A Gay Guide to Pattaya Thailand, Sunee Plaza and Boyztown
Pattaya is located about 2 hours drive South of Bangkok, or about 90 minutes from the new airport. It is well known for its beaches, and the “sun/sea” image, but far more renowned for its reputation as “Sin City”.
Nightlife dominates this city and the people who come here generally come for this. You can have 24 hour entertainment; from the beach during the day, quiet cafes in the afternoon, early evening drinks, wild evenings in gogo bars or cabaret bars and late night fun in the discos.
It’s all here, and it’s all set up for the gay visitor. What’s more it’s as safe as anywhere in Europe and you pay Asian prices, rather than European ones. Pattaya stands for erotic fun. ANYTHING you want is here and can be found.
The history of Pattaya is interesting. Until the mid 20th century it was a sleepy fishing village. In the time of the Vietnam War, the Americans built a large air force base close to the town and imported troops by the thousand. Towards the end of the war, they started using Pattaya as an area to send the combatants for R&R. The town started to grow. Of course the veterans wanted one thing to compliment the sun and sea – they wanted sex. The local girls were happy to provide this and so Walking Street started to grow up. By the mid 80s it was a shanty town of wooden huts and loose women. At about the same time, but far more discrete, Boyztown had started to develop and the gay market had established itself.
Through the 1990s the straight prostitute market exploded. Cheapening air travel, better accommodation, more available tourist money and general economic prosperity lead to Walking Street becoming what it is today. Sunee Plaza, Pattaya’s second gay area started in the late 1980s and by the mid 90s was firmly established. Sunee is still largely un-troubled by non-gay tourists.
However Boyztown is frequented by coach loads of them. You will frequently see two or three coach parties per night, usually Japanese, mixed sexes and hetero, walking through Boyztown, being guided through. One can imagine the party looking at the gay “exhibits”. They peer in through the open door on the occasional club and wonder at the boys they see.
And that’s what most gay tourists come for. Pattaya itself has a huge market based around this sex industry, and the gay market congregates around two areas. One is Boyztown. Glitsy, glamorous and top-priced, it features gogo bars, host bars and cabaret shows.
Ten minutes away and just down Soi VC, by the VC hotel is Sunee Plaza, smaller, with less sparkle, it has an air of fun, frivolity, spontaneity and eroticism that its big brother often fails to deliver.
Boyztown
Technically this is one short street, although most people lump in the adjacent Pattayaland Soi 1 and 2 to make a large area. It’s older and more established than Sunee Plaza. Here one can find the Cabaret shows such as at the Copa Showbar or at Boyz Boyz Boyz. Copa includes an
amazing “underwater” show and has two later dance shows. The boys in the dance troupe will excite you. Boyz Boyz Boyz has a slightly less well choreographed show, but is still fun and worth going to.
There are also many other Gogo bars, try Star Boys in Pattayaland soi 1 or Cupidol in the same soi. Star boys is a favourite for many a local with its wide range of boy. Cupidol has a nice line up and the boys wear really nice underwear. You might consider the beer bars with their attractive hosts; I’d recommend Panorama in Boyztown which occupies a prime position at the head of the street or Oscars almost next door, owned by David, a large Brit with a personality to match. Then there are restaurants such as the Café Royale with an extensive menu and daily specials and the Ambiance Hotel actually in Boyztown.
Sunee Plaza
Here is an area which advertises itself as the “heart of the extreme city”. It has a feeling of being the smaller brother to Boyztown, but in fact there are more bars and more facilities here. It is also cheaper than its older sibling. I’d recommend Krazy Dragon – the original table top gogo bar in Pattaya. The boys come round and squat down on your table with their over-size baggy shorts and no underwear! A smaller gogo bar well worth a visit is Euroboys where the boys wear the sexiest white satin underwear with lace up sides.
Beer bars abound and each has its own character and charm. Oud’s café bar is fronted by the outrageous and screamingly funny Oud – it’s worth a visit just to meet him. Memories Music bar will play music all night in many styles and this is their theme. You can stop for a drink on the corner of the terrace at Don Plaza’s Terrace bar and watch the world go by. Just round the corner is Duc’s coffee shop with its collection of books and International movies. The Corner Bar serves double shots for the price of one and has the best location in the Soi. Its pool table is often in demand by the local Thai lads. Mike’s Bar La Cage (just outside Sunee Plaza in Soi VC) has regular party nights and offers a Happy hour. The guv’nor – Mike – will do his best to look after you.
For food, one is spoiled for choice. Next door to La Cage is Mike’s All New White Night. This restaurant provides everything from breakfast to a set menu evening meal. The Balkan Express features Barbecue food from Croatia, and very tasty it is too! They have started a Thai menu and the host boys are very attentive. Oud’s bar and Memories (already mentioned) also have snack menus – Memories being open from 2 pm. And of course there are an abundance of Thai food cafes around.
All the attractions of Sunee Plaza can be found online. This site has a good diary and is kept completely up to date so you can see exactly what is happening in the area.
Late night
After the go go bars close (at 1 am), there are still the beer bars to visit. If you want to party on, then there are a number of late night discos to try. These are chaotic affairs, filled with Thai boys, who have just finished work in the beer and gogo bars. They are for the most part not near the two main areas, but can be found by talking to any local bar owner or bar boy. If you take a boy for company, he will show you his favourite. I’d recommend Body Language or XZYTE, but there are another half a dozen to try.
Where to stay
Pattaya has more than its fair share of hotels. A number are worth
mentioning here. For people who would prefer to stay close to Boyztown, there
is the Ambiance, right in the heart of the action. Some people would say it’s
too close. Sunee visitors have a larger range to choose from. Two guys
Guesthouse is extremely comfortable and would suit any traveler on a budget,
with rooms from £11 per night. John, the owner, is a particularly friendly
host. At the other end of the scale there is the Don Plaza Hotel, offering
suites and a 4 star comfort level. There plenty of Pattaya hotels around the city that will
fall into different price brackets so that you don’t have to worry about
spending too much money.
Prices
Originally providing a very cheap holiday, Pattaya is no longer the cheapest place in Asia. However compared to Europe it is still a bargain. Drinks Vary from £3 for a beer in a Boyztown showbar (there is no charge for the show), to under £1 in Sunee. You can get a good breakfast for £2 and a quality evening meal for under £5. The costs of entertaining a boy are very much cheaper than in Europe and if the thought of Asian boys fulfilling your every fantasy appeals to you, this is the place to visit.
Daytime attractionsThe main scene for tourists in the day is the gay beach at Jomtien – just 10 minutes away by baht bus. 10 baht gets you there, merely hail a bus going in the right direction and hop on. When you get to the beach at Jomtien, turn right down beach road. Pass the toilets and look for the concession numbers. The gay section includes concessions 20 to 25. Each has their own brightly coloured deck chairs in their signature colour. Each also has beach umbrellas to shade you. The concessions charge 30 Baht for a chair for the day, and for a small fee will provide food and drink all day for you. While you are there, a bewildering array of vendors will walk past you.
