Staying Fit on a Summer Gaycation

gay men by pool - Upsplash photos - free

In this environment, it’s very challenging for a gay guy to be perceived as handsome. Not because he isn’t, but because it’s very tough to keep up with the body goals the society puts on us. Summer might be the most challenging season of them all, though, mostly because it’s very common to see shirtless guys showing their guns and their abs, so more often than not, we can feel a bit self-conscious about our own body. 

So, what are we supposed to do when we have a gaycation coming our way? Do we play it cool, embracing our own bodies, and showing the world that everyone’s beautiful in their own way? This is one way to play this game, but there’s also the option of doing whatever it is in your power to stay fit and give your body a chance to look amazing. Take a look at some of the tips that we have for you – perhaps you won’t be the next Chris Hemsworth, but it definitely won’t hurt!

You always start with a plan

Everything new you want to start, planning it out is the first step, and this is not an exception. Proper organization can help you out tremendously. That’s why it would be a great idea to come up with a plan of what you want to achieve and until when, write it down, think about all of the things you have to do, or give up on to meet your goals.

But don’t forget that one of the crucial things here is to be realistic, as staying fit and changing your body is not an easy task. There’s so much you will have to give up on, so much dedication and hard work. The right organization will also help you calculate for how long you have to stay on a specific dietary regimen, how often you have to go to the gym, and what you need to do when you’re at home.

Use the things that can help you out

Next up, think about the external factors that can help you out, such as the services of different professionals or equipment you might need but won’t find at the gym. First and foremost, if you can afford one, go with a personal trainer. It’s always good to have some help by your side, and it’s even better when it’s coming from a professional. Moreover, bear in mind that it’s for the reason that professionals came up with different kinds of supplements. These are here to help you make your transformation process better and faster, so why not opt for the best whey protein on the market and make sure that your results are visible quickly? If you’re skinny and you need more muscle mass, this will help you out. If you have mass but simply want to form your muscles, this is the way to go. Who knows, perhaps you’ll be the next big OnlyFans superstar!

Mind your diet

Not even one fitness decision comes to life without giving up on what we all love so much – sweets and junk food. Yes, sometimes this food is tasty; other times, it’s simply easier to grab a hamburger then cook at home, but know that abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. To improve your diet, you will need to be very organized and actually go shopping for the products that you need and cook in advance so that you always have fresh and healthy food to eat. You can also opt for a nutritionist’s services if you don’t know what food is good for your body and blood type. Another way to play this game is to have a consultation session with your personal trainer. What is very important to note is that you don’t always have to jump on this bandwagon all at once. Start slow; baby steps can be very helpful. Cut down on all the unhealthy food that you eat, and slowly start introducing proteins, vitamins and plenty of vegetables.

It might be quite difficult to make the idea of changing your body for the better come to life. This requires a lot of dedication, determination and hard work. And most importantly – stay true to who you are, stay positive, and always be satisfied with your body. Not all of us were born to be fitness gods, but we can do several things to provide us with a better version of ourselves.

Peter is a gay lifestyle writer at Queer Voices magazine. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.

Gay Bali, Indonesia – wolfyy

gay bali

Bali is a classic gay travel destination in Southeast Asia. You might be aware that Indonesia is not the most gay-friendly country, however Bali is quite the exception! The island has a special religious openness that has allowed them to welcome millions of gay tourists over the years.

Why Do Gay Men Love Bali?

Many gay holiday destinations attract travelers for specific reasons. Some examples are a vibrant gay culture, gay neighborhoods, popular gay beaches or exciting gay nightlife. Bali is unique in that this little slice of paradise offers tranquility for LGBTQ people, especially in a relatively inexpensive and gay-friendly atmosphere.

Gay travelers don’t tend to have huge dance parties or nude beaches in mind for their gay Bali experiences. There aren’t necessarily giant gay meetups. Instead, gay tourists seek private, luxurious accommodations and experiences, comfortable with the notion that other gay travelers will be nearby. This affords the a peaceful LGBTQ travel experience, obviously in addition to the lush tropical landscapes and friendly locals.

gay bali hotels

Where to Stay in Bali

Bali is a large island, and the southern half is quite heavily treaded. While you can find secluded enclaves all over, there are some general trends to keep in mind before you set out on your gay Bali adventure.

