Travel blogs, travel photos and features about gay travel including LGBTQ travel tips & information, gay pride reports and photo essays
Gay travel can be an awkward topic for many, mostly because to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) is really to be a part of an incredibly diverse group of people. There are gay families who travel, solo gay travelers (like myself), solo lesbian travelers, ones who travel for gay pride or nightlife or honeymoons, those that take gay cruises or splurge on luxury holidays, and ones who rough it camping and backpacking in faraway places.
And just like every other type of traveler, we travel for our own personal reasons. Every aspect of what makes us unique also contributes to how, where, and why we travel. I travel because I love to travel, and I just happen to be gay.
That’s not to say I don’t also travel gay. Sometimes my sexuality also influences the how, why, and where I choose to visit a place. It’s usually to visit a specific LGBTQ event (such as a gay pride march or a queer music festival), but also as a way to explore traditionally gay hotspots (like Tel Aviv, New York City or Madrid).
But what does LGBTQ travel really mean?
It’s about safety, it’s about comfort, it’s about politics. But it’s also about gay-welcoming events, friendly accommodation, and having fun with travelers who share something similar with you.
The thing about gay travel is that really any destination can be gay — there are LGBTQ people in every city, country and place around the world. Some destinations, however, are much more gay-friendly and safer for LGBTQ tourists. Here are some of my favorite gay places. Click on the name to discover my travel stories and photos from each…
Tel Aviv • Berlin • Amsterdam • Stockholm • Copenhagen • London • Manchester • Toronto • Montreal • New York City • Chicago • Los Angeles • San Francisco • Dallas • Mexico City • Buenos Aires • Bangkok • Sydney • Melbourne
One of the most important aspects of LGBTQ travel is your safety. I trust the following sources for finding the latest LGBTQ news and stories — those that are relevant for gay travelers.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to Gay Travel Resources for LGBT Travelers
USA State Department • UK Foreign Office • Equaldex
PinkNews • Daily Xtra • NewNowNext • LGBTQ Buzz • Gay Star News • Autostraddle • Tagg Magazine • The Gay Almanac
Travels of Adam • Leave Your Daily Hell • Globetrotter Girls • Dopes on the Road • Indefinite Adventure • Fleeting High • LezBackpack • Gastro Gays • Dom On The Go • NOM NOM Boris • Out with Ryan • EuroTribe • Nomad Plans • Nomadic Boys • Adventurous Alexis • Minka Guides • The Globetrotter Guys • The Gay Globetrotter • MANCHIC • The HomoCulture • High Society Hobo • The Gay Traveler • The Wind Expedition • Happy Frog Travels • 2 Travel Dads • TwoBadTourists • My Normal Gay Life • Travel Sandal • Hospitality Hedonist • and many more…
LGBTQ Travelers
LGBTQ Expats
LGBTQ Travel Writers, Bloggers, YouTubers, & Influencers
LGBT News • Lizzy the Lezzy • LGBTQ@Facebook • George Takei
Monthly queer networking events take place in New York City, co-hosted by @travelsofadam. Learn more about Queer Travel Social here.
You’ll find plenty of gay hotel directories online, but I still find booking through the major networks such as Booking.com or Agoda.com to provide the best deals.
Here’s how I find a gay hotel: (1) Search/Google to find where the cool area, hipster neighborhood, or gay neighborhood (gayborhood) is located in a city I’m traveling to; (2) Then I look for hotels (or Airbnbs) in the same area using the map feature on HotelsCombined.com or Booking.com; (3) Sometimes I also Google for gay hotels in a city to see if there are any specifically gay hotels/resorts; (4) Then I’ll check the websites for each property to see what looks modern and cool; (5) Finally, I check recent hotel reviews, often directly in Google Maps; (6) Once I’m ready to make a booking, I go with one of the sites I trust the most: Booking.com, Agoda.com, or HotelsCombined.com.
I also regularly use Airbnb when looking for accommodation. There is a gay alternative to Airbnb, Misterbandb.com, but honestly I just prefer to use Airbnb. It’s more reputable, safer and I’ve still managed to find LGBT hosts.
For a discount on your first Airbnb booking, use my discount code by signing up here.
Follow @travelsofadam on Instagram for more gay travel tips, stories and photos — in real time!
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Check out my California road trip itinerary for my #GayRoadTrip through Southern California, from the gay nightlife of West Hollywood, down the Pacific Coast Highway, ending at San Diego Pride
Recommendations for NYC World Pride – A travel guide of tips and things to do, including the best LGBTQ-friendly hotels and other travel tips!
New Hope, PA (Bucks County) celebrates LGBTQ pride in May with a pride parade of local vendors & supporters
With a long history of LGBTQ equality, Amsterdam is one of the best gay cities with something for everyone. Use the gay Amsterdam travel guide here (including a recommended list of the best gay things to do in Amsterdam) for a fun & safe weekend in one of the most accepting cities.
Puerto Rico is one of the top LGBTQ travel destinations thanks to a warm and friendly local population and a lot of great gay bars, clubs, and activities year-round
The cool, hip Brooklyn borough of NYC is also one of the most queer places in NYC with something for everyone—no matter where you fit on the LGBTQ spectrum. Check out this guide to the best of LGBT Brooklyn bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels
To help you avoid some of the many dating mistakes I’ve made as a gay man, here’s an honest list of all the various gay dating & hookup apps that I’ve used – my personal experience and reviews of the best (and worst) gay apps.
A surprisingly cool city in the south of Holland, Eindhoven is a fun and friendly destination great for a weekend city break thanks to a culture for creativity and innovation
A celebration of equality and diversity, the LGBTQ culture of Paris was on full display during the 2018 Gay Games with rainbows, love, & equality.
Montreal’s annual pride festival is one of the world’s most popular. Check out these top highlights and photos from the 2018 Montreal Pride
