Bratislava Castle – Keep Calm and Wander

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle sits on the hill overlooking the Old Town and Danube River. This extraordinarily large rectangular building was once a ruin after a brutal fire burnt it down in 1811. According to history, the Celts were the first inhabitants in this area. Though it looks plain, palace facade has some fragments of Rennaissance and Gothic elements of style.

Unfortunately for me, the castle was closed on the day I visited there – so I have no idea what it looks like inside. However, the gardens and the shades around the palace is a cool refuge from the summer heat.

In the 18th century, the most revered ruler of that time, Maria Theresa lived here. She had a huge family, but all of them took care of this place like no one else.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

European Gay Hostels – The Nomadic Boys

European Gay Hostels

Climbing into bed at 4 AM. That wouldn’t be like us…

Yet with the disco remixes of all our beloved gay anthems still echoing in our heads, we know we deserve a rest after a long day of exploring the city. We can still hear the laughter of patrons who are leaving the long line of bars and clubs which populate the gay village, and relish in the thought that although we’re miles from home, we still feel surrounded by our big gay happy family! This is the feeling of being in a gay hostel, regardless of where we are…

When interrailing around Europe, we found European Gay Hostels a great place to connect with fellow LGBTQ backpackers who have since turned into lifelong friends. We love the cool vibe in them, that exciting traveller atmosphere you don’t quite get in hotels. We’ve put together our 5 favourite gay hostels in Europe based on our experience backpacking across the continent.

Gay travel in Europe

As a rule, Europe is super gay-friendly! We’ve never had a problem booking a double bed in a room, particularly in North and West Europe, which has most of the gay-friendly countries in the world. However, the more East you head, the less queer-friendly it becomes, although there are some pockets of fabulousness in East Europe.

If you are travelling around the Balkans or around East Europe, we definitely advise calling/emailing ahead to check they’re ok to host gay travellers just to be on the safe side, particularly in the rural areas. If, however, you’re heading to places like Berlin, Madrid, Cologne, Brighton etc, we can assure you, you’re not going to have any problems!

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Europe Gay Travel Resources

 

Gay Bratislava, Slovakia – Keep Calm and Wander

Gay Bratislava

Here are 10 things to do in Bratislava that are worthwhile your time. Two full days and a night were enough for me to explore Slovak Republic’s capital city before hopping on a train in the evening to my next destination. However, it is possible to visit the city in one day, because most of the ones listed here are walking distance from each other in the Old Town.

I was in Bratislava in early June last year and it was not even crowded. The Old Town at noon was quiet and there were only a few tourists. It was a welcome relief for me after visiting big cities, like Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin, Vienna, and Prague.

1. Bratislava Castle

Situated atop the Old Town, the Bratislava Castle is an important mid-16th-century building. You can have spectacular views of the Petrzalka and the UFO Bridge not to mention the honor of attending one of the exhibitions.

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Gay Friendly Eastern Europe – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Friendly Eastern Europe - The Nomadic Boys

Europe has some of the most gay-friendly countries in the world with extremely progressive LGBTQ rights. However, these are largely confined to the North and West. The further East you head on the continent, the less gay-friendly it becomes.

East Europe is notorious for lagging behind the rest of the continent when it comes to LGBTQ rights. Thankfully, when most of them started joining the EU from 2004 onwards, membership requirements forced them to adopt more progressive LGBTQ laws, especially with regards to recognising civil unions for same-sex couples and introducing anti-discrimination legislation.

This is not to say that East Europe is completely void of any fabulousness! During our many trips as a gay couple around the region, we discovered several places that have a more liberal outlook, a thriving LGBTQ community and a vibrant gay scene. Based on our first-hand experiences, we’ve put together what we think are the 5 most gay-friendly cities – gay friendly Eastern Europe.

Disclosure: this was written as part of a paid collaboration with Moon Travel Guides.

What is East Europe?

A quick note about this. Whilst we appreciate that some countries fall into the “Central” rather than “East” Europe grey area, others would argue they are “Baltic” instead, or “Balkan”, there is no clear definition of which countries are strictly defined as “East Europe”.

We’ve therefore taken the UN breakdown of what is East Europe and included the countries that the travel industry also regards as being part of “East Europe”.

Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Friendly Eastern Europe Travel Resources

R&R Oasis – Gay Owned Vacation Rental in Palm Springs

R&R Oasis - Gay Owned Vacation Rental in Palm Springs

R&R Oasis – Beautifully decorated, 3 bedroom, 3 full bathrooms – is the perfect Palm Springs Retreat…Very comfortable home, where we aim for it to be your Home Away From Home.

The lush tropical pool and yard area, looks more like you are in Hawaii than in the desert. City ID # is 4242 TOT permit # is 7318.

This home is ideally located for convenience just off Hwy. 111 Easy access to 10 fwy. 3 minutes to downtown Palm Springs & 3 min. to Aerial Tramway.

2100 sq feet inside and lots more room with the outdoor living spaces. You will enter through locked gates to the beautifully landscaped yard, and then another locked gate at the front door, before arriving through the front entry with fish pond. Blackout drapes in all bedrooms & 4 charging stations. Lots of attention to details in this home.