The airport is in the south of Bali in Denpasar. Staying in the south part of the island is easiest in terms of quick transport to your hotel. This is best if you’re short on time. A couple hours north is the famous town of Ubud, which is more peaceful. However, with Bali’s exploding popularity, Ubud is also quite busy. In the very north of the island, you’ll find increasing numbers of truly secluded places to stay. This is to be expected however, since it takes quite a long time to reach there by car!

Options for Bali hotels, resorts, and home stays are truly endless. Whether you’re looking for a tropical forest bungalow or a standard five-star hotel, you’ll certainly have plenty to choose from. I’ll let you know about some of my favorite spots in the full wolfyy travel guide!

Full Bali Gay Travel Guide on wolfyy

Gay Indonesia Resources

Gay Maspalomas, Canary Islands – wolfyy

gay maspalomas

The Canary Islands are a fantastic destination for gay travelers, especially once the bustling summer tourism season slows down in mainland Europe. Maspalomas is known for being a completely gay resort town in Gran Canaria, the largest of the Canary Islands. Full of outgoing, friendly guys, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time.

What’s so special about the Canary Islands? Well, other than breathtaking landscapes (check out the Maspalomas Dunes), summer never really ends here in the Canaries. Spain’s southernmost territory, they’re just off Africa’s Western Sahara coast! With so much warm weather to spare, Maspalomas actually hosts two gay pride festivals every year.

Before summer even begins, Maspalomas hosts their first pride of the year, typically in May. As November rolls around, travelers ditch the cold weather up north for sunny dance parties at Maspalomas Winter Pride. I had an absolute blast dancing at the enormous Yumbo Centre. I made dozens of international friends through the week, many of whom I’ve planned more travel with!

gay maspalomas winter pride

Maspalomas Gay Events & Hotels

Gran Canaria has way more to offer than just gay pride weeks. There are a bunch of other gay event weeks to choose from. Summer Fiesta, Bear Carnival, and Festish Week Maspalomas are just a few. What makes these events even more special though, is how conveniently close most Maspalomas hotels are to the main events. It’s easy to find a hotel or resort in the center of the action. Having everything within arm’s reach makes a party-filled vacation so much more relaxing.

Gay hotels in Maspalomas are pretty easy to find, but there are definitely a few crowd favorites. Especially if you want to have convenient access to the main event locations on foot, you might want to consider booking in a certain part of town. I’ll give you all the details about where to stay based on your personal preferences and preferred vibe!

Full Maspalomas Gay Travel Guide on wolfyy

Gay Canary Islands Resources

Gay Lebanon – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Lebanon - The Nomadic Boys

Exquisite food, impressive UNESCO sites, crazy nightlife and some of the most handsome guys to walk this planet…on the face of it, Lebanon is a gay man’s wet dream right?
In some ways, it sure is! By Middle Eastern Arab standards, Lebanon is often regarded as a very liberal and progressive place. There’s even a vibrant gay scene in Beirut. We certainly rate Lebanon as one of the most gay friendly countries in the Arab world.

BUT: this is by Middle Eastern standards!

The Middle East is one part of the world where being openly gay can get you into a great deal of trouble (Israel, a gay paradise, being the sole exception). For example, in say, Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Iran it’s a straight-up capital punishment. In places like Lebanon, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, being gay is very much an arrestable offence that can get you a prison sentence, a fine and deportation.

The purpose of this article is to describe our experience of travelling in Lebanon as a gay couple, present a balanced perspective and give advice for LGBTQ travellers who want to explore it. It is a stunning country, one that you won’t regret visiting…but this is still very much an Arab country where being gay is against the law. You will need to go back into the closet, avoid all PDAs, set all your social media to private and never post anything gay related online before or during your trip.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Madrid Gay Shopping – The Globetrotter Guys

Addicted & ES Madrid

When it comes to gay shops in Madrid, the majority are focused on clothing and apparel showcasing some of the best gay clothing brands around such as Addicted and ES Collection.

