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In
light of the recent large numbers of same sex couples getting married,
whether they will be declared legal or not, I decided to explore
vacation options for gay and lesbian couples, and their gay friendly
friends and family. Gay and lesbian travelers represent a valued, lucrative market for travel and leisure companies. They are seven times more likely than the average consumer to take six or more flights in one year and twice as likely to spend more than $5,000 on one trip. The gay community looks to the Internet when making travel plans - 41 percent of gays and lesbians have booked their travel on the internet equaling $1.3 billion as compared to 28 percent of other travelers. Some
of the most popular and traditional gay friendly destinations are the
Greek island of Mykonos, Puerto Rico, Fire Island, NY, Russian River in
Sonoma County CA and beaches everywhere. Valerie
Athans-Papaioannou, Vice president of www.travel-divas.com
said that over 30 percent of gay men’s annual incomes exceed $100,000
and 17 percent of gay women. The general population is at 10 percent.
Travel Divas is offering an ultra fine trip to Many Conde Nast Gold List properties are listed as “gay friendly”. In my research I did not find any major hotel or resort company that would not welcome gay, lesbian or gay friendly patrons. Some areas of the world are perhaps not as liberal as others and it would be wise to pay attention to the information available on the many websites designed to assist gay and lesbian travelers. Sandals policy of
not allowing same sex couples only extends to their Sandals resorts not
any of their Beaches and other properties. They also do not allow, for any reason, children at Sandals
resorts. This policy is not a secret and stated in all their materials
and their other properties are equally as plush in similar locations to
any Sandals resort. Major
guide book companies have come out with books specifically for the gay
traveler and now ORBITZ has a micro-site catering to gay and lesbian
travelers. The micro-site features information about gay-destination
cities and events on six continents, specially-tailored travel deals and
tips and advice for gay and lesbian parents traveling with their
families. Ed Salvato, Editor in chief of Out and About related just a
few of the many features of their site including their best selling
guide books. One of the most popular is for the solo gay traveler.
Orbitz'
gay micro-site is in partnership with PlanetOuts Gay.com website. The
micro-site will be accessible through the Deals tab on the Orbitz
homepage, at www.orbitz.com/gaytravel
and on the Gay.com and OutandAbout.com
websites. ******* Another
popular spot for many years is The
town has evolved from a rustic fishing village to one of http://www.massvacation.com/jsp/index.jsp ********* Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group targets ALL business and leisure travelers at its more than 35 boutique hotels and 29 restaurants in the US and Canada. Unlike most chains, Kimpton hotels are modeled in different styles. The company tries to create a unique environment for travelers in mostly smaller, European-style hotels. The company's first hotel was the Bedford in San Francisco, in 1981. The chain has since expanded northward to the Pacific Northwest and eastward as far as Washington, DC. They begin with the successful renovation and repositioning of old buildings into charming hotels paired with popular restaurants offering comfort, highly personalized service and value while featuring a residential environment including intimate living room-like lobbies with fireplaces and comfortable furniture; guest rooms are designed to look and feel like a guest room in a friend's home. 1
800 KIMPTON ******** Hyatt
Hotels & Resorts is gay friendly.
Currently,
there are 207 Hyatt hotels and resorts around the world. Hyatt
Corporation and its affiliates manage, franchise or operate 123 hotels
and resorts in the U.S., ******* In
Washington, D.C. for those hooked
on TV’s hit Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Chef Leeds of 15
ria, 1515 Rhode Island Avenue, NW has the perfect solution: come take a
seat; feast on her platter of Fabulous
Five, sip an Adonis
and watch the show. Her bar menu
showcases her own Fabulous Five including Oyster Shooters, Andouille Sausage between the Sheets, Crabs (the good
kind), Calamari and Chicken
Satay, priced at $11.The
new cock-tails on Tuesday night are: You’re a Keeper, Adonis, Glamourtini, The Kiss, and
Jack & Jim,
each priced at $7. The fun
starts at “15 ria is a
neighborhood restaurant and gathering place. We strive to keep our
cuisine and atmosphere light, fun and perfect for sharing. Our Fabulous
Five selections are in keeping with this direction and the Queer Eye
for the Straight Guy is a favorite among many of us who work here. I love the design sense and forward, creative thinking of those trendy
fab five guys,” says ******** Classic
Hospitality, which owns and operates five hotels in DC is very
gay-friendly and involved with the gay travel communities in a number of
ways. Their Washington Plaza Hotel located at The company is
dedicated to putting money back into the gay community. They participate
annually in Food & Friends, Scarlet's Bake Sale
(for which they raised $70k this year)
and advertise the company in gay publications. ******* SuperClubs
welcomes all couples. SuperClubs, the
world's only Super-Inclusive resort group, includes ******* Pride
Package -
The Fairmont Hotel Package
Includes: One night room
accommodation, This package is
available year round, subject to availability. To make a
reservation, please contact ********
1. Romantic Dinner: For
Asheville's most extravagant dining experience, go to Gabrielle's at
Richmond Hill Inn (87 Richmond Hill Drive), three miles north of
downtown (be sure to say hello to pianist Christopher). For something
more casual, there are dozens of choices downtown such as Anntony's
Caribbean (Grove Arcade), John Henry's Charleston-style (57 Haywood St),
vegetarian Laughing Seed Cafe (40 Wall St), Tupelo Honey's Southern
breakfast on Friday and Saturday until 3 am (12 College St), Salsa
Mexican Caribbean (6 Patton Ave), Zambra Spanish Tapas ( 85 Walnut St ),
and the eclectic Flying Frog with curtained-off tables for two (corner
of Haywood St and Battery Park Ave). 2. Hanging Out at Coffee Shops: You will find 10 coffee shops
with local flavor and great atmosphere. Favorites include Malaprop's
Bookstore ( 3. Happy Hour: There are several options for local beer or
international wine. A favorite spot for local brews is Jack of the Wood,
a Celtic smoke-free pub ( 4.
Experience Malaprops: To experience a true slice of Asheville, hang out
in the place voted "Best Independent Bookstore in the
Southeast." Lesbian-owned, it has a spirited atmosphere which draws
a diverse crowd for readings and live music. For premium people
watching, have a cup of coffee in their café or enjoy outdoor seating
in the summer. Downtown 5.
Biltmore Estate: Don't miss seeing the largest home in 6. Live Music or Theatre: To listen and dance to some great jazz
and blues, go to Tressa's (28 Broadway), which has a mixed straight and
gay crowd. For folk music, interesting variations of blue grass, swing,
and more, head to Jack of the Wood, the smoke-free pub (
7. Antique Shopping: Downtown has several antique shops and malls
in close proximity. (See the Downtown Map.) Don't miss Stuf Antiques (
52 Broadway ). At
8. Gallery Hopping: John Cram owns the two biggest galleries in
Asheville, Blue Spiral I downtown ( 9. Hike and Picnic: For great hikes, visit the Hikes & Walks
Guide. If a picnic along the Parkway sounds inviting, stop at Picnics
Restaurant and Bakery at 371 Merrimon Avenue
(look for the rainbow flag) and get
their "Picnic on the Parkway." Ron and his mom bake 20+
desserts daily. (See the 10. Go Clubbing: The premier nightclub for dancing is Scandals,
downtown ( Resources www.outandabout.com Magazine and website about travel. Travel Divas
Cruises Journeys by Sea,
Inc.
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