You can buy anything you need (and many things you don’t need from them). The range starts with fresh fruit, peeled and packed on Styrofoam trays, doughnuts, fried fish, and ends with bed spreads, carved elephant heads and hand made cards. Of course there is everything in between.
Also look out for the stream of manicure ladies and massage boys, any of whom will perform their services for seemingly ridiculous rates. A good leg massage for 30 minutes (which should bring a smile to your face) will cost a mere £2.50.
Outside the beach, there are many other attractions. Places to see include Wong Amat, an enormous ornate wood building just North of Pattaya, Big Buddha Hill (there is a clue in the name here), and Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens. You might also like to think about a trip to the elephant village or maybe a day out to Bang Seray, a truly sleepy fishing post about 30 minutes south. If you arrive lunchtime, you can have a nice seafood lunch, and stroll along the fishing pier about 3.30, just as the boat boys are waking up and showering on deck.
One word of caution
Prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, although the entire city depends on this market. There will be no problems as long as the boy you take home with you is over 18. It is as well to check their ID. Taking boys from recommended host bars or gogo bars is far safer than picking a boy up from the street. A little caution and you will have the holiday of a lifetime.If you’ve never been to Pattaya – check it out! For the gay man, there is everything you could want here.
All set in a tropical setting. If I were designing paradise, I would look little further than Pattaya!
SUNEE PLAZA
New Gay Travel Guide and The Best Gay Cities
Gay Sitges – Gay Paradise – The St. Tropez of Spain! Part 2
When the Roman’s first visited Spain over two thousand year’s ago they built a town called Subur. Sitges now stands on that very same spot. We all know how the Roman centurions liked to party and that tradition continues to this very day. Welcome to Sitges, a party-town like no other.
Traveling to Sitges is easy, accommodations plentiful, the climate perfectly Mediterranean, the people relaxed, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by and full of regional variety.
Sitges is often called the St. Tropez of Spain and the Crown Jewel of the Mediterranean. In ways, I found the lay of the land similar to Puerto Vallarta and the village is very old and full of charm.
Last week we gave you an overview of this great gay village by sea, this week we’ll take a little closer look at a few of many, many, MANY stores and bars in this small village.
First…WHERE TO STAY?
We highly recommend PARROTS HOTEL. In the heart of Sitges, just one block from the glittering Mediterranean Sea and the beach. A gay urban oasis! The rooms are modern, confortable, clean with all the amenities you would expect. Room safe, flat screen TV, big beds and many rooms have balconies or terraces. Free wi-fi in the lobby. Plus a friendly, helpful staff!
The laid-back ambiance and gracious staff of the Parrots prove ideal to the casual traveller who´s looking for a place where anything goes. No worries, no attitude, just fun times.
The staff has extensive local knowledge and is willing to answer questions or source tourist information to ensure or source tourist information to ensure your stay is a memorable one – challenge them and be surprised!
A generous continental style buffet-breakfast is included in the price of your stay. This can be enjoyed in our spacious breakfast room, in the shade of the patio terrace, or under the blue morning skies on our large sun terrace.
The upper sun terrace is the place to be for those who have an aversion to sand, while the elegant lobby and bar becomes a cool retreat on balmy summer nights.
Parrots also owns a gay sauna (located right inside the building) plus a restaurant, offering a delicious set menu and a full a la carte option, Parrots Restaurant also boasts an excellent wine list. The outside terrace is especially popular. Reservations are recommended.
And they have a great VIP Program. When you stay with them you get VIP access and exclusive discounts to all of their properties, including free entrance to the on site Sauna, as well as some deals around town with participarting merchants.
If you would rather “get away” from the bustling village, just a stones throw up in the mountains is a modern Country villa guesthouse with 6 large private en-suite guestrooms!
We highly recommend CASA ROSA SITGES , it is situated just 15 minutes by car from Sitges and it´s beautiful beaches, in the beautiful & romantic hills of the wine region Penedés. And they offer a shuttle service down to Sitges or can help arrange for a rental car if you really want to explore the area.
Your hosts Thomas and Bjorn, make you feel welcomed and right at home. It is a wonderful personal touch that often you do not get when staying at large hotels. It’s very relaxing here with lots of space, more laid back than staying right in the heart of the action, but just minutes away from the fun, so it easy to go back and fourth.
Casa Rosa is the ideal getaway for those who are looking for a relaxing holiday on the quiet hillside of Olivella.
Whether you want to enjoy nature, walking, mountainbiking, hot air ballooning, sun and relax by the pool or to discover the local culture just around the corner. You will find it all here!
SHOPPING! I found AMAZING deals here! And very cool European clothing by many designers that you just can’t find in the US. And I love this village because everything is SO CLOSE. Everything is within a 3-7 minute walk.
Some of my favorite shops for men’s clothes included …
Boyzone – Bonaventura, 18 Very cool, fabulous cutting edge styles.
Dive – Gaudenci, 12 Mid market clothing. Great collection of casual styles.
Dive Outlet – Joan Tarrida, 3 Clearance store. Love a sale!
Ovlas – Francesc, 22 Mid market clothing.
Oscar – Marques Montroig, 2 Awesome underwear and jean collections.
D&G, Cavalli, Armani, Alexander McQueen and more.
Replay – Francesc, 36 Casual popular euro company.
ZAK – Sant Francesc, 1 Very nice! Unique/boutique designs and beautifully tailored. And affordable.
There are also many home design and furnishing shops as well as art shops.
This is a party town, especially in the summer! Atlántida disco GBP held every Tuesday in the high season. A large open air disco right on the sea front. There is a free bus from in front of the Calipolis Hotel (Where the gay beach is), on the sea front. As you can see from the video, it gets packed and the talent is out of this world! MATINEE Group is just one of the big names here you will see.
There are also 2 big parties geared more towards Lesbians (and their friends). Marypili, a bar right next door to Parrots Hotel, organizes Fiesta Lola in April and the Legends Party in August (on the 10th), which draws over 2000 people! There are events and parties all year in Sitges, but especially May through September. So you may want to look at the online guides we have listed or check in with Parrots, as you may want to plan your trip around one of the events. Lesbian events, Bear Parties, Carnaval, Fiesta Mayor and endless dance and beach parties, all with themes!
The first gay disco in Spain opened in Sitges 25 years ago. It is still going stronger than ever. Trailer’s foam parties on Sunday night are world renowned. (Angel Vidal, 36)Hands get frisky as the foam level rises. This is a big disco – and Organic is the other big disco. (Bonaire, 10). Both of these are a later night crowd.
There are dozens of smaller clubs and cafes to pick from – Marypili and El Horno, are just steps outside the door of Parrot’s. And Parrot’s has a Pub, a Terrace, and a restaurant, as well as the hotel and sauna. Everything is close by, just minutes from each other, so it is very easy to jump from place to place. While we were there we also enjoyed B-Side, Man Bar, XXL, Le Male Bar and Organic. Many of the stores and Cafes have gay pocket maps available.
The village is full of cafes and restaurants! People watching is a favorite sport here in the summer, visitors like to sit at the outdoor cafés hoping either to be seen or to see some one else! There are SO MANY to choose from. It just depends what you are looking for.
