Tour of the Week: Dive Egypt with Undersea Expeditions

RedSeaDiver For lesbian and gay men who love to dive (and we know who you are!), did you know there is a truly great tour operator that caters to your needs?

Undersea Expeditions has been leading groups of gay women and men to exotic locales and safely guided them to some of the world’s most envy-inducing dive spots.

For truly adventurous gay and lesbian travelers, Undersea Expeditions is moving forward with their Egypt land tour and Nile Cruise and Red Sea live aboard dive cruise June 18-July 2.
Information:

A post-revolution tour of Egypt is not for everyone, but scuba divers are an adventurous bunch, and out of a sold-out tour of 25 gay and lesbian divers prior to 25 January only two participants canceled.

The others see this as an opportunity to visit the Pyramids and other amazing sights of Egypt such as the Temple of Karnak with only handfuls of tourists rather than throngs. Most American divers have waited their entire life to experience the wonders of the Red Sea and many regret post-9/11 fear keeping them away for so long and want to travel to Egypt if it’s safe to do so.

While the overall situation for local gay men was difficult under Mubarak and improvement remains a hope, the Egyptian men they’ve met on their last two tours don’t want American travelers to stay away; as foreign travelers they’ve experienced no harassment.

They’ve taken lots of precautions to ensure the comfort and safety of the group, and the State Department acknowledges the improving post-Revolution security situation as well as the continued calm along the Red Sea in their latest travel advisory: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_5443.html

Underseas Expeditions doesn’t offer last-minute special pricing, only early-booking specials; however, as a thank-you to those travelers who braved it out through an uncertain situation, they’ve upgraded the group to Pyramid-view rooms at the fabulous Mena House hotel in Giza.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Suite Dreams: The Lodge at Sonoma

Picture 2 Just in time for the upcoming Gay Wine Weekend June 17-19, 2011 (which we wrote about here), the sumputous Lodge at Sonoma is offering a special deal to celebrate.

We’ll drink to that!

The Lodge at Sonoma’s fabulous “Living Out Proud” package is valid that weekend.  With rooms starting at $309 – the package includes a beautiful cottage room with a deep soaking tub and luxurious bedding, breakfast for 2 daily, sparkling wine upon arrival and 2 daily spa passes.

For more information about the lodge, visit their website www.thelodgeatsonoma.com

Deal of the Week: A Hotel that Pays You to Stay

Stk135582rkeHotels offer all sorts of ‘packages’ and other incentives to get heads in beds (as they say in the industry). This is the first we’ve heard of that actually offers cold, hard cash!

InterContinental Hotels Group would like to fund your fun with ‘Vacation Pay.’

Between May 16th and August 31st 2011, any traveler staying two consecutive weekend nights (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) at any of IHG’s 4,400 hotels, will receive a $75 prepaid card to spend however they’d like!

Not that you need it but IHG suggests ideas on how you can use your $75 reward:

  • Fill up a tank of gas for the family road trip
  • Download 60 songs for a summer playlist
  • Keep your feet fashionable with 12 new pairs of flip flops for each week of the summer
  • Pay for your checked baggage fees
  • Expand your mind with the top 10 beach reads

Fine print: Offer is valid for U.S. residents only and redeemable for a maximum reward of $300 back. For more information and to book accommodations, visit www.ihg.com/get75.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Game on: Borgata Trumps Other Atlantic City Resorts

BORGATA
By Jeff Guaracino; Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Like your luck, Atlantic City casinos’ bet to win over the lucrative gay and lesbian traveler seems to turn as quickly as the roll of the dice. Last year, Trump Taj Mahal was wooing our community with a series of well-organized and even better advertised “Fun and ‘Gay’mes Weekends.” A possible game changer just arrived, Prohibition nightclub at Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City’s first gay casino nightclub right on the boardwalk, joining the area’s two sole gay options (Club In or Out in nearby Hammonton and Westside Lounge in AC proper).

This summer, Borgata is trying a game of its own down the shore.

The Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa is placing its bets on the GLBT traveler that wants a mix of luxury, fun, and sophistication. Their strategy appears to focus on weekends with big name entertainers who have large followings in our community. Kicking off this season was Ricky Martin (April) followed by Gay Icon Kathy Griffin. Wanda Sykes is on tap in June.The Water Club tower rooms and suites feature rain showers and a fully stocked mini-bar—a rarity in give-away-the-room-obsessed Atlantic City. Borgata passes the “how do you really know if you hotel is really gay friendly test”: it does offer (for a profit) adult in-room entertainment of interest to gay men. You would be surprised how many so-called gay-friendly hotels don’t do this. Of course, a weekend overnight stay at the Borgata Hotel does not come cheap but you can find deals mid-week all summer long starting around $150.Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa takes its pools and spa seriously. The property has three pools—two outdoors and one indoor. The hotel is on the marina but the beach is a short drive away. Those looking for a perfect first date or a special occasion weekend should check in and spa! The men’s massage was a perfect beginning followed by a soak in the communal hot tub and swim in the top floor lap pool. Dining is an art here. The sushi and sake at Izakaya was among the very best.

Smart travelers will find that reward programs can be, well, rewarding. It is easy to sign up at many hotels like at the Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa. It takes less than a minute to sign up when you visit www.myborgata.com. You can redeem comps for food, rooms and other perks.

How to Get There—It can be confusing!

Driving is definitely the quickest and easiest way to get to Atlantic City. Finding the Borgata can be confusing from the Atlantic City Expressway. Be sure to take Exit 1. You can Valet Park, but if you are like me and take your ZipCar, you will have to self-park. Self-parking will cost you $5. Taking NJ Transit from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station or the ACES train from New York City. Air Tran and Spirt Airlines serve the Atlantic City International Airport. A warning, cabs in Atlantic City seem crazy expensive to me. Opt for the Jitney when you can.

Next for Atlantic City?

Atlantic City should have a gay beach! Perhaps we should “get our history straight,” and start returning to the original “Poodle Beach” in AC. And, our community also needs a collective welcome from the many resorts and casinos all year long to build loyalty and repeat visits. With the long-awaited Revel casino coming in 2012 combined, maybe we can reclaim our Playboy days at the many Resorts that Caesar himself would say is a Golden Nugget of an opportunity that is just about ready as shine bright as Harrah’s “welcome” signs to our community.

# # #

Jeff Guaracino is a vice president for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) and the author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.” He has learned to how to find the best deals and travel resources out there for our community.  Traveling locally, check out visitphilly.com/gay and friend us at visitgayphilly.com/facebook.

IGLTA Concludes its 28th Annual Global Convention

Hi_HollywoodBeach_Sunrise-AlanMaltz-1024x682 You think all those LGBT guesthouses, tour operators, and travel agents operate in a vacuum?

Guess again!

There’s an organization that represents their interests and by extention you, dear gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender traveler. Read on!

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), was founded in 1983 with 25 members as a way for travel agents to learn how to sell gay “product” (primarily gay cruises). Today, the association boasts well over 2,000 members around the globe including hotels, destinations, rental car companies, airlines and much more.IGLTA’s 28th Annual Global Convention welcomed more than 450 delegates from 35 countries who converged in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for five full days of education sessions, networking events and trade shows. New countries represented this year included: Finland, Nimibia, Malta, Rwanda and Uganda(!).

Voting closed on 13 May for the annual IGLTA board elections. The IGLTA Board of Directors for 2011-2012 is as follows: Chair Tanya Churchmuch; Vice Chair Cordey Lash; Treasurer Theresa Belpulsi; Secretary Darren Cooper; Past Chair Bryan Herb; Steve Smith, Jeff Guaracino and Mya Lake Reyes; along with our very own Ed Salvato (editor of this blog!) and Dan Melesurgo, who were elected to their first term. Two additional board members from outside of North America will be appointed within the next month.

For more information about the convention, including copies of the educational presentations, photos and media coverage, please visit www.igltaconvention.org. More information will be posted as it becomes available, so check back regularly.

The next convention will be held in Florianopolis Brazil in May, 2012. (Check back at www.igltaconvention.org later in the year for more information.)

Prohibition: Atlantic City Gets Its First Gay Nightclub

Pic_hotel Atlantic City, N.J, just got a little more cool (and gayer).

Casinos and resorts have, in recent years, flirted heavily with the LGBT community, luring gay travelers from New York, Philadelphia and other regional capitals with entertainment, shows, and “one off” gay nights.

But for the first time in the 33-year history of legalized gambling, Atlantic City has a permanent gay nightclub in one of its casinos.

