Posts Tagged ‘gay travel’

Sydney is one of the world’s favorite cities. Set on a stunning harbor the shopping and dining variety are superb and you are within easy access of the great outdoors. Sydney was voted by the readers of Conde Naste in 2008. Sydney is a gay friendly city and its wide range of attractions encourages gay travel to this part of Australia.

The city has a full calendar of Gay and Lesbian events but the biggest of them all is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. This parade and celebration is held each year in late February and it is a Mecca for fun. The parade is such a part of the general Sydney calendar that it is an attraction for non homosexuals who want to watch the parade, and the parade is shown on commercial TV.

The beaches are endless and the best time to be here is from October to March, the Australian summer period. North Bondi is always a classic, but if you want to find a nude beach there are four in easy reach of the city center. If you are a little more energetic you can make the 30 minute walk from Bronte to Bondi to enjoy the coast.

Food and cafes are a way of life here. The range of cuisine is immense and you will be able to find an option that suits your budget. One of the highlights of Sydney must be sitting in the sun at a cafe on the harbor and watching the people and boats go by.

The main gay district of Sydney is centered around Oxford Street; affectionately know as the pink stip. Here there are many gay friendly bars and clubs and a wide range of shopping opportunities from start up designers to the much more high end range of shopping options.

Gay travel to Sydney Australia is a rewarding experience. The seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern hemisphere so if you are in need of some sun and fun, in a gay friendly environment, Sydney is a prime destination.

While you are in Australia, nose around some of the other spots.  You will find Queensland to be gay friendly, as well as a delightful, alternative getaway.  Plus, you’ll find gay resorts in Queensland as well.

Gay men and women make up an important part of the traveling population.  The most popular destinations for gay travelers seem to be in those regions where the local population is more tolerant and accepting of homosexuals.  Consequently, Europe, Canada and some parts of Southeast Asia get most of the attention.  Latin America get relatively little attention.  However, both Brazil and Costa Rica offer gay travel opportunities that are worth exploring.

Brazil is a country of much contrast; it is the largest country in South America, and shares borders with every other country on this continent except Ecuador and Chile. A gay holiday in Brazil is as popular as straight travel to Brazil and many travel partners are available online to assist you with travel arrangements or tours.

This country of many contrasts brings to mind marvelous images of Sugar Loaf, Rio de Janeiro, beaches, mountains, cities, slums, statues of Christ, the Amazon jungle, Carnival and more. If you should happen to choose it as a vacation destination try not to miss a trip to the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, because this is where you will find Faz de Iguazu.

There is so much on offer for the gay traveler or any other type of traveler. The people of this country are fantastic and the tourism infrastructure is second to none. Although the bright lights of the big city and close location of slums is a draw card for crime, traveling, particularly with a tour group is quite safe. Carnival time is fantastic, but travel is much more expensive at that time and it is the hottest time of the year.

If you have the opportunity to travel to this wonderful country, the best time to go is for carnival, if you are looking for a spectacular time. Two things you have to consider however is, when Carnival takes place it is the hottest time of the year in Brazil and it is also the most expensive.

From a personal point of view, Rio is the absolute best place to visit, as is any place in the Amazon, Natal, Bahia and Recife. Only visit Brasilia if you have an interest in Architecture, and try to spend as little time as possible in Sao Paulo. The small coastal town of Parati is like a living museum with its pedestrian cobble-stone streets, and if you enjoy adventure, it is quite an adventure just getting to Parati.

Santa Catarina in the South of the country is perfect for people who don’t enjoy busy tourist spots, this state has great beaches, seafood and many of the people also speak German. In Southern Brazil, Praia do Pinho is the most lively tourist spot and a virtual paradise for the “naturist”. It is the first nudist beach in Brazil, not that much clothing is worn on any of the beaches, the Brazilians are after all famous for inventing de biquini fio dental (dental floss bikini) or the G-string as we know it.

Greece offers an array of opportunities for fantastic gay travel.. Gay travel to Greece will naturally include amazing sunrises, relaxing on white, sandy beaches, trekking to historical sites to explore ancient ruins, and ferrying between several of Greeces breathtakingly beautiful islands. Whether you dream of a gay vacation that includes family fun like picking olives and exploring museums, a restful respite in a seaside resort with your partner, or a rowdy week of taking in the Athens nightlife with a group of friends, Greece will undoubtedly prove to be an ideal setting for your gay vacation.

