Destinations

Bellatrix- Lesbian Owned Bed & Breakfast in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland

by
Bellatrix - Lesbian Owned Bed & Breakfast in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland

WOMEN-ONLY B&B ON THE BEARA PENINSULA

Bellatrix is a bed and breakfast exclusively for women on The Beara Peninsula, West Cork, Ireland. It’s the place where women from all over the world can meet and relax in Ireland’s stunning Wild Atlantic scenery. Bellatrix is a nature lovers paradise on The Beara Way.

We specialise in walking and hiking holidays. A short walk through the forest will take you to a beautiful little cove which is safe for swimming. Bellatrix is set in mature gardens with a super view of Gour Mountain.

Rita who is a Mountaineer offers great advice on local hikes and also offers guided hikes to suit all levels of ability.

We are an Eco friendly b and b and your shower is powered by the sun.

We have a variety of room options to choose from, all suitable for women travelers of every description.

See the Bellatrix Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Sunrise at Bali’s Mount Batur

by
Mount Batur at Sunrise - Keep Calm and Wander

My adventurous trek to Mt Batur volcano to watch the sunrise was all worth it! 

“Sunrise trek to Mount Batur? Why not? Ok, sign me in!” Those were the words I uttered when a tour agent asked if I’d be interested. Of course, I paid the tour right away without qualms. You see – I love a mountain climb. I always do. At my age right now (I’m not really that old hag yet), I know, I’d be slower than I used to be.

For me, it’s all about proper breathing when trekking/climbing/hiking a mountain. And of course – keeping a distance from the person you are following with. I find that if I hike closer behind someone, I’m pressured/forced to keep up – and I won’t enjoy the journey anymore. So, I want to be the last one in a group.

Mount Batur Volcano Trek Tour

Based in Ubud, I was picked up at my accommodation at 2:15 AM. Then, they served us a pre-breakfast food: banana pancakes and coffee/tea. Right after that, we’re off to the base of Mt. Batur. When we arrived there, two guides met us (a group of 9) and briefed us about safety. They then each gave us a small flashlight for the trek.

At 3:40, we started our trek in the darkness. Under the star-filled skies, the adventurous climb was off to a good start.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Bali Gay Travel Resources

Gay Panama – The Nomadic Boys

by
Gay Panama - The Nomadic Boys

…and God said, “Let there be sexy people”, so he created Panamanians!

Wise words from the Bible itself according to our gay friends Luis and Mario from Panama City…

Panama City is often nicknamed The Dubai of Latin America because of its immense economic growth in recent years and impressive dense skyline. But unlike Dubai, this mighty Latin American metropolis has a far more welcoming gay life, in a country where although culturally conservative, is constantly striving for LGBTQ equality.

Most will associate Panama City with the famous canal, which is a reason alone to visit. The city is also the gateway to some gorgeous tropical beaches within gay Panama, like San Blas and gay friendly Bocas del Toro. We stayed in Panama City for a week and loved it. It’s full of things to do, plenty of trendy bars, but most importantly, we left with a thirst to return for more. It’s also a useful destination because it’s one of the major transport hubs in Central America.

This is our complete gay guide to Panama City following with a focus on the gay scene, our pick of the most gay friendly hotels, our favourite things to do, and more.

Is Gay Panama safe for travellers?

Overall, yes, Panama is safe for LGBTQ travellers, but assuming you stick to the touristic areas of Panama City, Bocas del Toro and San Blas. If venturing beyond, into more local areas, we recommend taking extra care and avoid all PDAs.

Panama is a very conservative country. It a strong influence from the Catholic Church. Any attempt by the government to pass any progressive LGBTQ laws in Panama almost always gets blocked! As a result, Panama does not recognise same-sex unions and has no anti-discrimination laws to protect the LGBTQ community!

For example, a 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling required Panama to recognise same-sex unions and allow gay couples to adopt. Sadly, the response was a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage by the Panamanian National Assembly in October 2019. The LGBTQ community of Panama has quite a long road ahead of it…

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Panama Travel Resources

Hidden Budapest Gems – Our Taste for Life

by
Hidden Budapest Gems - Our Taste for Life

If you are looking to get off the beaten path in Budapest, you have come to the right place. After spending almost a week in the Hungarian capital and having covered all of the main attractions, we went in search of some of Budapest’s hidden gems. In this article, we share what we discovered and our top 14 unusual things to do in Budapest.

Budapest is a diverse and beautiful city, bursting with life, culture, history, nightlife, and awe-inspiring architecture. Naturally, if it’s your first time in the city you’ll want to cover all the major landmarks. Attractions such as the Fishermans Bastion, Hungarian Parliament Building, Thermal Baths and Ruin Bars are quintessential Budapest experiences. However, if you’re spending longer than a couple of days in the city, I suggest checking out some of Budapest’s hidden gems as well.

As it turns out, there are many quirky and unusual things to do in Budapest. You might not find them on your average Budapest travel guide or blog, but that’s what makes them so appealing. Getting off the beaten path in any touristy destination allows you to see the city through the eyes of a local. We had a wonderful time exploring an alternative side to Budapest. And to help you plan your own offbeat adventures, we’ve collated this list of the most weird and wonderful things to do in the city.