The four Caesars Entertainment casinos in Atlantic City — Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Bally’s Atlantic City and the Showboat Casino Hotel — have hosted “Out In Atlantic City” weekends in recent years, and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort hosts “gay bingo” nights. Now though LGBT visitors can hit the 13th floor of the Resorts Casino Hotel and check out the very cool new hot spot Prohibition.

Deal of the Week: “Loud & Proud” at the Personality Hotels

Diva-dlx-lounge
Back 10 or even five years ago, it was pretty rare to find hotels that created special offers or packages for LGBT travelers. Now, it’s much more common (though still not the norm by any stretch).

Most such specials are pretty staid affairs, with nothing more daring than a subscription to a national gay magazine. So it’s fun to hear about a special with, well personality. The folks at the Personality Hotels are promoting the “Loud & Proud Survival Kit” just in time for San Francisco’s LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade on June 25 and 26. And check out some of the items they are including.

Personality Hotels’ special “Loud & Proud Survival Kit” which includes:

  • A four pack of SKYY Flavored Vodka (get the party started)
  • Two flavored condoms  (leave with only fond memories)
  • Two pairs of rainbow sunglasses (you’re not in Kansas anymore)
  • Body glitter (be fabulous)
  • Whistle blow pops (whistle while you work)
  •  A list of “Classy & Trashy” bars (the choice is yours)
  • Diva tattoos (work it)
  • All packaged in a tie-dye rainbow tote bag (100% gay guaranteed)

From June 24-27, room rates at Hotel Diva and Hotel Union Square — within stumbling distance of many of the Pride festivities — start at $199, excluding tax and subject to availability.

Our SF guide.

Ubuntu: World’s Only Michelin-Starred Veggie Restaurant

UbuntuInteriorClose
By John O’Ceallaigh

They’re besotted with food at Ubuntu.

Perhaps that should be expected, given that Ubuntu is the first vegetarian restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star – ever, anywhere – but it’s nice to benefit from their infatuation. As I made my way through their menu, the waitress enthused, extolled and elaborated about the respective merits of my choices.

“How’s the artichoke and lime vichyssoise?” I wondered. “Well, it’s been a particularly good artichoke harvest this year so it’s especially full flavored and refreshing at the moment.” “Can you recommend something non-alcoholic to drink?” I queried. “Try the lemonade. Lemons are right in season so it’d be a shame to pass that up.”

Her recommendations were excellent, of course, but so was pretty much everything else we tried. My companion and I ordered the six-course chef’s menu and were wowed by course after course of beautifully presented, delectable vegetarian dishes. At $65 it was good value too, another benefit to vegetarian dining. Not that we noticed the absence of meat. Ubuntu isn’t one of those militant advocates of vegetarianism force feeding customers plates of tofu. (We were surprised to learn that only two of the servers are vegetarian.) Instead it focuses on creating exceptional dishes that simply focus on the tastes and textures of plants.

There are some nods to alternative practices, though. Food from the Ubuntu gardens is farmed according to biodynamic principles and the restaurant itself also has its own yoga studio. Whether biodynamic practices are superior to organic or regular farming methods it’s hard to say, and it’s unlikely you’ll have time to fit in a spot of Ashtanga before your appetizers, but we left Ubuntu feeling its owners really do care about food, and their contribution to the local community. It’s an impression reinforced by the staff’s attire. The back of their t-shirts reminds diners to ‘practice humanity towards others.’

Ed Salvato on Sirius Radio Tuesday, May 17

From our friends at Sirius OutQ:

Ed Salvato is scheduled for a live in-studio interview with Derek and Romaine of Sirius XM Satellite Radio Tuesday May 17th at 7PM.  The interview will last about 15-20 minutes.  This will broadcast live on Sirius XM OutQ 108.  Listeners and fans are welcome to participate by calling 866-305-6887.  For those who don’t subscribe to Sirius, a free online trial is available at www.siriusxm.com.

Here’s some information on the show:

Tour of the Week: Southern Skiing

BarilocheGaySki We’re talking way south! If you’ve ever wished to ski South America, here’s a way to do it gay. The annual Bariloche (Argentina) Gay Ski Week takes place September 10-17, 2011. Details follow.

You’ll have to make your way to Bariloche but the group week includes transfers to and from the airport, hotel stay, dinners, parties and more. Lots more details here: http://www.barilochegaytravel.com/index.php/en/bariloche-gay-ski-pack.