J. Scott Coatsworth

Gay Manchester – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Manchester - The Nomadic Boys

My coming out story started out in the late 1990s when the British Queer as Folk version first aired on our screens. Back then, a confused and extremely repressed young teenage Stefan watched in awe as 3 gay blokes, Stuart, Vince and Nathan, went about their daily lives in Manchester’s Canal Street Gay Village. 

I was flabbergasted! Stunned!

This was the first time I had ever seen “normal” gay guys popularised on screen. It was also the first time I had ever seen gay urban life dramatised in such a way that it felt so real! Finally, that “feeling” that up until this point I had been forced to suppress by the society around me was, in fact, something totally natural. What a relief! I wasn’t ill or abnormal. I was in fact part of a large LGBTQ family that also felt the same way. As that young teenage Stefan continued to watch Queer As Folk, he also dreamed: maybe, just maybe, I could grow up and be just like Stuart, Vince and Nathan living so freely in the gay streets of Manchester…

Gay Manchester

Fast forward a few decades and I’m galavanting down those same historic gay streets, with Seby to hand, together exploring one of the coolest and most progressive places in Europe. 

I will always love Manchester! 

As well as having a special place in my big gay heart, it has an exciting gay scene, one of the best gay Pride events in the UK and is one of the few places in the world where I feel comfortable walking the streets holding hands with my Seby. It’s also super close to London (just 2 hours by train), which makes it ideal for a weekend trip.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

England Gay Travel Resources

Big Pines Mountain House – Gay Friendly Motel in South Lake Tahoe, California

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Big Pines Mountain House - Gay Friendly Motel in South Lake Tahoe, California

ENJOY BEAUTIFUL LAKE TAHOE!

Big Pines Mountain House reinvents Hotels, offering our guests the option to “consume better”. For a very reasonable price, you’ll get your guest room, all-you-can-eat continental breakfast, free wifi internet connection, and a bunch of little extras for no extra fee.

More Than Just a Hotel:

The Big Pines creative, friendly concept offers clean, comfortable, charming rooms that won’t break the bank. Our South Lake Tahoe hotel is a medium-size property with seventy-two rooms in the heart of town, making it easy to get to everything.

Quality Plus Personality:

Big Pines Mountain House is a budget friendly Hotel that is truly unique, offering great value and fantastic customer service yearround at a very affordable price.

Our Mission:

We are committed to exceeding your expectations, creating a friendly environment and giving our customers the best value for their money.

See the Big Pines Mountain House Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

South Lake Tahoe Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Caverns of the Marble Mountains – Keep Calm and Wander

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Caverns of the Marble Mountains - Keep Calm and Wander

Exploring the caves at the Marble Mountains in Da Nang can be really confusing. There are just so many of them and you don’t even know where to start – even if you follow the map. Going to one direction would mean either you will miss a cave or you will have to go back on the same route to reach the other caves in the opposite direction. There are no shortcuts here. I ditched the map they gave me. I just followed the signs.

The Marble Mountains

The Marble Mountains is a collective name for 5 groups of mountains named after five elements. They are Hoa Son (Fire), Kim Son (Metal), Tho Son (Earth), Thuy Son (Water), and Moc Son (Wood).

As the name suggests, the mountain is popular because of its marbles and limestones. Climbing these mountains is just one of the few things to do in Da Nang. Aside from its beaches, I think this is the city’s most visited tourist attraction.

There are not only caves to see here but there are also pilgrimage sites, tunnels, and a revolutionary base used during the Vietnam War.

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Vietnam Gay Travel Resources

Hoyt House Bed and Breakfast – Gay Friendly Bed & Breakfast in Fernandina Beach, Florida

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Hoyt House Bed and Breakfast - Gay Friendly Bed & Breakfast in Fernandina Beach, Florida

LUXE AMEILA ISLAND HOSPITALITY, COMFORT

Welcome to Amelia Island’s 1905 Hoyt House Bed and Breakfast Inn, an exclusive Ferdinanda Beach boutique hotel blending romance, elegance, comfort and fantastic service.

Come relax with us for a weekend (or a week) at our beautiful Amelia Island Inn, in the heart of Ferdinanda Beach’s Historic District. We’re close to a number of fantastic restaurants, wonderful shopping, and all kinds of antiques. Amelia Island is a great place to get away from your normal life, refresh, relax, and recharge.

Now’s the perfect time to visit Amelia Island and to stay at the 1905 Hoyt House B&B. Hoyt House is ideal for a romantic weekend getaway, an unforgettable honeymoon, or for celebrating a special occasion with your partner.

We offer elegant guest rooms and wonderful gourmet breakfasts. We’re more than just a Bed & Breakfast – we’re a unique boutique hotel on a very unique island.

