PROVINCETOWN: NEW RESTAURANTS

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Ptown — that amazing gay resort at the very tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts — is definitely in season. July 4th through Labor Day is the most fun and most crowded time to visit.

Other times of the year are amazing but if you want the big crowds, this is when to go. Be sure to reserve at some of the new or newly improved restaurants we recently visited.

(Photo: Courtesy of Bistro at Crowne Pointe)

Red Inn

  • Amazing views; lovely, romantic ambiance; fantastic menu; Red Inn continues to score the highest marks from the most discriminating diners. It’s not cheap but in Ptown as everywhere, you get what you pay for. This is great for a special night. Pop the question or just pop some champagne.

Victor’s

  • Terrific food; great specials (we love the daily raw bar special from 3pm-5pm; and best of all surprisingly moderately priced, Victor’s makes a great choice for lunch, dinner or their fun brunches (on Sunday it’s a drag brunch — not you, the server; well, you can if you want since this is Ptown!)

El Mundo

  • Inexpensive new Mexican place smack in the center of town; great maragaritas and really tasty cuisine.

10 Table

  • A very nice new place on Bradford. Worth the (short, short) walk. Elegant ambiance inside and out. And very refined cuisine. Also terrific for brunch especially if you can’t get reservations for dinner.

The Bistro Restaurant at Crowne Pointe

  • We love this resort with its gorgeous rooms, impeccable spa and high levels of service, but if you are not staying here, check out the bistro. Delicious, inventive and warm are all words that come to mind.
Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

SUITE DREAMS: NEW-AND-INCREDIBLY-IMPROVED ROYAL PALMS

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It’s not that we didn’t love the old Royal Palms. We did and do. (The older property is just across the street and as secluded and lovely as ever).

It’s just that the new one is so darn hip and contemporary and gorgeous. It’s also really well managed and run. The service, as before, is top notch. And perhaps a surprising aspect: the prices are even more reasonable. There’s more.

Because of a glut of huge mainstream hotels in the area, prices for all properties have been held down. What may not be good news for hotel owners is terrific for consumers. But it’s not because it’s reasonably priced (rates were around $109 when we last stayed a month ago), but because of the value you get.

Fab rooms, a friendly vibe, on-premise spa (with very talented therapists), a well-equipped fitness center, two pools, and possibly best of all a convivial main pool scene with a bar and full-service restaurant, that serves delicious and inventive cuisine. The restaurant hits a trifecta: great service, ambience and food.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

DEAL OF THE WEEK: CARIBBEAN MARRIAGE SPECIAL

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By Ivan Quintanilla

By signing the Marriage Equality Act on June 24, allowing same sex couples to legally marry in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo set off a wave of celebration that reached the shores of Curacao.

The Kura Hulanda Resorts, two of our favorite properties on the Caribbean island, are offering all newlyweds who present a valid New York marriage license a free upgrade and dinner for two when booking a four-night stay now until December 22, 2011.

“A progressive member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, on an island with a refreshing ‘live and let live’ vibe, the Kura Hulanda Resorts offer guests a heavy dose of culture, fine dining and city-life, all wrapped up in a gay-friendly, high-end village community,” says Jody DeLeon, Director of Sales and Marketing for the resorts.Rates start at $160 per night at Hotel Kura Hulanda and $140 per night at Lodge Kura Hulanda.  To book the deal, call 1.877.264.3106 or visit http://www.kurahulanda.com.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

MAUI SUNSEEKER: AN LGBT RESORT IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

Screen shot 2011-06-29 at 9.45.35 AMMaui is the second largest island in the state of Hawaii. After Oahu and especially Honolulu, it has the most LGBT residents, visitors and businesses.

The LGBT resort the Maui Sunseeker has recently updated their website and included specials and deals, which you can check out here.

More GPS Hawaii info here.

Find Maui gay info here.

TOUR OF THE WEEK: DISCOUNT AVAILABLE FROM OUT ADVENTURES

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OUT Adventures has just released dates through to August 2012. That’s over 30 gay tours planned in the next year, and as an incentive, OUT Adventures is offering a 10% discount on all 2012 bookings. This offer expires July 15, 2011.

Check out this offer and act before July 15 to take advantage of this special by visiting their website Out Adventures Gay Travel.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

SUITE DREAMS: SANDCASTLE ON THE BEACH, ST. CROIX USVI

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Sand Castle on the Beach, one of the leading LGBT resorts in the Caribbean is approaching its 10th anniversary year looking better than ever. With upgrades, renovations, a focused and energetic management team, and a few cool parties coming up, it’s a terrific gay-friendly spot in the sometimes less-than-gay-friendly Caribbean.

Located right on the beach in St. Croix, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, gay-owned Sand Castle on the Beach is featuring a White Party in September and a 10th anniversary shindig in January, 2012. Visit the website for more information about the resort and these upcoming festivities.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

HOT VIDEO: RIO OFFICIALLY PROMOTES GAY TOURISM

They’re not only officially promoting gay tourism in Rio, they are leading with some of the assets we gay visitors find so intriguing: The incredibly beautiful residents of this gorgeous city. But don’t take our word for it.

Check out the video.

 

Vermont Wants Gay New York Honeymooners

Sure, same-sex marriage will be the law of New York state within a month but Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing wants newly nuptialled New Yorkers to head there after the knot is tied.

Read the recent article. Even their governor is intent on keeping this business. (Note: I am quoted in this piece.)

Stay at the fabulous gay-owned Moose Meadow Lodge (left), Vermont’s only luxury log home B&B.

If you go September 9-10, enjoy the first annual LGBT-oriented “Northern Decadence” event — a two-day celebration of some of the things that make Vermont unique  from maple syrup to breathtaking scenery to friendly locals and more.

More LGBT trip-planning information for Vermont is available from the Vermont Gay Tourism Association.

SOURCE EVENTS’ 10TH ANNIVERSARY GAY CRUISE WITH STRAIGHT ALLY

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Source Events, the LGBT tour operator, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a cruise September 3-10, 2011 that will feature some prominent celebrity guests (above). We’re especially excited about the handsome straight athlete, Ben Cohen, who’s devoted much of his energy to anti-bullying efforts.

Of course Armistead Maupin is no slouch what with his new book Maryann in Autumn, nor is international photographer Paul Freeman. More info on the celebrities here.
Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

PHILADELPHIA FOR JULY 4TH: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

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The City of Brotherly love (and Sisterly Affection) beckons LGBT travelers to “get their history straight and their nightlife gay.” What better time to do so then during the Philadelphia’s 11-day cutely named Wawa Welcome America Independence Day festivities.

The city where a lot of American history started really does up July 4th. It actually started last Friday with a weekend’s worth of Taste of Philadelphia. This week there’s something every day, including Hoagie Day on Wednesday July 29 (the 4.5-ton (yes TON!) Hoagie is served noon to 2pm on Market at 6th St).Of course the big fun is all the concerts, including a big Fam Jam — curated by Questlove and The Roots — parades and fireworks on July 2nd and July 4th. Lots of information at Wawa’s site below.LInks:

 Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.