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Lesbian Mexico, the Ultimate Guide – Once Upon a Journey

April 24, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Mexico is a big country and has so much to offer. Stunning beaches, (active) volcanos, mountains, incredible sea life, cenotes, Mayan ruins, waterfalls, cute magic towns and much more. It isn’t strange Mexico is a popular destination for tourists, it has something for everyone!

In this ultimate travel guide to lesbian Mexico, we will tell you everything about where to go, practical Mexico information and also very important: about safety and LGBT rights in Mexico. As Mexico is such a big country, you will notice differences within the country. Some areas are more conservative than others. Though luckily there are many places in Mexico known for being very gay-friendly, like the gay beach capital Puerto Vallarta. Below, we will tell you all about where you should go for your lesbian vacation in Mexico.

Why should you trust our information? We have traveled for over 6 months in total as a lesbian couple in Mexico and met queer locals nearly everywhere we went. Mexico is easily one of our favorite countries in the world. It’s such a diverse country with welcoming and passionate people. We love the ‘mi casa es tu casa‘ concept of Mexico and it’s easy to meet people everywhere. We are in love with this beautiful country and hope you will be too!

Lesbian Mexico – Where to Go?

No matter if you are looking for a relaxing holiday on the beach, an adventurous vacation, a cultural or city trip, it’s all possible in Mexico. And we will tell you the perfect spot for every type of holiday!

By Maartje and Roxanne – Full Story at Once Upon a Journey

Mexico Lesbian Travel Resources

Gay Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Nomadic Boys

April 24, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

“Colombo, the bustling capital city of Sri Lanka, is gritty, crowded but super charming.”

It has all the colourful quirks you’d find in India but with a more calming atmosphere. We felt like we were receiving a spiritual cleansing just by walking down the streets!

Colombo is bursting with Buddhist temples, markets and smiling Sri Lankan faces. Every corner is steeped in history and culture. We found ourselves torn over what activity to tackle next, what to see, what story to unravel, who to speak to, where to eat. It never gets dull for a moment!

As tourists with passing interests in history, it more than satisfied our needs. Everything from the museums to the many temples helped unravel the story of this great nation. As gay travellers, we still felt relatively comfortable to be ourselves (more about this below!) and find sparks of queerness in the city tapestry. Whether it be in the fabulous display of masks and costumes we found in the museums or the underground gay scene where we found our fellow brothers and sisters of the gay community.

We’ve put together this guide to Colombo for you to check out all the tips and tricks of exploring the city as an LGBTQ traveller. We also recommend you check out our gay guide to Sri Lanka alongside this guide if you’re exploring more of the country.

Is Colombo safe for gay travellers?

While homosexuality is still illegal in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans are very welcoming people and super curious towards foreigners whether straight or gay. We never felt in any danger for being gay, nor ever experienced any homophobia. Put it this way, we never thought twice about booking a double bed anywhere in Sri Lanka. In fact, there is even a growing number of hotels targeting gay travellers in nearby Negombo.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Sri Lanka Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Travel: Bali’s Black Sand Beaches – Our Taste for Life

April 22, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Bali’s black sand beaches are just one of the reasons why the island is so unique. You can hop from a white sand beach to a golden sand beach, then onto a black sand beach in the space of just one day. We fell in love with the black sand beaches in Bali and wrote this article to help you locate the best of them. We’ll also include an explanation as to why there are black sand beaches in Bali, and what you can expect from each one of them!

When you think of Bali’s beaches, it’s easy to imagine the pristine white sand and azure waters that adorn the pages of every Bali guidebook. Of course, these beaches are part and parcel of the Bali experience. But what makes Bali so extraordinary, are all the other quirks in between. Tremendous volcanoes, steaming jungles, lush rice terraces, majestic waterfalls, and of course, black sand beaches.

If you’ve never visited a black sand beach before, Bali is the place to do it. Easily accessible from the major tourist hubs, and generally far quieter than the white sand beaches, we consider them to be an essential addition to your Bali itinerary.

So let’s get to it, here is a list of the best black sand beaches in Bali.

1. Amed Beach

Amed Beach is the beach that runs adjacent to the main strip in town. Here you will find a selection of beach bars and restaurants, along with a great view of Agung; however, there aren’t any snorkelling opportunities. It’s also quite a polluted beach as it’s where the fishermen park their boats. Nevertheless, it’s a sweet spot for a sunset stroll.