See the Hoyt Houyse Bed and Breakfast Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Ferdinanda Beach Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Gay Santiago – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Santiago - The Nomadic Boys

Fresh out of Santiago’s International Airport, excited to practise our Spanish which we’d spent months perfecting, only to encounter…Chilean Spanish…

As our sweet smiley taxi pickup driver tried to welcome us in Spanish we both looked at each other wondering if we’d arrived at the right place…What was this strange language?!

Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit, but Chilean Spanish is the hardest Spanish dialect to pick up. Even native Spanish speakers have trouble understanding Chileans. For example, they cut off the end of every other word, connect words together so you don’t know when one word starts/finishes, and they speak at such a rapid pace… Then there are the Chilean slang words thrown in to confuse you even more, especially “weón” – randomly placed in every other sentence! It’s actually quite a beautiful sing-songy dialect to listen to. 

Santiago is certainly the perfect base to get your head around this quirky dialect. The gay scene here is massive, particularly in the Bellavista neighbourhood – probably the largest in all of South America outside of Sao Paolo. The city is also home to an exciting wine culture with world-class wineries to visit, lots of impressive city street art to awe at, tons of outdoor adventures like paragliding to try out, and natural hot springs to relax in – remember the city has the Andes mountains right on its doorstep.

And then there are the boys! Smokin’ Hot gorgeous Latino looking Chilean studs everywhere you look…

Trust us when we say you WILL have a fantastic time in Santiago! 

And we’ve got you covered right here with our detailed gay guide to Chile’s capital city. We’ve put together all our practical tips from our firsthand experience travelling in Santiago as a gay couple, including the latest info on the best gay hotels, bars, clubs, parties and events, which we always keep updated thanks to the help of our local gay friends in Santiago.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Chile Gay Travel Resources

Gay Hanoi – Keep Calm and Wander

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Gay Hanoi - Keep Calm and Wander

Here are 20 things to do and see in gay Hanoi (Vietnam). If you are into Vietnamese food, this list won’t help you much. I’m not including the names of restaurants because when you are in Hanoi, you can eat everywhere, especially in the Old Quarter. The locals love their food so much that it’s no wonder food stalls and restaurants are ubiquitous in the city. The list below is mostly tourist attractions in the city which you can pretty much read in travel guides.

How to get around Hanoi

You can all do the sightseeing by yourself with no problem. However, Hanoi is huge, and walking from one attraction to another can be tiring. So, you better consult your Google map where to start first and where to end. Also, the fastest and the cheapest way to go around is by hailing a Grab bike/scooter. Another option is to rent a motorbike daily or weekly.

Tourist Attractions in Hanoi

Let’s start from the area where you can walk from one place to another. The first six attractions on this list are within walking distance from each other. 

1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This is a heavily-guarded place where tall guards in white uniforms are freakin’ good-looking. Really! Zoom in your camera and you’d know I’m not exaggerating. Unfortunately, the mausoleum is not open to the public. All you can do is walk from the entrance to the main square and to the exit. Just in case you are wondering who Ho Chi Minh is – he was once the president of Vietnam and a well-respected revolutionary leader.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Hanoi, Vietnam Gay Travel Resources

Four Days in Lesbian London – Our Taste for Life

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Lesbian London - London Eye - Our Taste for Life

4 days in London is the perfect amount of time to appreciate all that this pulsating city has to offer. And if you’re here looking for the best 4 day London Itinerary, you’ll be pleased to know you’ve come to the right place. I’ve spent most of my life living and working in London, which is why it’s not too difficult for me to suggest the best places to visit in London in 4 Days. In this guide, I cover all of the London hotspots, including some cool hidden gems. I include where to eat, sleep, and party. And finally, I share all of my insider tips to ensure you have the best possible time exploring the city.

London is one of the most happening and exciting cities in all of Europe. And I know you’re probably thinking I’m biased because I’m a local, but it’s true. You see, everything about the British capital is larger than life. With its rich history, vibrant culture, magnificent architecture, eccentric fashion, wild nightlife, and unrivalled culinary scene, London ignites your senses in the best possible way.

I grew up on the outskirts of London, and while I like to think I know the city pretty well, I’m certainly no expert. You know what they say, you rarely explore the beauty that’s right on your doorstep. But last year I pledged to change that. And I’ve seen more of London in the past 12 months than I have in the past 30 years. That said, I certainly can’t claim to know it all. It would be easy to spend weeks if not months exploring London and just about scratch the surface.

With this in mind, the goal of this 4 day London itinerary, is to cover several of the cities major landmarks such as the London Eye, Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. But you’ll also discover a slightly alternative side of London by visiting quirky neighbourhoods such as Shoreditch and Camden. Not to mention, eating at remarkable restaurants and drinking at traditional London pubs along the way.