Crepes at El Capricho, Italian at Vesuvio, International cuisine at Monroe’s – the list is endless. While shopping one evening we stopped into a tiny place called Road Cafe, Parrelledes 13. And we had one of the best thin crust pizza’s and HUGE glasses of wine, it was very good.
The entire beachfront is dotted with outdoor cafes. Being the Italian lovers we are, we went to Ristorante Pizzeria Claudius and sat on the patio watching people, sipping on wine and snacking on Calamari.
Sitges is very international. Almost 35% of the ca. 26,000 inhabitants are from the Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Scandinavia. And tourists come from all over the world.
Many tourists fall in love with it and decide to move here! The property prices here are approaching those of the most expensive European cities, the main reason for this being the beautiful setting by the sea and the surrounding Parc Natural del Garraf. – However, if you are from the US, you won’t be sticker-shocked by the prices. It is not outrageous.
Sitges has to be one of the easiest gay destinations to visit. It is just 20 minutes train journey from Barcelona. And the resort is the perfect base for exploring the other parts of Cataluna. Universal Studios theme park is nearby at Port Aventura, and the ancient monastery of Montserrat is in the mountains to the north.
SITGES….a gem in the Mediterranean! We were told it is the prefect day or two trip getaway from Barcelona. I could come back here for a week! But be prepared to fall in love and perhaps spend the rest of your life in this quaint, unique little town!
Helpful links & Resources for Sitges:
PARROTS CASA ROSA guesthouse Gay Beach Parties Gay Sitges Videos
The Gay Paradise – Sitges Gay Sitges Guide Gay Sitges Online Gay Life Sitges
BEST GAY CITIES and the NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDE
Gay Peru
WOW!
Someone sent me these pictures from PERU! How beautiful is that? Peru is a spectacular country with much to offer tourists and travellers, I am told. There are the well-known destinations like Cuzco and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Nazca Lines, Paracas, and the Amazon Rainforest.
Has anyone been there?
How is the gay scene there?
We will have to explore that in a future article. Spirit Journeys is planning a 2 week gay vacation there! It looks amazing!
Gay Ottawa Canada and Capital Pride in August
Ottawa is an open, friendly and welcoming destination for gay and lesbian travelers. Canada’s Capital has an LGBT pedigree that extends back to the first-ever gay and lesbian public demonstration in Canada (1971), and that in recent years included perhaps the most public gay marriage of all time between two gay stars of the TV program The Amazing Race.
Today, Ottawa is home to a proud and active gay and lesbian community with an ever-expanding variety of clubs, organizations, activities and events – including a very boisterous annual Pride Week celebration – that reflects the diversity of the local community.
The centre of gay and lesbian life is the area around Bank Street and Somerset in the downtown core. The growing gaybourhood has shops and bars and is the home base for local institutions serving the LGBT community.
Explore it by day—or by night. But don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one neighbourhood. There are things happening all over. On Sunday evenings, for example, there’s a lesbian coffee club in suburban Barrhaven. You’ll find gays and lesbians all over the city, doing the active things Ottawans do. Check publications such as Capital Xtra for listings and up-to-date information.
CAPITAL PRIDE, Ottawa’s most colorful event, takes place August 21st – 30th, 2009. More than 50,000 people are expected at the week long celebartion!
Highlights of the 2009 festival include:
· The annual and highly-anticipated Capital Pride Parade on August 30, which is historically well-attended by members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two-spirited and questioning (GLBTTQ) community and their friends and allies;
· The 2009 Capital Pride festival at Ottawa City Hall immediately following the parade, featuring music, entertainment and an information fair;
· New and expanded events including the Pride Family Street Fair, the Diversity Fun Run, Rainbow Party 10, and youth events hosted by the new Capital Pride Youth group (CPY-A set of “Spy’s”).
Capital Pride has geared up with several community partners to bring the community a more diverse set of events, providing something for all demographics of the GLBTTQ community.
Capital Pride also announced that the 2009 Parade Marshal would be long-time community and trans-rights activist Joanne Law. Capital Pride also officially launched its first issue of its new quarterly Capital Pride newsletter, helping the community stay more connected to their Pride committee.
The theme for the 2009 festival, “Capital Pride on the Map”, recognizes the significant place the festival holds in the Ottawa–Gatineau festival season.
The Capital Pride Festival has made leaps and bound throughout its 20-year history, growing to be Canada’s fourth-largest Pride celebration. Also incorporated into the theme Capital Prides new logo, whose purple star is the symbol marking a capital city on a map.
Ottawa is blessed with a natural setting offering boundless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Paved recreational paths welcome cyclists, inline skaters and joggers across the region and on Sunday mornings from May through September, several streets are closed to cars for Sunday Bikedays. The region’s many waterways are ideal for kayaking, canoeing and boating, and the upper Ottawa River offers some of the best whitewater rafting anywhere. And nearby Gatineau Park offers hiking, rock climbing, camping, exciting zip line aerial experiences and more.
Ottawa is also city of museums, galleries, and theatres showcasing the best in Canadian and world culture. 5-Diamond dining, a vast selection of international cuisines, relaxed, casual fare – Ottawa offers restaurants and culinary experiences to suit every palate, with a thriving local culinary scene and local chefs making names for themselves at home and abroad.
Dining districts include the courtyards and outdoor cafés of the historic ByWard Market, great Asian dining along Somerset Street West, Italian along Preston Street, and a mix of culinary treats along Elgin Street, Bank Street and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Ottawa is just a two-hour drive west of Montreal, just a one-hour flight from Toronto and New York City and a two-hour flight from Chicago. Superb air, rail and road connections make Canada’s capital easily accessible.
CAPITAL PRIDE OTTAWA LGBT TOURISM
ARC THE.HOTEL is proud to sponsor Capital Pride 2009 and is offering a special Capital Pride rate beginning at $119 for a Classic Room with Queen-size bed*. Comfort and luxury are paired with contemporary design in the serene and sophisticated ARC The.Hotel Ottawa. The premier design boutique hotel in Canada’s capital offers luxuriously appointed rooms in an intimate atmosphere to ensure you feel energized and relaxed. Minutes away from Ottawa International Airport and close to all major Ottawa attractions.
Please contact the hotel for details and availability, or visit www.arcthehotel.com.
*Rates quoted are for double occupancy and do not include applicable taxes and fees.
Reserve your room today at 1-800-699-2516 – Be sure to ask for the special RAINBOW RATE.
BEST GAY CITIES New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Dubai? David Fisher Brings Rotating Building to Dubai and Russia
While it may not be very gay in Dubai, it certainly has become one of the most visually stunning cities in the world! I SO want to go there, just to see it!
I have had a couple of friends go and say that it is just amazing – and if you look hard, and are discreet, there are a few gay gathering spots.
At any rate, my friend was telling me about the David Fisher Dynamic Tower Buildings.
Dynamic Architecture or Dynamic Tower design was announced by the Italian architect David Fisher last summer. This is the world’s first building in motion. The first of these innovative skyscraper designs are going to constructed in Dubai and Moscow.
