Gay Travel

Sri Lanka’s Kandy Lake – Keep Calm and Wander

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Sri lanka's Kandy Lake - Keep Calm and Wander

The views around Kandy Lake are worth seeing. I recommend you walk around the lake and just enjoy it leisurely. Stop in a nearby cafe or under a shed if you needed to. Strolling around was actually kind of therapeutic to me after a whirlwind of sightseeing days before I arrived here. On my second day in Kandy, I had a whole morning free so I used the time to stroll around Kandy Lake.

After the early visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, I told my driver I’d spend the rest of the morning strolling. He was okay with it and told me where to meet him afterwards.

Kandy Lake is a man-made lake that was built in 1807 to beautify the the country’s most sacred Buddhist temple.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Sri Lanka Gay Travel Resources

Best Gay Beaches in the World – The Nomadic Boys

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Best Gay Beaches in the World - The Nomadic Boys

Waves lapped gently against the shore, the sun beat down and warmed my every fiber, palm trees swayed in the breeze. As I took a sip of my ice-cold mojito, I asked Seby: “Is there anything better than a trip to the beach?”

“Of course” he replied, “a trip to a gay beach!”

I had to admit, he was right. Whether it’s the chance to get active in the water, show off your hard work in the gym or simply top up that tan, it’s no secret that many gay guys feel most fabulous at the beach. This has meant that gay beaches have popped up across the world down the years, providing a hotspot for local gay communities and gay tourists too.

From vibrant city center beaches where summer nightlife lasts well into the early hours or more relaxed, isolated affairs with a cultivated vibe, gay beaches come in as many shapes, sizes, and guises as gay men. Whether you’re searching for the best gay beaches in the United States or fancy visiting a gay beach further afield, our rundown of the twenty best gay beaches in the world has got you covered.

Fire Island Pines Gay Beach in New York, USA

Fire Island is a thin sliver of land running parallel to the south shore of Long Island in New York. It’s a serious gay mecca on the east coast, where the Manhattan gay boys come to party during summer. The main gay areas are predominantly located around Cherry Grove (or “the Grove” for short) and Fire Island Pines (aka “the Pines”). The beaches around here are gay as hell.

The Grove and the Pines have been gay havens since the 1960s and have largely been left alone as self-governing communities. This has allowed an “anything goes” attitude to flourish here, which makes for some wild fun as well as some of the skimpiest swimsuits we’ve ever seen! Spots such as Pavilion are ideal for drinks in the sun before moving on to more hedonistic establishments such as Sip n Twirl.

Our favorite spot is located on the wild stretch of beach between the Grove and the Pines, separated by a large forest. As you enter the forest between the two communities, continue heading towards the beach ahead and there you’ll find it. The total walk from either the Grove or the Pines ferry dock is around half a mile. Check out why we also rate Fire Island as one of the best vacation spots in the US.

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Lesbian Bangkok – Our Taste for Life

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Lesbian Bangkok - Our Taste for Life

Bangkok is known as the gay capital of Asia. We’ve spent quite some time in Bangkok over the years. And we’ve always been thankful for its liberal and open-minded attitude towards to the LGBTQ+ community. Not only can we be ourselves without fear of discrimination, but the gay nightlife in Bangkok is some of the best in the world. From pulsating gay nightclubs and exclusive lesbian parties, to several acclaimed gay-friendly hotels, gay and lesbian Bangkok has a lot to offer.

Bangkok’s lesbian scene aside, there’s a lot to love about beautiful, busy, bombastic, Bangkok. On the one hand, you have the rich Thai culture in the form of jaw-dropping temples, bustling markets, and sensational local cuisine. On the other is Bangkok’s edgier side, with its wild nightlife, epic rooftop bars, and opportunities for urban exploring.

In my experience, lesbian Bangkok is a bit like marmite. You either love it, or you hate it. But the one thing I insist on is giving it a chance. I’ll admit, as a first-timer arriving in the city, the chaos of it all can be overwhelming. But we’ve visited Bangkok over a dozen times now. And despite being everything we usually hate about big cities, we’ve actually grown quite fond of her.

Lesbian Bangkok

I’m confident that if you give Bangkok a chance, you’re guaranteed to find something you like about the city. And this guide aims to provide you with all the information you need to have an unforgettable time. I’ve listed all of the hottest gay bars and nightclubs; gay-friendly hotels and hostels; the best LGBT+ centred events; as well as all the top things to see and do.

