Tips for Gay and Lbian Travelers Caribbean | Frommer's

Contents:

• THE BT CARIBBEAN DTATNS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS
• GAY BAHAMAS TRAVEL GUI
• GAY AZOR TRAVEL GUI
• TIPS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS CARIBBEAN
• I'M A GAY TRAVEL WRER AND THK THE ARE THE 5 SAFT, MOST QUEER-IENDLY CARIBBEAN TRAVEL STATNS
• GAY CAYMAN ISLANDS TRAVEL GUI
• SAN JUAN ISLANDS GAY GUI
• ICELAND GAY TRAVEL
• ACTIVISTS NMN VLENCE AGAST LGBTQ MUNY ST. VCENT, WHERE GAY SEX IS ILLEGAL
• GREECE: AEGEAN SEA GAY CISE
• GAY GRAN CANARIA

THE BT CARIBBEAN DTATNS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS

It’s those latter islands where gay and lbian travelers ually feel more at ease sce lol laws around homosexualy and same-sex marriage match those of their parent untri. That’s not to say that gay and lbian travelers won’t feel safe or wele ls-progrsive statns.

But rather than plan vatns to one of the dozen Caribbean islands where homosexualy is crimalized (surprisg, but te), most travelers simply prefer to vatn where they’ll feel fortable. In the beachont neighborhood of Condado, the Atlantic Beach Hotel and Oasis Lounge are regular gay hotspots, both jt steps away om the low-key gay-beach area. Among s strip of bars is El Pat Lila, a gay-iendly waterg hole that’s pecially happeng on Friday nights.

Oranjtad also is home to District 7, an LGBT-centric nightclub, lounge, rtrant, and n (which was once a simpler gay bar lled Jimmy’s Place).

GAY BAHAMAS TRAVEL GUI

But to wele gay and lbian Caribbean visors, this small island go the extra e by beg an active member of the Internatnal Gay & Lbian Travel Associatn (IGLTA). Floris Sue Hotel Spa and Beach Club Curaçao is the go-to gay hotel Willemstad, where adult guts n enjoy luxury, privacy, and views of the island’s famoly-blue waters.

Among Curao’s flirtier spots is MooMba Beach Club, perched on the island’s most gay-iendly beach and servg up cktails, live mic, h seafood, and weekend barbequ. LGBT travelers n take their pick of gay-centric beach to swim, sunbathe, and snorkel, pecially Happy Bay Beach and the clothg-optnal Orient Bay Beach (both on the French si), and Cupey Beach (Dutch si) where nu sunbathg is mon. Visors n disver lbian- and gay-owned bs wh handy Gay St Maarten, which offers listgs for the entire island.

Or head to Club Eros to dance at one of the island’s ma late-night gay bars the French town of Marigot.

GAY AZOR TRAVEL GUI

Bart’s is among the most gay-iendly Caribbean statns overall—thanks part to s rzy reputatn as a celebry vatn hiaway. The wee island measur jt 10 square , and LGBT travelers n enjoy relaxed attus, even whout any official gay bars or Pri events. And you n patronize gay-owned bs like lorful Le Pasha boutique and La Canta bar Gtavia; and scy Le Ti baret and tavern Pote Milou.

Their clter anchors the northern Lser Antill, and together they’re among the most gay-iendly Caribbean statns.

The anizatn’s motto is “the most gay iendly island the Caribbean, ” and based on s long roster of lol hosts and sponsors, ’s clear how clive the statn really is. Kts and Nevis, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda – have overturned anti-gay sex laws (buggery laws) that once ma sexual relatns between men a crimal offense and punishable by ath. Gay marriage has been legal here sce 2015, but there are no anti-discrimatn laws to protect .

TIPS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS CARIBBEAN

Changg genr, same-sex parents adoptg children, gay marriage, and other anti-discrimatn protectns are all legal Martique!

There’s somethg for every type of traveler here – om m-tastg tours to hikg through Jard Balata or up Mount Pelée to relaxg on gay-iendly beach Plage s Sal and Grand Anse s Sal. The island don’t have a signated gayborhood, but Sale Beach n be a good spot for cisg – well for gay men.

While there are many LGBTQ+ dividuals who are dog an exemplary job tryg to make The Bahamas gay-iendly and turn thgs around, they are challenged every step of the way. For example, most of the big hotels and rorts are welg, and even the on that prevly banned homosexual upl (such as the Sandals rort) end their discrimatory practic the early 2000s.

I'M A GAY TRAVEL WRER AND THK THE ARE THE 5 SAFT, MOST QUEER-IENDLY CARIBBEAN TRAVEL STATNS

There are no gay clubs or events the Bahamas bee of the stigma agast the LGBTQ+ muny, but you n still make your own fun wh the betiful beach and islands to explore. There are no gay clubs or events the Bahamas bee of the stigma agast the LGBTQ+ muny.