Madrid’s gay scene is unapologetically sexualised, so it’s no surprise that these shops reflect that scene. The list gay shops in Madrid below focuses on shops found in the gay area of Madrid, Chueca. This is also where you will find the majority of the gay bars and clubs in Madrid.

It is definitely worth checking out these gay shops and picking up some new gear when visiting Madrid, we don’t have many of these shops on offer at home in the UK!

Gay Shops in Madrid

One of our favourite brands for swimwear, Addicted and ES Collection are both high quality Spanish brands. The shops sells everything from underwear, to swimwear, t-shirts, vests/tanks, shorts, jeans, sports gear and Addicted now also has a fetish collection.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Madrid Gay Travel Resources

Gay Berlin – The Nomadic Boys

BLOG - Gay Berlin - The Nomadic Boys

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst!

…especially when you arrive at the Wittenbergplatz in gay old SchΓΆneberg, to be greeted by the cutest, gayest, rainbow-clad super-kitsch kiosk of Fritz & Co selling particularly yummy currywurst German sausages. More about Fritz & Co below, but as our first impression of Berlin, we knew we were in for a gay old time here! Gay Berlin is notorious for being the city of sin – a truly liberal and diverse hub where anything goes.Β The absolute wurst…and we live for it!

SchΓΆneberg is considered to be the main gay area of Berlin, the traditional heart and soul of Berlin’s LGBTQ gay community, where the bulk of its gay bars, clubs and hotels can be found. The city also has several other exciting gay neighbourhoods to check out, each with its own unique character, vibe and queer hangouts. The main ones are Kreuzberg, NeukΓΆlln, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain.

We’ve been to Berlin several times and usually base ourselves somewhere in SchΓΆneberg, which we love. For us, SchΓΆneberg remains the best gay neighbourhood of Berlin – the true Queen of the Scene! We also love venturing out to the bars and parties happening in the other gay districts of Berlin such as MΓΆbel Olfe in Kreuzberg, SchwuZ in NeukΓΆlln, Flax in Prenzlauer Berg, and the infamous Berghain in Friedrichshain. The Berghain super club is almost like an entire gay neighbourhood in its own right! This is reason alone why we rate Berlin as one of the top gay friendly vacation destinations in the world.

We’ve put all our notes and stories from our many travels to Berlin in this comprehensive gay guide to help inspire your own holiday to this crazy and super exciting city including the best of the gay scene, gay hotels, parties, events, things to do and more.

Where is the main area of Gay Berlin?

The main gay area of Berlin is based in SchΓΆneberg. It is the traditional heart and soul of Berlin’s LGBTQ gay community, dating back to 1897 when the world’s first-ever LGBTQ organisation was founded right here: the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee. From this point on, the area blossomed, becomingΒ theΒ Gay Village capital of the world.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Berlin Gay Travel Resources

Casa Alebrijes Hotel – Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Casa Alebrijes Hotel - Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

CENTRAL NEAR GUADALAJARA GAY NIGHTLIFE

Welcome to Casa Alebrijes – the best hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico for gay men and lesbians and their friends.

Guadalajara is often called the San Francisco of Mexico, and our boutique Guadalajara hotel is just two blocks from gay nightlife in town – twenty-five gay bars and discotheques, all within an easy walk from our front door.

Our Guadalajara hotel has two floors with two suites for 1-4 persons, and seven guest rooms that can each accommodate 1 or 2. The first floor also has a beautiful garden patio with a lovely fountain. The second floor has a wide balcony that overlooks the garden.

Casa Alebrijes is in a late 19th century home that has been carefully and lovingly restored in a traditional style. We’ve added all the modern conveniences, while respecting the beauty of the original architecture.

