At the Gay Beach in Cuba

Cuba gay beach Mi Cayito, which is Havana’s unofficial gay beach, on Sunday afternoon turned into quite the party. Beachgoers were dancing perreo (an overtly sexual dance to reggaeton music) that leaves very little to the imagination. A group of men were playing volleyball while a lesbian couple cuddled under a makeshift umbrella they set up nearby. A young boy was flying a kite. It was a relaxing afternoon on my first full day in Cuba, which brought me to this section of Playas del Este that is roughly 15 miles east of Havana. The trip thus far seems a bit less uncertain — and dare I say less complicated — than when I visited the Communist island for the first time in May 2015. The process through which an American must go in order to travel to Cuba remains unnecessarily complicated, even though the Obama administration has formally restored diplomatic relations with the country. The cost of a 45 minute charter flight from Miami to Havana is simply absurd. The need to check into it four hours before its scheduled departure — which was at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday at Miami International Airport for me — is even worse. With this complaining aside, the little things appear to have been made a bit less complicated on this side of the Florida Straits.

By Michael K. Lavers – Full Story at The Washington Blade

Cuba Gay Travel Resources

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Island Paradise on Isla Mujeres, Mexico – Globetrotter Girls

Isla Mujeres - Dani I visited Isla Mujeres in 2010 on a day trip while I was living in Playa del Carmen, and even though it was a (too!) short visit, I was smitten with the tiny Caribbean island immediately. Crystal clear water, powdery sand beaches, palm trees softly swaying in the wind. It was a glorious day. And yet it took me nearly six years to return to Isla Mujeres, the Isle of Women. I decided to spend my last weekend in Mexico on the island, and I don’t think I could’ve chosen a more perfect place to end my Mexico trip with a bang, but it also made saying goodbye even more bittersweet. I know that I’ll be back in Mexico (hopefully rather sooner than later), but I was definitely not ready for this trip to end, especially after our fabulous road trip. As the last stop for our road trip, the island was perfect! It is tiny enough to be explored in a golf kart in half a day, so we didn’t feel like we missed out on anything when we spent most of the weekend on the beach, sitting in a swing bar with a cool beer or searching for the best palm tree to spread out our beach towels under.

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls

Quintana Roo Gay Travel Resources

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Gay Cuba

Cuba We all have been reading the buzz around visiting Cuba. The questions we all have are: Cuba

  • Is it really legal to go?
  • Can I go with my lover/partner/spouse and feel comfortable traveling as an LGBTIQA couple?
  • Can I travel single and have a great time?
  • Is it still affordable to visit Cuba?
  • Is Cuba safe?
The answers are all a definite yes!!!! IMG_1891Thanks to the new loosening of travel restrictions from the USA and the recent advances in LGBTIQA equality…now is the time. To experience the architecture and energy of Havana is amazing. Music comes at you from ever cafe and corner. The architecture is both crumbling and being restored and is amazing. The best and most secure way to visit is to have a Gay tour guide to show you around. Be sure to book a hotel or ” Casa Particular” that is gay welcoming. A “Casa Particular” is usually someone’s home that they have restored to rent to people from outside of Cuba. Not only are you living with and having breakfast with locals but they can also offer you all kinds of ideas on travel through out the Island. [caption id="attachment_39871" align="alignright" width="250"]Cuba - Sydney Photo by Sydney Coatsworth[/caption]If gay politics and issues are your thing then Outincuba also employs one of Cuba’s most active LGBTIQA activists that can show you how the great strides in equality are happening today. Below you will find a list of some great resources for info on traveling to Cuba. Remember that you are not going to lay around on the beach… you are going to experience and learn about one of the worlds most vibrant and interesting cultures. Working with a gay owned tour and travel company is the best bet that you will find all the rooms you have reserved and also find the best gay welcoming locations to spend your hard earned free time and money. Charles Kimball of www.OutInCuba.co has Cuban family in Cuba and has spent time there vetting guides and locations that are LGBTIQA friendly and welcoming. The tour guides will meet you with a smile and welcome at the Havana airport and walk you through changing money and off you go in an old 50s taxi to your new home in Havana. Your guide and new friend will take you on a walking tour of Old Havana. If you would like to see “Gay Havana” by night then go out and experience the LGBTIQA culture from a Gay perspective. Last photo by Sydney Coatsworth]]>

Cuba, The New Gay Paradise?

