Ok, this is definitely a first. The Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, an airy tropical retreat in the lovely Caribbean island of Aruba, which offers guaranteed good weather and a year-round average daily temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, is offering a free commitment ceremony to LGBT vistors that includes the following services:
The fine print: To take advantage of the free commitment ceremonies program, couples must book a minimum seven-night stay on the all-inclusive plan in a Superior Ocean Front Room at the Holiday InnResort Aruba. Fees apply for stays less than seven nights and the program is valid through December 31, 2011.
If you think it’s enough to just choose your seat on a flight using only the airline’s propietary website, oh grasshopper, listen well. Sure you may know the best seat on the flight(s) you take most regularly. But what about choosing seats on a new airline or one you fly infrequently? You’re going to need a guide to the flight’s ‘equipment’ (the type of aircraft used), a seat map, and other information like seats that don’t recline, seats near the lavatory or galley and other locations. The best website we’ve found for this is SeatGuru.com, which serves up the following useful tidbits to help you make the most informed decision possible:
Detailed seatmap graphics
In-depth comments about seats with limited recline, reduced legroom, and misaligned windows
Color-coding to help identify superior and substandard seats
The Wynn Las Vegas and its sister property, the Encore, warmly invite gay and lesbian travelers to stay at these two swanky hotel resorts with not one, not two, but five LGBT-specific packages, or deals. Whatever your travel style they probably have you covered. There’s one for early bookers who receive 25% off the rate if they book 60 days or more in advance.
There is a also deal for romantic couples, and even one for guys or gals who need to get their spa on. The Pride Package includes two VIP Indulgence passes for Le Reve, which is a dreamy, acrobatic, musical performance about about, well, we’re not sure, but it’s pretty amazing and the performers are hot (see exhibit A to the left).
With the economy (finally) warming up, travel to Vegas is up as are bookings at the Wynna and Encore, so you may need to become an early booker or be flexible about your dates. Inexpensive mid-week stays are usually easyer to find.
The resort — with 411 guestrooms, the most spacious on the island — recently joined the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), the leading global organization dedicated to connecting businesses and consumers in the LGBT tourism industry.
To celebrate, this swanky resort is offering a not-too-shabby 30% off room rates from now through the end of the year, but you have to book by the official start of winter (12/21) to benefit from this tempting rate. With its Dutch origins Aruba boasts a more live-and-let-live attitude then some other less tolerant islands in the Caribbean.
Aruba, which virtually guarantees great weather, sits outside the hurricane belt and boasts a pretty consistent year-round average temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. With these balmy temps, visitors get to practice beach tennis which is a wildly popular sport in Aruba, like these two handsome visitors at right.
The resort’s rooms come with private balconies overlooking the Caribbean Sea. There are seven restaurants and a gorgeous 6,500 square-foot spa, free-form swimming pool (above) with cascading waterfalls, and an excellent fitness facility for work-out buffs.
To make reservations, call (800) 223-6388 or visit ArubaMarriott.com and request promotional code VIQ.
Honolulu's Waikiki Beach as seen from the Hula’s Bar gay catamaran cruise offered on Saturdays at 2 p.m. Participants gather at Hula's, 134 Kapahulu Ave.
Hawaiians boast a proud history, a line of mighty monarchs (some of whom openly had aikane or same-sex favorites), and an unshakable belief in the heartwarming concept of aloha, which signifies hello or goodbye but which also connotes love, peace, and compassion (among many other meanings).
For a gay visitor we recommend spending a weekend in Honolulu, which has the only developed gay nightlife in the state, followed by a few days detoxing on the other side of Oahu or on one of the other major islands, like Kauai, Maui or the Big Island. A recent visit paired Oahu with Kauai.
With the welcoming concept of aloha animating interactions, it’s hard to find a hotel that isn’t friendly to gays and lesbians.
That said, there are properties that are particularly accommodating to LGBT travelers. Among them the three Marriotts on Oahu and the one on Kauai have extended a sincere invitation to same-sex loving travelers, and you’ll find plenty of us at every address.
The hip, upscale Aqua Hotels and Resorts with properties throughout the islands, also actively market to the LGBT travel segment, and you’ll find other gay and lesbian guests at just about every one.
The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort is a particularly good choice not only for its airy rooms (most of which have great views of Diamond Head or the sea) and lanais (balconies), great restaurant and bar overlooking the beach, but for its stumbling-distance proximity to Hula’s Bar as well as Queen’s Surf, the official and appropriate name for the gay beach.
A more wallet-friendly choice is the surprisingly stylish Courtyard by Marriott, with its groovy lobby, vibrant and social pool area, chill room (with free massage chairs), and “honor” snack area. Photo, right: Hawaiian “warrior” performs fire-knife solo at Luau Kalamaku.
