Gay travel? Yes or no?

[Rareboy]

We went on a Venture Out tour once....with 12 of the most high maintenance, overwrought, cheap, and dreadful bores that we've ever met.

I wouldn't recommend a gay tour to anyone on earth.

Just travel. And meet people.

[Rareboy]

As someone who is having to adjust to being single for the first time in like forever, I'm less bothered about the "gay" element of travel than the travel costs themselves.

Its the time of year when I usually book my summer vacation, and have always gone on a package type holiday (i.e. Something organised by a travel agency) This year its different, and Im pretty ticked off that the price for one person is pretty close to the same price for two people.

What do other single folks do for holidays? Do you take someone along for the ride, or do you travel as an independent traveller with your own itinerary?

Or is the answer to travel with specialist Gay Travel agency?

I would suggest that if you have a friend or even a relative you can trust to be a good traveller, get them to come along to share the costs. Otherwise...you do have to accept that two can sleep as cheaply as one and pay the premium for being on your own.

[phillyboy1234]

Hi everyone

I'm looking forward for my next holiday soon. Have anyone had experience with LGBT-friendly hotels (such as TAG-accredited or Gay Welcome member)? I'm wondering if they provide more than 'regular' hotels.

This is a tough question.

First, realize that "gay friendly" means most modern hotel chains. Most today treat gay individuals and gay couples like their straight counterparts. Nothing about the hotel will necessarily have anything gay about it, in fact everyone staying in it may in fact be straight! But the hotel is gay friendly in that it is welcoming and very willing to accept your money and offer you the same entitlements as your straight counterparts.

There are hotels out there which cater to the LGBT crowd. They tend to be located in the gayborhood of a city. I think you might want to consider a LGBT hotel for a few reasons, if such reasons are important to you:

• Such hotels tend to offer times in which to get to know fellow guests, whether it be a continental breakfast and coffee, or tea in the afternoon, or wine at night, as well as usually amply space to sit and chat; they facilitate conversation.
  
• You want to go drinking at a gay bar but don't know where to go, they will point you in a direction. Boxers may be the place to be on Monday nights, which you can read online, but perhaps on the Monday night of your stay there is a big drag show at Chasers, your hotel staff will be able to tell you.
  
• An interesting experience compared to most other hotels.
  

Just know where you are staying. Even LGBT hotels appear on TripAdvisor and Yelp. Some cater primarily towards women, others towards men, others are roughly equal. Some, based on reviews, seem like total dives and are not worth your money!

Also, know why you are looking for a LGBT hotel. To say you want the experience is a great reason. But if you simply want a hookup, then you'd be better off just staying in any major city with a smartphone app capability.