Athens has much to offer to those on a gay vacation, including an enticing array of gay clubs and bars, gay-friendly and gay-owned coffee shops and cafs and a variety of welcoming lodging options. There are also two saunas for gay men who would like to partake in Greeces bathhouse culture, including Athens Relax, which is right across the road from a popular gay club and has a clientele of mixed ages, and Hera, a smaller sauna with a mostly mature clientele. There is also a beach area south of Athens called Limanakia, which is a great place for gay men to meet new people and explore the rocky shores.

The Greek Island of Mykonos is well-known as a welcoming location for gay vacations and a hotspot for gay travel. With pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery, a lively nightlife, friendly locals and a cosmopolitan feel, this island is an ideal stop on any gay vacation to Greece. There are plenty of gay-friendly lodgings on Myknonos, including a gay-owned, adults only hotel catering exclusively to gay travelers. Another great choice when choosing which Greek islands to visit during your gay travel is Crete. While Crete does not exactly have a gay scene, this island that is popular with all types of travelers does have a gay-owned bed and breakfast, a handful of gay bars and establishments, gay beaches and a generally welcoming atmosphere, making this another great stop on a gay vacation to Greece.

Lesbian tourists visiting Greece must, of course, venture to the Island of Lesvos where they can explore Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho, take romantic walks on breathtaking beaches, indulge in luxury spa treatments, relax over an ouzo in one of many cafs and partake in a lively women-focused nightlife. This beautiful island is constantly awash with lesbian travelers and is an ideal spot for a gay vacation.

Greece remains a mostly traditional, religious country, but those who visit Greece on gay vacations will find a welcoming environment almost anywhere in the country. One of the best ways to partake in a gay vacation to Greece is to visit this beautiful country as part of organized gay tours. Another great option is to plan your gay vacation to Greece through a travel agency that regularly plans Greece gay vacations. This will ensure that you will have the opportunity to experience all that Greece has to offer and will return with a lifetime of memories.

A travel advice article by world traveler Howie Holben. Howie also operates Spirit Journeys, a spiritual gay travel organization. Spirit Journeys is known the world over for offering unique gay holidays. You can learn more about Howie or spiritual gay tours at www.SpiritJourneys.com.

By navigating the internet, there is a chance that you have probably come across a gay travel guide for couples to utilize. The current population of gay couples seems to increase every year it was only a matter of time when an actual gay travel guide for couples came on the scene.

One big vacation that has begun to intrigue a lot of gay partners is spiritually based vacations. These vacations allow the couples the opportunity to open their eyes to the world around them.

While on the vacations the couples are allowed to mingle with people and concentrate on building a firm relationship with one another. The vacations allow the couples to simply unwind and breakout of the everyday monotonous routine that they are accustomed to. While breaking out of their everyday routine they are also getting the opportunity to learn different things together.

If a spiritual vacation is simply not your cup of tea, there are other places that a gay couple can go and seamlessly let loose. A few of the top vacation spots on a gay travel guide are Acapulco, Mexico, Cancun (which is also found in Mexico), and Curacao.

These vacation hot spots allow couples the opportunity to see all of the beautiful sandy beaches encased around the ocean. The vacations allow the couples to engage in the carefree lifestyle of the world and to aimlessly let their hair down in a sense. There are so many activities for couples to engage in at these locations, and the fun never ends.

Couples can enjoy walking hand and hand on the beaches, or partying the night away at some of the best night clubs they have ever seen. People often times stereotype the gay community, however the people that do this do not understand that many couples are some of the most compassionate and philanthropic people that you could ever have the pleasure of meeting.

It is only right for a gay travel guide to exist to show these couples and single gay men different places where they can go and have a great time with the special people that they choose to keep in their lives. Everyone deserves the opportunity to let go and enjoy them selves, regardless of your sexual preference.

Italy is one of the best and popular destinations for romance, history and art and it is a popular location for gay couples. Gay community has a presence in the most populous urban area like Milan, Rome, and Florence in Italy. These areas allows so many alternatives for gay travel to Italy.

Gay explorers believe in traveling to Italy for vacation because it has so much to offer for them. Italy offers the best of services in terms of security, food, pubs, clubs and many gay hotels. There are so many places in Italy where gay people often visit frequently during the vacation.

