Parting Shots: John Coe’s Spain

JRC_Ronda_2ManAboutWorld Global Correspondent John Coe’s life can be summed up as a photographic journey with images defining milestones and bringing life to the mundane. During childhood, his father, a talented photographer in his own right, instilled a passion for telling stories through visual imagery. Over the years, John has exhibited his images in over 25 photo exhibits. We spoke to him about his love of travel, and we selected his journey to Spain as this month’s Parting Shots in our magazine. Here’s the expanded story and more of his photos.

The photo above was taken by John Coe in Ronda, Spain: Beautiful Christian iconography is a common sight on most Spanish streets.

1. Why do you love to travel around Spain?

I love packing in as many new and different experiences as possible in a trip, and even within the cozy region of southern Spain, there is amazing variety from city to city. Toledo, Seville, Granada, Córdoba — these are cities that are an hour or so apart by train or car, and yet so delightfully different.

2. How far in advance do you plan your trips?

For two- to three-week trips, I find it handy to block calendars and book flights about three months in advance. Then I spend the next couple of months reading, getting excited, and planning the itinerary one city at a time. 3. Who do you travel with?

Continue reading “Parting Shots: John Coe’s Spain”

New York Pride Is Around The Corner

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June is a big month for Pride around the world but one of the biggest and best celebrations is right in New York. Let’s not forget it all started here back in June 1969, too, with the Stonewall Riots, which kicked off a global LGBT movement that keeps growing. ManAboutWorld’s soon-to-be-released May issue has an insider’s guide to NYC Pride as well as five others we think you’ll love. If you’re a subscriber stay tuned for a notification in your iPad or Android tablet. If you don’t subscribe, click here for a special all-access offer.

For a line up of NYC pride events, visit the Heritage of Pride website.

Photo credit.

Our Associate Editor Touches Down in Key West

keywestIt’s almost officially summer time and our associate editor Kenny Porpora landed in Key West to explore this beautiful gay mecca just 130 miles from the Miami coast. For the next few days, he’ll be exploring the island’s old town, famous for its charming Bohemian houses that line the main drag of Duval Street, and the off-the-beaten-path knick-knack shops, cafes, and gay bars that weave in and out, to report back some of the island’s best kept secrets.

ManAboutWorld covered Key West extensively in January 2013 and now we’re circling back to see what’s new and to find out who has the best Key Lime pie, which bar hosts the best cock contest, and who charters the best boat for a day of snorkeling in crystal blue water.

Two informative sites we like: Gay Key West and Keys Voices.

Welcome To Our Newest Correspondent: Scott Hillier

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Growing up in southwestern Missouri, Scott never imagined he would get to leave the state let alone have the opportunity to travel the world. He graduated from Yale University with a degree in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and sang with the Whiffenpoofs, the country’s oldest collegiate a cappella group. He has traveled to more than 30 countries as a singer, tour manager, and blogger. After his fifteen of minutes of fame were up, he settled in New York to join the East Coast tech scene.

Scott currently works at Google as part of the Glass operations team and spends his time eating, doing yoga, and running. He represents the unofficial amateur wing of MAW and admits that his only masthead credits were from time spent copyediting his college newspaper.

Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

DDTI: Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona

plazacataluynaPlaza Cataluyna in Barcelona resides in the center of town, and come August 6-17 it will be swarming with tens of thousands of gay boys from all around the world in town for the city’s famous circuit party. We’ll be covering circuit and much more in our upcoming May issue! Click here to subscribe to get all of our insider tips for circuit from the guys who plan it, organize it, and those who’ve experienced it first hand.

Photo credit 

DDTI: Daily Dose of Travel Inspiration

Travel Tip Thursday: Top 6 Tips for Maximizing Miles

12 months of travelBy Billy Kolber, ManAboutWorld

Back in college, I worked a United promotion to earn a free first class ticket to Hawaii by booking a transcon trip in six segments and 8,000 flown miles. The paid ticket cost me $306, a fraction of the value I earned from the trip, and it launched a lifetime addiction to the opium of free first class tickets and upgrades.  Today, frequent traveler points are a currency, and they’ve been devalued quickly, as cash-strapped travel companies try to reduce the cost of the loyalty those points were intended to create.

Devaluation takes place three ways:

1. Fewer “Saver” Seats Available

For years, frequent flyer programs promised “free ticket anywhere in the US for 25,000 miles.” But that redemption level quickly became a “saver” reward, with “standard” rewards pegged at 50,000 miles.  Of course, “saver” awards have become harder and harder to find. That’s a 50% devaluation right there.

2. Higher Redemption Levels

Airlines have kept that base 25,000 level constant, while business, first and international rewards have crept up.  International First class saver awards that might have been 120,000 miles five years ago, are more like 160,000 miles today. Standard awards – now 320,000.  That’s a 62.5% devaluation.

3. Lower Earning LevelsContinue reading “Travel Tip Thursday: Top 6 Tips for Maximizing Miles”

Unzip Your Rainbow-Colored Fanny Pack! Give Out Day Is May 15

10369232_10152489820144575_8838481732971911358_nThe 2nd annual give out day is tomorrow, Thursday, May 15. Read about it here. The IGLTA Foundation is participating. The Foundation’s mission* is “to use the power of LGBT travel to build bridges with communities worldwide. Those bridges, in turn, enable understanding, awareness and commerce to flourish in diverse communities around the globe.” ManAboutWorld is a proud supporter.

If you’re interested, please contribute any amount you are able to. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau announced a matching grant of $15,000 so your donation will be doubled! Thank you to the IGLTA Foundation for spearheading this. 

For more information and to donate click here.

*Learn more about the IGLTA Foundation‘s mission by clicking/tapping below.Continue reading “Unzip Your Rainbow-Colored Fanny Pack! Give Out Day Is May 15”

ManAboutWorld Global Correspondents Gather at IGLTA Madrid

IMG_9244Over a dozen ManAboutWorld correspondents attended the IGLTA’s 31st annual Convention, May 8-11. Here are eight of them from left to right, including their specialty, nationality and current city. What a worldly, hard-working, passionate group!

Just wait till IGLTA’s 32nd annual Convention in Los Angeles (April 9-12, 2015) where we will make an even bigger splash.

Good Morning, Bangkok

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It’s going to be a hectic few days for me as I traverse Thailand, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Phuket to Koh Phi Phi. Here’s a photo of the stunning view from the rooftop of the Sofitel So Bangkok hotel overlooking the verdurous treetops and epic skyline just beyond. If you have any Thailand photos or stories from your travels, send them along to kenny@manaboutworld.com. And look for our insider coverage of Thailand in an upcoming issue!

Five MenAboutWorld in Bangkok

maw-300x225Yes, FIVE of ManAboutWorld’s Global Correspondents came together from New York, Berlin, and beyond to meet up in Bangkok the other night to explore all that Thailand has to offer. If you’re not a subscriber, you can rectify that here to get our insider guide to Thailand – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Koh Phi Phi – in a soon-to-be-released issue. And check out the bios of all our impressive correspondents here.