The design and floor plans of the rotating building in Dubai (Da Vinci Tower) will have 80 floors and be 420 meters (1,380 feet) tall. Apartments will range in size from 124 square meters (1,334 sq ft), to Villas of 1,200 square meters (12,916 sq ft) complete with a parking space inside the apartment.
Fisher’s Dynamic Tower is the first building in motion that will change its shape and add a fourth dimension to architecture: Time. The shape will be determined by each floor’s direction of rotation, speed, acceleration and the timing; with timing meaning how each floor rotates compared to the other. The rotation speed will be between 60 minutes and 24 hours for one revolution.
David Fisher also announced that the second Dynamic Tower planned for Moscow is now in the advanced design phase, with pre-assembling of the units to start soon and completion scheduled for 2010. The developer is the Mirax Group, headed by leading international developer Sergei Polonsky, The Moscow tower, which will have 70 floors and be 400 meters (1,310 feet) tall, will be located in Moscow City area, the new prestigious part of the Russian capital.
The Rotating Tower of Moscow will be one of the most exclusive world residential buildings and become the new icon of the Russian Federation.
The world’s first building in motion, takes the concept of Green buildings to the next level, generating electricity for itself with a possible surplus for other nearby buildings, making it the first skyscraper designed to be entirely powered by wind and sun.
With wind turbines fitted horizontally between each rotating floor, an 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbine systems, making it a true Green power plant. While traditional vertical wind turbines have environmental and social effects, including the need for roads to build and maintain them plus their noise and obstruction of views, the Dynamic Tower’s wind turbines are practically invisible and extremely quiet due to their special shape and the carbon fiber material of which they are composed.
The Dynamic Tower offers infinite design possibilities, as each floor rotates completely independently to create a building design that is constantly changing shape, resulting in a unique and ever evolving architectural structure, like no other.
Watch the video presentation of Dynamic Tower!
New Zealand Air – CEO and Staff Go Nude!
Air New Zealand has just come up with an advertisement that features the airline CEO and staff appear in nothing but body paint. The point they’re trying make is that “they’ve got nothing to hide” with their all-in prices, as opposed to budget carriers. The fares Air New Zealand advertises include baggage allowance and refreshments. In an age of rising ala-carte styled pricing, this is indeed refreshing.
The company has a history of fearless innovation – be it the introduction of an in-flight conceirge at a time when other airlines were cutting service levels, or now this advertisement, which is bound to catch people’s attention. And with all the buzz such videos create on social media these days, there’s a very high chance of this going viral too!
Who would mind that? Probably just Air New Zealand’s competitors.
The carrier says that the aim is to differentiate Air New Zealand from competitors “who levy additional charges if a passenger wants to simply check a bag or have a drink”.
And what better way to do this than to simply, bare all.
Enjoy the advertisement below ON YOU TUBE video.
Sure looks very cold down under to be shooting that advertisement!
Big Gay Travel Road Trip! Driving Equality in 100 days with Chris and Chris!
Driving Equality is a 100-day, 16,000-mile, 48-state 35 city trek across America to collect stories from LGBTQ people in an effort to raise awareness of the various forms of discrimination faced by our community in each state of the nation. Highlighting the differences in rights, laws, and amendments between the states will shed light on the current social standing of queer individuals today. I hope to create a dialogue about the disparities across the nation, and what can be done to end discrimination for all.
The guys (Chris and Chris) hit the road this past Sunday and began their trek across America!
The van is packed full of film equipment, camping gear, clothes, food, books, a bullhorn, a guitar, and a mini buddha; everything one needs for a 100-day road trip / queer film project. We are off to a good start and excited to be on the road. For the next three months we will be experiencing the country in a way that will allow us to understand the progress being made, and the discrimination faced, by LGBT people across the nation.
Driving Equality Phelps-A-Thon FaceBook Twitter YouTube
GAY SITGES – Spain – Wonderful Gay Beach and Vacation Spot
onto SITGES
quite by accident. We were in Barcelona for a few days last month and met someone at the AXEL HOTEL lounge, who was visiting Barcelona for the day, but staying in Sitges. They told us they were staying a week in the beautiful, romantic, old seaside beach town, just 20 minutes away! Well, we had two days left. The next morning we packed our bags and hopped a train over to Sitges!
WOW! And I am glad we did! We are planning on going back soon to spend a week! For such a small town (village actually, only about 5 miles square) I have never seen a gayer town! MUCH gayer than Key West. This is GAY PARADISE!
Unspoiled by the tourist boom of the 1960’s, Sitges has retained that “picture-postcard” look, with narrow cobbled streets, beautiful Spanish architecture and unspoilt scenic views; a world away from the plastic and the concrete of the more traditional Spanish resorts along the Costa Brava and Costa Del Sol. With a microclimate of its own Sitges has over 300 days of Sunshine with temperatures ranging from 26 C. to 33 C. degrees (70-90 F) during the Summer months. This is Spain as it was meant to be… but even better!
Not only is Sitges beautiful in every respect, from its quaint, narrow streets to its beautiful beaches but in terms of sheer convenience for the gay holiday maker, there’s nowhere else like it.
Everything from the gay bars to the gay discos to the gay restaurants to the gay beaches to the gay cruising area to gay shopping to your gay hotel are all within a 5-10 minute walk of each other. BIGGER isn’t always better! It’s the perfect gay holiday in a neat little package!
Sitges has a long-standing gay appeal, and one of the most popular gay holiday spots in Europe, being renowned as a bohemian hang-out and artist’s colony since the early nineteen hundreds. Painters such as Picasso, Dali and Miro adored the town. It was also a favourite of writers, Tennessee Williams and Douglas Fairbanks. The artistic heritage lingers on in several fine galleries and art museums.
Mid April thru mid October gets VERY BUSY! Book ahead! The resort’s population swells from 25,000 to 250,000 revellers during peak season with most of the tourists either gay or curious! – Off season, Sitges takes on a more relaxed atmosphere has many festivals and events and is perfect for that second holiday or weekend getaway – still lots to see and do and less crowded.
17 beaches total! There is 1 gay beach, 2 nudist beaches, 450 Shops, dozens of outdoor cafes, amazing restaurants, 20 gay bars, 2 amazing nightclubs, 2 very busy Saunas and thousand of hot homo hombres to keep you busy. The partying starts at 11pm and doesn’t finish until 6am at the earliest. – We’ll be covering great places to stay and wonderful shops and eating, more in depth next week!
Diversity is the norm in Sitges rather than the exception and people from all walks of life are made welcome. If you’ve always wondered what the world would be like if we could all live side by side without sexual orientation being an issue, this is where to see how it’s done!
If you’ve never been to Sitges, you really don’t know what you’re missing. It has a very special culture. It may not be blatantly obvious at first, but once you take a step back, relax and watch what’s going on around you, you’ll realize what a very special place Sitges is.
Come and see what fun we’re all having, get to know the locals and their habits, and have a holiday like you’ve never had before!
Next week we’ll explore the city and it’s offerings more in depth.
