Nomadic Boys

Gay Egypt: Safe for LGBTQ+ Travelers? – The Nomadic Boys

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The Nomadic Boys at the Giza Pyramids in gay Egypt

Is it Safe to Visit Gay Egypt?

For years we’ve both wanted to visit the pyramids of Giza and immerse ourselves in the remnants of what was once an incredible Kingdom.

For Seby in particular, visiting gay Egypt has always been a lifelong ambition. Since he was a little boy he’s been obsessed with Ancient Egypt, carrying an Ankh (the hieroglyphic symbol for ‘life’) in his wallet to watch over him. He’s even decorated his entire left arm and torso with beautiful intricate tattoos of Ancient Egyptian symbols.

However, Egypt is not the most welcoming destination for gay travelers by a long shot. Whilst they don’t have an explicit anti-gay law in place, the government and local police find other ways to target and harass the local LGBTQ community even using Grindr to target/arrest gay guys…yes really!

Following our experience traveling as a gay couple in Egypt, we can confidently say it’s actually fine…BUT!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Egypt Gay Travel Resources

The Varosi Ghost Town in Cyprus – Nomadic Boys

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Varosi Ghost Town - The Nomadic Boys

Visiting the Varosi Ghost Town in Cyprus

“That would have been my home if things turned out differently”.

Staring at the dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the Varosi ghost town of Famagusta in Northern Cyprus, my uncle points at a specific block of apartments set right on the beachfront (cordoned off by the Turkish military) and told me it belonged to my family.

In an alternative reality, this would have been where I would have grown up.

Every time I see the famed ghost town in Northern Cyprus I always wonder, “What if the Turkish invasion had worked out differently and I grew up herea as a gay man on the Famagusta beachfront instead of suburbia North London?”

In the summer of 1974, Turkish troops invaded Northern Cyprus and displaced 170,000 Greek Cypriots, which included all of my family. Most displaced Greek Cypriots either moved to Southern Cyprus or to the UK (Cyprus was a former British colony). My family was part of the large influx of Greek Cypriot refugees that fled to London.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Cyprus Gay Travel Resources

Gay Bangkok for First Timers – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Bangkok for First Timers - The Nomadic Boys

Our guide to gay Bangkok 2023 has all the information you need including the best gay hotels to stay, gay bars, where to play and practical safety tips.

Gay Bangkok Guide for First Time Visitors

“OMG Stefan, we almost hit that car…I can’t…I’m going to keep my eyes firmly closed! Just let me know when we’ve arrived safely at Stranger Bar while I pray to the gay gods for safe passage…”

Nothing beats the rush of adrenaline as we whizzed through the CRAZY traffic jams of Bangkok hanging on for dear life inside a cutesy tuk-tuk with its driver smiling at these two hysterical giggling foreigners in the back…

We both love it – the feeling of the humid, almost putrid air hitting your face as you swerve from one end of the street to the other, car horns manically beeping at each other.

We’ll be frank, Bangkok is by no means a pretty city. Our initial reaction on our first visit was: what a hot mess! It’s polluted, it’s dirty, rats compete for space on the busy pavements, the traffic is mad, and concrete blocks line the streets as far as your eyes can see.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Thailand Gay Travel Resources

Hanging Out in Gay Albania – The Nomadic Boys

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Hanging Out in Gay Albania - The Nomadic Boys

The Best Things to See and Do in Gay Albania

Albania. One of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Though something tells us this is about to change…

With a landscape filled with white sand beaches, fairytale-like castles, and a history that is as fiery as a Real Housewives reunion, is it any wonder gay Albania is fast becoming a must-visit for LGBTQ+ travelers? It’s a wonderful mix of the modern world, with a super chic capital city full of hip bars and clubs, as well as a natural landscape that rivals the French Riviera.

Albanian society may not be as liberal as their neighbors in Greece, but it’s by no means as rigid as places like Serbia or Russia (although that ain’t a tall order…).

Tirana, the capital, hosts an annual Pride event featuring activities throughout the city and a massive parade. However, there are no official gay bars or clubs in Tirana. That being said, there have been major strides toward acceptance in recent years, especially after the country overthrew communist rule in the early 1990s. We found most Albanians we met to be very friendly, and eager to make us feel welcome as a queer couple, particularly the younger generations.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Life in Italy – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Life in Italy - Marco from Puglia - The Nomadic Boys

Marco From Puglia on Gay Life in Italy

Whenever we come to Italy, our gaydar is always in a state of flummox! Every other guy here is ripped to perfection and dressed immaculately. Personal space isn’t an issue with Italians – it’s easy to misconstrue innocent friendly warm gestures. Not that we’re complaining!

We always welcome a trip to the bel paese. We love it and always leave wanting to return – from our first year anniversary in Venice, our gay road trip in Puglia, the glorious Amalfi coast, exploring historical Rome, and partying in the exciting gay scene of Milan. The Italian cities and countryside simply tick every box.

But, when it comes to LGBTQ rights here, it is lagging behind its West European neighbors. For example, Italy has not yet introduced LGBTQ+ equality (although civil unions were introduced in 2016) and anti-discrimination laws have not been applied nationwide. This is not to say that this beautiful country is in any way a dangerous place for queer travelers – quite the contrary! This place offers so much for LGBTQ travelers and welcomes them with open arms. So what is gay life in Italy really like?

