Category Archives: Places outside US
Italy All Gay Travel Event June 11-25th
Wanted…………16 Men Who Love To Travel, Savour Food, Experience Wine Just half an hour from noisy, bustling Milan, Lake Como is a jewel-like oasis of tranquillity, a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. One of the best vantage points for this breathtaking view is in Piazza Cavour, on the banks of the lake in the town of Como. Most people speed through the Veneto on their way to our favorite Italian city, Venice. From the train, the landscape sometimes looks flat and unappealing, yet its small cities are fascinating treasure troves of art and beacons of fine living, and only a few miles to the north the Alps begin, their foothills dotted with charming towns and lined with picturesque world-class vineyards. If Tuscany is a legend, Umbria is a little-known medieval fable, its green heart beating in the shadow of its more famous neighbor. Beautiful Tuscan hills, vineyards and Renaissance cities with a journey through the bucolic landscapes and enchanting lakes of Umbria. Savor private tastings of Chianti and Sagrantino wine, olive oil and honey, explore the glories of Siena, Assisi and Orvieto, discover awe-inspiring frescoes and visit the hill-top treasures of Cortona and Montefalco.
& Want to do it all in Italy!
The Italian Lakes & Umbria/Tuscany June 11-25th, 2011
This 15 day holiday combines The lakes and vineyards of Northern Italy
With the hill towns of Umbria & Tuscany!
Holiday Includes….
– Private Airconditioned Vehicle and Driver
– Transfers
– 7 Nights Umbria – Double Room
Apartment Accommodation Torale
– 4 Nights Lago di Como –
Double Hotel Room Villa Stupenda
– 3 Nights Veneto –
Double Room Corte dei Soave
– Specialties of the region Umbrian Dinner
– Veneto Dinner Villa Perez-Pompei-Sagramoso
– Private Boat Tour Lago di Como
– Dinner and tour Isola Comacina, Lago di Como
– 7 Breakfasts Lago di Como & Veneto
– Private BBQ Lago di Como
– 2 Hands On Cooking – Dining Experiences
– Wine Tasting in Montefelco (Brunello Wines), Chianti, Soave
and Valpolicella (Amarone Wines)
– Complimentary Italian Mobile Phone for your personal use
– Tour hosted and escorted by Jack Clement, Love To Travel With Pride
EARLY BOOOKING BONUS RIGHT NOW!
Save $200.00 per person
Pay Your Deposit By 31 March 2011
Join us on this small intimate tour of Italy!Call today for
your perfect holiday
1 800 565 2238 or email jclement (at) lovetotravel.ca
Gay Tallinn Estonia Still a Great Value for European Travel
on Tallinn Estonia about
4 years ago on
New Gay Travel Guide .
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe.
Estonia has land borders to the south with Latvia and Russia to the east.
The tourism bureau says, “Like Alice in her Wonderland, you will find there is even more to see in Estonia than you have dreamed about. The dream world becomes real and the reality is unbelievable.”
Though attitudes in Tallinn have become more in line with those of Western Europe over the last few years, overt public displays of affection are still rare here. That said, the city is home to its own thriving gay scene, with two of the most popular gay venues located next door to one another on Sauna street in Old Town.
Gay and Lesbian Information is online at Tallin Life and also www.gay.ee
Some places listed on the main tourism page are the most accessible for tourists, but are by no means the end of the story. G-Punkt and Ring Club are somewhat divey local favourites outside the centre. There’s also an exclusive, men-only sauna called Sauna Club 69 a short walk from Old Town. They actually list sauna and club information right on their main tourism page !
VALUE!
Two decades ago, this tiny republic was in the clutches of the Soviet Union; now it’s a full-fledged member of the EU and it’s fast becoming one of Europe’s vacation hotspots. Long eclipsed by nearby (and much pricier) destinations like Helsinki and St. Petersburg, Estonia’s capital offers everything from stunning architecture (in particular, the cathedrals in the medieval Old Town) to funky restaurants (one to try: Cafe VS, an Indian restaurant set in a dance club) to raging nightlife (liquor is dirt-cheap; a shot of Estonian vodka averages $1.75, and a bottle of domestic beer generally costs $2.50).
On Jan. 1 Tallinn kicked off a yearlong schedule of 7,000+ events—concerts, dance festivals, museum exhibits and more—to celebrate being crowned a 2011 European Capital of Culture. Plus, increasing flight capacity means airfares are likely to decrease—Estonian Air will double its flights to London in March and discount carriers EasyJet and RyanAir are boosting their number of trips to Tallinn.
Best time to visit Tallinn: Winters are cold and dark, and summers are packed with tourists, so your best bet is to visit in May or June, when temperatures typically hover in the 50s and 60s and it doesn’t get dark until after dinner.
Price check: A recent flight search found May fares starting at $800 for one-stops out of New York (Finn Air) and $900 from Atlanta (American Airlines); a two-stop flight from San Francisco rings up at $1,000 (American).
Where to stay: Built in 1874 for a German nobleman, the von Stackelberg Hotel is still fit for royalty with its original limestone walls, heated bathroom floors and free Internet. Ask for the Zen Room, which features soothing bamboo decor and a private Jacuzzi. Vonstackelberghotel.com, doubles from $100!
HOWEVER, Tallin Life has about 2 dozen places to stay on their site that are very gay friendly.
Gay Pride 2011 Kicks off With Celebration in New Zealand
Out in the Square, Wellington’s gay and lesbian fair, will paint the city’s Civic Square all the colours of the rainbow on Saturday 12 March.
The fair has been running in Wellington for 26 years, since before being gay was even legal in New Zealand. Its aim then was to raise awareness, which is still one of Out in the Square’s main goals today.