Also in Waikiki, Hotel Renew hasn’t specifically marketed to the LGBT segment, but it’s a great option for travelers who like boutique hotels. Its luxurious version of hip style can be a tad pricey.
At the western end of the island, the JW Marriott Ihilani is a great choice for couples who want to escape but don’t feel like island hopping and a nice place to relax after a few nocturnal gay outings in Waikiki. The views, especially at sunset, are stunning. The hotel’s Ushio-Tei restaurant offers delicious Japanese cuisine buffet style. The hotel’s breakfast is one of the best on the island. Try warm coconut syrup on your macadamia and banana pancakes. Heaven!
Continue your Hawaiian adventure in Kauai after the jump.
Jumeirah Essex House (JumeirahEssexHouse.com), the iconic hotel with an unbeatable address on Central Park South, is rolling out the red carpet to LGBT guests. Originally opened in 1931, the hotel with the famous six-story red Essex sign on the roof is considered a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture. The hotel owners recently spent nearly $100 million renovating the hotel, including its fine-dining restaurant, South Gate, and intimate Spa at Jumeirah Essex House with its Sodashi spa products.
The refurbishment, which touched virtually every aspect of the hotel, skews more contemporary, stylish, and subtly masculine in terms of design. The hotel’s Deco roots are celebrated primarily in the lobby and main hallway, which evoke the style of other New York City marvels of the time like the Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building. The room decor nods to the original era by virtue of the craftsmanship of the furnishings, the subtle Deco stylings, and the overall feeling of the gilded age of travel.
Among the hotel’s many attributes, one of the most significant is the jaw-dropping views of Central Park, which stretches from the hotel’s front door two and a half miles north. (See above.) Like a Monet haystack, the Park is subtly different each time you look at it. Mid-autumn is probably one of the loveliest times to drink in the intoxicating golds, greens, and reds carpeting the open expanse.
Gay guests interested in shopping, theater, and exploring Manhattan’s gayborhoods, have plenty of options for all three activities within walking distance, including the bars, clubs, and restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen, increasingly becoming New York’s primary LGBT stomping ground.
If you can’t leave Fido (right) behind, bring him! The hotel’s Canine Turndown Service — with fleece-lined pop-up tent, doggy bowls, treats, and more — will pamper your pooch.
The hotel wants you to be out when you check in. Its knowledgeable staff stands ready to make reservations for a romantic dinner for two at South Gate, with ground floor, floor-to-ceiling views of Central Park or recommendations for all sorts of activities for you and your honey near the hotel and beyond.
Below is another view towards the east, including several iconic buildings like the 1984 AT&T Building with notched triangular roof just right of center designed by Philip Johnson, the famous architect who was gay and spent the last four decades of his life with the same man.
Most travelers know Provincetown during the height of summer, with the warm sunny months of July and August attracting the largest crowds.
The year-round population of around 3,000 Ptown souls swells to an incredible 50,000 visitors and locals a day during the busiest times from the July 4th holiday through Carnival in August. It’s so popular that it’s advisable to start planning now for Carnival 2011, August 14-19.
Ptown in the off season has numerous advantages. The weather can be gloriously warm and sunny during the day and refreshingly cool at night. (Don’t worry: most good inns have cozy fireplaces.) It’s much easier to get into the most popular restaurants. And the locals seem friendly, perhaps relaxed after the stress of high tourist season.
Here are a few events through the rest of 2010 to plan a trip around.
Halloween ptown.org/halloween.asp
Oct. 29-31 [if you missed it this year, refer to this site for next year’s trip planning]
Haunted attractions (ptownhalloween.com), costume competitions, parties and more designed to scare the bejezus out of you.
Thanksgiving ptown.org/thanksgiving.asp
Nov. 24-28
Reserve at a charming fireplace guesthouse and at one of P-Town’s restaurants for a traditional Turkey dinner. Events are planned throughout the weekend.
Holly Folly ptown.org/HollyFolly.asp
Dec. 3-5.
The town sparkles beneath copious strands of Christmas lights, while fireplaces blaze and stores and galleries offer unique items just in time for your final holiday shopping.
New Year’s Eve
Dec. 30-Jan. 1, 2011
New Year’s is one of the most popular times to visit Provincetown apart from the peak season in July and August. Make your reservations (lodging and dining) early.
As usual, one of favorite ways to get there is by flying on JetBlue and CapeAir.
If you’re a Mad Men junkie and you’re having withdrawals after the recent Season 4 finale, might we suggest getting your mid-century modern fix at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, AZ.