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

Bali Lesbian Travel Resources

Gay Taipei – The Nomadic Boys

April 22, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

When we heard that Hung is a common Taiwanese surname, we knew that this was a country worth visiting!

The capital city of Taipei threw us for a fabulously gay loop. We had heard that it was, by Asian standards, a liberal and tolerant place, but we had no idea just how much the city loves its gay. Within minutes of descending onto the gay scene, we were doused in glitter and dancing under disco lights to the likes of Cher and Dolly Parton. The gay scene in Ximen is damn impressive! There’s an entire area around the Red House with tons of gay bars to check out.

The city of Taipei is also full of rich culture, from the ancient temples that dot the city skyline, to the stunning architecture of tower blocks like the famous Taipei 101. In this gay guide to Taipei, we’ve put together our experience from this incredible city, including our favourite gay bars (there are loads!), clubs, gay hotels, events, things to do, and loads more!

How friendly is Gay Taipei?

Very gay friendly! We rate Taiwan as not only the most gay friendly place in Asia, but one of the most gay friendly places in the world. Unlike the rest of Asia, Taiwan is miles ahead of everyone with its LGBTQ rights: in 2019 it was the first (and to date, only!) country in Asia to legalise gay marriage. Taiwan is a beacon of hope for LGBTQ rights in Asia that we hope the rest of the continent will follow asap!

Part of the reason why Taiwan is so far ahead of its neighbours is due to the era of Marshal Law, which occurred between 1949-1987. Known as the White Terror, it saw the Taiwanese experience many restrictions in their freedom of expression with around 200,000 people imprisoned or killed. So, when this tragic period ended, the Taiwanese were eager to push for change and embrace democracy, which they’ve been doing so beautifully ever since!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Rome – The Globetrotter Guys

April 17, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Rome is iconic, bustling, shrouded in history with grand monuments, has incredible food and interestingly, has a long standing history when it comes to homosexuality… It’s quite apt that our first visit to Rome was during Rome Gay Pride!

As a gay traveller coming to Rome, it has a fair amount to offer, perhaps not as much as other large cities, but it is sure to keep you entertained nevertheless. We spent a week in ‘gay Rome’ investigating the gay bars, upcoming events, the best things to do, top travel tips, where to eat and everything in-between to put together our Travel Guide to Gay Rome. We hope you enjoy.

Let’s get started…

Is Rome Gay Friendly?

Italy as a whole is considered to be gay friendly with an increasingly liberal attitude from the public. Of course, there are differences throughout the country and typically you will find that the more touristy an area, the more accepting they are.

It is fair to say that as a touristic and bustling city, we found Rome to be very gay friendly indeed. We encountered no problems whatsoever and during our visit experienced Rome gay pride which was well received and widely celebrated!

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globetrotter Guys

Rome Gay Travel Resources

Gay Friendly Philippines – Nomadic Boys

April 17, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We absolutely fell in love with the gay friendly Philippines. It was the big surprise from our big trip around Asia. Most travellers backpacking around Asia also told us the same thing – they came to the Philippines with low expectations but ended up leaving completely besotted with the place!

The Philippines has 7,641 islands of which only 2,000 are inhabited. That’s a shed load of tropical beaches to discover. The country also straddles the Coral Triangle, which makes it a paradise for underwater adventurers – we had some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving experiences here, particularly in the waters around Palawan.

And, it’s super gay friendly! We rate the Philippines as one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia. Whilst it has a long way to go with its LGBTQ laws (as does almost every country in Asia), this was one of the rare countries in Asia where we felt super welcome as a gay couple.

We put this down to the Filipinos. They are extremely friendly, warm and fun-loving people – the “Filipino hospitality” is a thing which they highly value.

We were fortunate to make many LGBTQ Filipino friends during our travels, both in the gay friendly Philippines and elsewhere. We reached out to them to give us their opinion on why they think the Philippines is so gay friendly and awesome! We specifically asked each of them to answer these 2 questions and have printed their answers below.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Philippines Gay Travel Resources

Arizona Sunburst Inn – Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in Phoenix, Arizona

April 16, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

ARIZONA SUNBURST INN – A GAY OASIS IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN

Arizona Sunburst Inn Bed and Breakfast offers a private desert oasis in the middle of Phoenix – it’s like you’re out in the countryside.

Our Phoenix B&B features a welcoming, heated pool in a tropical setting – surrounded by magnificent palm trees. The grounds have wide, shady patios cooled by a mist system, and there’s also a hot tub where you can let the cares of the day evaporate away.