Out in the Square will feature fabulous entertainment of the widest variety including some of the country’s top drag queens and popular local bands and singers. Top that off with some fabulous food, colourful carnival attractions, loads of arts, crafts, clothing and other stalls, plus gay anthems pumping out all day — Out in the Square promises to be a glorious day in the Capital.
The festivities kick off at 11am with an official opening by Wellington’s new Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, plus local MP Grant Robertson. Performances, stalls, and food will keep everyone busy until things wrap up at 5pm. (I wonder if they light the Fern Ball sculpture pink??)
OUT IN THE SQUARE
(In the US, Gay Pride kicks off in April in Phoenix Arizona !)
Gay Travel to VietNam
Vietnam has become a favorite destination for travelers to Southeast Asia. Picturesque, vibrant and youthful, it offers magnificent natural wonders, gorgeous beaches, ancient city lanes, addictive cuisine and a paradise of shopping bargains.
The archaeological excavations carried out recently have proved the presence of human beings in the territory of Vietnam since the Paleolithic Age or the Old Stone Age (300,000 – 500,000 years).
In the Neolithic Age (New Stone Age), Hoa Binh – Bac Son cultures (about 10,000 BC) had witnessed the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, including even the technique of paddy rice cultivation!
It wasn’t until 1977, that Vietnam became a member of the United Nations. After many years of prolonged war, the country was heavily devastated.
The GLBT Community is growing in Viet Nam. Gays in Viet Nam are sometimes oppressed by the government but there are no laws against homosexuality. There are very strict laws about underage sex, don’t get caught! The younger generation seems to be very open about their sexuality, and the expat community is somewhat out and supportive of the gay community.
There are several bars, pubs, disco’s, nightclubs, restaurants, spas, saunas, tour guides, travel companies, guesthouses and resorts that are gay owned or managed. Most of the discos and nightclubs are mixed but the gays know where to gather. Prostitution is illegal in Viet Nam as is the payment for sex, so be careful.
There are young men cruising around the city who may not be what they appear. Just be careful of picking up someone, you may get ripped off or threatened. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is much more open with gay life than in the north.
There is Viet Nam venue guide online you will find very helpful.
Gay Friendly Curacao Voted TOP SPOT for 2011
IT WAS
one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.
Not anymore! Curacao is a treasure trove of surprises and selected as one of the ‘Top 21 Places We’re Going in 2011’ by Fodor’s, one of the ‘Hottest Destinations for 2011’ by AOL Travel and one of the ‘Destinations to Watch in 2011’ by SmarterTravel.
Curaçao also took home two awards from Scuba Diving magazine’s “Top 100 Gold List”, for the “Best Dive Operation” (Ocean Encounters) and for the “Best Dive Site” (Superior Producer). “Tiny in size, yet bustling with vibrancy and allure, this captivating island offers a unique escape. We like to think of ourselves as the Caribbean’s hidden gem.”
TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE! CHECK THIS OUT!
SAY NO TO SNOW: CURAÇAO NOW!
FROM ONLY $1!*
Swap Slush for Sun in Curaçao with Free Night, $200 Instant Credit, $200 F&B Credit.
Visitors can book starting February 15 through March 15 for travel until the end of 2011.
By booking NOW! travelers will receive a host of freebies:
$200 instant credit per person with participating booking partners
$200 food and beverage credit per room with participating hotels
One night FREE on a four-night minimum stay with participating hotels
One dive FREE on a four-dive minimum with participating dive operators
Four-night packages start from only $1 per person at Lodge Kurá Hulanda and Beach Club, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, just $25 at Floris Suite Hotel Curaçao, $28 at Hilton Curaçao, and more!*
*Terms & conditions apply, per person, based on double occupancy and include the Curaçao NOW ! benefits.
Escape to the Caribbean’s hidden treasure.
Fall in love with Curacao’s world-class diving and beaches, invigorating outdoor adventure, and welcoming culture.
Make your Curacao Caribbean travel arrangements today !
Cambodia and Gay Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the country’s capital, commercial, economic and political hub. It is situated at the confluence of three great rivers, Mekong, Tonle Sap, Bassac rivers. Getting to Phnom Penh is relatively easy, as they have a nice International Airport that services most major international carriers. Plan on at least 3 nights there to get around and explore. There are several gay owned hotels and guest houses to choose from. There is a lot to see and do there. Many of the restaurants serve some great gourmet experiences, for a very good value.
The gay scene is very open and many of the pubs and clubs have cabaret shows . A night stroll along the Sisowath Quay, can possibly lead to a meeting of some of the local Khmer community. For a romantic evening try a Dinner River Cruise at sunset.
Just recently, a gay nightclub has opened in Phnom Penh. Called GQ NIGHTCLUB , the gay community here has been waiting for a nightclub for ages and it is now up and running. Located on street 172 in Phnom Penh. Comfortable and stylish, they offer monthly parties, drag shows, ladies night, international DJS and more in a lounge setting.
Once the heart of a magnificent kingdom that stretched from Vietnam through Thailand, Cambodia is home to a true world wonder — the jungle-tangled ruins of Angkor and its complex of Hindu and Buddhist temples, palaces, and sanctuaries that, in its day, dwarfed any city in western civilization.
Today, having survived centuries of war and strife, the land and its people are once again at peace and no tourist to the region should miss a chance to explore its historic relics and lush green countryside, home to unspoiled nature and unforgettable encounters.
There’s a vibrant emerging gay scene in the capital city, Phnom Penh, that should not be missed by travelers who are tired of the slick and predatory scenes that can be found elsewhere in the region. Cambodian gays are not opressed by colonial law or anti-gay religious traditions, although many are pressured to get married and they enjoy their gay nature after work and before going home to their families.
CAMBODIA OUT is a great resource!
(Insider tip – Find out about the Bonus Discount and Specials Card !)
As well as Utopia Asia .
(Insider tip – going to Asia? Get your Utopia Discount card !)