Built in 1956 and refurbished from top to bottom for its 2005 grand reopening, the 193-room hotel is an irresistible mix of retro and of-the-moment. It’s like taking a stylish step back in time … but with flat-screen hi-def TVs, Philippe Stark-designed bathtubs and state-of-the-art Precor cardio equipment! The place is so cool you half expect to see John Hamm’s Don Draper knocking back his 12th cocktail of the day at the Café ZuZu restaurant or Christina Hendricks’ Joan Holloway sauntering through the lobby on the way to her facial appointment at the VH Spa.
You could also imagine January Jones’ Betty Draper unwinding for a few days by the martini-shaped pool after getting her quickie divorce in Reno. The Valley Ho is no stranger to Hollywood glamour. This, after all, is where Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood had their wedding reception in 1957. And Jimmy Durante was known to tinkle the ivories in the lobby late at night when he couldn’t sleep.
Within walking distance is one of Old Town Scottsdale’s most popular new restaurants, The Mission, which serves Latin-flavored favorites like empanadas, mojitos and mahi-mahi tacos with a unique homespun flair; the flour tortillas are brought to your table on a heated brick to keep them warm. Round out the night with a drinks and dancing at the nearby gay bar, BS West, which has been a neighborhood favorite since 1988. Sing karaoke, catch a drag show or if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll meet your own Don Draper on the dance floor.
Ask anyone in the know about Santa Cruz: a laid-back California beach town with cool Victorian houses, with a wild boardwalk and a fantastic roller coaster, populated by beaded hippies, sun-bleached surfers, and an earnest population of students majoring in Alternative Studies. This is all true.
But there is another Santa Cruz, just up the road. A Santa Cruz of oak and redwood forests, tumbling down into the valley that is the town. The Santa Cruz Mountains offer endless adventures for hiking, birding, and all forms of getting away from it all.
Enter Chaminade Resort and Spa, set on a mountain ridge literally minutes from the main highway which snakes through town. A former monastery, Chaminade is perched on 300 acres at the end of a private tree-lined road. Well-marked hiking trails circle the eco-friendly lodge and out buildings, and the smell of eucalyptus literally floats on the sea air.
While my girlfriend and I enjoyed morning coffee in our King Junior Suite, a deer and her fawn emerged from the underbrush to stare at us from our patio with an equal intensity to ours before moving down the path.
Our suite, with flat screen TV, premium cable, cozy sofa, and dinette, was replete with luxury sheets and a feather-topped bed. Most rooms open to outdoor patios outfitted with table and chairs. Just a short walk from the lodge buildings, is an outdoor swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, and a beach volleyball court. Nearby, the large, equipped fitness center has everything: a full cardio theater, free weights, kettle balls, yoga space, and Cybex equipment. After working out, dip into the spa. Offering a range of massages, facials, body scrubs, wraps, beauty and waxing services, as well as mani-pedi’s, the spa also sports a private outdoor Jacuzzi and Koi pond. After an hour of deep-tissue massage, the excellent sauna and steam rooms left me as relaxed as a wet noodle.
And hungry. Luckily, Chaminade has various eating options in the main lodge, where outdoor tables with sweeping views provide the perfect place to start or end the day. With signature cocktails, regional wines, and a menu built around fresh, local ingredients, menu choices abound, from fresh seafood from the bay, to vegetarian specials. Room service assures you’ll never go hungry; the Sunday brunch repeatedly wins a “best of” prize voted on by locals.
Chaminade provides exactly what is unique about the California coastal experience: a perfect blend of mountains and seashore. With golf and wineries nearby, miles of beaches and the some of the world’s best waves to surf, the challenge of Chaminade might be in getting yourself to leave.
Rooms run $149-$309, and some welcome pooches. The gay-friendly resort regularly hosts weddings, conferences and reunions and can accommodate parties of up to 230 guests.
I admit it. I totally forgot about this week’s dot429 assignment.
The theme is “masks” for obvious reasons with October 31 just around the corner, but having already written about my three favorite gay-popular Halloween celebrations, I wanted to focus on a different travel experience.
While I was sitting there, the therapists, towards the end of the treatments, simultaneously told me they were applying masks to my hands and feet. Eureka! That got me to thinking about the benefits of spa treatments, including masks for the hands, feet, face, whatever. They really can transport you outside your head-space. When budget allows, I always treat myself to a spa treatment of some sort when traveling.
I’m a mere dilettante with respect to spa treatments, so I asked my colleague, friend, and grooming aficionado Mark Thompson, the style and travel editor at Edge Publications for his suggestions for three great masks.
For autumn skin care
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the grandmother of all facial masks, the Borghese Fango Mask, with a very satisfying mud mask experience.
The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author. 