Cuba - Photo by Kevin Slack My father left Cuba in June of 1962. The revolution was intensifying and as part of “Operation Peter Pan,” a program developed by the Catholic Church of which the church still denies ever existed, my grandparents placed him on the last Lufthansa flight out of Havana one morning. A young boy, my father wouldn’t see his parents for years to come. He has never returned. After decades, I became the first of my family to return to the island nation and left to my desires, I would have stayed. I’ll get to that in a minute. My father is proud, PROUD, of his homeland in the same way that I am PROUD of being a member of the LGBT community. Pride runs deep with Cubans and with us Verdugos. Over the last several years my father has opened up about the Cuba he once knew more than 50 years ago, and often shares his memories of Camaguey, the town in which he grew up. He spills stories about our cousins, but mostly he speaks of the beauty of this massive island. The crystal waters, the undisturbed beaches, the fishing, the music, and la gente. Our people. I grew up in Miami (aka Little Havana) surrounded by the vibrant and colorful, musical, passionate, sexy cultura of my people. However, something didn’t click for me. My parents divorced when I was two and so I had very little knowledge of my Cuban heritage at home. While soulfully drawn to it, it felt equally foreign. Something was amiss. There was a disconnect.

By Chris Verdugo – Full Story at The Advocate

Cuba Gay Travel Resources

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Five Caribbean Foods You Have to Try – Nomadic Boys

Jerk Chicken - Nomadic Boys Every traveler should stop by at least at one of the Caribbean islands. Their raw beauty, warmth and rich culture make them ideal for a romantic getaway or adventure seekers. But we think the national cuisine is yummy enough to convince you to book a flight and head over to the Caribbean right now! Here’s 5 Caribbean foods which may just sway you to head on over.

#1 Jerk Chicken

This spicy, hot and delicious meal originates from Jamaica. It consists of 2 parts: the jerk marinade and of course, the chicken. The jerk is made from a mix of spices, including soy, brown sugar, cloves, peppers and jalapenos. The jerk is then placed on the chicken and grilled, producing a really tasty dish. The Jerk Chicken must be cooked over coal or fresh green wood (usually the bark of the pimento tree) in order to give it its unique flavour.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Caribbean Gay Travel Resources

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Relaxed Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico - Gareth Johnson It’s easy to see why Puerto Rico is a popular destination for vacationers from the east coast of North America. Although situated just a short jump from Cuba, Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States – the currency is US dollars, the time zone is almost the same as New York, most people speak English (with a good smattering of Spanish), and all of the big American food and retail chains are well represented. But Puerto Rico is a lot more than just a warmer version of the US – it offers visitors a unique combination of sandy beaches, rugged landscapes, and Latino living that makes for a pretty spectacular vacation destination. Increasingly, the island is also becoming a popular destination for European travellers looking for a sunny destination as a mid-winter break – direct flights to San Juan make it a fairly painless eight-hour journey.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Puerto Rico Gay Travel Resources

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Beach Day in San Juan

Puerto Rico - Gareth Johnson It seems kind of obvious when you live on a warm, tropical island, but on Sundays the San Juan locals of Puerto Rico go to the beach. Large groups of friends, big extended families, all get together with their beach chairs, coolers full of food and beer, and they spend their day relaxing, talking, playing beach tennis (with the wooden bats), and occasionally going for a swim. Ocean Park Beach in the Condado neighbourhood is the busiest, I sat for hours watching fiercely contested beach tennis matches between young guys with lean, muscular bodies and perfect tans. It made me wish that I’d been a bit more committed to that beach body bikini blast workout that I signed up for.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Puerto Rico Gay Travel Resources

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Nassau, Bahamas – Free things to see and do just a short walk from the cruise port

