The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author.
Proven expertise in the LGBTQ segment + LGBTQ Pavilion at the New York Travel & Adventure Show 2022
On a recent visit to Hawaii, I toured Oahu and Maui, checked out a range of resorts, got lei’d and returned with this brief report.
Click here to hear my recently recorded segment on the Aloha State with the fabulous folks at Toronto’s Proud FM with Mike Chalut and Acey Rowe:
Ding dong, DADT is dead! (And good riddance.)
The 4,000 members of OutServe, the association of actively-serving LGBT military personnel that launched on July 26, 2010, can now march out of the closet if they wish.
Many of them will converge on Las Vegas for their first post-“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” convention. The first annual OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 13-16, 2011 at New York-New York Hotel and Casino. his will be an exciting gathering. For all you actively serving military personnel, OutServe has announced that there are only a few spots left. So, register now.
A huge congratulations to our brothers and sisters serving (openly) in the military!
Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City invites LGBT travelers to “Come Out in AC” this coming weekend from Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25.
Activities include dining options, a pool party, “sexual chocolate body painting” (the mind reels with possibilities!), gay bingo, and a “hangover” brunch. We assume the hangover is not included but we also assume it’s not difficult for our travel segment to induce.
Details
Do good while bidding on 31 (and counting) gay travel packages from around the world. First class tickets on TAM — a $10,000 value now bidding at $2,000 — hotel nights, Mexican vacations, Brazilian adventures and many more vacation opportunities have been offered by leading gay-friendly companies from around the world to the IGLTA to raise much needed money for their advocacy relating to LGBT travelers.
Visit http://www.biddingforgood.com/IGLTA to see the many packages being offered.
What are you waiting for, start bidding!
Shedonism, a five-day gay women’s event, is set to take place in Las Vegas September 15-19.
This is a first-time event so you never know how it’ll turn out, but Alison Burgos is the organizer and she’s widely respected as talented party promoter. I’ve been to her lesbian White Party Miami which was fantastic. Check out her site: Pandora Events (beware: loud music plays so it may not be suitable for work).
Check out the site for a line up of events: Shedonism.
Look closely at the picture above: There are some nekkid boys in that pool!
With the unnaturally early — not to mention soggy — arrival of fall along the east coast, it’s time our thoughts turned to warm-weather getaways. The friendly folks at INNDulge are offering their WInter $99 Special: December and January (excluding holidays) from Sunday to Thursday and $129 Friday/Saturday.
More information: Info@INNdulge.com
I stumbled upon this exhibit while researching an article about the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic.
Hello sailor! Gay life on the ocean wave at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in gay-friendly Halifax Nova Scotia is
the first museum in North America to explore the lives of gay and lesbian mariners in this special exhibit. It combines an exhibit adapted from National Museums Liverpool (NML) in England with an exhibit created by the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The NML exhibit explores the unique subculture created by gay men working as stewards on British ocean liners from the 1950s to the 80s. The Canadian component compares that experience to the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex mariners in Canada up to the present day.
Vermont is open for business and this week, their first ever (LGBT) Northern Decadence event takes place this Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10.
The event is meant to “showcase Vermont’s beautiful scenery, delicious foods, and welcoming people,” according to the organizers, the Vermont Gay Travel Association. Highlights of the weekend include a boat cruise, a food festival, and a dance party. More details are available here: http://www.northerndecadence.com/schedule.html.
Vermonters are still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Irene but Northern Decadence is open and eagerly awaits its guests. There’s no better way to support Vermont than through its tourism industry. If you would like to volunteer or donate to the relief efforts, Seven Days Newspaper has put together a great list.
By Louise Rafkin
When they say edge, they mean edge.
With rooms overlooking the crashing surf, the Pacific Edge Hotel, a Joie De Vivre establishment in Laguna Beach, will get you just as close to the Pacific as you can get without getting your feet wet. Outside our room, the orange sunset is almost gaudy in it’s brightness and the crashing waves are a constant backdrop. The sea air hangs in the cool night. All of this says one thing: Southern California summer.
Continue reading “Suite Dreams: Pacific Edge Hotel, Laguna Beach”
The second of two LGBT Pride celebrations in Hawaii (the first Honolulu Pride Parade & Celebration took place June 4, 2011), Hawaii PrideFest takes place in Honolulu September 15-17.
There’s still time to book a quick trip to the Aloha State to celebrate in the land of lots of actual rainbows. Our deal of the week will help you do this in gay-friendly style.
The Waikiki Beach Marriott Beach Resort and Spa offers a PrideFest rate starting at $139 per room, good for travel from September 10 to 22. For reservations, call 800-367-5370 and quote promotional code VIQ or visit their website: http://www.marriottwaikiki.com/glbt
Info about PrideFest: http://honolulupff.org
Info on gay Hawaii: GayHawaii.com
The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author.