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

Lesbian Thailand Travel Resources

The Best Berlin Gay Bars – The Globetrotter Guys

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The Best Berlin Gay Bars - The Globetrotter Guys

Berlins gay scene is insane (in a good way) by most countries’ standards! There is something for everyone and everyone is welcome.

It’s worth pointing out that Berlin is well known for its positive and ‘matter of fact’ attitude when it comes to getting intimate so don’t be surprised to find a dark room and cruising area as standard in most gay bars and gay clubs in Berlin.

We have split this post into two parts: the first half focused on the more typical gays bar in Berlin before moving on to the gay cruising bars in Berlin – this is probably the route your night will take after all!

We have a full gay guide to Berlin you should also check out.

Berlin Gay Bars

Here are some of our favourite Berlin gay bars to visit – let us know your favorite recommendations:

1) Prinzknecht

This is one of the go to bars for most people to start their night, especially since they often have 2-4-1 drinks specials.

The crowd here is quite mixed but tends to be slightly older. They do play a huge variety of music and we somehow managed to get them to play back to back Ariana followed by Cher which seem a bit out of place but made us happy!

The main thing about this bar for us was that it was fun, friendly and gave off good vibes. Oh, and there is a small dark room/cruising area downstairs (of course).

Address: Fuggerstraße 33, 10777 Berlin, Germany

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globetrotter Guys

Germany Gay Travel Resources

Gay Valparaiso – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Valparaiso - The Nomadic Boys

Santiago might be home to a large gay scene in Bellavista, but for our money, Valpo is even more tolerant, open-minded and downright fabulous!

Valpo (for short) is one of the country’s most popular draws, famous for its magnificent street art and unique architecture. Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet, loved Valpo so much he set up one of his homes here. UNESCO was so impressed, it added Valpo’s Historic Quarter to its World Heritage List in 2003, and The Guardian described Valpo as a “mini Berlin by the seaside“.

As Chile’s capital of culture, Valparaiso is packed with art, nightlife and creativity of every kind. This makes the city a hub for the nation’s gay community and we felt more at home in Valpo than anywhere else in Chile.

We fell in love with Valpo’s stunning seaside location, it’s amazing works of art and, of course, the drop-dead gorgeous locals. It goes without saying that by this point, Valpo is one of our favorite cities in Latin America.

To show you how great Valparaiso for LGBTQ travelers, we decided to create a comprehensive gay guide to the city and its neighboring gay resort town Viña del Mar. From the most gay-friendly places to stay to the wildest gay bars and clubs, we will cover it all in our guide to Chile’s coolest city.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Chile Gay Travel Resources

Gay Ios – The Globetrotter Guys

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Gay Ios - The Globetrotter Guys

We first visited Ios as part of our gay sailing trip around the Greek Islands in 2019 and immediately fell in love with this beautiful island.

Ios is part of the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea and can be found between Naxos and Santorini. It is a relatively small island at only 18 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide.

The island is known for its lazy days, beautiful beaches and party fuelled nights.

As places like Santorini become increasingly popular with huge numbers of tourists, places like Ios give you the opportunity to explore an equally beautiful island without so many crowds, especially since it has no airport so you can only arrive by sea!

Like Santorini, Ios is covered with white washed, blue domed buildings which look stunning and are iconic of these islands.

When it comes to gay Ios, it does not have a well established gay scene like you would find in Mykonos (see our Gay Travel Guide to Mykonos). However like many places we visited around Greece, we felt welcome as a gay couple and did manage to find it’s one gay bar during our explorations!

Check out our Gay Greece Guide for a shortlist of our top gay destinations in Greece.

In our mini ‘Gay Ios Travel Guide’ we share the best things to do in Ios as well as where to stay, and some great recommendations for a sunset drink!

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globetrotter Guys

Greece Gay Travel Resources

Gay Puglia – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Puglia - The Nomadic Boys

Our gaydar went absolutely crazy on the beaches in Puglia. Everywhere we looked, these metrosexual studs were posing and just looking absolutely ripped…Italian men sure know how to take care of themselves!

Puglia is located in the southeastern region of Italy – the heel of the country’s boot. It’s a popular holiday retreat and a prime hotspot for gay travellers, particularly Gallipoli. It’s also stunning, full of UNESCO sites like Alberobello, pretty cities like Lecce, lush landscapes like the Grotta della Poesia, and some of the best food of the entire country…orecchiete anyone?