Sitges – The Gay Paradise
Gay Sitges Online
Gay Sitges Guide
The New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California
Perhaps it’s the scenery — listening to music on a grassy polo field surrounded by swaying palm trees and craggy desert mountains. Or maybe it’s the thrill of discovering new artists and rediscovering old ones standing shoulder-to-shoulder with friends, strangers and the random Hollywood celebrity. Like Paris Hilton!
Always lots of eye candy!
The three day event takes place every year in India, California, just outside of Palm Springs. Organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Fields . The event features many genres of music including alternative rock, hip hop, and Electronic music as well as large sculptural art.
The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously. This years BIG NAME was Paul McCartney. Previous year names ranged from Madonna to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Despite economic times, promoters say the turnout exceeded expectations, and this year’s attendance figure might be the third largest in the festival’s 10-year history.
The three-day ticket price may have been steep — roughly $300, including service charges — but when divided among the 131 acts on the bill, that breaks down to less than $2.50 per act.
Each year, the festival also features interesting installation art and sculptures. Most of the pieces are interactive, and provide entertainment and eye candy for attendees walking throughout the Polo grounds.
Some of the works were initially created for the Burning Man festival. In contrast to the largely non-repeating roster of musical artists represented at the festival, a few of the visual artists, such as Robochrist Industries, the Tesla Coil (Cauac), Cyclecide, and The Do LaB, have appeared during several consecutive years at Coachella.
EVERY APRIL, COACHCELLA draws in thousands from around the world.
The evening dance event and visual light presentations are like nothing you have ever seen. WATCH THE YOU TUBE COACHELLA CLIP.
And see ya there next year!
Stevie Bee from Australia Unviels His Big Fat Anti Gay Collab Project on YouTube
STEVIE BEE BISHOP is 22, living in Australia and has been a member of YouTube for about 18 months now and posts some really neat things! Last month, he called on other gay (and gay friendly) You-Tubers, to help with an anti-gay project, set to the song F**K YOU by Lilly Allen.
He says, “There’s a disgusting amount of hate on the internet (especially on youtube!) directed at minority groups (especially the LGBT community) so I was inspired to organize this collab video. I never set out to “change the world” i simply wanted to make something light hearted to put a smile on the face of any hate-victim watching. you’re not alone! stevie loves you 🙂
The song is by Lily Allen and I believe it was originally written about George Bush. However, this video is not against Bush. This is our interpretation of the meaning behind the lyrics and I think that our video gives a slightly different meaning to the lyrics and makes a different point than the original song had specifically intended. This video has nothing to do with George Bush!”
WATCH THE BIG FAT GAY COLLAB PROJECT
See more Stevie Bee Bishop
Gay Russia! – Not So Much
In the last few weeks GAY RUSSIA
has been in the news.
Nothing much changes under the Kremlin.
Just days away from Moscow’s hosting of Eurovision Song Contest (where contestants are being urged to speak out on GLBT issues), gay pride organizers Nikolay Bayev and Irina Fet were found guilty of “popularizing homosexuality among minors and the court ruled to fine them 1,500 rubles [about USD$50] each,” reports Interfax.
Last month they organized a public demonstration with posters reading “Homosexuality is normal” and “I am proud of my homosexuality”; a judge ordered the posters destroyed, issuing his decision from a court in Ryazan, identified as the only region in Russia where a law that bans discussing homosexuality with minors is enforced. And this is just the lead up to Moscow’s gay pride march on May 16, which will not proceed if Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has his way. Luzhkov has, year-after-year, refused to grant a marching license to organizers — except Moscow Pride already has “seven cases already pending before the European Court of Human Rights,” notes MosNews. “The latest was filed against President Dmitry Medvedev.
The biggest Greek star and the most handsome singer of the Eurovision Song Contest is ready to thrill all eurofans across the globe with his song “This is our night”, the creative choreography of Mr Eurovision Fokas Evangelinos (two times No1 in ESC!) and his sexy appearance on stage! WATCHTHE SAKIS ROUVAS VIDEO! More on him later….
Authorities in Moscow have said they will deal “firmly” with any attempts to hold gay Pride events during the Eurovision song contest, which takes place in the city this month. According to News agency RIA Novosti, City Hall spokesman Leonid Krutakov said: “There have been no official applications for permission to hold gay parades during the May holidays and all attempts to hold such events will be firmly stopped by the authorities.”
However, according to a report from Canadian site Macleans.ca, Parade organisers have applied for permission, but say they will hold this year’s march either way. “We are not going to surrender our right to freedom of assembly and expression,” said Nikolai Alekseev, head of Moscow Pride.
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov told gays, “Entertain yourself, no problem, but not on the streets, squares, marches and demonstrations. We do not allow gay parades.” Homosexuality has been legal in Russia since 1993.
WTF?!
Next week…..A lesbian couple will try to defy deep-rooted Russian homophobia next week in the first attempt at a gay marriage even though rights activists say it will be rejected outright.
Public relations worker Irina Fyet, 31, and her partner of the same age will apply for a marriage license at a register office on May 12 in Moscow!
New Gay Travel Guide Best Gay Cities
Gay Andorra – LGBT Summer Glamour Party Week June 14 – 21 – Party in Andorra Pyrenees
Hopefully you read our article last week about how wonderful the country of Andorra is! Nestled between Spain and France, this country has a lot to see and do if you want, or just relax and enjoy it’s beauty. An estimated 10 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra’s duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Anorra is Europes 6th smallest country. Vatican is the big little winner. Then comes Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Malta.
This week, we explore more in depth what the country has to offer visitors as they prepare for the
LGBT Summer Glamour Party June 14 – 21.
One of the BEST SPA’S we have ever seen! CALDEA SPA. This place is AMAZING! It’s like something out of a Busby Berkeley movie!
Designed by the architect Jean-Michel Ruols – is fruit of the will of the community (town council) of Escaldes-Engordany to make use of the richness of the territory’s thermal water, with a philosophy different to that of traditional health resorts: thermoludism. The concept was entirely innovative and avoids use of the therapeutic properties of thermal water. Thermoludism is the use of the properties and benefits of thermal water to rest, recuperate vitality and well-being. The water at different temperatures procures authentic gymnastic toning for the body, and the thermal water help psychic rebalance.
There is a huge indoor lagoon with several different baths and bubbles to enjoy. Cascading steps take you into a large pool and a “river” which you can follow to even more pools outside! An entire world of aquatic areas, aerobaths and hydromassage. There is an Islandic bath, AquaMassage area, Sirocco hot air bath, Sauna’s, Hammam with vaporisation, Infrared relaxing areas, Grapfruit pool and even swim up bars for refreshments. You pay one fee, which is about 30 euros and you can use all of these areas for about 4 hours.
They also offer many treatments like different kinds of massages, facials, beauty treatments and a Chocotherapy where they massage scrub and cover the body with Germaine de Capuccini products!
