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Gay and Lesbian Travelers: A Compendium of Trip Planning Resources

We've assembled a full-blown list of agencies, publications and a myriad other resources for the GLBT traveler.

Despite an improving climate in much of the world, there are still areas where visiting as an openly gay or lesbian traveler can be detrimental to your health, sanity or both. In the recent past, the Cayman Islands government let it be known that gay travelers were not welcome there, Egypt put over 30 gay men in prison for participating in a private houseboat costume party, and in the US, the 2004 election results announced to gay and lesbian citizens that they might not be so comfortable traveling domestically. We suggest contacting one of the following organizations for places where it is both fun, and safe, to visit:

Agencies/Operators

  • Above and Beyond Tours (tel. 800/397-2681; www.abovebeyondtours.com) offers gay and lesbian tours worldwide, including Viking River cruises in Europe, Russia and China; they also bill themselves as "gay Australia specialists."
  • Alyson Adventures (tel. 800/825-9766; www.alysonadventures.com) focuses primarily on active vacations including biking, diving, hiking, skiing and boating around the globe.
  • DavidTravel (tel. 888/723-0699; www.davidtours.com) founded by David Rubin, is marketed to the upscale, luxury GLBT traveler and is known for its small group luxury departures to locations such as Peru, India, Southern Africa and Scotland.
  • Gay Travel (tel. 800/GAYTRAVEL; www.gaytravel.com) suggests, plans and books travel from budget to luxury vacations and customized trips.
  • The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) (tel. 800/448-8550; www.iglta.org) is a travel trade organization that links travelers up with gay-friendly hoteliers, tour operators, and airline and cruise-line representatives. It offers monthly newsletters, complimentary subscription to travel magazines, and an annual membership directory. Membership is $225 yearly, plus a $100 one-time administration fee for new members.
  • Now, Voyager (tel. 800/255-6951; www.nowvoyager.com) is a San Francisco-based gay-owned and operated travel service with worldwide destinations and cruises.
  • Olivia Cruises & Resorts (tel. 800-631-6277; www.oliviatravel.com) charters entire resorts and ships for exclusive lesbian vacations all over the world; cruises have featured special guest performers such as Melissa Etheridge and Whoopi Goldberg.
  • Pied Piper Travel (tel. 800/874-7312; www.piedpipertravel.com) has been in business since 1990 and specializes in small gay groups aboard mainstream cruises around the world, with private cocktail parties, a tour escort, and private dining tables.
  • Skylink Travel (tel. 800/225-5759; www.skylinktravel.com) is a women's travel company that primarily runs land tours to overseas destinations, but also offers cruises.
  • Spirit Journeys (tel. 800/490-3684; www.spiritjourneys.com) offers gay, lesbian and bisexual travelers spiritually-oriented trips to places such as Peru, Greece and Mexico and the Southwest, including New Mexico and Arizona.

Publications

  • The Advocate is the nation's leading LGBT magazine. It features a small but decent travel-related advertising section at the back of each biweekly issue. The online companion to the magazine at www.advocate.com/travel.asp offers more extensive resources, articles and links to activities around the country.
  • Frommer's Gay & Lesbian Europe is an excellent travel resource and available in our online bookstore (INSERT HYPERLINK).
  • Out and About (tel. 800/929-2268; www.gay.com/travel/outandabout) offers travel guidebooks, personals, chatting, and a yellow pages listing of gay hoteliers, B&Bs and tour operators, and is part of the Planet Out family (see Web sites).
  • Out Traveler (tel. 800/792-2760; www.outtraveler.com) is a free quarterly travel supplement to subscribers of the monthly magazine Out, and its web site offers a monthly e-newsletter called Compass.
  • Rainbow Handbook Hawaii (www.rainbowhandbook.com) is an insider's look at the island, with trivia, stories, history and maps. Available for purchase in PDF through their site for $25, the guide is primarily geared toward men with a special section for women.
  • Spartacus International Gay Guide (www.spartacusworld.com) and Odysseus: The International Gay Travel Planner (tel. 800/257-5344; www.odyusa.com) are reliable English-language guidebook series focused on gay men, with some information for lesbians. You can get them from most gay and lesbian bookstores, or order them from Giovanni's Room bookstore, 345 South 12th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 (tel. 215/923-2960; www.giovannisroom.com).

Websites

  • Alyson Bookstore (www.alyson.com) is an online retailer affiliated with the Advocate and Out, with titles for sale on a variety of subjects, including travel.
  • BluWay (www.bluway.com) is an online portal providing gay and lesbian travelers links and tools, including links to 3000 hotels, inns, B&Bs, villas and resorts, and their travel companion finder called "travel personals."
  • Circuit Noize (tel. 818/769-9390; www.circuitnoize.com) offers an online subscription or subscription to its quarterly magazine, and both list an extensive calendar of events for American and international dance circuit parties so you'll know when to travel where if this is your sweating-til-the-sun-comes-up cup of tea.
  • Damron (tel. 800/462-6654; www.damron.com) is the original gay travel guide publisher, in business since 1964, and is well known for its annual books Men's Travel Guide and Women's Traveller.
  • Gay CuraƧao (www.gaycuracao.com) announces on its web site "we live and let live!" and offers destination information about this Dutch Caribbean island, including listings of gay-friendly accommodations.
  • Gay Places to Stay (tel. 954/630-0475; www.gayplaces2stay.com) has a listing of hotels and lodging worldwide from budget to luxury, with a special section for women.
  • Gay Wired (www.gaywired.com) is a general interest gay entertainment site with an extensive travel section that features guides to popular destinations.
  • Mi Casa Su Casa (www.gayhometrade.com) offers a members-only network for planning home and hospitality exchanges. The cost is $60 for a three-year membership.
  • Planet Out (www.planetout.com/travel) and www.gay.com (www.gay.com/travel) are multipurpose portals. You'll find details for vacation guides, event listings and booking engines.
  • Purple Roofs (www.purpleroofs.com) features a whole section on special offers and late reservation deals, real estate for sale, home trading, vacation planning, newsletter and an accommodations listing for lodging options around the world.
  • Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.traveolocity.com) has recently updated and improved its section for gay and lesbian travelers, which is now powered by a searchable index of hotels from Travel Alternatives Group ().

Do you have a comment or a suggestion about our recommendations? Please, share your experiences on our Gay and Lesbian Travel Message Boards. Click your heels here to get started.


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