Identities

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

Lesbian Stockholm – Our Taste for Life

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Lesbian Stockholm - Our Taste for Life

Stockholm, aka the lesbian capital of Scandinavia, is one of the most open-minded, liberal, and hip cities we have ever visited. I mean, gender-neutral bathrooms and shops nearly everywhere, how great is that?! But lesbian Stockholm isn’t just a great city to visit to celebrate feminism and being queer, it’s also great to go to Stockholm if you like nature, music, fashion, and food. Our favorite thing: fika! If you haven’t heard about fika yet, stay tuned, we will explain all about later in this article. We will also tell you about the best (LGBTQ+) spots in Stockholm. And afterward, it’s time to pack your bags and go see lesbian Stockholm yourself!

Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden and is the most populous city in all of Scandinavia. Therefore you might think of Stockholm as a busy city, but we absolutely love the calm- and nature-side of it. Stockholm is set on 14 islands, that’s why you see water everywhere in Stockholm! Perfect for a romantic stroll along the waterside on a hot summer night (or any time, really). The Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren melt together in Stockholm, so there’s both fresh and saltwater in the city (separated by Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town).

LGBT Rights in Sweden

Swedes, in general, are very liberal people. It isn’t a surprise that their rights for LGBT people are one of the most progressive in Europe. Sweden is ranked as one of the most LGBT friendly countries in the world. And that’s something we notice during our visits. We feel welcome everywhere in Sweden and we can completely be ourselves. Nobody seems to care about seeing us, or our friend Barry and his boyfriend, walking hand in hand on the streets. Also, in both Stockholm and Malmö, we saw many gay couples walking hand in hand on the streets.

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

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

Rock Cottage Gardens B&B Inn – Gay Friendly Bed & Breakfast in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

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Rock Cottage Gardens B&B Inn

PRIVATE B&B COTTAGES IN EUREKA SPRINGS

Welcome to the Rock Cottage Gardens Bed and Breakfast Inn in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Our private property includes five Thomas Kincade-like, charming rock cottages and a small wedding chapel.

Our main house residence has a formal living room and dining room where our guests can gather.

Each of our guest cottages has a two person hot tub, and there’s dedicated off-street guest parking, surrounded by six beautiful garden areas and a fountain pond – a quiet, idyllic place where our guests can relax. We’re just an easy ten-minute walk to downtown Eureka Springs, where you’ll find some great boutique shopping, art galleries and fantastic local restaurants.

All of our cottages also include:

* Gas fireplaces
* AC & heating
* Queen beds
* Showers
* Cable TV
* WiFi internet access
* Mini-refrigerators
* High quality Egyptian sheets
* Luxurious bath towels, bath salts, and spa robes
* Glycerin soaps
* In-room coffee service
* Free water & soda daily.

The inn has been awarded the annual Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence every year since 2011, and The Talk of Town 5 star lodging awards. Our guests love the privacy of the cottages, the peacefulness of our gardens, the fantastic three-course breakfast and the convenient location close to downtown.

See the Rock Cottage Gardens B&B Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Eureka Springs Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Gay Siem Reap – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Siem Reap - The Nomadic Boys

Angkor Wat is the reason why most people visit Siem Reap. This ancient UNESCO listed religious complex dates back to the 1100s and is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world. It’s a massive circuit of really impressive temples in the middle of a jungle where nature has taken over. The Ta Prohm Temple is the most recognisable thanks to Angelina Jolie sashaying her way through it as that famous video game movie character back in 2001, earning it the nickname the “Tomb Raider Temple”.

Siem Reap is the base for visiting Angkor Wat. We stayed here for 1 week to allow us ample time to explore the magnificent temples as well as spend some time discovering the city and the gay hangouts. It’s super touristic, international with plenty of restaurants, hotels and even a small and fun gay scene based around the aptly named Pub Street.

In our gay travel guide to Siem Reap, we set out practical tips for LGBTQ travellers based on our experience, including the most gay friendly hotels to stay, bar/clubs to check out, inspiration for things to do including Angkor Wat, and more.

Siem Reap Gay Area

Siem Reap doesn’t have a defined gay neighborhood. Instead, the main gay hangouts and hotels are spaced out in and around the city centre. We always started our evening in the touristic area called “Pub Street” because this is where the best restaurants can be found (as well as all the souvenir shops and markets for us to top up our Lara Croft inspired outfits)… In terms of gay bars/clubs in Siem Reap, there are 3 to check out. The most central are Barcode and the Miss Wong Cocktail Bar both located in and around the Pub Street area. Further afield, around 15 minutes walk southeast from Pub Street is DreamBoys.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Cambodia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Crete – The Globetrotter Guys

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Gay Crete - The Globetrotter Guys

Crete was one of our first vacations as a gay couple and although there isn’t a huge gay scene in Crete we felt very welcome on this beautiful island and have returned since! Crete is the largest island in Greece offering everything from beautiful soft sand beaches, to rich historical sights, a thriving nightlife scene and mountains inland to explore by car.

During our trips we had no issues being gay in Crete and felt particularly comfortable around the touristy areas.

Gay Crete has thousands of visitors from all over the world every year and gay travel around Greece in general is very popular with the likes of Mykonos and Athens for example. In our Gay Crete Travel Guide we have put together the shortlist of the places we have stayed and visited, investigated what the gay scene is like and put together some unmissable trips for your visit!

Where to Stay in Gay Crete

We have been to Crete twice and being the largest island in Greece there are a lot of places to stay.

The first time we stayed in Hersonissos and the second time we split our time between Stalis and Malia. In both cases we made sure to explore as much of the island as possible.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Greece Travel Resources

Gay Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – wolfyy

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gay Puerto Vallarta

Mexico’s classic gay travel destination, Puerto Vallarta lures the LGBT community with ritzy beach clubs, budget-friendly hotels and animated gay nightlife. This small city is a frequent choice for Americans and Canadians, especially in winter.

Before visiting Puerto Vallarta, I never fully understood what specifically makes this destination so attractive to gay men. Gay friends and acquaintances of mine always raved about Puerto Vallarta. I quickly found out why.

Puerto Vallarta is so popular because the city is quite conducive to groups of gay travelers. The gay scene here is physically compact. This makes things super easy for friends to coordinate plans.

gay area in Puerto Vallarta

The Puerto Vallarta Gay Area

The Puerto Vallarta gay area starts in Zona Romántica and continues southward to the border of the Amapas neighborhood. Most of the gay-friendly establishments and nightlife is within the five or so city blocks from the waterfront.

I highly recommend staying in the Puerto Vallarta gay area. It’s convenient and you’ll never run out of things to do. Furthermore, meeting up with friends should be easier here since there are so many hotel and resort options in close proximity. You’ll have tons of options for restaurants, shopping, and beach clubs, all within a 5-minute walk.

There’s much more to know about gay PV, so continue to wolfyy’s Puerto Vallarta gay guide to find the best hotels, resorts, experiences, and gay nightlife venues. Plus, local travel tips!

Puerto Vallarta Gay Travel Guide on wolfyy

Gay Mexico Resources – Purple Roofs