Making Gay Travel Plans in this Economy

Making Gay Travel Plans in this Economy

Let's just be honest, things are a major sh*t show for us gays this year. From politics to the economy, from Prides to travel, the gays are being challenged. This is the time that most of us are looking forward to planning our summer trips, to bask in the sun with hot guys and frolic in the sand. Yes, we said frolic. As we plan to book our trip, now we have to check what the local and national attitude towards the LGBTQ community looks like in foreign places. Some of our favorite locales have become less than safe for us to travel to based on how other countries are taking their cue from Trumptard's treatment of queer folk. There have also been some major issues with people trying to come back into the US; people are being detained after their phones are being searched for anything anti-US government.

With all that being considered, now, as we plan our trips, we have to check our bank balance. The economy sure has changed, and a number of our community members have lost their jobs. Everything is more expensive now, our savings have dwindled just to pay for a night out at The Abbey, and certain luxuries that we used to partake in (like having three streaming services just to watch Drag Race iterations) just seem silly now. We are watching our wallet, and that will affect gay travel in a majorly way. So we wanted to give our thoughts on how to travel this summer.

It is true that you get what you pay for. You buy a super cheap travel package, your plane may or may not have all of its screws, your hotel may or may not have some roaches are your roommates, some tours may or not be led by a guy in a 1996 Volvo. On the other hand, there are plenty of travel traps out there that charge way more than necessary. This is especially true when it comes to gay travel. Some gay cruises, gay travel groups, and gay travel packages charge an arm and a leg, hiding under the fact that it is rainbow-driven. They figure the gays love luxury and will pay that extra dollar because with a lot of us not having kids or having double-income homes, we would pay it gladly. And we have.

The fact, these luxury experiences have become less and less luxurious. Gay cruises now just seem ordinary and basic. There is a strong truth that our safety is worth that extra dollar in regards to gay travel. So yes, if a trip is queer-branded and provides for our safety and consideration, and also shows us the gay spots that we can enjoy freely, it is worth some extra coin. But there are ways to combine the two factors.

First of all, make sure the gay-centric trip you are going to embark on is indeed gay run and operated. There are travel companies that slap an LGBTQ-friendly sticker on their site or put a rainbow flag on their itineraries and call it a day, they aren't really in the know when it comes to gay travel. Research the companies, research their social media to see pics of who goes on these trips, and definitely read all the reviews.

Hotels and airfare towards are typical gay destinations have gone through the roof. Fire Island, Greece, Miami, Puerto Vallarta, what have you, are all experiencing price surges. There are plenty of new gay travel destinations that are gaining popularity, and are not as expensive to travel to or stay at. Do your research and look at some other destinations that are equally as beautiful and travel-friendly, just without the name brand label of a destination that every gay person has been to. There's also something to be said about sharing travel pics from a destination all your fellow gays haven't been to. Be unique, be fresh. Also, we all want to go to the popular Pride events around the globe, but that definitely comes with a hefty price tag. Traveling during mid-season and away from major gay days will save some money. Trust us, the queer folk will still be there.

Luxury and gay travel are interesting terms. Most of us like to be pampered and like a top-notch experience. But there is also something to be said for staying at mid-level hotels and eating at lesser-known restaurants. You get a sense of the local culture, and how much time are you spending in your hotel in any case? We've had our best meals in Italy and France outside the 5-star tourist traps. You don't need a key card to a five-star hotel to enjoy hot men on the beach. It is okay to take it down a few notches this year; your destination will still be there, and the culture, architecture, and gay life will still be there, regardless of whether you flew 1st class.

So by "roughing it" this year, you may actually discover something new and exciting. But yes, our safety does come at a price tag, and that should not be taken lightly. Where are you going to travel to this year?