After the summer vacations, before the fall vacations: Queer friendly resorts
Queers who feel like planning their next vacation may wonder where LGBTQ people are especially welcome. Holding hands among same-sex couples is not welcome everywhere. All the better if a little planning is done in advance to find out where nothing actually stands in the way of a relaxed vacation.
The following tips will help to get a first overview here. Whether alone or in a group: at these destinations, everyone usually feels comfortable and is welcome!
Vacation idea No. 1: Ibiza
The Balearic island of Ibiza is considered open, tolerant and incredibly versatile. Possibly this is also due to the island's "hippie past", among other things? No matter why the situation is currently so gay-friendly: people from all over the world appreciate the special flair, which, by the way, not only the famous old town has to offer.
Ibiza has a large number of bars and cafés that are explicitly aimed at the LGBTQ community and - depending on the location - can also offer a high flirting potential.
Vacation idea No. 2: Gran Canaria
On Gran Canaria, the weather is usually a little better than on Ibiza. Many queers like to visit the island in the winter months to soak up a little sun - perhaps also in the heart? Gran Canaria also has no shortage of vacation clubs, where like-minded queers can usually quickly find connections. Those who feel like flirting and the like here should focus primarily on the larger tourist centers, such as Maspalomas.
Vacation idea No. 3: London
London also has a colorful and (sometimes positively freaky) gay scene. If you feel like turning night into day, you've come to the right place. Especially in the clubs and pubs it is usually not difficult to make new acquaintances. In addition, people in England are often more open than they are sometimes said to be.
Vacation idea No. 4: Iceland
Iceland repeatedly manages to occupy a place in the upper echelons of the list of the most queer-friendly vacation countries. The country is considered a true pioneer in terms of tolerance and equality. Holding hands on the street? In the vast majority of cases, this does not attract attention.
Vacation idea No. 5: Sweden
Jackpot! Sweden is considered by many experts to be the most queer-friendly country ever. Who would like to have a proof for this: In Sweden, it has even been allowed to get married as a same-sex couple since 2009! In addition, there are a large number of CSDs throughout the country and numerous gay bars and pubs.
More than just relaxed travel - the right destinations for more safety on vacation
Many people who have not yet studied the LGBTQ scene in depth cannot understand why many gays plan their vacations so meticulously. It should always be kept in mind that a vacation in a non-queer-friendly environment can be not only unpleasant, but also dangerous.
Therefore, in addition to the list of recommended destinations, for the sake of completeness, there should also be a small list (not complete, just serves as an orientation) of areas that should be avoided.
These include destinations further afield, such as Jamaica or Singapore, but also Poland, Russia and Hungary. If you want to get the most up-to-date information about queer-friendly and queer-hostile regions of the world, you should check out the LGBTQ+ Travel Safety results, among others. The list is updated at regular intervals.
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