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Italy Gay Travel Resources

Gay Athens – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Athens - The Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay Athens With the Nomadic Boys

Gay Athens. It’s iconic. It’s dirty. It’s spectacular. It’s hectic. It’s dazzling. It’s unforgettable!

This huge sprawling mess of a city shouldn’t impress. It’s dirty, rundown, gritty – particularly if you’re staying in one of the neighborhoods just outside the center like Psiri or Metaxourgeio (and don’t even get us started on Omonia!). But what Athens lacks in clean streets, it sure makes up for in character. Every day in the Greek capital was like a new adventure for us. It got under our skin so much that we return to it time and time again for more.

That’s right, you better call the Acro-polis, ’cause the Nomadic Boys are in town!

Athens oozes culture with ancient monuments and world wonders (hello Parthenon!) whilst at the same time, it has a vibrant gay scene in the Gazi neighborhood, with a party happening every night of the week. Athenians are night owls, and like the Spanish, they like to eat late and then go out partying till the early hours. We also love getting lost in the village-like Plaka area, shopping in the souvenir shops of Monastiraki, and reminiscing over a romantic cocktail at a rooftop bar facing the Acropolis. Not once did we get bored in Athens. And neither will you!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Athens Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Gay London – The Nomadic Boys

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Visiting Gay London - The Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay London

Gay London. The greatest city in the world. One of the most exciting places to live in with THE best gay scene you’ll ever come across. FACT! Of course, we’re totally biased! London was our home for decades and the place where we met – back in February 2009 in the bar in Soho…

But setting aside our biases, this is truly a terrific city. It’s so eclectic, home to many different people from everywhere in the world. There is always something to do here at any time of the day. The museums are grand, iconic, and are nearly all free to enter. All of the world’s best musicals feature on the West End and cost a fraction of the price of a show on Broadway.

And then there’s the gay scene. It’s massive! Yes, we see more and more businesses close shop due to gentrification, but the city still retains its pink shine, with an abundance of queer hangouts spread out all over this mega city.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

London Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Gay Jordan – The Nomadic Boys

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Visiting Gay Jordan - The Nomadic Boys

You’ll never run out of things to do whilst visiting gay Jordan – it’s a gorgeous country. Your visit may come to an end, but you’ll never be JorDone!

We loved the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan! It’s such a rewarding place to visit offering a rich mix of experiences – whiz between the sand dunes of Wadi Rum, float along the surface of the Dead Sea, relish in all things pink by visiting Petra, aka The Pink City, and swim through the Red Sea feeling your Little Mermaid fantasy.

We’d go back to gay Jordan in a heartbeat!

The only downside is that this is an Arab country in the Middle East – a place sadly renowned for its awful LGBTQ rights. Thankfully, it

s one of the more gay friendly Arab countries but still a place you need to be careful of as an LGBTQ traveler. We set out for you all our safety tips along with the rest of our firsthand experiences from our travels in here as a gay couple.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Jordan Gay Travel Resources

The Nomadic Boys Do Maspalomas Pride

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Maspalomas Pride - Nomadic Boys

What’s big, wet, and sparkly? Nope, not us after a glitter fight. We’re talking about Maspalomas Pride in Gran Canaria. A cacophony of sound, color, lights, and queer joy! And perhaps an iconic LGBTQ celebrity or two… Conchita Wurst has been known to attend in the past.

Maspalomas Pride is one of the biggest and best gay events in Europe, with over 100,000 attendees flocking to the super gay bars of Gran Canaria each year.

Known as a gay hotspot, Gran Canaria is a Spanish island off the coast of West Africa, full of lavish hotels, epic beaches, dozens of gay clubs and bars, and year-round sunshine. Most of the gay events happen around the water, be it by the pool or on a boat, meaning Maspalomas Pride has more sea men than a bathhouse in gay Berlin!

Venues around the island host drag shows, run cheap drink deals, and themed nights, which only add to the fun. And who can forget the giant parade through the streets, which culminates at the lively Yumbo Centre, full of shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants? Maspalomas Pride is one of our favorite gay Pride events. It’s always a lot of fun – plenty of sun…and, if you’re lucky, the vitamins mightn’t be the only D you’ll catch…!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Canary Islands Gay Travel Resources

The Ultimate Gay Travel Packing List – The Nomadic Boys

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The Ultimate Gay Travel Packing List - The Nomadic Boys

What can we say, we love a big package!

Though not the kind we have to carry around an airport if ya catch our drift…

Trying to squeeze everything into such a tight space is tough (despite us having plenty of practice). We always struggle with separating the essentials from the vanity items.

The Gay Travel Packing List

Choosing what clothes to bring is always the easiest part. After all, gay men are notorious for their fabulous dress sense. So, when it comes to planning out our outfits (or lack thereof!) for a trip, we have no trouble. But we get so caught up in the excitement of what we’ll wear that we often forget some of the fundamental items – some quite painfully obvious! We made this gay travel packing list of all the vital items that we feel are imperative to remember and we thought we’d share it with you.

Having such a list will not only make your trip run a lot smoother, but it will also prevent any bickering with your travel partner/buddy when one of you forgets something important…

Hit us up if you think there’s anything essential you think we’ve left out!