There are many vacation places in Italy which offer gay bars, gay clubs, and so many gay owned hotels and gay friendly hotels and this can be found throughout Italy. A place like Milan is the world’s most gay accommodating places in Italy for gay vacation.

A lot of gay pride events are also scattered all over Italy and the large gay film carnival that create a center of attention for the visitors all over the planet for instance is an adventure on its own. There is the Florence Queen Festival and Festival Pucciniano among others.

As a nation Italy has so much to offer for gay tourists. Its prominent annual festivals include the festival Pucciniano and the festival Della versiliana. There are historical gay disco clubs in Italy. Gay life is getting interesting and popular in Tuscany. There are open gay pubs, restaurants, shops. Tuscany is a place for open proud gay men with their rainbow flags, and this friendly attitude and atmosphere make it warm for many travelers around the world to visit the town.

Whether your goal to travel to Italy is to experience as much of the history, art, and culture possibly during your stay, touring is also essential. Above all you can travel to Italy just to have a taste of the food, wine, the art, the historical places and the legends, there is bound to be a tour organizing agent relating to your interests and that will be the best way to organize the most memorable Gay travel and tour to Italy.

Morocco is a country steeped in myths and legend and offers travelers the opportunity to experience a rich history and culture that continues to strongly influence daily life. Morocco offers visitors the chance to cross the desert atop a camel, sleep in a hotel made of sand and haggle with aggressive spice and rug traders in marketplaces that look and feel like they are from another time in history. In many towns and cities former homes have been transformed into guest lodgings, called riads, that often offer a more welcoming atmosphere for travelers on a gay vacation and provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and daily life of Morocco. While there is no visible scene in this conservative Muslim country, there are still abundant reasons for Morocco to be part of your gay travel, including ancient ruins and architecture, exceptional beaches, desert landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see and open air souks (markets) that wind through village streets offering exotic wares.

With splendid Muslim mosques, Roman ruins, street performers and snake charmers, a vacation to Morocco is a once in a lifetime experience full of sights, smells, colors and sounds. Travel to Morocco would simply not be complete without standing in awe of the distinct art deco architecture in Casablanca, climbing atop an ancient white wall in Tangier to take in the expansive ocean views and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, visiting the Dar Si Said Museum in Marrakech and exploring the diverse corridors of the Fes medina.

Jet set European and American composers, writers and socialites once flocked to Morocco in droves, making it a well-known, popular vacation destination; however, while Morocco was once a welcoming playground for gay vacations, a push by Muslim leaders to return to the stricter moral code of Islam has negatively influenced this once liberal vacation spot. While rarely enforced, same-sex conduct was criminalized in 1962 and travelers on a vacation to Morocco should keep in mind that it is a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison and fines.

In a 2009 statement, the Moroccan government asserted that homosexuality will not be tolerated and will be repressed, which means there may be an increase in enforcement and travelers should be particularly aware of their surroundings when in public. Laws and attitudes such as this are common in countries that are primarily Muslim and do not necessarily indicate that Morocco should be avoided when partaking in gay travel.

It does; however, indicate that awareness and discretion are advised wile on a Morocco vacation. To avoid possible issues, travelers may want to consider participating in a travel group vacation or planning their trip with the assistance of a gay tours agency well-versed in planning vacations in Morocco.

Article written by Howie Holben. This gay tours tips article focuses on Morocco. Howiee owns Spirit Journeys, a gay travel and retreats organization. Spirit Journeys presents wonderul gay adventure travel. You can learn more at www.SpiritJourneys.com.

Gay and straight travelers alike flock to Brazil in droves to enjoy the pristine beaches, beautiful people, exciting nightlife, diverse culture and lavish annual celebrations, such as Carnival. As one of the most welcoming and accepting gay vacation destinations in South America, Brazil is a popular choice for both gay men and lesbians looking for fun in the sun or a relaxing respite in a tropical paradise. From luxury gay vacations in exclusive beachfront resorts, to exotic excursions into remote Brazilian jungles, Brazil has much to offer to every type of traveler and is an ideal setting for international gay travel.

Rio de Janeiro is among the most popular gay travel destinations in Brazil and offers gay beaches, gay and lesbian bars and clubs, drag shows, circuit parties, bathhouses and a vast array of dining, shopping, recreation and cultural activities that attract travelers from around the world. While the establishments and gay culture in Rio de Janeiro are geared more towards gay men, lesbians will find a welcoming atmosphere at most gay establishments and events and can enjoy womens nights at several locations throughout the city, as well as a lesbian club that is open nightly. Of course, Rio is also home to Carnival and world-famous New Years festivities, both of which provide plentiful parties, parades and festivals for gay and lesbian revelers.

