Gay Travel Tips: Back to Basics

The A-Team

Flights. Check.

Hotels. Check.

Car service to airport. Check.

Remove back hair. Huh?

When planning for a summer trip, it’s important to start making arrangements well in advance, especially for warm-weather getaways at peak season, to obtain the best possible options for your budget and to save money. For any trip, there are loads of details big and small to arrange.

In the frenzy of planning and executing a trip  — weather to Provincetown, Fire Island, Ibiza or Mykonos — there are a few not-so-obvious preparations many man have to think about (but often forget). We’re talking about you, the big muscular fellow with the hairy back. Unless you’re heading to a bear commune or a straight cruise, you’ll want to consider getting rid of the fur on your back. You can’t see it but everyone else can.

One errand to include prior to your trip is a visit to your favorite men’s day spa. Here in the Big Apple, I like Face to Face NYC, managed by the friendly and professional Enrique Ramirez. The vibe is much more masculine than frilly, and the clientele skews towards men, so a guy (or a guy’s guy) will feel more comfortable than at many of the more feminine-oriented spas in town. Be sure to book an appointment at least a few days before any sun exposure to protect sensitive skin.

A nice touch: while waiting for your appointment, you can enjoy a complimentary soft drink or glass of wine. The treatments take place in private, quiet rooms. Back waxing is done with the minimum of pain (the glass of wine helps!) and the maximum of post-hair removal TLC to reduce the chances of inflammation and discomfort.

That’s Enrique in the black t-shirt above but his entire staff is professional, courteous and proficient. A back waxing starts at $55 and goes up from there depending on whether you also treat shoulders, upper arms, etc. Check out their rates here.

Information:


	


	





	

		
Pop Goes the Museum. Guggenheim Lands Briefly in NYC
	


	
	

		
A rendering of the space


First we had pop-up stores, then pop-up restaurants. Now, New York City gives us a pop-up museum.


The Guggenheim opened a temporary space between two former tenements in the city’s vibrant East Village neighborhood. The structure itself is beautiful and has an incredible design. The lower space is almost completely open and the chairs and other temporary elements of the exhibit space are stored above the ground level.


 


It’s a mobile structure traveling to nine different cities worldwide. Its purpose, according to organizers:


Part urban think tank, part community center and public gathering space, the Lab is conceived to inspire public discourse in cities around the world and through the BMW Guggenheim Lab website and online social communities.


More info here.

	


	





	

		
XLSior Gay Festival 2011 in Mykonos, Greece
	


	
	

		
Mykonos, a Greek island in the Aegean, is a delightful spot featuring a craggy shoreline with sandy beaches, Venetian windmills, and a labyrinth of small white-washed buildings attracts wealthy Athenians and visitors from the world over.


It’s a well-heeled spot that’s been firmly part of the jet-set circuit for decades. It’s also very gay and lesbian popular primarily among Europeans but also for Americans. There are gay and gay-popluar accommodations (click here and check out Elysium which is gay), gay bars and clubs and gay-popular restaurants.


If you like parties, consider visiting during the XLSior Gay Festival, scheduled for August 24-28, 2011. Events include parties organized by Europe’s key gay promoters, beach parties and more.


Another reason to visit Greece: This country suffered greatly during the recent recession and needs some economic stimulus! So go spend some pink dollars. Have fun. Do good.

	


	





	

		
Montreal’s Queer of the Year Contest Redux
	


	
	

		
Check out the very cute video above featuring the contests running in the second annual “Queer of the Year” contest in Montreal.


Throughout Montreal Pride Week (August 8 through August 14), the six finalists will compete in a variety of challenges and activities, all of which will be captured on film.


Visit their Facebook page to learn more about the contest, follow along in the exploits of the participants, and vote for your favorite. Watch ’em try to out-queer each other.

	


	





	

		
Take Your Pride on the Rocks (in Sedona, AZ)
	


	
	

		
Happy Sedona Pride on the Rocks 2010 participants


The Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa, a gorgeous luxurious resort 90 minutes north of Phoenix and the gateway to Arizona’s famous and mesmerizing red-rock country is host to the third annual Sedona Pride on the Rocks festival from September 16 to 18, 2011.


The weekend-long festival will feature the Pre-Pride Party, Private Pride Pool Party and Pride Night “Gay-la” as well as other exciting events and activities.


There’s something magical, even spiritual about this part of the great, breathtaking open-sky expanse of the Southwest and in particular red rock country. Imagine celebrating gay Pride in the company of the (mostly) regional LGBT community with this as backdrop.

	


	





	

		
H20: Gay Day at Six Flags, Saturday August 6
	


	
	

		



Gay and at Six Flags


What a great way to cool off during the dog days of August. With a bunch of happy, wet gay guys, gals and their friends.


Located in Hurricane Harbor, NJ, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor calls itself “the premier waterpark in the tri-state area.” The tropical-themed island boasts a million-gallon wave pool,  a variety of water slides and a huge water playground. The big gay party, H20 takes place from 7pm till midnight.


There’s a (very gay) bus heading there from Chelsea. Reserve your bus ride here.


Buy tickets and get more info here: http://www.outinevents.com/Gay_Six_Flags/H2O.html

	


	





	

		
Suite Dream: Villa Rainbow, St. Martin
	


	
	

		
The Caribbean is not known to be super gay friendly. But there are islands of gayness if you know where to look.


One terrific little property is the Villa Rainbow in St. Martin (the French side of the island). In fact it’s an all-gay men’s guesthouse. Check out the pictures and a little more about it here.


The owner Chris emailed me that the guesthouse is offering a 50% discount on all same sex couples who marry in NYC in July 2011! (Valid on all short stays, until Oct 31st 2011).


Being a French-flavored island, this of course includes a free bottle of French champagne “to be sipped for example at sunset on the large terrace facing stunning views on the Caribbean sea,” according to Chris.

	


	





	

		
Deal of the Week: $13 Night at Island House
	


	
	

		
Island House Key West*, one of my personal favorite gay guesthouses in the world, is running a very cool sweepstakes on Facebook called “35 & Fabulous” to celebrate the 35th-anniversary of the guesthouse.


To mark the occasion, the Island House is offering all 39 rooms on the night of June 25, 2012 at the price in effect in 1976: $13. So  retro! They should also require guests to sport thick ‘staches, too, during their stay and put up posters of Mark Spitz. (Look him up!)


You just have to click on the contest here and follow the easy instructions.


*Full disclosure: I’m the managing director of OutThink Partners, an LA-based, independent communications and marketing agency, and Island House is one of my clients, but I also wear an editor/writer hat and I think this story is fun and compelling. Plus I get to run that hot pic above.

	


	





	

		
Ed on the Radio: Le Gai Paris
	


	
	

		
Ed in Paris at a book seller's stand along the Seine, Notre Dame in the background


I recently spoke about Pairs on Proud FM radio . Here’s my report.


Ed Salvato – Paris

	


	





	

		
Amsterdam Gay Pride Will Float Your Boat
	


	
	

		
Real parade floats


Literally!


Amsterdam Gay Pride is a weeklong celebration that makes the de facto gay capital of Amsterdam just a tad pinker. It’s the largest annual event in The Netherlands’ cultural capital, and is best known for the canal parade where the floats actually, well, float. This event takes place Saturday, August 6.


There are 80 floats scheduled to take part, including an official military float.


More events/information here: http://www.amsterdamgaypride.nl/agenda/