GAY CAYMAN ISLANDS TRAVEL GUI

While social sentiment the untry is beg more acceptg of LGBTQ people, lols still warn that homophobia still exists throughout the Bahamas and tourists should avoid attractg too much attentn. Unspoiled treasur awa gay travelers this remote groupg of the Atlantic islands. The wonr, bety, and diversy of the expansive landsp the Azor elud worldly gay travelers for many years; but now, the t is officially out of the bag!

While we were not the Azor on May 17th for The Internatnal Day Agast Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Day, we saw signs the streets that was celebrated among the lols! First-timers to the Azor would be wise to choose the island of São Miguel as a base for their gay vatns sce offers a taste of everythg the regn has to offer, all on one accsible island (we advise rentg a r to make easier to get around and see the sights). While plenty of rorts wele diverse travelers, some really roll out the rabow rpets—whether they’re part of a gay-iendly brand; home to an out-and-proud LGBTQ+ staff; or part of a fabulo statn.

The brand is a Gold Global Partner of the Internatnal Gay & Lbian Travel Associatn (IGLTA), and has been honored for more than a as one of the HRC’s annually ranked Bt Plac to Work for LGBTQ+ Equaly. For starters, the Pacific-Coast cy is a hotspot for gay vatners who love the nightlife and s annual mid-May Vallarta Pri ftival.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS GAY GUI

Here gay upl n spend time their villa’s private pool, cisg through the property’s mangrove forts, bikg to the beach, or meltg to an open-air upl’ massage. As one of the world’s most vibrant gay statns, Ibiza is a favore for ntental travelers—pecially if they’re lookg for a party. Along wh Grand Palladium’s tramark ntemporary sign and range of on-se rtrants and entertament, gay and lbian guts n enjoy ameni like the Zentropia Spa & Wellns and s fully equipped gym, several pools and Jacuzzis, sports facili, and direct beach accs.

Israel is easily the most gay-iendly middle eastern untry, and Isrotel Lagoona is the perfect hotel for an Israeli vatn for anyone the LGBTQ+ muny. South Ai is probably the most gay-iendly untry Ai, and Royal Malewane is a member of IGLTA, assurg your South Ain LGBTQ+ experience is as fortable as n be.

ICELAND GAY TRAVEL

The ‘Alohilani is ls than a 10-mute walk om Queen’s Surf Beach, the cy’s most beloved gay beach, and a 15-mute drive om Srlet Honolulu, still the place to be after dark. Posssns, most notably San Juan, which is hailed as the "gay pal of the Caribbean" and offers gay gutho, nightclubs, bars, and dance clubs.

ACTIVISTS NMN VLENCE AGAST LGBTQ MUNY ST. VCENT, WHERE GAY SEX IS ILLEGAL

Mart, Gualoupe, and Martique -- are technilly an extensn of maland France, and the French have always regard homosexualy wh a certa blasé tolerance.

However, don't let your guard down: Severe attacks and hate crim agast gay men have been Dutch islands of Aba and Bonaire are que nservative, so discretn is suggted. But a surprise move 2005, their sister island of Curaçao beme the first the Caribbean to announce that was embracg the gay and lbian muny, urgg such travelers to vis the island as a gay-iendly statn, and some hotels have joed the Gay & Lbian Travel Associatn.

Even certa nightclubs Willemstad highlight their gay-iendly atmosphere an attempt to attract patrons om this muny of life is fairly secretive many of the sleepy islands of the Caribbean.

GREECE: AEGEAN SEA GAY CISE

Homosexualy is actively disuraged plac like the Cayman Islands, but as a rult of prsure om gay advocy groups, past homophobia is slowly givg way to tolerance. In Barbados homosexualy is illegal, and there is often a lack of tolerance spe of the large number of gay rints and visors on the island. Jamai is the most homophobic island the Caribbean, wh harsh antigay laws, even though there is a large lol gay populatn.

I'm a gay travel wrer and thk the are the 5 saft, most queer-iendly Caribbean travel statns. As a whe, cisgenr gay travel wrer, the Caribbean is one of my favore travel statns.

GAY GRAN CANARIA

Barth, wily celebrated, and you will fd lots of queer lols and ex-pats alike overtly tegrated to society — this is a place where queerns don't have to to go: The island draws LGBTQIA+ travelers for s bety, sophistitn, and party atmosphere — even if lacks a dited gay bar. Ti, the island's popular party spot, do have some gay energy, though, which creas as the night go on. The night I was there, for stance, my iend and I danced on stage to ABBA and other pop Beach is arguably one of the island's most betiful, and while 's not exclively queer, acts as a facto gay beach and tends to draw a more lorful crowd as well as to stay: Thanks to the island's clivy, you'll fd LGBTQIA+ folks stayg at virtually every hotel, but I ually book Le Toy for s massive rooms that e wh their own private pool.