The Best Gay Travel Guides
Gay Prague and Bratislava in the Czech Republic
We loved Prague when we were there a couple years ago. And in June, we are heading back and also stopping by Bratislava (home of Bel Ami ) and Budapest for Gay Pride . (they are announcing their 2011 dates next month).
In 2008, we found it very inexpensive, compared to many cities. Talking with Joseph Brewster, owner of Club Temple , he said, “The dollar is definitely up now. Clothes and electronics are expensive .. Cigarettes now about $4.50. Redbull, Pepsi and gas are all up! But for the most part, food and drinks are still cheap to reasonable here.”
Prague City Hall has compiled a map which it hopes will attract gay tourists to the capital.
The leaflet can be picked up at information centres, gay clubs and hotels, according the Prague Information Service.
The PIS already has a dedicated section for gays on its website for visitors to the ‘Mother of Cities’.
There are directions to clubs and saunas, the map includes information on sites of Czech heritage, and important phone numbers for police and hospitals in the city.
“We do not want to shock anyone,” she said. The map does not locate any “clubs with dubious reputation.” (Hmmmm…what does that mean?!)
The map creators had consulted a Prague travel agency catering to gay tourists in the area.
However, the map is designed only with homosexual men in mind, with few attractions tailored to lesbians.
“There are many more gays coming here. They do not hesitate to come out and are more organized,” Novakova said. “Besides, there are perhaps only two clubs in Prague with a lesbian profile.”
Prague is a modern thriving metropolis with a wide variety of entertainment on offer, truly something for everyone. Everything from International DJs playing at award winning House/Techno clubs, through to a vast repertoire of classical music, world-class festivals and tourist concerts in numerous churches, opera
and ballet, avant-garde drama, jazz and rock, dozens of art galleries and excellent museums.
Enjoy world famous Czech beer (pivo) and Gulas served in the friendly atmosphere of local restaurants and pubs or treat yourself to a lavish candle-lit meal in one of Prague ‘s numerous romantic restaurants or river boats.
Since low cost airlines started flying into and from Prague there is no “low season” anymore. Low cost airlines operating in Prague are Smartwings , (Flights from/to Barcelona, Budapest, Heraklion, Larnaca, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome); and also Easyjet (Flights from/to Basel, Bristol, Dortmund, Geneva, London, Milan, Newcastle, Nottingham).
The selection of Prague hotels is endless! There are numerous hotels in Vinohrady area where most of the gay clubs are located. If you want to stay in a more bustling area where all the shops are, there are many hotel choices in Old Town . Some of the more well known hotels in Old Town include Residence Bene Prague, Savic Hotel Prague and U Prince Hotel Prague. The gay sauna Babylonia is right in Old Town!
We are excited to get back there and we have read there are new places in the gay district to check out!
More details soon!
Hotspots for Gay LGBT Travelers to Consider
A recent survey by Community Marketing, Inc. — the gay travel research experts for nearly 20 years –shows that lesbian and gay travelers are planning on doing a lot more traveling this year than they did during the last two. With all this pent-up demand, U.S. LGBT travelers will be heading near and far to spend those restless pink dollars. This year, put these five hot spots on your gay travel radar, and venture beyond the tried and true.
South America Rising
Rio de Janeiro has long been an important stop for in-the-know gay travelers who flock here during their summer (our winter). This South American New Year’s is one of the most exciting celebrations for LGBT locals and visitors alike. But this year, plan on going farther a field. Florianopolis, on the coast Brazil south of Rio, attracts droves of sun-seeking gay and lesbian Brazilians. It was a stop on a recent Atlantis cruise and it’ll be host to the IGLTA’s 2012 convention. This holiday hotspot is renowned for its long spans of beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages and fresh, delicious seafood. The atmosphere is one that’s relaxed and languid with no rush for anything. Comprising a city scape and an island, both are often referred to as Ilha de Santa Catarina or Floripa for short.
Buenos Aires — long and justifiably a gay-popular stop — should be coupled with a visit to Mendoza (wine country) or a quick jaunt across the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay for a visit to the romantic colonial town of Colonia or a jaunt to the much-improved beach resort Punta del Este, the South American jetsetter’s version of St. Tropez..
The Venice of the North
The Scandinavian countries have long been light years ahead of the rest of the world in their treatment of gays and lesbians, offering civil unions and other rights before many Western nations. They’ve typically done so in a decidedly low-key manner, until now.
Sweden is (finally and justifiably) tooting its horn. The country offers same-sex marriage and recently ran a contest culminating in several same-sex couples tying the knot in the air during a flight by SAS, the national airline. This is one reason to reward Sweden with your pink travel dollars, but it’s certainly not the only reason. Once you visit Stockholm, you’ll instantly understand the appeal. It’s a gorgeous city, which like its Italian twin sister, is built on islands. Sailboats, ferries, and other vessels punctuate the vibrant harbor, which is ringed by gorgeous historical buildings, dotted by lush green islands, and bathed in endless light in the summer. In the winter, it’s dark and cold, so pair your visit with a trip to the Ice Hotel , located in Lapland (120 miles north of the Arctic Circle) where you may actually get to see the Northern Lights.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas has grown to be a very popular gay hot spot in recent years. Continuously reinventing itself, Vegas seems incapable of keeping itself from adding rooms, casinos, theaters, shopping, and attractions. This travel hot spot is up to nearly 150,000 rooms. That’s almost 55 million heads-in-beds annually. Their overcapacity is a bust for developers (the much ballyhooed Fountainbleau Hotel didn’t even get off the ground), but a total boon for travelers. Rooms can often be had for a steal. Even truly fabulous properties, like the brand spanking new Cosmopolitan, built for the Champagne crowd, is eagerly welcoming the beer-can set. It is not just because Vegas offers very affordable luxury that it’s sizzling again. It’s also because it’s one of the most authentically gay welcoming destinations in the U.S., much to the surprise of many people.
