Posts tagged vacations
Ecuador And Gay Trip Deals
Mar 15th
Posted by Howie Holben in Fitness
Although a small country, Ecuador boasts a wide array of geographic and cultural diversity, including a variety of indigenous groups with distinctive cultures and languages. From snow-capped volcanoes and rainforests to tropical shorelines, Ecuador has varying landscapes and climates, making it wonderful for gay tours or exciting adventures a great idea any time of the year.
Perhaps best known for the Galapagos Islands, the mainland is also home to many attractions and sightseeing opportunities that make gay tours to Ecuador well worth the trip. Whether you are in search of a spiritual retreat, an outdoors adventure or gay travel that includes getting to know the LGBT community in Quito, exploring the rainforest and lounging on the beach, you are sure to discover the many reasons that Ecuador is such a popular travel destination year after year as soon as you step off the plane.
Quito is the main city where you will find an LGBT community, particularly in the bohemian neighborhood of La Mariscal. This is where the Quito Pride celebration is held each June and is home to the various community nightspots, cafs and friendly establishments that Quito has on offer. As for nightlife, La Mariscal is the place to party on Friday and Saturday nights, but is also a wonderful afternoon hangout any day of the week.
Quito sits at 9,200 feet above sea level against the backdrop of the 13,000-foot Pichincha volcano. The historic district is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and the streets throughout several neighborhoods are lined with art galleries, shops and quaint cafs. There are several major cultural attractions that may be of interest to those on gay vacations to Ecuador, including the Museo de la Ciudad, the Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, the Capilla del Hombre Guayasamin and the Parque el Ejido, where visitors will find an open-air market filled with local handicrafts.
Since the late 1990s, legal rights have expanded in Ecuador with protections that make gay vacations to this beautiful country safer and more enjoyable. However, discretion in public is still a good idea in many places, particularly due to the high level of machismo the still permeates the culture. Those who are considering gay vacations to Ecuador may want to take advantage of pre-arranged gay tours, which allow for a higher level of security and a focus on fun, while travel professionals manage logistical aspects of the voyage and ensure that you will not miss out on some of the most appealing cultural, historic and natural attractions that Ecuador has to offer.
This allows you to more fully enjoy your excursion with minimal worries and to explore this diverse country with like-minded travelers.
Commentary about Ecuador created by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys presents gay travel ideas and has a gay travel guide.
Gay Vacation Deals To Ireland
Mar 14th
Posted by Howie Holben in Fitness
Ireland has been good for gay vacations at least since the time of Oscar Wilde, although in those days it was not necessarily a friendly country for the LGBT community. Like Wilde, many people were jailed or sent away for hard labor for what was legally termed "indecency" and, until 1861, acts of sodomy were even punishable by death, but Ireland has come a long way since these dark days, decriminalizing same-sex sexual behavior in 1993 and legalizing civil unions in 2009.
While this may not necessarily mean that every rural village - or even every metropolitan area - in this largely Catholic country now fully embraces same-sex relationships, Ireland has become a much more accepting, welcoming country as a whole and is a truly remarkable choice for gay travel. Most of Ireland's larger cities, including Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford, now have a thriving community, establishments that are LGBT-friendly or LGBT-owned, annual community celebrations and a plethora of attractions that could easily fill your whole vacation; however, you also will not want to miss visiting the Irish countryside and exploring quaint villages sitting at the top of breathtaking cliffs along the coast.
While several larger cities now have annual community celebrations, pubs and clubs, community organizations and a visible LGBT scene, Dublin is unquestionably the center of LGBT life in Ireland and should be part of any gay travel plans to this country. Dublin nightlife offers both a casual pub scene and an upscale club scene complete with dress codes, which allows those on gay vacations to experience two very different aspects of local LGBT life. There are also a number of community festivals that take place throughout the year, including the Dublin International LGBTQ Pride Festival in June, the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in July and the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May.
There is always something going on in Dublin, on either a small or large scale, so it is a good idea to pick up a copy of GNC, Ireland's main community magazine, when you arrive in town. There are many must-see attractions when partaking in gay travel in Dublin, including the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Book of Kells, the Oscar Wilde House Museum and Dublin's quintessential LGBT bar, The George.
Folks planning gay tours should consider partaking in group gay tours to ensure that they do not miss out on the plethora of historical, cultural and natural attractions that this intriguing, romantic nation has to offer.
Piece by Howie Holben for Ireland gay tours and gay vacations for singles.
Gay Holiday Packages To Bali
Feb 27th
Posted by Howie Holben in Fitness
Travelers in search of Bali gay vacations will not be disappointed in this destination that offers a variety of historical, spiritual and cultural sites, welcoming residents and a plethora of things to see and do, should consider Bali for their next vacation.
Participating in gay tours or solo gay vacations to Bali allows LGBT travelers to experience all that Bali has to offer, including temples, pristine beaches, beautiful rice fields, excellent cuisine, volcanoes, world-class shopping and even LGBT scenes in some major cities. From upscale hotels and trendy boutiques, to rural villages with old-world buildings and artisan handicrafts, Bali is an intriguing, diverse island nation just waiting to be explored.
Seminyak, Legian and Kuta have a good selection of bars, clubs, restaurants and spas from which to choose, offering plenty of nighttime entertainment for LGBT travelers in search of a night on the town. There are several clubs that offer drag shows, the most popular being the Hulu Caf in Legian where internationally-known drag performers take to the stage six nights per week.
When on gay vacations to Bali, travelers also often indulge in a day at at least one of Bali's popular garden or beachfront spa and eatery establishments. The two most visited options are Bonita's and Callego Caf & Spa, each of which is located in Seminyak and offers drinks, food, spa services and massage.
Callego Caf & Spa is a well-known community hangout and is located directly on Petitenget Beach, which is also popular with the community. A cruisy wooded area is located nearby, as is La Lucciola, an Italian restaurant that offers a bit more upscale dining experience with fabulous ocean views and an all-male staff.
Folks choose Bali as a gay travel destination for a number of reasons, the most common being to partake in a spiritual journey or to experience the community while exploring this beautiful Indonesian country. Regardless of your overall goals for your trip, one of the best ways to ensure an excellent travel experience is to partake in gay tours to Bali.
By taking part in a well-organized gay tours, you will be able to focus on your overall goals or intention for the trip, ensure that you do not miss out on some of Bali's most important historical and cultural sites - as well as hidden treasures, and avoid dealing with having to plan the logistical aspects of your vacation. Bali tours organized by travel professionals with experience organizing gay vacation are the best way to take in all that Bali has to offer, make new friends and create lifelong memories.
The author, Howie Holben, has traveled the world for over 30 years. He owns and runs Spirit Journeys, a spiritually based gay travel group. Spirit Journeys has offered gay Bali holidays and gay holidays in Bali since 1992.
