, which must be purchased beforehand, cost $60 for a regular-sized car, and the parking lot opens for tailgating at 9 a.m. Sunday morning (officially there's no tailgating allowed of course, but we'll believe that when we see it). Taxis, which normally cost about $25, will also be allowed to drop off across the street from the stadium.

Otherwise you can take the public HART bus, which will be running to the stadium every half-hour starting at 12:35 p.m., picking up at several stops throughout downtown. But check out the detour routes on HART's website, because getting from some hotels to downtown looks like it could end up being a doozy.

· Super Bowl XLIII - Transportation [Official Site]
· Super Bowl XLIII Parking [Official Site]
· Big Plans for the Big Game [HART]
· The Super Bowl Party Scene: Now With Fewer Parties [Jaunted]

Tags: / / / / / /

Still Planning To Head To Tampa? Hurry Up!

January 27, 2009 at 9:20 AM | by kjb | 0 Comments

Alright, so you just decided that you want to watch your hometown team battle it out in this year’s Super Bowl. Congratulations, since we’ll assume you just won the lottery. If not, be prepared to pay.

For Cardinal fans, your best bet is to leave this Thursday and return to the Valley of the Sun on the Tuesday after the game. Obviously this will increase the hotel budget, but the flight will only set you back $259 on Frontier. The more traditional Friday to Monday schedule is going to cost you at least $966 on US Airways, but at least the flight to Tampa is non-stop!

For those in the Steeler Nation, things are a little easier on the wallet. Again the extra long weekend plan of Thursday to Tuesday comes out as the best deal--only $280 on Delta. Friday to Monday is looking at a cool $578 on Southwest, and you’re return (party?) flight will be non-stop into Pittsburgh.

If you’re still on the fence about going, make a decision already--the fares may already be outrageous, but that doesn’t mean the seats won’t fill up. Oh, and if your wallet still isn't bleeding, find a place to stay over at Hotelchatter.

[Photo: NFL]

Related Stories:
·Super Bowl XLIII [Official Site]
·The Super Bowl Party Scene: Now With Fewer Parties [Jaunted]
·Super Bowl Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: / / /

Gas Up the Jet, the Private Jet, for the Super Bowl

January 21, 2009 at 9:15 AM | by kjb | 0 Comments

Calling any football fans with money to burn. If your team didn’t make it to Super Bowl XLIII, but you still want to go, you might as well go in style to help heal your pain. Although taking a stretch Escalade from the airport is nice, we’re talking about chartering a private jet. (Cue TI's "You Can Have Whatever You Like.")

Charter Logic has put together some completely unaffordable packages aboard a private Beechjet 400 from pretty much anywhere in the lower 48 states. Choose your favorite executive airport, sign over your house, and your tickets will be in your inbox before you know it. Once at the game you’ll enjoy your suite on the 35-yard line with unlimited access to food, beer, and more beer.

Of course, you’ll still need to find a place to crash after the game. Hotelchatter is always a good place to start your search. Although, if you have the money to throw down on private transportation, finding a hotel at a reasonable price will be the least of your problems.

Related Stories:
·Fly To Super Bowl In Private Luxury Jet [Examiner]
·Charter Logic [Official Site]
·Super Bowl Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: schuey]

Tags: / / /

Prices Looking Alright from PHX to TPA for Super Bowl XLIII

January 19, 2009 at 12:54 PM | by BS | 0 Comments

[UPDATE: JetBlue has added a Pittsburgh to Tampa route for Jan. 29th and 30th.]

Bad new for you Eagles fans if you followed our advice and bought those cheap Philly-Tampa tickets ahead of time.

The birds went from hopeful to hapless as Arizona Cardinals stole their thunder and advanced to the team's first Super Bowl, where they will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1st. Um. We're sorry? You can still go to Tampa of course and just root for the Steelers instead.

Phoenix-based fans can't get to Florida for quite as cheap as East-coasters, but those who can wait until Saturday to leave are looking at United's pretty reasonable $232 fare. Leaving Thursday or Friday, you'll have to shell out at least $352 as of the latest search.

But we bet you'll see more black-and-gold in the stands two weeks from now. Pittsburgh-Tampa flights are just $160 on Northwest, for those who can leave Wednesday or Saturday.

· Super Bowl 43 [Official Site]
· Upset City! Philly-to-Tampa, Anyone? [Jaunted]
· Sports travel coverage [Official Sites]

Tags: / / /

Theme Parks Travel: Six Flags over Tampa?

September 2, 2008 at 9:20 AM | by kjb | 2 Comments

It might be time to starting planning another trip to central Florida to take in the latest and greatest theme park. The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that theme park giant Six Flags is thinking about opening a new park in the Tampa area. Apparently, this rumor has been cooking for some time, but recent developments have moved it to the front page.

Supposedly the park would be constructed on the current site of a large flea market or on the grounds of an old mining facility that is scheduled for renovation. Two hotels under construction in the area in question have fueled rumors that some big coasters are looking for a vacation home in Florida.

County officials are saying that nothing has been filed in regards to a new theme park, but they also say they're definitely open to chatting up Six Flags regarding the possibility. So for now, the rumor is still a rumor, but Manta may not be the only new coaster coming to Central Florida next year.

Related Stories:
· Rumor of Six Flags Theme Park Flies around Pasco Again [St. Petersburg Times]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: brokinhrt2]