See the R&R Oasis Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

AREA Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

 

Lancaster Bed and Breakfast – Gay Owned Lancaster, Pennsylvania B&B

Lancaster Bed and Breakfast - Gay Owned Lancaster, Pennsylvania B&B

The Lancaster is a fine old house built in the 1912 Dutch Colonial style. A craftsmen-cottage sense of place and tasteful, inviting decor welcomes our guests to relax and rejuvenate at their own pace.

At the inn, all rooms offer stocked private baths, bathrobes, and electric fireplaces. Satellite television/dvd players, wi-fi throughout the property, complimentary refreshments and cozy common spaces keep you connected and entertained when staying in, and extensive maps, brochures, and our in-step local knowledge keep you informed when you choose to explore.

Situated on the perimeter of the vibrant, creative downtown of Lancaster city, where cool shops, great galleries, quality theatre, and wow-factor restaurants and pubs are all close by, The Lancaster bed and breakfast is only minutes away from the inspiring Amish countryside.

See the Lancaster Bed and Breakfast Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Pennsylvania Dutch Country Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

 

Be a Tourist in Athens – Keep Calm and Wander

Be a Tourist in Athens - Keep Calm and Wander

Here is a list of touristy things to do in Athens. In its evolution, the ancient city has not let go of its ancient character despite the trials of time. So, if you want to be a tourist in Athens, pick some or a few of these places for your two or three days itinerary in the ancient city.

1. The Parthenon / Acropolis

This should be your first stop. Standing on the hill of Acropolis, the Parthenon before your eyes is surreal. You’ll see ancient Greek architecture standing on this sacred hill for about 2,500 years. It is actually a collection of buildings, where you’ll explore Parthenon (dedicated to goddess Athena) known for its best Doric columns.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Greece Gay Travel Resources

 

Joshua Tree Day Trip – 2TravelDads

Joshua Tree Day Trip - 2TravelDads

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park is a great addition to a vacation to Palm Springs or Southern California in general. It’s a very unique National Park and visiting is a very different experience compared with Yellowstone or Yosemite. I’d sooner relate it to visiting the Everglades than any other Park. There are tons of things to do on a Joshua Tree day trip, but you need to know what to do before you just show up.

Before arriving at Joshua Tree we’d done some research around hiking and unique features of the park. We didn’t fully understand the layout though and had to adjust our plans to be able to experience the best of a Joshua Tree day trip. The following guide should help you plan, prep and have an awesome time exploring this fascinating place.

WHAT IS A JOSHUA TREE?

So glad you asked. A Joshua Tree is a member of the yucca or lily tree family. It’s like a giant succulent that grows only in hot, arid climates. They are very rare outside of the deserts of the American Southwest (there’s a small grove in Mexico), but their yucca cousins can be found in deserts all around the world.

The Joshua tree is a rough, pokey plant. It doesn’t get very big, unlike the Sequoias or Redwoods, and it’s rarely grows straight up. Joshua Trees are shaped like Dr. Seuss trees and look a lot like the silhouette of a person jumping out to scare you. They really cool. They don’t bloom every year, but when they do it is amazing and since it’s so rare, if you get the chance to visit when they’re blooming, you’ll be one of the few people on Earth that experience it.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

California’s Southerm Deserts Gay Travel Resources

 

Homestead B&B at Rehoboth – Gay Owned Rehoboth Beach B&B

Homestead B&B at Rehoboth - Gay Owned Rehoboth Beach B&B

Located just three miles from the hustle and bustle of town, The Homestead B&B at Rehoboth sits on two acres of beautifully landscaped property. We are a pet friendly and adults only inn. Choose from four beautifully decorated guest rooms in the main house all with private bathrooms or our spacious 800 square foot private cottage featuring a large fenced-in backyard.

The inn was originally a small farmhouse built in 1899 and part of a 200 acre working farm. Today, the Homestead is decorated in relaxing beach themes with reminders of its previous role throughout including hardwood floors, fireplaces and timeless charm.

Guests enjoy a full breakfast in our dining room including the hot entree of the day, homemade breads, fresh fruit, yogurt, gourmet coffee and additional continental fare. We take pride in preparing a delicious feast for our guests each morning using local or home-grown ingredients when available.

Complimentary breakfast cocktails are served Sunday morning year round including our signature Bloody Mary made with our house-infused pepper vodka, secret blend of spices and garnished with a pickled green bean. We happily cater to guests with special dietary needs including vegetarian and gluten-free. Our guests describe our breakfast offering as “top-notch” and “above restaurant quality”.

See the Homestead B&B at Rehoboth Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

AREA Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

The Roussanou Monastery – Keep Calm and Wander

The Roussanou Monastery - Keep Calm and Wander

Roussanou Monastery sits on a low rock pillar – compared to the other monasteries in Meteora. It is very much accessible to public transport and there is not much climbing involved, but a few steps. The monastery itself is connected via a small bridge and is managed by nuns who are collecting the entrance fee themselves. Yes, it is now a convent for women – since 1988.

There are two rules that visitors need to remember when going inside the monastery. First, you have to cover your legs (aka, wear long skirts). The nuns at the entrance can loan you a plain cloth to wrap around your waist. This also applies to men. Second, photography is not allowed. However, no one is really watching inside, and if you want to take one or two (using your phone), be discreet – like me. 😀

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Greece Gay Travel Resources