See the Casa Alebrijes Hotel Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Pikes Peak Paradise B&B – Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Woodland Park, Colorado

Pikes Peak Paradise B&B - Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Woodland Park, Colorado

Welcome to Pikes Peak Paradise, a central Colorado B&B with fantastic panoramic views of Pikes Peak and a million acres of Pikes National Forest. We offer the best views in the Pikes Peak area, on over four wooded acres of our own.

Ron and Michael have renovated our Pikes Peak boutique B&B with imported euro-modern furnishings, and their own beautiful collection of fine art. The property offers five updated guest suites with luxurious 1000-1200 thread-count linens, plush down pillows and comforters, duvet covers, Egyptian cotton towels, and Soybu Robes.

In addition to our great gourmet breakfasts, we also provide snacks and soft drinks all day long, dessert in the evening, and a four hour complimentary happy hour with beer and wine!

Our Pikes Peak B&B is just forty minutes drive from Colorado Springs Airport, and a two hour drive from Denver International.

Pikes Peak Paradise is also the perfect place to get married, with Pikes Peak and the national forest as your backdrop. Our Pike’s Peak wedding venue can hold up to fifty people for your wedding day, and we are happy to help you customize your day to fit in your budget and your needs. Please call or email us for our Guest Guide, as well as more details and photos of the venue. Our facility charge includes table and chair set-up, table linens, and napkins, and dinner settings.

See the Pikes Peak Paradise B&B Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

South Central Colorado Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Black Walnut Point Inn – Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Tilghman, Maryland

Black Walnut Point Inn - Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Tilghman, Maryland

PRIVATE RETREAT ON TILGHMAN ISLAND

By any measure, Black Walnut Point on Maryland’s Tilghman Island is unique. A private gate and a half-mile drive through fifty seven acres of bird sanctuary leads you to a natural paradise and our six-acre island of lawn.

As the sun rises over the Choptank River and sets over the length of Chesapeake Bay, you’ll enjoy sea breezes, ocean waves and endless gorgeous water views.

Our property is chock-full of wildlife – a pair of nesting eagles, osprey and black ducks, migrating butterflies, water fowl and singing birds. You may even see dolphins, skates and schools of bluefish out on the bay. And the back dock, looking out over the cove, is the perfect place to watch the herons fish.

At night, our Maryland sky is full of stars, another surprise of nature, making Black Walnut Point a quiet, secret, peaceful place just an hour by car from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

See the Black Walnut Point Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Gay Fire Island, New York – wolfyy

gay fire island pines

Fire Island Pines is the gay playground of local New Yorkers. In recent years this small gay community has become a destination even international travelers are adding to their lists. The Pines and Cherry Grove are two neighboring hamlets which comprise the gay area of Fire Island. Popular for an enchanting village feel, expansive beaches and wild nightlife, you can always count on a fantastic getaway here.

A historic gay community, Fire Island Pines is known as one of America’s first gay neighborhoods. It was traditionally an enclave where the LGBT community could express themselves freely, away from mainstream NYC. Gay life certainly continues to thrive here today. Each summer weekend, droves of jubilant gay men arrive by ferry, excited to socialize, enjoy the beach and party all night.

Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove are so popular, that these remote towns even have their own gay clubs (yes, one each)! Glorious underwear parties and poolside gatherings are regular events in The Pines. Before the nightlife begins though, everyone gathers for drinks in the center of town at Low Tea.

Fire Island New York

Finding Fire Island Pines Rentals

Here in The Pines, quaint boardwalks connect large, beautifully designed summer homes. Many of these houses are enormous, easily containing 7-10 bedrooms. Additionally, Fire Island’s enormous popularity means booking a place to stay can be a little pricy. There’s a ton of demand and a fixed number of homes, so the sooner you can book something, the better price you’ll get.

Lastly, renting a place to stay in The Pines or Cherry Grove is done in an unconventional way since different groups of vacationers often share houses. There are special ways to find individual rooms or floors of a house, too. Not to worry, I can show you exactly how to go about it!

Full Fire Island Travel Guide on wolfyy

Gay Pines Resources