I think that would make me hungry…
In the evening they offer some special rates, the lights come on and you are treated to Mondaigua, a multimedia show created by Comediants. Mondaigua is a show that celebrates the union between fire and water, two elements which make Caldea a thermoludic centre designed to improve personal wellbeing. Comediants has thought up and designed much more than a traditional sound and light show: automatisms, magical elements, pyrotechnics, projections, light play, special smoke effects, soap bubbles…it’s really something to see! You must go to the Caldea site gallery and see all of the beautiful photographs of this place. It’s like Disneyland for adults. Honestly, this place is probably the most amazing spa set up I have ever seen.
Tobotronc is the world’s largest, longest and most spectacular toboggan track. Situated on the La Rabassa mountain, the toboggan track not only has the advantage of being high up, yet also provides those who do not need to keep their eyes fixed on the track at all times with the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular La Rabassa forest scenery, which surrounds the mountain.
The track is 5200 meters long and riders are entrusted with braking themselves! It’s about a 6 minute ride and lots of fun, winter or summer!
In the Summer, there are lots of outdoors activities that you can take advantage of. For years the Andorran tourist industry was focused exclusively on winter sports. Now though people have realized in the summer, the hills are alive! And tourists come to enjoy the great outdoors and beauty of the land.
What is so wonderful here is the unspoiled nature of Andorra. There are no overhead planes, no sirens, no billboards blocking your views, no humidity…just a little slice of heaven! All you hear is crickets and birds! Hiking, golfing, mountain biking, horse riding, dune buggy rides (on smugglers route) and more allow you to explore the scenic hills of Andorra. You can even scuba dive in the moutain lakes!
SHOPPING of course is big here like I mentioned, because of the duty free tax status. Andorra’s commercial tradition is famous worldwide thanks to its 2,000 modern boutiques and shops, its quality products, its competitive prices and its flexible hours. Although there are shops in the entire country, most are concentrated in Andorra la Vella, the capital, Escaldes-Engordany, and Pas de la Casa. There are several large shopping centres in Sant Julià de Lòria.
The main fashion and accessories shops, perfumeries and the most prestigious jewellery and watch brands are found on Avenida Meritxell in Andorra la Vella and on the Avenida Carlemany in Escaldes–Engordany.
PYRENEES ANDORRA is a must-see. It is their big “mall”. It is a huge collection of “department stores” located at Avinguda Meritxell, 11, AD500 Andorra
3 floors of fashion and clothes, a huge cosmetic and fragrance floor, technology, sporting goods, books, music, things for the home and a very nice grocery market with everything you could possibly want, from a tube of toothpaste to imported meats and cheeses, plus a wine and liquor depart that spans a city block!
When you are ready to plan a trip here, don’t call your travel agent, and don’t try to do it online. ORIGINAL ANDORRA are the specialists in the area and they know everything, inside and out. They put together an assortment of packages priced right and are happy to custom make a package to whatever you are looking for. They have made plans to host 2 GAY WEEKS each year, one for skiing in the winter (which we just got back from in March) and a summer Gay Week June 14th-21st. They are wonderful to work with and will make sure you have a great trip!
The New Gay Travel Guide and the Best Gay Cities
Best of Gay New York City
People have been sending us some cool travel photos!
So we thought we would start picking one a week and running them here.
If you have a cool photo you want to share, E MAIL US !
New Gay Travel Guide Best Gay New York
Maine Appears to be Fifth State to Allow Gays to Marry
Maine’s governor signed a freshly passed bill Wednesday approving gay marriage, making it the fifth state to approve the practice and moving New England closer to allowing it throughout the region.
New Hampshire legislators were also poised to send a gay marriage bill to their governor, who hasn’t indicated whether he’ll sign it. If he does, Rhode Island would be the region’s sole holdout.
Maine Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat who hadn’t indicated how he would handle his state’s bill, quickly signed it.
“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Baldacci said in a statement read in his office. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”
The vote by the Maine Senate was 21-13, with one lawmaker absent. The bill authorizes marriage between any two people rather than between one man and one woman, as state law currently allows. The House had passed the bill Tuesday.
The gay marriage law is to take effect in mid-September but could be sidetracked before then. Opponents promise to challenge it through a public veto process that could suspend it while a statewide vote takes shape.
It’s just so silly in this country, this process takes so long and has to go state by state.
In other contries they just make it a law and move on with life!
Montreal Offers Gay Tour Guides – Plus, BBCM Hot & Dry Party May 14th
Love it or leave it, “the circuit” has become a mainstream global phenomenon, and Montréal is a much-loved destination on the tour.
May 14-18 brings the beloved annual Hot & Dry party. The event is hosted by the Bad Boys Club de Montréal (BBCM), a volunteer-based non-profit gay organization that gives financial support to groups providing direct care to people living with HIV/AIDS, and to gay & lesbian community groups. To date the BBCM has given out $1,250,000. Hot & Dry is the second-biggest event on the BBCM calendar after the infamous Black & Blue (October 7-13, 2009).
This year’s theme is “Fresh!”, which celebrates the arrival of summer. And after the winters that we get, nobody appreciates the changing of seasons more than a Montréaler.
This year’s talent includes DJ Maüs aka Louise Gauvreau (Montréal), the world renowned DJ/producer Chris Cox (Los Angeles), and DJ Scotty Thompson (New York).
Tickets for the main event are $35.
For details on Hot & Dry and the other events held throughout the weekend visit BBCM.
WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL –
What better advice than from a local?!
Tourisme Montreal just launched their new “Insider” program, with a Montréaler who will show visitors what’s hot and happening in the city’s gay life. Finding gay-specific information about a particular destination isn’t always easy, but Daniel Baylis, of course, always has the inside scoop to gay Montreal.
Many cities offer similar types of programs for tourists – but this is the FIRST I have heard of, specifically geared towards LGBT travelers!
Over the years, the city has seen the forging of a special spirit of openness and acceptance between the general public and the city’s gay community.
Montréal is one of the oldest cities in the New World, as well as one the most cosmopolitan. Visitors often describe it as having the best of North American modernity and friendliness as well as the architectural beauty and sophistication of Europe.
The largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, and Canada’s second-biggest metropolis, the vast majority of its citizens speak both English and French, and often other languages. Montréal’s 3.6 million inhabitants live around the base of a mountain forest in cozy neighbourhoods, rich with artists and famous for winding, outdoor staircases.
Daniel is one of five Montréal “Insiders” who show visitors what’s hot and happening throughout the city in the world of arts and culture, epicurean life, gay life, nightlife and girls’ getaways. Recruitment of the five “Insiders” began early in 2009 and the selection criterion was rigorous and focused on integrity. Each had to be a Montréaler and possess a thorough knowledge of the destination, specifically in their area of insider expertise. Social media savvy was also a must, balanced by an embracing of Web 2.0 values including: transparency, humility, honesty, authenticity, innovation, listening and credibility. They are top-notch communicators, real and representative of the city’s underlying multicultural fabric.
Visit Daniel’s blog Follow Daniel on Twitter Be Daniels Friend on FaceBook
Visit Tourisme Montreal !
The Best Gay Cities and the New Gay Travel Guides
Gay Pride Maspalomas – The Canary Islands Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is
an island of the Canary Islands.
One of the Spanish Canary Islands, Gran Canaria sits off the west coast Africa, less than a hundred miles from the Sahara so enjoys summer style sunshine all year round.
