#GayTravel Destinations for 2018

Palm Springs, CA, USA

Nestled beneath the dramatic San Jacinto Mountains, Palm Springs has been popular with LGBT travelers for decades. It’s home to dozens of gay-owned clothing-options resorts, friendly bars and lounges, hip restaurants, and stylish shops, and it’s also surrounded by spectacular natural scenery that’s perfect for hiking, wildlife watching and photography. Easy to reach by car or plane, it’s a perfect destination for a leisurely time in the sun. Within the last couple of years, some great mainstream (but very gay-friendly resorts) have surfaced and become popular with LGBT travelers, including the V Palm Springs, Arrive Palm Springs, and Ace Hotel, offering bars and restaurants on property. Of course, at mainstream properties, you’re going to have to keep your swimsuit on, so if you prefer tanning and swimming in your birthday suit instead, check into one of the many clothing optional gay resorts. While smaller in scale, these smaller properties create an intimate vibe, making it easy to meet new friends. Some offer relaxing full-service spas. For a list of notable Palm Springs gay resorts, visit the Desert Gay Tourism Guild (DGTG) at www.palmspringsgayinfo.com. Here you can get information on where to stay and play in the desert.

The dining scene in Palm Springs is diverse with many options… and the weather makes it a great place for outdoor dining. A few options include: Tropicale for eclectic and fun food with a great patio; Wangs for award winning Pan  Asian cuisine; the newly opened Alebrije for authentic fare from Mexico City; Eight4Nine offering upscale American in a chic and vibrant atmosphere; and Blackbook for great burgers and late night dining, just to name a few.

If you pull yourself away from cocktails poolside, make your way to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (pstramway.com), which carries passengers to the 8,516-foot tram station, offering access to miles of hiking trails in beautiful Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Stop for drinks or dinner at the Peaks Restaurant or more casual, cafeteria-style Pines Café in the tram station – the food is decent, but the views are the star. Bring your jacket, as the temperatures at the top are quite cooler than the desert floor. Or check out the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert – a unique zoo and botanical garden that specializes in the deserts of the world with a mission of conservation. Hike the gardens, feed a giraffe, and learn about the desert ecology. More at www.livingdesert.org.

And of course, what gay mecca would be complete without dancing and drinking the night away – again a vast array of establishments for the choosing, with something for every taste… Toucans Tiki Lounge in Uptown with its renowned Drag Shows; Chill Bar with a variety of entertainment, DJs and dancing throughout the week , Blackbook Bar, a gastropub in the heart of the action, Quadz for your sing-a-long show tunes, Stacy’s for a lively piano bar, Trunks and The Barracks a short hop away in Cathedral City, for great happy hours, beer busts, leather events and much more. Check out http://GEDmag.com and http://GoGayToday.com for more info on what’s happening and where to go in Gay Palm Springs.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is the gay capital of the Southern Hemisphere. The city has a vibrant gay nightlife, mainly concentrated on the famous “gay” street – Oxford Street. Here you will find many gay bars and clubs that will keep you drinking and dancing all night long, including hotspots like Stonewall Hotel, The Colombian and The Midnight Shift. Sydney is known for its famous beaches – Bondi and Manly and of course the sexy lifeguards. North Bondi is the place to be, with great swimming and it’s particularly popular with boys and boys who like boys.  For a little excursion, try Obelisk Beach – a favorite for the LGBT sun-lover. Located on the southern side of the National Park area of Middle Head, Obelisk is clothing optional, with some cruising at the bushes. For a more glamorous option, hire a catamaran to take you there and cruise around the harbor. And you cannot miss the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House – must stops for the view alone. For the ultimate experience, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge with an expert guide for amazing views and learn all about the iconic structure. Book your tour ahead of your trip at http://tours.gogaytoday.com and avoid the wait when you get there.

Paris, France

Paris is one of the biggest and most popular cities in Europe. And with good reason: incredible art (Musee d’Orsay, Louvre), contemporary design, fabulous shopping, famous monuments (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe), wining and dining, romantic little squares (Latin Quarter), impressive churches (Notre Dame, Madeleine) and majestic palaces (Versailles, Le Grand Palais).  Paris is not only attractive for romantic straight couples… gays will also fall in love with this city once they’ve experienced every inch of it.  Paris gay nightlife is vivid, lively and exciting. The main gay area is called Le Marais, in the 4th arrondissement between tourist hot spots Le Louvre and Place de la Bastille. Bars usually open at the beginning of the afternoon or around 5pm and close at 2am. Well-known bars in Le Marais include: Open Café (lot of tourists), RAIDD (with strippers in a shower), and Carré Bar (where you can have lunch/dinner too). Ready for a shopping experience? Wait in line at the flagship Louis Vuitton – the largest in the world! It is located at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, near the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, one of the most famous monuments in Paris. There are a plethora of great hotels within the City Center, all with their own charm and appeal. Want a view of the Eiffel Tower from your room? Check out the five star La Clef Tour Eiffel here: https://tinyurl.com/y8w99bnr.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta, the most popular gay destination in Mexico, combines the best  beaches, ocean and mountain vistas, beautiful sunsets, and handsome hombres, to create a truly memorable destination. There is no shortage of activities in Puerto Vallarta… whether you want to bike ride along the Cuale River, whale watch while the sun sets, sail on one of the many gay-day cruises or simply relax in one of the beach clubs along the bay, Puerto Vallarta has it all. In 1963, then a small fishing town, Puerto Vallarta burst upon the international jet-set-scene with the arrival of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, for the filming of the “Night of the Iguana”. Taylor’s influence still remains today. Her former home is now a stunning restaurant.  The first gay club opened in the early 90’s, and today the city provides a tolerant and gay-friendly environment, making it an attractive destination for gay tourists and one of our top picks. Zona Romantico (The Gay District) is home to more than 40 different gay bars, restaurants and clubs, all located  close to the beaches. Check out http://GEDmag.com for our top places to play, drink and dance. Take the famous Bar hopping tour of Puerto Vallarta. Meet new friends, get VIP access to all the bars and clubs and take in a meal or show. Book in advance at http://tours.gogaytoday.com as this one sells out fast!