The Wynn and Encore (which holds more five star awards than any other casino resort, thank you!) has not one, but five gay packages on their website: EncoreLasVegas.com/Pride .- and they have a full time gay concierge . PLUS, they host the homoerotic LE REVE , which is a MUST SEE show! Similarly welcoming hotels include the Mandalay Bay, the Paris, and MGM Grand.
Gay Middle East
Three words you probably never thought you’d read together. While it’s true that the vast majority of the Middle East probably won’t be actively marketing to the LGBT travel segment any time soon, there are a couple of very notable exceptions. Israel, which is the strongest democracy in the region, has a pretty decent track record with respect to rights for their same-sex citizens. Just one example: Legal same-sex marriages performed outside the country are recognized here, thanks to a case brought about, in fact, by the man included below who runs a terrific in-bound travel agency that can help you put together an amazing visit to the region. Tel Aviv, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this summer — it hardly looks a day over 25! — is actively courting the queer dollar. There’s much to love in this destination aside from the hot local women and men, including fine hotels, dining options, and warm stretches of beach lapped gently by the turquoise Mediterranean waves. Beirut — yes, in Lebanon — has also started to reach out to lesbian and gay travelers, with a recent symposium, and at least one out, proud, and highly competent tour operator (listed below).
Singapore
Singapore , nestled in the island-country of Malaysia, has a reputation for religiously strict adherence to rules that would put the Pope to shame. Problem is: That’s no longer true. It’s been slowly changing. Deputy PM Wong Kan Seng emphasized in 2009 that Singapore is a “stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values, but with space for homosexuals to live their private lives and contribute to the society.”
Singapore has a lingering PR problem from its years of threatening gay citizens with the rotten rattan of its buggery-obsessed former colonial masters. Let’s lay that nonsense to rest: these days you won’t be arrested for sharing a bed with your lover. You don’t need to withhold your pink dollars in a vote against the dinosaur technocrats because pink dollars are fueling a renaissance of gay-owned and managed businesses across the island. The tourist area of Chinatown already has several dozen rainbow venues filling up heritage buildings and attracting a steady flow of local clientele and in-the-know regional visitors. Have a look, sir.
Singapore is a sophisticated, educated, modern city with all the amenities you’d expect as a Westerner. There are charming old neighborhoods, friendly, helpful locals, and a shockingly big and developed (well for a socially conservative society) gay scene. Singapore actually has Asia’s hottest gay scene going these days. Homo sex is technically illegal (a legacy of British colonialism), but there are plenty of gay nightlife venues in the historic Chinatown section. Throughout the city, you’ll find the best of the best cuisines from this part of the world, be it Thai, Chinese, or Indian.
This destination also offers great shopping, inexpensive world-class hotels, and some of the friendliest service anywhere in the world. This great experience starts in the air on Singapore Airlines, which boasts one of the world’s safest and highest-rated service records of any airline. Spend four days here and a restful long weekend in nearby Bali, Indonesia, another gay-popular Asian/Muslim destination. Stay in the mystical, natural, yet luxurious highlands of Ubud and visit the nearby beaches.
So step outside the box this year and try something new!
Finding The Best Travel Deals For Your Gay Ski Week With SnowTrax.com
and the holiday season
is well underway.
What wintertime treat is my personal favorite, you ask? Eggnog? Fresh cut pine trees? The gifts? Not even close.
The answer is skiing. What could be greater than speeding down a mountain over smooth, fresh, powdery snow?
This time of year,many people start thinking
about a gay ski week getaway!
Telluride; Utah; Andorra; Switzerland! Where to go? So many choices!
How do you pick? Well for starters, if you are traveling in the US or Canada, there is a great new search engine. A search engine that works the same way users actually think. SnowTrax helps you choose a ski destination based on whatever qualities matter to you – whether you’re craving expert-level steeps or family-friendly cruisers. “We can point you towards the mountains you will enjoy, applying our insider wisdom to suggest resorts based on terrain style, snow quality, après ski scene, and more.”
Even better, they help you hunt down the absolute top value ski package by searching multiple mountains simultaneously. That’s right: uncover surprising travel deals by comparing to-the-minute fares at multiple ski destinations. Why pay more for a driving-distance hotel near Park City than a slopeside chalet at Vail? Choose your destination wisely by finding the cheapest mountains to fly to and the top value ski lodging option.
Diehard fan of Deer Valley? Addicted to Ajax? Even if you have sworn allegiance to one resort, Snow Trax will still rock your world. Compare hotels based on their proximity to ski lifts and bus stops – “we’ve painstakingly mapped the location of ski lifts and shuttle bus stops so you can judge hotels accordingly. View prices for the cheapest flights and the flights that will get you more time on the slopes – we’ll show you flights that can buy you an extra day of skiing in addition to the cheapest fare. Whether you prioritize convenience or savings, SnowTrax gives you all the tools so you can ski smart this season.”
SOON you will be able to search the world with Snow Trax . At the moment, it’s just the US and Canada.
Key features include:
Multi-destination searches: compare packages at 5+ ski resorts simultaneously.
- Vacation optimization: view cheapest flight vs. flight that gives you the most on-mountain time
- Precise location of lodging: organize hotel results by the exact distance from lifts and shuttle stops
- Insider insight: find your ski resort match using our extensive filter system, based on up-to-date statistics and expert opinion
- Real-time pricing: SnowTrax displays to-the-minute rates; no price quotes required
So where are you going to go? Let us give you some ideas:
Aspen Gay Ski Week will be in it’s 34th year in 2011!
January 16-23, 2011
New England’s Hottest Gay Ski Week
Stowe Vermont Gay Ski Week 2011 – Winter Rendezvous 2011
Jan. 19 through 23 in 2011
Winter Pride- Whistler Gay Lesbian Ski Week,
January 30th-February 6th, 2011
GayWhistler.com is a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community and produces and promotes GayWhistler ski week, WinterPRIDE every year.