Our buddies at GayPedia said, Gran Canaria, the third largest Canary island, maintains an unusual mixture of attractions for the gay tourist.
Whilst the island offers standard package holidays, with highly-developed beachfront resorts, there is also the greenery of the north, the rugged mountains of the centre, and the desert-like southern region. So, whatever you are looking for in a holiday or short break, the island could have something for you.
Miles of golden-sand beaches (and famous Maspalomas sand dunes), scorching summer heat with beach weather all through the winter, gay bars, restaurants, shops and clubs most situated side-by-side in one large commercial centers in Playa del Ingles & the Mediterranean men are perhaps the main attractions here but the island has so much more to offer as well.
This island is called a “Miniature Continent” due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, with its long golden beaches and endless dunes of white sand, its green ravines and picturesque villages. Many researchers on climatology say you find the best climate in the world here!
Maspalomas is the oldest touristic town in the south coast of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.
There is a 68 m tall lighthouse El Faro de Maspalomas at the southern point from where the 12 km long beach and dunes, a nature reserve since 1897, lead to Playa del Inglés. Maspalomas is known throughout the world for its lighthouse, lagoon and magnificent beach.
Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for European gay tourists with bars, restaurants and businesses centered primarily in the Yumbo Centrum shopping center. Over 50 gay bars and clubs!
One of the biggest draws in Gran Canaria is its booming gay scene centred around Playa Del Ingles and Maspalomas, and their Gay Pride celebration kicks off this week! May 4th – 10th, MASPALOMAS GAY PRIDE takes over the island with excitement! Pool parties, Lesbian boat rides, drag shows, cabaret, huge pride parade, something for everyone!
GAY GRAN CANARIA MASPALOMAS GAY PRIDE
New Gay Travel Guide
Spirit Journeys Attracts the Attention of GLAAD and Celebrities!
“We were actually contacted by GLAAD to be a host in the Celebrity Suite. GLAAD felt that we were unique and would bring something new to the suite, that and the fact that we were the only exclusively gay organization
in the suite!” says owner Howie Holben.
As each celebrity was brought to meet Howie Holben and his partner Chris Caramelli, the purpose of Spirit Journeys was briefly explained to the celebrity. Most visitors were quite amazed that such a service even existed for the LGBT community.
some of the comments….
Cheyenne Jackson, who recently starred in Broadway’s Xanadu and is appearing in Fox’s upcoming series Glee, was quoted as saying, “I love to travel. Maybe I can join you guys sometime.”
Bruno Tonioli of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, asked “You guys go to Thailand?! I love Thailand!”
Alec Mapa, actor, comic and plays Suzuki St. Pierre on ABC’s Ugly Betty and hosted Logo’s Transamerican Love Story, said to Howie, “My husband and I are definitely coming to Peru and Machu Picchu with you guys!”
Peter Paige who is known for his work on Queer As Folk and as a star of Logo’s Rick & Steve, said “Wow, this sounds special.”
Marc Cherry, creator of Desperate Housewives was heard to say, “This would be a great way to see the world.”
After working very hard to bring Spirit Journeys to the attention of the LGBT community, the acknowledgments and endorsements were gratefully received by Spirit Journeys! Who knows, you might be taking a vacation with a celebrity next time at Spirit Journeys!
Gay Andorra! Skiing, Mountains, Spas, Shopping and More in the Pyrenees Mountains!
the mother witch from Bewitched!
That’s Endorra!
Although I seem to remember Dr. Bombay up in the snowy mountains in one episode…that could have been Andorra.
If you have never heard of Andorra it is an old, small, beautiful landlocked country in western Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. Just a 2 hour drive from Barcelona airport, or slightly less if you drive in from the Toulouse airport in France.
It is currently a prosperous country mainly because of tourism (nearly 10 million people annually)and its status as a duty-free tax haven. The people of Andorra are currently listed as having the highest human life expectancy in the world, living to an average of 85 years! And Andorra is the sixth smallest nation in Europe.
Andorra truly has some breathtaking mountains! We stood in awe at the Grand Valira ski resort/station, from the base of the mountains, looking towards the top, which must have stretched 2+ miles…skiers looked like ants moving down the hills! Equally as beautiful, but much smaller was the Vallnord resort/station.
Due to its location in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1,996 metres (6,549 ft) with the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 2,946 metres (9,665 ft). These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, the Valira river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra’s lowest point of 870 m/2,854 ft). Andorra’s total surface area is only 468 square kilometres (181 sq mi).
Andorra’s climate is similar to that of its neighbours’ temperate climates, but its higher altitude means there is, on average, more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer. Lots to see and do in either season!
We just got back from a wonderful Gay Ski Week there, organized by ORIGINAL ANDORRA, and they are now planning a Summer Gay Glamour Party Week for June 14 – 21. It’s VERY reasonable in Andorra. And the shopping is big there, due to the tax situation.
Skiing is very big there, as you can imagine, surrounded by all the amazing mountains. I am NOT a skier, and there was lots to do and see in Andorra…both in the snow and out of the snow. They have things like ski bikes, snow mobiles and Husky sleigh rides/dog sleds for non-skiers. And being up in the mountains surrounded by all the majestic beauty, was breathtaking!
This past ski season Andorra really raised the bar to compete in the skiing market. In addition to the inclusion of an ice hotel, Andorra hotels and resorts have made more than 20 million euros worth of upgrades to existing ski areas. Improvements and additions include low-cost helicopter sight-seeing flights, tubing slopes, new ice rinks and a snowmobile circuit.
An Ice Hotel is really something to see! The Grand Valira resort unveiled its first icy accommodation for tourists this winter, when the Iglu-Dorf chain – which already runs igloo developments in five Swiss ski resorts – opened a snow palace to cater for up to 26 guests – complete with fur-covered beds and an après-ski bar.
All of the skiing pretty much wraps up this week in Andorra….until the next season begins. But it’s also a great summer vacation spot with hiking, dune buggies, golf, shopping, museums, barbeques and of course, the world famous CALDEA WELLNESS SPA! Next week we will cover all of this in a follow up article.
While this isn’t a “gay city”, it’s super laid back and welcoming and people like Original Andorra plan these great “gay weeks’ there, with the next one being June 14 – 21st!
“Homosexual acts” are legal in Andorra. The age of consent is 16 for all. In 2005, they legalized civil unions including having the right to adopt.
The official and historic language is Catalan. Because of immigration and close geographic proximity, other languages such as French, Portuguese and Spanish are also commonly spoken. Many people speak English, so it easy to communicate.
I say it’s a little bit of Spain, a little bit of France, a little bit of magic!
Discover Andorra Soon! And watch for our follow up article next week, with more in depth coverage and specifics!
Gay Tourism in Andorra Gay Andorra Online
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Flight Tracking Service – Arrived OK
Travelling by air is full of uncertainties, from delays to cancellations to lost bags. Savvy travellers can already use Delaycast to assess their chances of having to wait longer than they’d planned, and now another brand-new service helps them notify the people who matter to them once they finally land safely on the ground.