For the adventurous and outdoor lovers, there’s some great mountain hiking just a couple blocks away.

Each of our guestrooms is individually decorated, and includes beautifully remodelled bathrooms.

Arizona Sunburst Inn Bed & Breakfast is in one of Phoenix’s best neighborhoods, and is a great place to stay.

See the Arizona Sunburst Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Lesbian Mykonos, A Love Affair – Go Girlfriend

April 13, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

One of the more popular of the Greek islands, Mykonos – part of the Cyclades cluster of islands – has the reputation of a party island and a favorite stop for the jet set celebrities and yachts of the wealthy. A stop on many cruise itineraries, most tourist visits focus is on Mykonos Town (the largest town on the island), varied beach tours and tours to the historically significant local island of Delos. While rocky and scrubby in appearance, the flavour and mood of the island complements this stark mountainous beauty. This happening island has a vibe likened to Ibiza meets St. Tropez – serious fun!

It seems all roads lead to the center of the island and flare out from there in all directions. North is the windy side and famous for windsurfing opportunities unparalleled in the Mediterranean. South hosts the beautiful leeward beaches and home to the great resorts and party zones. West hosts the capital Mykonos Town, Agios Ioannis (of Shirley Valentine fame) and the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Island of Delos. The Eastern portion of the island is, as yet, an untapped beauty.

Celebrate the Flavor of Mykonos

Mykonos Town – White-washed buildings and shops frame the shoreline, making this a picturesque maze of delightfully refreshing shops, diverse and sumptuous restaurants, vibrant sunsets and historic 16th century windmills. Built in a maze-like mash-up it’s said the intent was to confound looting and thieving pirates, confusing them and discouraging attacks – this is not your designer shopping district like major cities. Mykonos Town is very busy on cruise days, it’s restaurants most busy along the waterside towards sunset. After dark, the bars and clubs crank up their thumping party vibes, keeping this town hopping from early til late. A definite highlight to your Mykonos visit that will not disappoint.

Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Greece Gay Travel Resources

Gay Montevideo – The Nomadic Boys

April 13, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

“Guys it’s true, trust me: 98% of guys in Montevideo are either gay or bisexual!”

…so claimed our Uruguayan friend, Rodrigo, when we were chatting with them in Chains Pub about what gay life is like in Montevideo. Whether or not our friend is right, one thing’s for certain: the guys here are smoking hot!

Montevideo is often described as a “sleepy South America city“ – slow-paced, old fashioned, and nostalgia-tinged. Sleepy or not, we had a ball exploring the gay scene of Montevideo, its cutesy old town and the impressive coastline avenue, the Malecon.

And the bit about 98% of men here allegedly being homosexually inclined in some way? Well whether it’s true or not, this simply speaks volumes about how liberal, open-minded and chilled Montevideo is.

We’ve put together our experiences of Montevideo in this detailed gay guide to inspire your trip to include the best gay hotels, bars, clubs, events, things to do and more.

Is Montevideo safe for gay travellers?

Definitely! Montevideo is frequently rated as one of the most gay friendly cities in the world and based on our personal experience, we certainly rate Uruguay as one of the most gay friendly countries in the world.

To start with, Uruguay has a history of being extremely progressive, lenient and open-minded. It legalised abortions in 2012, established a welfare state all the way back in 1903 and legalised marijuana consumption in 2013. With regards to LGBTQ rights in Uruguay, they have long been secured and respected. For example, homosexuality was decriminalised as far back as 1934, anti-discrimination laws have been in place since 2003, adoption laws since 2009 and gay marriage implemented in 2013.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Uruguay Gay Travel Resources

Borobudur Temple: World’s Largest Buddhist Temple – Keep Calm and Wander

April 9, 2020 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Borobudur Temple is the world’s largest Buddhist Temple. Judging from its massive size, artistry, handiwork, and significance, this temple deserves a UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Take a tour – that’s what I did. The van driver picked me up at 4:00 in the morning and we picked up four more passengers. It was an 11-seater van so it was not crowded at all. We slept all throughout an hour journey. By the time we arrived, some tourists were already ahead of us – in a busload!

Another way to go there is by getting a private car/driver. You can always flag down a taxi and negotiate with them. My hostel told me that IDR500,000 ($37) is a fair price. Take this option if there are 3 or 4 of you in a car.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources