Now that the Covid-19 restrictions are loosening a bit, many destinations are working hard to attract travelers back by offering various services catered towards communities such as the LGBTQ+. Read along to discover our Gay friendly picks!
Portugal
Portugal, a beautiful country in Southern Europe, offers a wide array of activities and attractions for gay travellers to explore. The country has a rich culture, lively cities, and stunning countryside. With same-sex marriage being legal in Portugal since 2010, it remains one of the safest destinations for gay travel, especially gay women.
The capital city of Lisbon has heaps of gorgeous attractions, most of which you can enjoy for free. Simply wandering through its beautiful, cobbled streets, admiring the colourful houses, old colonial buildings, and charming squares is enjoyable. When evening comes, make your way to Pink Street, home to a range of late-night bars and clubs where you can party late into the night.
If you prefer a relaxing beach getaway, head to Algarve, and rent a Portugal villa with a private pool that’s also near the coast. Lying on the beautiful coastline of Portugal’s southern coast, Algarve is famous for its stunning beaches, world-class golf resorts, and whitewashed fishing villages. Aside from frolicking at the beach, you can explore the historic towns and party all night.
Mexico
Mexico is an incredibly eclectic country that welcomes the gay community with open arms. Over the recent years, LGBT rights in the country have expanded, and tolerance of sexual diversity is prevalent. Because of this, it’s not surprising why Mexico often tops the list of being one of the best destinations for gay travellers.
While many places in Mexico are safe for gay women travellers, Cancun and the entire Riviera Maya are some of the best destinations to consider. Beyond the beautiful beaches, Riviera Maya offers many activities catered to different kinds of tourists. Explore Tulum, an ancient Mayan coastal city known for its deep roots in the Mayan empire. After spending some time in Tulum, discover the underground caves of Rio Secreto, one of the Mayan Riviera’s best-kept secrets. It’s a massive underground cave dating back thousands of years.
Consider booking an all-inclusive holiday package for Mexico. Depending on the package, this will already include your stay at gay-friendly hotels and other fun activities, such as spa massages and sailing excursions.
Thailand
Dubbed the gay paradise, Thailand is the perfect destination for gay women. Often tops the list of LGBT-friendly travel destinations, the country is very welcoming towards the gay community. So, if you are looking for a place where you will feel safe as a gay traveller, Thailand’s gay traval scene is the best place.
Bangkok, known as the gay capital of Asia, is the best place to base yourself. The city’s nightlife scene is magical and intense. Here, you will find many bars and clubs that cater to gays of all kinds. If you want to venture to another city, head to Pattaya, famous for its wild nightlife and vibrant gay-friendly beaches. In Phuket, you will find that the nightlife here is no different than in Bangkok and Pattaya. It’s also very welcoming to gay tourists, especially in Patong, considered the gay hub of the island. This area is home to several bars and clubs where you can party and socialise with fellow gay travellers.
When it comes to accommodations, you will have plenty of options. Thailand has many gay-friendly hotels and resorts, some of which have direct access to the beach, especially in Phuket. The best part is, everything in Thailand is very affordable, which is perfect for gay women travelling on a budget.
Greece
When you search for gay-friendly travel destinations online, Greece will most likely be on top of the list, all thanks to the open-minded culture of the Greeks. Besides, who can’t resist the charm of Greece? From ancient monuments to magnificent landscapes and beautiful whitewash villages, Greece is one of those countries that every traveller should visit.
Mykonos, known as the queen of the Cyclades, is an ultimate summer party destination, which attracts a huge number of LGBTQ travellers each year. Meanwhile, the capital city of Athens is home to fancy gay bars, mainly concentrated in the Gazi area. The charming island of Ios is also a favourite destination for gay travellers in Greece. It’s stunningly beautiful and has a free-spirited, vibrant nightlife.
Because of the diversity of Greece’s landscapes, adventurous travellers who love the outdoors will have their fair share of fun. You can go on a surfing holiday in Tinos, trek the geological rocks of Meteora, or dive in the islands’ underwater caves and hidden coves.
The US
With the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the US in 2015, gay travel has taken off in the country, opening doors for thousands of LGBTQ travellers. But with a country as vast as the United States, deciding where to go can be daunting. The country is home to several LGBT-friendly neighbourhoods, with gay bars, clubs, and other gay-friendly entertainment.
San Francisco is the go-to destination for gay-friendly travels in the United States, particularly in the Castro District, where rainbow flags fill its vibrant streets. Make sure you visit Mission District, a lesbian-friendly community home to street arts, coffee shops, and the best taquerias in the city. Chicago is also popular among gay travellers visiting the United States. It has two LGBT neighbourhoods – Boystown in East Lakeview and Girlstown in Andersonville. In New York, visit The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, which received the first historical landmark designation in 2016.
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Nastasia, originally a Labor & Delivery nurse turned travel blogger, has leveraged her passion for travel, photography and has founded Dame Traveler, a curated women’s travel blog where solo female travelers can inspire, and connect with, one another. Her eye for stunning travel visuals has helped build a large Instagram following, with over 600,000 followers on @dametraveler and 100,000 on her personal account, @nastasiaspassport, in addition to a large network of travel bloggers. Her hard work has led her to be featured in publications such as Travel & Leisure, Fodor’s, Vogue and more.
55+ countries into her journey, her passion for the world has led her to create a sizeable community of female travelers where her mission is to empower them to travel more, do more and be more. Whether sipping on chai in Istanbul or volunteering abroad in South Africa, Nastasia continues to find and share the beauty of this world, thus inspiring people to change the way they see and experience life.