Although Rio de Janeiro may be the most popular gay vacation destination in Brazil, there are many other options throughout the country. Many cities in Brazil, such as Sao Paolo and Belo Horizonte, host annual gay pride festivals and parades and the majority of urban areas have a thriving gay community. For those who may be looking for gay vacations outside of the pride and party scene, gay travel opportunities in Brazil also include organized tours of cultural and historical landmarks and luxury all-inclusive Amazon cruises provided by tour companies dedicated to providing exceptional gay vacations to gay and lesbian travelers.

Brazilian gay vacations provide ample opportunities to partake in once in a lifetime adventures and experience this cosmopolitan culture to the fullest. To ensure a safe, enjoyable vacation, keep in mind that gay travel in Brazil is not unlike gay travel within the United States when it comes to being aware and using your best judgment. Just as gay travelers in the U.S. know that some areas are more accepting and welcoming than others, gay travelers in Brazil should also keep this in mind as they explore Brazil. And, for travelers who may wish to enjoy some of Brazils well-known bathhouses, taking the necessary precautions to play safely is just as necessary as it is back home.

To ensure a fun-filled, relaxing Brazilian gay vacation, your best bet is to work with a travel agency that is familiar with vacation packages, optimal travel dates for your vacation goals, local attractions and the particular information that is of interest to gay and lesbian travelers. Whether your ideal vacation is an adventure into the jungle, a relaxing week at the beach or a wild time in Rio, working with a travel agency dedicated to gay tours will allow you to sit back and relax and have the Brazilian vacation you have always dreamed of.

The author of this article about gay holidays to Brazil is Howie Holben. He has traveled the world for over 30 years and owns and runs Spirit Journeys, a spiritually based gay travel firm. Spirit Journeys has offered gay adventure travel with a difference since 1992. You can learn more at www.spiritjourneys.com.

Spain is among the first countries in the world to allow same-sex couples to freely enjoy the legal rights of marriage, to adopt children openly and to be treated as equals on a level that the American LGBT community is still struggling to achieve. Because of this wide acceptance and legal equality, Spain is among the top choices for safe, enjoyable gay vacations. From the sexually-charged scene in Madrid, to the higher-brow LGBT culture of Sitges, there is a thriving community in every major city and many of the smaller towns throughout this country that offers breathtaking scenery, stunning architecture, rich culture and history, and wonderful year-round weather that makes any time a good time for gay travel to Spain.

Welcoming islands, cities and towns that should not be missed include Barcelona, Benidorm, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Sitges, Valencia and Torremolinos, which are the most popular destinations for gay vacations in Spain. Most of these hotspots offer excellent beaches and all offer exciting nightlife and a visible community. While Madrid is the place to be for anyone looking for a raucous LGBT scene, Ibiza and Gran Canaria offer a more laidback beach lifestyle and Valencia and Torremolinos offer a good mix of bars and beaches.

One of the most welcoming cities in Spain is Barcelona, which boasts amazing architecture, art and culture and is home to more clubs, bars, restaurants, bathhouses and other community establishments than any traveler could fit into their gay vacations. Visitors will surely want to visit LEixample, where most of the community bars and businesses are located, as well as the fabulous beaches located around this city that boasts a very active, very visible community. Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that has earned its rank among the most welcoming, most out places in Europe and also makes a great home base for side trips to other areas that are popular with LGBT locals and visitors, such as the beach town of Sitges.

To get the most out of your gay vacation in Spain, you may want to consider visiting Spain with a professionally organized tour group offered through a company that specializes in gay travel. Partaking in a tour to Spain will allow you to discover the captivating landscapes and enticing adventures Spain has to offer while forging new friendships that will last a lifetime.

Participating in a professionally arranged tour is a wonderful, fun way to discover Spain; however, whether or not you choose to travel to Spain with an organized group, planning your trip through a reputable company that is well-versed in arranging Spain gay tours will help to ensure that your travel experience will be safe, enjoyable and memorable.

Howie Holben is the author of this gay adventure travel article about Spain. Spirit Journeys does spiritual gay retreats with a difference. Go to www.spiritjourneys.com for more info about Howie and his work.