As the “Top Gay Ski Week” in the country, as ranked by Gay.com, T-11 is back and better than ever.
Telluride, Colorado. February 26th- March 5th, 2011
16th year, the wild and rockin’ winter sports celebration known as Lake Tahoe WinterFest takes place
March 6 through March 12 in 2011
Elevation 2011, is our ninth annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week!
March 16th-20th in Mammoth Lakes,California. 2000+ people and 7 parties.
Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte is committed to preserving the pristine landscape and mountain lifestyle. The Matthew Shepard Foundation Gay Ski Week will debut in the Spring with plenty of Sun and Snow for a full series of fun ski events and parties on March 19 – 26, 2011
Vail Gay Ski Week – March 30-April 3rd. 5 days of affordable fun in a friendly atmosphere.
SnowTrax !
Best Gay Travel Guide
Swine Flu is Back in Hong Kong Travel News
Get our those pesky face masks again. Philippine authorities stepped up airport health checks on Friday after Hong Kong confirmed its first human case of bird flu since 2003.
Doctors from the health department and quarantine bureau have been dispatched to man thermal scanners at the international arrivals section, said Manila ternational Airport Authority chief Jose Angel Honrado.
“We are prepared to address this potential threat,” Honrado told reporters. “We are not taking any chances.”
There are an estimated 250,000 Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong and many of them are expected to fly home during the Christmas holidays.
Hong Kong on Thursday reported its first human case of avian flu since 2003, and warned there was “high risk” that people could contract the potentially fatal disease in the territory.
The infected 59-year-old woman tested positive for Influenza A (H5), a variant of bird flu, and was in a serious condition in a hospital isolation ward Thursday.
The World Health Organization said that since 2003, over 500 human cases have been reported in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
Gay Vacations to Turkey
At Europe’s door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts.
Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach.
Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans
The gay population of Turkey has grown rapidly over the last 10 years. Subsequently, Turkish gay men have started interacting with other gay people from all around the world, and there have been considerable developments in gay travel.
The gay bars and clubs have also started publishing their own business websites, like Turkey Gay.net , which would have English pages for gay visitors from other countries.
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Gay Cafe Bar in Istanbul |
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Gay and Lesbian Istanbul Hotels |
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Turkey Gay Travel Agency |
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Turkey Budget Tours and Hotels |
Turkey Gay Lesbian Guide |
International Gay Guide |
Despite the fact that Turkey is a Muslim country, it reveals a very different attitude to other Islamic countries towards lesbian and gay people. Turkey is progressive and highly western and allows gays to have a measure of freedom of expression and access to fulfilling careers and romantic intimacy. Turkey is the only Muslim country in the world where homosexuality is not illegal since the republic was founded in 1923.
Many tour groups are no bigger than 12-15 and are ideal for travelers that are easy going and fun loving people that enjoy getting to know other people and approach the new culture they will visit with a sense of curiosity. At the same time, a small tour group offers a camaraderie and intimacy amongst members where you will bond and make lifelong travel friends. A spirit of adventure, people and new places will ensure that gay vacations to Turkey will be a memorable experience for you.
These exciting gay vacations to Turkey offer delicious meals and up market accommodation in conjunction with professional tours. Themes for the tours include easy adventure filled trips, cultural and historical sightseeing, party vibe or quiet safaris or romantic cruises as well as nature walks.
Gay tour operators offer tour packages customized from interesting cultural sightseeing and various outdoor activities. You get to visit places that are off the beaten track and see exciting, well-known spots where you get to experience unique subtleties that most tourists don’t get to experience.
Tour operators allow you to create your own tour if you cannot find a suitable package on the website suitable to your schedule where you can create your very own itinerary. Choose from the normal tour guides and books to create your own itinerary. Pick from any or all of the sights mentioned or request a place that was not mentioned, anywhere in Turkey. Greek Islands tours and Blue voyage cruises within Turkey are offered for private groups, big or small to fit in with your vacation period.
When you plan your gay vacations to Turkey, it is good to know that the major tourist attractions and famous sights are all connected by reliable public bus transport, whether the destinations are long or short distance.
A trip to Cappadocia, in central Turkey, gives you the chance for a unique lodging experience: staying in a cave. (above) The soft volcanic rock has been hollowed out for homes for at least two millennia.
The Turkish railway system is not very reliable and comfortable at all. Domestic flights are available from Istanbul to all other local as well as all international airports. Charter flights are only available during peak tourism season and are rare even then.
Vacations to Turkey ideas penned by Howie Holben. His company, Spirit Journeys , is a gay travel association and advances spiritual gay tours world wide.
New Gay Travel Guide
Will the BBC Three series Lip Service Bring Lesbians to Glasgow?
A Glasgow tour company is looking to cash-in on the city’s fame as the location of BBC Three series Lip Service by offering special lesbian-themed travel packages.
The series, which follows lesbian life in the Scottish city, has highlighted the attractions of the city’s gay-quarter for tourists, and a specialist travel company is looking to capitalise on the success with gay-friendly tours and civil partnership breaks.
Glasgow hopes Lip Service will do for Glasgow what the The L Word has done for West Hollywood, with lesbian travellers flocking to see places shown in the series. According to Scotland on Sunday, some of the locations featured in the show, such as The Trans-Europe Café, have already seen an increase in lesbian customers.
As reported by the newspaper, among the tours being offered is the Lip Service Valentine’s Special. The two-night package including dinner at the restaurant where the characters Cat and Sam have their first date, and VIP passes to gay club the Polo Lounge.
Ruth Cochrane says “It shows the city off. So often on television it’s seen as dingy and dark, but this shows off the architecture and makes it look like a cosmopolitan place to be.