So let’s get to it, it’s time to break the silence on our favourite hidden gems in Budapest.

Unique Hotels in Alternative Budapest

Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of accommodation options in Budapest. You can click the link below to search for hundreds of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses in the area. But while we are on the topic of unusual things to do in Budapest, I thought it would be nice to share some of the more unique hotels in Budapest – the hotels that reflect the cities alternative side.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Budapest Lesbian Travel Resources

Malaysia’s Petronas Towers – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Malaysia's Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are identical towers that are synonymous to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They’re the most iconic skyscrapers and architectural wonders in the city’s skyline. No visit in KL without a glimpse of these silver-colored twins.

The first time I saw them eons ago, I thought they resembled a rocket, ready to launch in space. 😉

Standing at 1,483 feet, the towers have 88 habitable floors. They are finished off with a pyramid-like structure topped with a thin steel spire.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

Cabo With Kids – 2TravelDads

by
BLOG - Cabo With Kids - 2TravelDads

We’ve been to Cabo San Lucas with our kids load of times, like, we’ve spent the equivalent of three months in Cabo as a family. You could say it’s our favorite family destination in Mexico. Since we’ve done it so much, we’ve decided it’s time we share our best tips for visiting Cabo with kids.

I’ll say this right away, Cabo with kids is mostly about relaxation and swimming vs digging into Mexican culture and nature. There are lots of opportunities for that, but Cabo San Lucas really has built itself into a luxury destination more than adventure.

Getting to Cabo San Lucas

For those traveling from the west coast, getting to Cabo San Lucas is pretty easy. There are direct flights from Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego. Denver and Dallas also offer direct flights, so know that even east coasters should be able to find a good flight. When flying into Cabo, the airport is SJD (San Jose del Cabo), Los Cabos International Airport. The airport is actually quite nice now (thanks Hurricane O’dele) and as long as you arrive early in the day or in the early evening, customs is pretty fast and smooth. Thinking about Cancun instead of Cabo? Check out our detailed comparison of Cabo vs Cancun!

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Baja Sur Gay Travel Resources

The Colors of Singapore’s Little India – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Singapore's Little India - Keep Calm and Wander

The colors of Singapore’s Little India are as vibrant as its culture. No, I’m not talking about the colors of turmeric powder spices, but the whole neighborhood. It is alive with cultural excitement from its murals to its historical and colorful houses.

And of course, the shopping scene here is one of a kind. However, we were not tempted to buy a thing. Not that we were stingy – it’s just that our closets still have clothes with price tags. Nope, we are definitely not hoarders. We are just waiting for the right time to wear those clothes.

In Singapore’s Little India, you will find not just cultural but also religious heritage. You’ll find Hindu temples, a mosque, and Buddhist temples.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Prambanan Temple – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Prambanan Temple - Keep Calm and Wander

Is Prambanan Temple the world’s most graceful and most beautiful Hindu Temple? That’s the tagline that you see and read in tourism brochures in Yogyakarta, but without a question mark. Is it really? Ok, I’ve been to India where there’s a huge Hindu population and I visited some of the temples there – and I’d say that, yes, Prambanan Temple deserves that title.

At first glance, the architectural design made think of the Angkor Wat of Cambodia. 

While they might look the same, it is important to know that Prambanan is a Hindu temple while Angkor Wat is a Buddhist temple.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

India Gay Travel Resources

Gay Key West Resorts – The Nomadic Boys

by
BLOG - Gay Key West Resorts - The Nomadic Boys

Key West is super gay! This small island in south Florida is a notorious gay mecca, with a whopping 30% of its 25,000 residents identifying as LGBTQ.

The island’s history as a gay destination dates back to the 1950s when well-known LGBTQ celebrities like Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, Jerry Herman, Leonard Bernstein and Elizabeth Bishop have since made it their home. Subsequently in 1983, Key West became the first place in the US to elect an openly gay mayor (Richard A. Heyman), then in 2000, the island’s motto became: “One Human Family“.

We’ve visited Key West on several occasions and always had a blast, especially on the gay scene on Duval Street. There are so many things to do for gay travellers and with regards to to the hotels, it was never a case of ‘please can we have a double bed’, but more – ‘which of these many gay hotels should we stay at on this trip?’

There is an impressive number of different gay Key West resorts to pick from, so we’ve put together our 10 favourite, which also includes gay hotels and guesthouses.

Island House

Island House is notorious across the entire LGBTQ community of south Florida. It’s also one of the largest male-only clothing-optional resorts we’ve ever been to.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Key West Gay Travel Resources

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon - Keep Calm and Wander

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is pure bliss in the morning. Its serenity and the murmuring whispers of prayers are calming to the soul. At least that’s how I felt because I arrived there at 4:15 in the morning – earlier than most Buddhist worshippers. And way too earlier than most tourists, too. I highly recommend that you go early in the morning, for an obvious reason: it’s not crowded.

Your visit to Myanmar’s capital city won’t be entirely complete without getting a glimpse of this golden pagoda. 

Shwedagon is the most iconic landmark of the country that used to called Burma under British rule.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Myanmar Gay Travel Resources