There is nothing worse than getting on the plane or landing in a new country to realize you’ve forgotten key travel accessories.
Britain’s second-largest city Birmingham brims with exciting possibilities. The city boasts beautifully restored Victorian buildings, picturesque canals, and glitzy, futuristic real estate. And it also boasts a fantastic heritage in the form of the Jewelry Quarter. What’s more, Birmingham is also home to a diverse and vibrant LGBTQ+ population and also hosts the UK’s biggest…
Quirky, eccentric, and stylish, Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a diamond in the rough. Its tranquil bylanes and grand thoroughfares are full of avant-garde architecture and New Nordic drinking and dining venues. What’s more, sitting right outside the city are some of the most sublime natural environments in the world. Undoubtedly, the city had…
We found Arizona’s second-largest city Tucson to be one of the most culturally invigorating places in the Southwest. The charming city seamlessly blends Anglo, Mexican, Spanish, and American Indian traditions to infuse it with a rich sense of history and community. So, we weren’t surprised when we found out that the terrific Tucson is also…
Charleston might be a Southern city steeped in Christian values, but it has long been welcoming of the LGBTQ community. The South Carolina city, which lies at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley rivers, has one of the most charming historic hearts in the American South. We loved every bit of it, right from…
The gorgeous Daylesford in Victoria, along with its neighboring twin Hepburn Springs, is one of Australia’s most famous spa retreats. The Italian-Swiss-founded town lies an hour northwest of Melbourne in the Great Dividing Range. Its origins might go back to the Gold Rush, but now as we stepped into it, we saw some 70-odd hot…
Perth sits right at the western end of Australia and might just be one of the most remote cities ever. However, don’t let the ‘isolation’ fool you. Underneath a near-permanent blue sky, the Western Australian city brimmed with exceptional cuisine, utopian beaches, and the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Perth also happens to be…
The capital of the Australian island of Tasmania, Hobart, is the country’s smallest and most historic capital. It sits at the southeastern edge of the River Derwent, overlooking the Tasman Sea. Besides the obviously mesmerizing meld of culture and art, we also loved Hobart and its quaint Colonial architecture, for which it’s famous. What’s more,…
The lovely Peruvian capital of Lima is an absolute marvel. Tucked on the Pacific Coast of the Sechura Desert, this sprawling city is steeped in ancient Incan roots. What’s more, it’s famed as South America’s gastronomic capital today, but that’s not all that’s thrilling about this city. In a fiercely Catholic country that is all…
Sun-kissed Brisbane has been overturning stereotypes to become Australia’s new ‘It’ city. The capital of Queensland sits pretty on the banks of the eponymous Brisbane River on Australia’s east coast. Brisbane has grown out of the shadows of Melbourne and Sydney to become a destination in its own right. It’s toasty even in the winter…
West Palm Beach has long been known as the winter retreat for wealthy snowbirds. The charming coastal city on Florida’s southeastern coast is famed for its array of activities, its hospitality, and its beaches. What’s more, the city is incredibly gay-friendly, and we found an entire community of gay hotels in West Palm Beach, Florida.…
The capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin, is the only tropical capital in Australia. It’s a famed gateway to the Top End, which is widely considered Australia’s last frontier. In fact, it felt removed from the rest of the country, and Bali feels like it’s right across the Timor Sea, which it actually is! Besides…
The 21st-century, urban-chic city of Leeds in northern England shines with a distinct and yet un-overwhelming Yorkshire swagger. It boasts a fabulous drinking-dining scene and revitalized architecture. Leeds is also famous for being one of the friendliest gay cities in England, with LGBTQ people accounting for almost 10% of the city’s population. In fact, Leeds’…
Famed as the Gateway to the South, Louisville in Kentucky might not always have been on the ‘gaydar,’ but that’s changing now. The state might not be as progressive when it comes to anti-discrimination laws and gender identity. However, we still found it to be a welcoming and gay-friendly destination. The birthplace of the Old…
Magical, mystique, and integration of faiths abound in Jerusalem, Israel, one of the world’s most ancient cities. It lies around an hour southeast of the cultural capital Tel Aviv, and its Old City is holy to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. So, you can imagine our surprise when we found Jerusalem to be a very…
North Carolina’s capital might be Raleigh, but its largest city is scintillating Charlotte. Historic sites, a host of museums, and vibrant neighborhoods make this city a real jewel of the South. Since it’s conservative in politics and style, Charlotte has a vibrant albeit comparatively limited gay scene. That said, we had absolutely no problems finding…
The vibrant and carnivalesque capital of Bolivia, La Paz, left us breathless – and it’s not just about the altitude. Nestled in the Andean mountains close to the southern shores of Lake Titicaca, La Paz is a kaleidoscope of old-world and modernity. When it comes to the gay scene in Bolivia, big cities are where…
Knysna, pronounced ‘ny-znah,’ is the most famous town on South Africa’s famed Garden Route. Overlooking the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, we were excited to explore Knysna, which is all about tranquil lagoons, ancient forests, and a sparkling coastline. But our most compelling reason to come to this 18th-century gold rush town is that,…
New Zealand was Oceania’s first country to legalize gay marriage, thus transforming it into a hub for the LGBTQ population of the region. Hence, its cities are extremely open-minded in general, and Auckland’s no exception. So, as LGBTQ travelers looking for gay accommodation in Auckland, we found no shortage of options. We loved the wide…
The luggage is on the floor, and the dog is jumping with joy now. I just arrived home, and I am so worn out but still flushed with excitement. Me and my partner just spent the entire weekend joining our flock of feathers at The Gaythering Hotel, and boy… it was the weekend of a…
Amsterdam has a long tradition of tolerance for the LGBTQ community. In fact, The Netherlands was the first country to allow civil marriages between same-sex couples. So, it’s no surprise that this was our first-choice destination for experiencing amazing LGBTQ culture. Moreover, its hot capital Amsterdam is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the…
There’s no place in Yorkshire, or Northern England for that matter, that felt quite as ‘medieval’ to us as York. Its age-old streets are brimming with history, attracting hordes of travelers like us looking for a classic historic English experience. The city is an incredible labyrinth of 13th-century walls, at the heart of which likes…
Cosmopolitan Sydney has long been one of the world’s favorite vacation destinations, and its vibrant gay culture makes it an LGBT hotspot too. It’s one of Australia’s most gay-friendly cities, along with Melbourne and Canberra. A great portion of the action revolves around western Oxford Street. So, it was no surprise that many of the…
Queer inclusiveness is steeped deep into the fabric of Key West, the notorious gay island mecca in South Florida. As a place with a 30% LGBTQ population, Key West has always attracted gay travelers. So, we found ourselves drawn to this coastal mecca, the heart of whose gay scene is Duval Street. Not only does…
The former historic capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, is the most popular destination in Peru today. Besides being the capital archaeological capital of the Americas, Cusco is also the gateway to the legendary city that is Machu Picchu. As it’s also known, Cuzco boasts the richest heritage amongst any of the South American cities…