Cochrane also believes that local lesbians live up to the stunning looks of stars of the series Ruta Gedmintas and Laura Fraser. “I think there are girls that look like that around,” she said, and describes Glasgow as having “great nightlife”.
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and represents one of the oldest settlements in Western Europe.
A visit to Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city and the third largest in Britain, is a cosmopolitan delight with about a million dining choices, great museums, impressive shopping, and wide streets that throng with people. There’s a big-city attitude and a big-city ambience here that is softened by the quiet burr of Scottish voices, and by the seemingly ever-present mist. Occasionally, that mist will lift (if you’re lucky), revealing a sun that never gets too hot but casts its magic on the Victorian splendors of this very chic and buzzing city.
Passport magazine gives an in depth look at Gay Lesbian Travel to Glasgow !
New Caledonia is Emerging as a new Gay Lesbian Travel Hotspot
New Caledonia –
a French Territory in the Coral Sea between Australia and New Zealand – is emerging as a hot travel destination for international gay and lesbian travellers seeking the “nouvelle” and a little French bliss. Rainbow Tourism Launches South Pacific Website Focusing on New Caledonia as Gay Travel Destination.
The South Pacific island nation has several hotels with gay welcome mats and tour operators who have created “pink packages” that include visits to gay clubs and restaurants. The local community boasts the Homo-Sphere association, which holds events for locals and visitors around gay owned and gay friendly venues.
To collate the buzz about cosmopolitan and stylish Noumea and her hidden gem islands (the Loyalty Island and Isle of Pines), Rainbow Tourism New Caledonia website was created. It is the place to go for information and images of authentic Melanesian culture, world-class sporting events, cruise shore excursions, dining and shopping – and where to find a bilingual tour guide if you want an insider’s view to New Caledonia.
You could imagine you’re in the south of France. In fact you’re two hours from Brisbane. Just a short flight from our east coast, Australia’s next-door neighbours speak French, eat snails and enjoy duty-free wines from Bordeaux. This is Noumea, capital of New Caledonia, a slice of paradise being rebranded as a long-weekend getaway for Australians.
New plane schedules and holiday packages have brought the stunning French territory into line with Bali and Fiji as a place where Australians can make a dash for a three-day suntan.
The main island – Grande Terre – is 400kilometres long, covered with dense jungle which rises to the highest peaks. To reach distant valleys and meet some of the 30 Melanesian groups still living traditional lifestyles calls for local knowledge; fortunately English expat John Brighton’s VIP Tours offer full-day hinterland trips calling on tribal villages (email j.brighton@mls.nc).
Many short-break visitors restrict themselves to the idyllic Isle of Pines, a short flight from Noumea or a little more than two hours by high speed catamaran. Once there, they usually abandon themselves to hedonism. This is a place with luxurious hotels, lush gardens, breathtaking lagoons and beaches – and seafood cooked fresh from the ocean.
*Tips and Secrets!
*Wine: European wines are duty free.
Australian favourites are scarce, but French wines are available for a fraction of the cost paid in Australia.
* Drives: Hire a car and head for the mountains and stark red soil of the Great South district. Blue River Park has lakes, mountain streams and rainforest walks; nearby are the pretty Madeline Falls. You may even spot the cagou – a small, flightless bird that barks at sunrise and sunset. The road near Yate follows dramatic mountains, escarpments and palm-lined beaches.
The New Caledonia regional site is part of the Rainbow Tourism Network which publishes dedicated sites for Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. It has other gay destinations and countries coming online in 2011.
Thai for Gay Tourists: A Language Guide to the Gay Culture of Thailand
THAILAND –
Asia’s most gay-friendly country
A sex survey conducted by Time Asia Magazine (published March, 2001) found that Thai people are the most gay-friendly in asia. Thai for Gay Tourists has been designed to enhance your visit to the country so that you can communicate in a more fun and efficient way. If you are gay and are visiting or planning to visit Thailand, this book is a must for you!
THAI FOR GAY TOURISTS… offers gays a new and fun way to communicate in the Thai language; provides information for gays seeking romance in Thailand; has commentary sections about many aspects of Thai gay romantic culture; provides gay slang and phrases as well as anecdotes and stories; requires no previous knowledge of the Thai language; is written in a brisk, interesting style and is well organized with clear, easy to read postscript fonts; and is fun to use!
Thai for Gay Tourists: A Language Guide to the Gay Culture of Thailand is the perfect gay language guide for your journey to the Land of Smiles—Thailand!
Even if you have have no prior knowledge of Thai, this book clearly presents the sound system and shows the Thai script. It provides ALL vocabulary relevant to gay life, and gives quite a bit of background from gay Thais about life in their country.
My only caveat would be that it generally presents homosexuality as accepted and even celebrated there. This is a common presentation of gay life in many countries. However, one should always be aware that we are not the majority and there is bigotry everywhere. This is not New York City or San Francisco! But with that in mind, I must say this an impressive little book–it does a lot in a short space, the author is to be commended!
The author also wrote Queer : Facts About Gays and Lesbians (Thai Edition) .
Read more about GAY ASIA
right here on New Gay Travel Guide!
A Battle for the Pink Gay Travel Dollars… Beirut vs. Tel Aviv
We all know,
Gay tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry.
EVERYONE wants our money. And is this economy, it’s amazing how many cities have decided GAY IS OK! And are rolling out the red carpet for us!And two Mediterranean cities are both angling for a piece of the action.
The two hotspots, each boasting trendy nightlife, warm climate and carefree attitude, are vying for the pink dollars of the world’s gay tourists. Tel Aviv, Israel’s cultural and business capital, has already earned its place as a must-go destination for globe-trotting gays, and now Beirut is making its pitch, too.
“Western travelers come to us to feel the Arabian spirit,” Bertho Makso, Lebanon’s first and perhaps best-known gay travel operator, told The Media Line . “And Arabs have come to feel more comfortable.”