To get a flavour of gay Puglia, we recommend watching the 2010 Italian movie, Loose Cannons (“Mine Vaganti”) about a bourgeoise family in Lecce coming to terms with their two gay sons… You’ll laugh your socks off, but will also get some fantastic inspiration about the region. We also help to inspire you with our detailed gay guide to Puglia setting out our first-hand experience of the gay scene out here, the best gay hotels to stay, beaches, events and more.

Is Gay Puglia safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?

Yes it is! Whilst Italy is a conservative country with regards to LGBTQ rights, over the years, Puglia has become a bohemian playground for gay travellers. There are a handful of gay beaches across the region, as well as many gay hangouts in the main cities, particularly Gallipoli.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Puglia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Lyon – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Lyon - The Nomadic Boys

The hottest men of France are officially from Lyon!

According to me, of course. Well obviously, I’m biased – this is Seby’s home ground, the city he was born and raised.

As well as the abundance of smokin’ hot French lovers, Lyon is also the foodie capital of France with a really pretty UNESCO listed Old Town (Vieux Lyon). Lyon has been a flourishing trading city since the Romans thanks to its strategic location at the confluence between two major rivers – the Rhône and Saône. The heart of city lies right at this point, an island-like peninsula called the Presqu’île…which is also where the bulk of the city’s gay scene can be found.

The southern section of the Presqu’île is the actual confluence point between the two rivers and is more residential. The northern side of the Presqu’île has a more commercial feel and has the main gay bars and clubs of Lyon, particularly between the two streets called: Place des Terreaux and Cordeliers. The Presqu’île is our favourite part of the city. Not only do the best gay parties happen right here, it’s also an exciting place to get lost in during the day, with cute narrow cobblestone streets, Renaissance-era mansions to awe at, hidden courtyards to explore and an abundance of excellent restaurants (called “bouchons”) everywhere!

Following our many trips to France’s gastronomical capital, we’ve put together our gay travel guide to Lyon featuring the best gay hotels to stay, the best bars, clubs, events, things to do, and many more practical tips for LGBTQ travellers.

Is Lyon safe for gay travellers?

Absolutely! France ranks as one of the gayest countries in the world. The French are famous for their “laissez-faire” attitude towards our LGBTQ community, namely, not interfering in matters that may seem too personal, and respecting the privacy of others.

All locals we met in Lyon did not bat an eyelid whenever they saw us holding hands or displaying other PDAs, particularly in the touristic areas – the Presqu’île and Vieux Lyon. To add to that, Lyon has a large student population with people from all over the world, which gives it an air of tolerance, open-mindedness and diversity.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Lyon Travel Resources

Canterbury Inn – Gay Friendly Hotel in Ocean Shores, Washington

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Canterbury Inn

BEST CONDO-STYLE BEACH HOTEL

The Canterbury Inn is a condominium style hotel in Ocean Shores, along Washington’s beautiful Pacific Coast.

Voted one of the best vacation getaways in Washington, Ocean Shores offers six miles of sandy beaches, twenty-three miles of interconnecting freshwater canals and a charming beach town where you can explore and enjoy some great shopping.

Everyone comes here for the ocean in any season. Enjoy:

* Beach combing
* Flying a kite
* Horseback riding
* Clamming
* Enjoying sunsets over the Pacific

Our freshwater canals are ideal for kayaking, water skiing, and fishing, or even for biking along on a beautiful afternoon. They even run through our local golf course.

See the Canterbury Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Olympic Peninsula Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Chicago for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

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Chicago for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

The USA has several cities that are known around the world as being iconic or embodiment of America. We think of New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago. Traveling to Chicago is really awesome and totally easy to do in two or three days; you could even have an unforgettable Chicago experience in one day if you were really in a pinch and wanted to. It’s an easy, walk-able city with unlimited potential and plenty of things to do.

There are so many things to do in Chicago, and you really can’t do them all on one trip. For your first trip, or if you’re traveling to Chicago on a tight schedule, these are the best ideas to make sure you explore the city and really get a feel for this incredible town.

To get familiar with the layout of the city, take a look at the map below. You’ll see that Chicago is on the shore of Lake Michigan, so there are several activities and sights very near each other since they’re all in that Magnificent Mile neighborhood, between Michigan Ave and the Lakefront Trail. We don’t include the Shedd Aquarium or Field Museum on our things not to miss in Chicago, but they’re close by too, so easy to add to your list.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Chicago Gay Travel Resources