San Francisco, CA, USA

One of the true gay capitals of the world! It’s home of the first openly gay elected official (Harvey Milk), and was the first City in the united States to legalize same sex marriage! With the main gay districts being the Castro and SOMA (South of Market) around Folsom Street.  The Castro is the largest of the gayborhoods in the USA, and one of the most prominent symbols of LGBT activism and events. For a big City, San Francisco is actually very compact at only 49 square miles, and offers excellent public transportation, from trains to trolleys to buses. While San Francisco’s weather is cooler than the rest of California, and it can get quite foggy and cold even in the summer, it’s just one more reason to cuddle up with someone and take in all the City has to offer. Many dining and drinking options in this diverse city – too many to list! A good start to your day is at Café Flore for your morning coffee or mimosa, and meeting and greeting the locals, in the heart of the Castro. Check out a movie or a show at the landmark Castro Theatre, built in 1922. Bar-hopping, drinking and dancing can be had until 2am. Visit the San Francisco BarTab at http://GEDmag.com for listing of bars and clubs.

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain

Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles is situated in the south of Gran Canaria and is known best for it’s beautiful (and cruisy) sand dunes and year round warm weather. The gay night life centers around the Yumbo Centre – a four level array of mostly gay restaurants, bars, clubs, and some shops. After the beach, and dinner at 11pm (this is a Spanish island after-all), the boys hit the Yumbo for drinks and dancing, drag queen entertainment, dark rooms and more, with the clubs going until very late or very early depending on how you look at it.  The annual Maspalomas Pride 10-day festival is scheduled for May 3rd-13th, featuring international artists, huge parade with over 100,000 participants, boat excursions, pool parties and more, with many activities taking place at the Yumbo Centre. A hot hotel is the AxelBeach Maspalomas – a world-renowned, gay-popular Axel brand property just a few minutes’ walk from the Yumbo Center and about a mile from the beach. Visit http://travel.gogaytoday.com for the best rate on this and other Maspalomas area hotels.

Seattle, WA, USA

Seattle is a welcoming city that is safe and friendly to all. Just east of downtown, the Capitol Hill neighborhood has long been the city’s hub of LGBT activity, with rainbow-painted crosswalks and many ways to dive into the scene. The eclectic neighborhood has chic eateries and artisan shops, and no trip to Capitol Hill is complete without thumbing through the jam-packed cedar shelves at Elliott Bay Book Company, a staple since 1973. After dark, the Capitol Hill bars come alive with go-go dancers, karaoke and dancing into the night.

Aside from Capitol Hill, there are gay-friendly and gay-owned establishments just about everywhere in Seattle. Summer features two annual Pride festivals, while the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus are the largest LGBTQ-identified men’s and women’s choruses in the world.

Be sure to visit Pike Place Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country and one of Seattle’s most popular draws. With its farm-fresh produce, butcher-paper clad bouquets, abundance of shops, restaurants, and bars—not to mention some of the best people-watching in the city, you will enjoy passing time here. Snap a photo with Rachel, the bronze pig that serves as the market’s mascot. And you can visit the very first Starbucks as well.

The icon of Seattle is the Space Needle built for the 1962 World’s Fair. With its free telescopes you can zoom into downtown and on a clear day you can get great views of Mt. Rainier, the tallest mountain in the state of Washington. A short walk from the Space Needle is Chihuly Garden and Glass, with eight galleries that offer a comprehensive collection of the artwork of Dale Chihuly. A unique spot.

Atlantis Cruises

Not sure where to go? How about going to several places with only unpacking once? A gay cruise may be just the thing.  With destinations around the globe, large themed parties on deck, thousands of guys of all types and ages, and dazzling entertainment,  there are plenty of things to keep you entertained! Atlantis is the largest brand in gay cruises, with RSVP on the scene with different itineraries and a different experience. For 2018, Atlantis offers cruises in the Caribbean (departing from San Juan), the Mediterranean (Rome to Barcelona and the Greek Islands), and Mexico sailing to Puerto Vallarta (departing from San Diego). The great thing about any gay cruise is the variety, and being able to participate in as much, or as little, as you want. On a gay cruise, the parties and people make the unique difference. Every day brings new adventure – themed dance parties (military party, white party, 70s party), tea dances, cabaret shows, fun excursions, exercise classes, wine tasting, and more – literally something for everyone. You can stay up and party all night long or go early to bed to do a tour in the morning!  In general the ships have a mixed (ages and types) crowd of thousands on board. So go and enjoy, meet friends, have fun and see the world. You can get more info at http://atlantisevents.com.