Beirut and Tel Aviv are less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) apart on the Mediterranean coast, but two-city package tours for gays are not going to be offered anytime soon. Israel and Lebanon are officially at war.
Lonely Planet puts Tel Aviv in top three cities in world . Israel’s party capital wins praise for its tolerant attitudes and thrivings arts – ‘a kind of San Francisco in the Middle East’. AND Tel Aviv has the advantage of being in a country where the laws are favorable and homosexuality is widely accepted. In Lebanon, homosexuality is officially illegal, even if the law is seldom enforced.
Once known as the Paris of the Middle East until the country’s devastating 1975-1990 civil war, Beirut is home to posh gay-friendly nightclubs, glitzy bars and restaurants. Many report that Beirut has become much more tolerant of gay culture and nightlife over the last 10 years. The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association held a symposium in the city for the first time earlier this month.
LebTour travel agency opened in 2005. By night, he escorts visitors to Beirut’s gay clubs and bars; by day, he leads them around the country to learn about its history and culture.
In the five years Makso has been operating LebTour, he says his client base has grown five-fold to over 500 gay tourists a year, mainly from Europe but increasingly from the US as well. He says also runs gay-themed tours to Syria and Jordan, bringing tourists to gay bars in Damascus, and Amman, without difficulty.
Human Rights Watch , said Beirut isn’t as tolerant towards gays as some make it out to be. Lebanese gays with enough money enjoy a margin of freedom, she said, but it is restricted to men. Those from working class and poor backgrounds face discrimination and many times are not accepted by their families.
“Once you leave that bubble it’s a very different situation,” Moumneh said. “The tourism industry is painting a very rosy picture, but it’s very small and narrow.”
Makso acknowledges Beirut isn’t New York or London, and he warns his clients to avoid certain behaviors.
“I explain to them certain things they shouldn’t do, like showing public affection and taking pictures of political figures,” he said. “In general there’s no problem, but this is not the West.”
100 miles down the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv’s gay tourism industry is taking off, as well. The city is internationally known for its gay nightlife and carefree attitude. Thousands of gay tourists flock to the city every year, said Yaniv Poria, professor in the Department of Hotel and Hospitality at Israel’s Ben Gurion University and an expert on the subject.
Although the country is not immune to homophobia either, as exemplified by the shooting last year at a gay community center in Tel Aviv that left two dead and at least 15 others wounded, Poria said Israel has a very positive image among the global gay and lesbian community.
“This is considered the hotspot for the Middle East,” he said. “In no other country, can gays walk publicly and be out.”
The Tel Aviv Tourism Association recently launched a campaign to market the city to gay communities around the world in a campaign called “Tel Aviv Gay Vibe.” Last year, the city in conjunction with the Israeli Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Association distributed gay-themed maps of the city around Europe.
Read More from Benjamin Peim
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Travel Around The World….in Hamburg Germany
DOES THIS TRAIN MAKE ME LOOK GAY?
WOW!
This is pretty incredible!
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and the eighth-largest city in the European Union. The city is home to over 1.8 million people and these Two German Brothers have put this TRAIN SET together.
This is the world’s biggest train set, which Covers 1,150 square meters / 12,380 square feet.
Features almost six miles of track and is still not complete!!
Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, began work on the ‘Miniatur Wunderland’ in 2000
The set covers six regions including America , Switzerland , Scandinavia , Germany , and the Austrian Alps…The American section features giant models of the Rocky Mountains, Everglades , Las vegas, Grand-Canyon …
The Scandinavian part has a 4ft long passenger ship floating in a ‘fjord’.
It is expected to be finished in 2014, when the train set will cover more than 1,800 square meters / (19,376 sq ft) and feature almost 13 miles of track, by which time detailed models of parts of France, Italy and the UK will have been added. It comprises 700 trains with more than 10,000 carriages and wagons. The scenery includes 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars – many with illuminated headlights…
The 250,000 lights are rigged up to a system that mimics night and day by automatically turning them on and off …The whole system is controlled from a massive high-tech nerve centre. In total the set has taken 500,000 hours and more than 8 million euro to put together, the vast majority of which has come from ticket sales.
Gerrit said: “Our idea was to build a world that men, woman, and children can be equally astonished and amazed in.”
Frederik added: “Whether gambling in Las Vegas, hiking in the Alps or paddling in Norwegian fjords – in Wunderland everything is possible.”This 4-minute video is worth watching for this amazing stuff.
Gay Travel to Costa Rica
So, how do Costa Ricans view gay people?
Can I kiss in public?
Are there any nude gay beaches?
Gay friendly hotels?
Get your answers HERE!
Costa Rica decriminalized homosexuality between consenting adults in the 1970s. Since then, a series of legal rulings, on a judicial as well as administrative level, have turned things around for Costa Rican lesbians and gay men.
The Costa Rica constitution makes the Catholic Church the official state religion (church and state is not separated in Costa Rica), and about 80% or more of the country is Catholic. So, you can imagine where the gay lifestyle sits in their eyes. Gay Costa Rica citizens are still fighting their straight counterparts so they can have the same benefits that heterosexual couples receive such as inheritance rights, pensions, and tax rights to name a few.
Besides the Catholics in Costa Rica, the gay community here is battling against the Evangelicals in Costa Rica, who came out 20,000 strong from all over Costa Rica to protest the last Civil Union bill that was sent for approval. It looks like the gay community has a huge hurdle to climb before they are seen as equals.
I just have to say for a country that deems prostitution legal this seems like a fight that should have been overturned years ago.
That being said of all the Central American countries Costa Rica is said to be the most gay-tolerant/gay-friendly country, which makes it a highly desirable travel destination for the gay tourist. In the more recent years there has been a boom in the gay hotels being built in Costa Rica, as well as gay bars, gay travel agencies, gay tour operators, and restaurants. Places are popping up all over the country that caters to men only, as well as clothing optional places.