ArrivedOK, a new service from Texas-based Eyeline Communications, lets air travellers automatically alert others that they’ve arrived at their destination.
You know the scene…the plane lands…and what happens? Everyone grabs a cell phone to call or send an arrival message to somebody — mother or father, wife or husband, girlfriend or boyfriend, colleague or boss, or maybe even a trick!
“ArrivedOK performs your Personal Arrival Tracking rather then just flight tracking. We track your cell phone in the visiting mobile network when you switch it on upon your arrival. Then we send ‘Arrived OK’ SMS message to the list of your recipients.”
Not only you can keep your friends and family up to date about your traveling around the globe, with ArrivedOK you can save your money on international roaming charges.
Try it out for free! ARRIVED OK
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
AXEL Gay Hotels – Now in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Berlin and Expanding!
Inaugurated on 1 July 2003, Axel Hotel Barcelona was the first hotel in the Axel Hotels chain and the first city designer hotel aimed at the gay community. Axel Hotel Barcelona is a trend-setter and has become an international reference for gay accommodations.
From the outset, the team has paid attention to even the slightest detail; first of all, its location in theGayxample, heart of Barcelona’s gay scene, only 10 minutes from the fashion centres of the city, the district el Borne and the old city centre. Without forgetting its architecture and design: Axel Hotel Barcelona has been built in a renovated building of the late 19th century, maintaining its façade and spectacular tinted windows from the early days of modernism. Its interiors, fully refurbished, have been conceived to offer design and comfort in a warm atmosphere. Furniture from Vitra, Kartell and Swan, the Axel mosaic and photography light boxes of Emilio Lekuona configure the exclusive Axel universe.
Its 60+ rooms include 10 Premium rooms and the Axel Suite, each with its own character and exquisite design. All rooms are soundproof, air-conditioned, luminous and extremely comfortable: with a king size bed, plasma TV with Internet, Wi-Fi connection for laptops and room service. Also features restaurant, bar, gym, saunas, pool.
And most important, the Axel team, carefully selected to offer personalized, genuine and professional service catering to all our guests requirements and anticipating their needs.
For all of the above reasons, Axel Hotel Barcelona has been chosen the “best gay hotel in the world” by the readers of prestigious travel magazine The Out Traveler (USA). Through the annual survey Reader’s Choice Awards, hundreds of readers voted for the Axel Hotel Barcelona to put it in the ranking’s top position.
Marketed as the first five-star gay hotel in Latin America (but also “heterofriendly”), the second AxelHotel Buenos Aires confirmed what many gay travelers already knew: the Argentine capital is becoming South America’s next party capital. Situated in the bohemian-chic neighborhood of San Telmo.
In San Telmo, you can let yourself go and be captivated by the Axel Hotel Buenos Aires – a cosmopolitan and enticing space that stimulates the senses. With tango in the air, design and comfort, Axel Hotel Buenos Aires seduces everyone with its play of lights and transparency, the sound of water, the Axel mosaic and furniture by Charles & Ray Eames, Mies van der Rohe and Eileen Gray.
48 designer rooms with captivating details. All guestrooms are air-conditioned, cosy and extremely comfortable, conceived and equipped for maximum enjoyment: king size bed, plasma TV, iPod On Stage speakers, Wi-Fi connection, hydro-massage bath or shower in a glass prism, safe and room service.
The hotel also offers a restaurant, cocktail bar, chillout zone, spa with a spectacular swimming pool on the top floor with a translucent floor visible from the main area of the hotel, a 5 floor atrium in the lobby, jacuzzi and sauna, a garden with an outdoor swimming pool and solarium, an outdoor bar & bistro, meeting room and Wi-Fi connection throughout the hotel.
The Buenos Aires property is situated in one of the oldest districts in Buenos Aires. The cradle of tango, San Telmo has a concentration of antiques businesses, bars and restaurants in its renovated 19th century buildings. A few blocks away are the Avenida 9 de Julio and the Casa Rosada, and every weekend the antique market fills the picturesque Plaza Dorrego with movement, people and colour.
Axel Hotel Buenos Aires was recommended by The New York Times “as one of the 53 places to go in 2008”.
Axel Hotel Berlin is the third and newest hotel in the chain. Opened last month, after a year and a half in construction, the new hotel relies on an investment of 13 million euros.
The Berlin hotel is situated at 13-15 Lietzenburger Street, in the neighbourhood of Schöneberg, heart of the city’s gay scene. Bars, restaurants, bookshops, discos, cinemas, and clothes shops with style and glamour make up an extensive hedonistic universe steeped in history. In the twenties Schöneberg was already the epicentre of the Berlin movement, becoming the inspiration for the mythical Cabaret. Axel Hotel Berlin is just one block from the mythical KaDeWe department stores and very close to Ku’damm, the famous shopping avenue which houses the main international fashion brands.
The new hotel has 86 designer guest rooms, equipped to provide guests with maximum comfort. According to Íñigo Hernández Tofé, Spanish architect, collaborator of Axel Hotels and creator of the architectural project of Axel Hotel Berlin, “the hotel plays with the colours black and gold representing simplicity and elegance. A distinctive touch is added by the transparencies of colour, inspired by the Axel Mosaic along with the optical effects which reflect the façade in various areas within the hotel”.
The building consists of 6 floors and a roof terrace. The restaurant with its terrace, the cocktail bar and the open air lounge-bar are its most representative spaces. Moreover, the hotel has a spa with an open air Jacuzzi with spectacular views over the city, sauna, Turkish bath, gym, relaxation area and massage cubicles; and business centers, comfortable and cosy reading areas with PC access and free high speed internet connection.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) are holding their International Conference in Toronto in a couple weeks. At the event, Juan P. Juliá, president of Axel Hotels , will be honored for outstanding professional accomplishments.
“These awards recognize our friends and colleagues in the travel industry who are not only setting the bar, but making the world more accessible and enjoyable for gay and lesbian travelers in the process,” IGLTA Executive Director John Tanzella said.
Named the International Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s “Businessman of the Year” in 2008, Juliá will receive IGLTA’s Chairman’s Award, which recognizes individuals who blaze new and inspiring paths in their work to promote inclusiveness within the tourism industry. Known as the world’s first gay hotel chain, Juliá’s Axel Hotels has been recognized for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and focus on diversity by such leading publications as Out Traveler and The New York Times.
“Juan Juliá has made a significant commitment to developing quality accommodations that serve and appeal to the gay and lesbian community,” IGLTA Board Chairman Bryan Herb said. “ Axel Hotels are absolutely in line with where I see the gay travel industry heading. The properties have a gay sensibility with amenities and features that are important to gay and lesbian travelers, yet they are focused on being, as they say, ‘hetero-friendly.’ There’s a great vibe about it because these are places where gay and lesbian people can simply be themselves.”
According to Juliá, IGLTA’s recognition of his company and its unique culture could not have come at a better time. “2009 has been the year we opened our third hotel, and the start of a new stage in the group to export the Axel concept to the major cities of the five continents,” Juliá said. “This award is a great boost to keep forging ahead in this very special project.”
AXEL HOTELS
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