Prince George Wharf by Thomas Routzong[/caption] Nassau, Bahamas Free things to see and do just a short walk from the cruise port By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong Nassau, Bahamas is a routine stop on many Caribbean cruises. If you’re not in the mood for another visit to the Atlantis complex, here are a few sights that you can walk to within minutes from the cruise ship pier. When you arrive at Prince George Wharf, go into the cruise terminal and grab one of the FREE tourist maps that are available to have a better idea of the local streets and any other sights you may want to add to your walk. [caption id="attachment_40353" align="alignright" width="101"]Sir Milo Butler Sir Milo Butler statue photo by Steven Skelley[/caption] Sir Milo Butler Statue Just minutes from the pier across Parliament Street, you will see Rawson Square with a statue of Sir Milo Butler, local hero who was the first Bahamian governor of the islands. [caption id="attachment_40354" align="alignleft" width="161"]Queen Victoria Statue photo by Thomas Routzong Queen Victoria Statue photo by Thomas Routzong[/caption] Queen Victoria Statue After viewing the statue, turn around and at the rear of Rawson Square you will see West Bay Street and Parliament Square with the Queen Victoria Statue. The pink government buildings surrounding the white statue make a picture perfect setting. The buildings reportedly date back to the 1700’s.   [caption id="attachment_40355" align="alignright" width="97"]Nassau policeman photo by Steven Skelley Nassau policeman photo by Steven Skelley[/caption] Policeman In Box At the Queen Victoria statue, look to your right to the intersection of Parliament Street and West Bay Street. You will find a policeman in British-styled uniform standing in the center of the intersection inside a wooden box on wheels. [caption id="attachment_40356" align="alignleft" width="100"]Garden Of Remembrance photo by Thomas Routzong Garden Of Remembrance photo by Thomas Routzong[/caption] Garden Of Remembrance Follow Parliament away from the waterfront to find the Garden Of Remembrance behind Queen Victoria’s statue and the Parliament buildings. The Garden Of Remembrance contains a monument to Bahamians who have served in various wars. Nassau Public Library and Museum Just behind the Garden Of Remembrance is the Nassau Public Library and Museum. The Nassau Public Library and Museum was once a jail but the cells have been [caption id="attachment_40357" align="alignright" width="112"]Nassau Public Library and Museum photo by Steven Skelley Nassau Public Library and Museum photo by Steven Skelley[/caption] converted into bookshelves. The library / museum contains artifacts from the Arawak indigenous people as well and colonial documents. There is a viewing station upstairs where you can get a look at the city below. [caption id="attachment_40358" align="alignleft" width="170"]Queen's Staircase Queen’s Staircase photo by Thomas Routzong[/caption] Queen’s Staircase Take Elizabeth Avenue to the Queen’s Staircase. There are 65 steps to the top. It is 102 feet tall. The staircase was hand carved from the rock by slaves to provide British troops a protected route to Fort Fincastle. The staircase was later renamed in honor of Queen Victoria who abolished slavery. Fort Fincastle At the top of the Queen’s Staircase is Fort Fincastle. Fort Fincastle was built in the late 1700’s at the top of the hill overlooking the city and bay. There are several canons in place. [caption id="attachment_40359" align="alignright" width="158"]Fort Fincastle photo by Steven Skelley Fort Fincastle photo by Steven Skelley[/caption] Straw market Head back to the waterfront along Woodes Rogers Walk past Prince George Wharf where you started and you will reach the Straw Market and the Vendue House / Pompey Museum. The Vendue House / Pompey Museum is where slaves were bought and sold. You will find it just past the Straw Market. The Straw Market is like a giant flea market. The aisles are small and crowded with vendors selling tourist souvenirs. The vendors call out as you pass by and make negative comments [caption id="attachment_40360" align="alignleft" width="166"]Straw Market photo by Thomas Routzong Straw Market photo by Thomas Routzong[/caption] if you don’t purchase something from them. As you head back down Woodes Rogers Walk towards the cruise ship terminal and Prince George Wharf, there are many shops, bars and restaurants along the waterfront. There are also several courtyards where art and wood carvings are sold. Article and photos by Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com [caption id="attachment_40361" align="alignright" width="250"]Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong[/caption] Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong are a happily married couple who love to travel. They write and photograph to help others see the world and see it in a new way. They have authored multiple travel and positive-themed books. You can learn more about Thomas and Steven at www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org and www.GayTravelersMagazine.com]]>

Puerto Rico – A Winter Mini Break

Puerto Rico Image via Puerto Rico Tourism Authority[/caption] Living in London, the winter months are inevitably cold, wet, dark, and seem to drag on for ever. Most people try and break up the long winter with either a skiing holiday to Europe, or by escaping to somewhere a bit warmer and sunnier for a mid-winter vacation. As I was queuing for the bag drop counters at Gatwick Airport, surrounded by excited groups of people wrapped in huge coats and carrying enormous piles of luggage, I was feeling a little smug that my chosen destination this winter was Puerto Rico. It’s a solid eight-hour flight from London to Puerto Rico, so you need to be looking at staying for at least a week to make the journey worthwhile. I flew with Norwegian Airlines – a direct flight that was simple and efficient in typical Nordic style.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Puerto Rico Gay Travel Resources

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Featured Gay Friendly Accommodations: Great Expectations, St. John, US Virgin Islands

Great Expectations Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay.

Great Expectations is recommended in USA Today Travel’s “Where to rent a villa on St. John” and rated: the #1 vacation villa on St. John by travelers on Trip Advisor (awarded their coveted Certificate of Excellence), 5 stars (the highest rating possible) on VRBO and Home Away. It comfortably accommodates up to 15 adults plus children in 6 air-conditioned bedrooms. Great Expectations is located in the southwest part of St. John about a 5 minute drive from Cruz Bay with stores where you can purchase any food or beverages you need as well as excellent restaurants. The Villa is uniquely sited about 100 feet above the Caribbean Sea and offers both sunrise and sunset views.

See the Great Expectations Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands

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