For more helpful travel information on Costa Rica make sure you check out our website and our blog .
Lesbian Travel and Festival at Eressos on Greece’s Lesbos island
It’s September and for a 10th year, the village of Eressos on Greece’s Lesbos island has drawn lesbians from across Europe to a unique international festival for women.
In a country strongly influenced by the Greek Orthodox church and where roughly half the population is against same-sex marriage, the lesbian-run event has been quietly growing in this corner of the Aegean Sea.
Over the past decade, attendance at the two-week International Women’s Festival has jumped from 30 to hundreds of women – mainly German, British, Dutch and Scandinavian, but also Greek and Italian.
Lesbians began to visit the island in the 70s, and have been coming back ever since. Tensions have been high at times and trouble has brewed in the past. Three Lesbians (natives of the island of Lesbos) submitted a legal challenge in an attempt to stop the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using the term “lesbian”. The use of the word to denote a sexual preference derives from the island’s association with Sappho, the ancient poet who wrote about her love for women. But according to Dimitris Lambou, editor of the rightwing publication Davlos (Torch), and two female colleagues, using lesbian in this way “disgraces them around the world”; islanders, they say, are suffering “psychological and moral rape”. SERIOUSLY?! A Greek court dismissed a lawsuit!
Lesbian holiday and gay travelers are attracted by the island’s association with
Sappho, the seventh century Greek poet who wrote about her love for women and was born in Eressos.
Sappho lived from the late 7th to the early 6th century B.C. and is considered one of the greatest poets of antiquity. Many of her poems, written in the first person and intended to be accompanied by music, contain passionate references to love for other women! Just get over it already!
Dimitris Lambrou one of the litigants in the case said Sappho was not gay. “But even if we assume she was, how can 250,000 people of Lesbian descent – including women – be considered homosexual?”
“The word lesbian has been associated with gay women for the past few decades but we have been Lesbians for thousands of years,” he said.
According to an LGBT holiday and travel agency in Greece, lesbians now make up 60 per cent of visitors who come to the village, rising to 90 per cent in September when the lesbian festival takes place!
As the economic crisis continues to pinch Greece hard, Greek holidaymakers spent less this summer and many are grateful for the extended season brought by lesbian tourism.
“People in the village have got used it, especially the young people, but the old people still discuss it among themselves,” one agent says.
Gay Lesbian Travel Guide
Gay Travel Guide Goes to Chile to See The Worlds Largest Swimming Pool
If you like doing laps in the swimming pool, you might want to stock up on some energy drinks before diving in to this one.
It is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water. (which is similar to 6000 8 meter long pools).
The pool can be found in Algarrobo, Chile at San Alfonso del Mar.
The water has the transparency and turquoise look of the clear sea, this is thanks to the technology used which collects water from the ocean and keeps it in perfect condition.
It took five years to build, cost nearly £1billion and the annual maintenance bill will be £2million.
Quite a lovely resort!
When are we going?!
Lesbian Travel – Vancouver for Girls!
Recognized by Community Marketing, Inc. for being the top international travel destination among lesbians, Vancouver boasts one of the most welcoming and accepting communities in the Americas. World-class dining, entertainment and quality service unfold upon your arrival to the sassy city by the Pacific.
Vancouver has become the most famous place as one of the gay tourist destination in Canada. In LGBT surveys, the city of Vancouver is placing fourth in the rankings in the category most popular vacation spot outside the United States, after London, Puerto Vallarta and Paris. City of Montreal and Toronto itself is ranked eighth and sixth.
The West End is a cute little jewel in the heart of Vancouver. Marvel at the floral arrangements elegantly presented along the edges of the Edwardian-style homes between Davie and Denman streets as you mosey on over to your favorite brunch spot for mimosas and great company.
Granville Island is home to the Granville Island Public Market – a favorite lesbian hotspot. This indoor and outdoor fresh-as-the-fields marketplace can be equated to Vancouver’s version of Seattle’s Pike Place Market – with a tad bit more flair and room to breathe. Delectable morsels are on display for the tasting and there is no shortage of crisp fruits, vegetables, seafood, meats and alternatives for every discerning palate. Purchase a picnic lunch, sit on the deck and make a day of people-watching and counting colorful water taxis as they glide along the translucent water.
Commercial Drive is one of the most flavorful parts of the city and should not be missed. Portuguese and Italian immigrants once settled in this adorable community and cooked up feasts with recipes that are still being utilized (in one form or another) to locals, visitors and passerby. Whether you feel the need to sit in the sun with a slice of pizza or take a walk along the East side of Vancouver with a fresh cappuccino in hand, Commercial Drive has a little bit of everything to suit your needs. Lesbians and friends – you must check out the Sapphic-infused Womyns’Ware sex toy shop for a truly unforgettable experience.
Wreck Beach is Vancouver’s exclusive clothing-optional gay beach and it is definitely worth visiting – even for a few minutes. There are hundreds of steps to hike as you make your way down to the beach and back up to the main road so be prepared for a sweat. Consisting of mainly gay males, Wreck Beach may either be the perfect spot for you or the most uncomfortable, but, either way, it will be truly unforgettable. Watch out for the geoduck (gooey duck) clams shooting water up at you from below the sand!
Stanley Park is comprised of roughly 1,000 acres centrally located less than one mile away from downtown Vancouver. Cedar, hemlock and fir trees envelope your heart and soul as you walk along the trails and paths all the while getting lost in the nature of things and loving every spare moment. Driving, walking, skating, rollerblading and biking are all methods of transportation in Stanley Park and are encouraged.
Regardless of what you choose to accomplish while in Vancouver, there is something for every taste and lifestyle.
Read more about this great city at SHE WIRED , from writer Sarah Toce.
New Gay Travel Guide