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

London Gay Travel Resources

Gay Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - The Nomadic Boys

Kool-krazy-kat-Kota-Kinabalu, the capital and gateway of Malaysia’s Sabah region on Borneo island. This is the city where treks up to Borneo’s highest mountain (Mount Kinabalu) begin, the tropical waters of the Gaya islands are right on your doorstep, lots of different magnificent experiences can be found, and, the coolest nickname ever for a city: KK!

Whilst most travellers will skip out KK, using it just as a transport hub to enter/leave Sabah, we think you should spend a few nights here. We visited KK during our trip around Malaysia and loved it. It’s a relaxed, modern place that offers so much. It also has a large LGBTQ community and sometimes even a gay bar – ie it closes/reopens a lot (more on this below)!

We’ve put together all our findings from our trip in and around gay Kota Kinabalu in this article. We’ve included important practical safety tips for LGBTQ travellers, gay friendly hotels we tried/loved, queer friendly hangouts and some of our favourite things to do which we hope inspires you.

Is Kota Kinabalu safe for gay travellers?

On the whole, yes, but as long as you’re careful to avoid PDAs. Malaysia is not on par with some of the places in the Middle East, but it’s obviously no Bangkok here!

In relation to progressive LGBTQ rights in Malaysia, there are none at all. There is even a horrible archaic anti-gay law which carries with it a 20-year imprisonment as well as caning, fines and/or deportation! The reality is that the anti-gay law of Malaysia is rarely ever enforced, particularly against foreigners. However, this gives you an idea of how society regards homosexuality and therefore why it’s best to avoid PDAs.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Friendly Madrid Hotels – The Globetrotter Guys

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Axel Hotel Madrid - The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid is well known for being a beautiful and open city and you will easily find gay friendly Madrid hotels. It’s a bit odd to need to talk about being gay friendly in Madrid and we would use the term quite loosely here.

The city is so open and such a safe haven for gay travellers that we can say with confidence that pretty much all hotels will welcome all types of traveller without batting an eyelid.

It feels like asking the question ‘is your hotel gay friendly‘ is a bit redundant in Madrid and you would probably get some quizzical looks for asking – it feels ingrained in the culture here.

However, there are always hotels that are naturally more popular with the gay community, whether because of their brand or by their proximity to the gay area of Madrid.

We have focused on hotels that are in close proximity to the city centre and Chueca (the gay district). Here is our shortlist of gay friendly and gay hotels in Madrid to book for your next trip:

Axel Hotel Madrid – Adults Only

If you are looking for a hotel that falls in the category of ‘gay hotel’ then look no further. Having stayed at Axel Hotels in Berlin and Gran Canaria this would be our first choice, especially since it is specifically aimed at gay travellers and brands itself as ‘hetero-friendly’. The rooms are stylishly decorated, insta-worthy and come with the very cheeky ‘do disturb’ signs if you want to hang them on your doors!

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid Gay Travel Resources

The Lancaster Bed and Breakfast – Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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AMISH COUNTRY WARMTH & SOPHISTICATION

The Lancaster Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful historic Lancaster home, originally built in 1912 in the Dutch Colonial style. A craftsmen-cottage sense of place and tasteful, welcoming ambiance invites you to rest, relax and rejuvenate at your own speed.

Each of our guest rooms offers:

-Well-stocked private bathrooms
-Bath robes
-Cozy electric fireplaces
-Satellite TV/DVD player
-Wifi internet access throughout

We also serve complimentary refreshments and cozy common spaces to keep you connected and entertained while staying on-property, and we can also provide extensive maps, brochures, and our vast local knowledge to help you find great things to see and explore locally.

AMISH COUNTRY WARMTH & SOPHISTICATION

The Lancaster Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful historic Lancaster home, originally built in 1912 in the Dutch Colonial style. A craftsmen-cottage sense of place and tasteful, welcoming ambiance invites you to rest, relax and rejuvenate at your own speed.

Each of our guest rooms offers:

-Well-stocked private bathrooms
-Bath robes
-Cozy electric fireplaces
-Satellite TV/DVD player
-Wifi internet access throughout

We also serve complimentary refreshments and cozy common spaces to keep you connected and entertained while staying on-property, and we can also provide extensive maps, brochures, and our vast local knowledge to help you find great things to see and explore locally.

The Lancaster B&B is at the edge of the creative downtown of Lancaster, where you’ll find great boutique shopping, art galleries, quality local live theatre, and some terrific restaurants and pubs.

See the The Lancaster Bed & Breakfast Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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