What matters most to LGBTQ+ travelers? We asked you
What's most important to you when embarking on an adventure?
Mark
No gay vacation happens without research — from local laws and gayborhood locations, to drag bar recommendations and the best spots for after hours fun. But with so many places to see, how do you decide which ones are worth your time? And why makes a location a must-see?
In this year’s Best of GayCities survey, we turned to tried-and-true readers to learn more about what’s driving queer travel, and asked them to rank the top 3 most important factors in deciding where to visit.
From Pride events and local regulations and protections to buzzing nightlife and cruise-ability, we sought to figure out what you’re looking for when booking your travel.
As always, the gays had many opinions.
According to our Best of GayCities editorial board, the top three factors were
- Visible LGBTQ+ community
- Safety
- LGBTQ+ nightlife
Below, the 5 factors the matter most.
1. Safety
The No. 1 concern for gay travelers is safety, with 73% of our readers reporting it was one of their top-3 priorities when booking a trip. It’s an important point, considering anti-LGBTQ+ policies have many would-be adventurers, especially trans folks, concerned about how their sexuality may affect their experience.
According to experts, Canada and Spain are among the safest countries, based on how individuals and couples are treated, the comfortability of PDA, and respectful treatment by authorities — which is great news, because here at GayCities, we’re big fans of Toronto and Madrid.
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2. Visible community
Another important factor in choosing a destination is LGBTQ+ visibility. Nearly 62% of our readers called it pivotal for their planning, and understandably so. A rainbow flag in a shop window, a locally-owned queer dive bar, or even a gay author at a bookstore can make all the difference in establishing comfort when you’re in a new place.
Thankfully, there are tons of options that come to mind, like San Francisco‘s The Castro, Boystown in Chicago, Berlin, and, of course, Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta. In these cities and neighborhoods, the queer community is not only out, but proud.
3. Friendly locals
Nearly 62% of GayCities readers ranked “friendly locals” as one of the most important factors in plotting a vacation, which makes sense: What’s a gay-friendly travel destination without gay friends?
Of course, the standout choice is the famously affable Amsterdam, where it’s easy to meet locals through coffee shops, gay bars, and biking down the canals. If they’re not all worn out from hosting World Pride this year, that is. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with the out and proud energy of Lisbon, the laidback and sun-tanned spirit of Palm Springs, or the low-key pub scene in Dublin.
4. LGBTQ+ night life
Nightlife ranked as the fourth most-important aspect, with 58% of our readers revealing that a city’s going-out habits plays a role in their travel decisions. That said, no gay scene is created equally, so we recommend choosing a spot that has plenty of options — club, dive, dancehall, and everything in between — like New York City or West Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Honorable mentions go to the massive parties in São Paulo, the festival-heavy summer season in Montreal, and the beach-party paradise of Mykonos.
5. Easy to meet people
Finally, 38% of GayCities readers wrote that visiting a location where it was “easy to meet people” was a top priority. Whether you’re looking for friends, “friends,” or a de facto tour guide, you’re likely to find what you’re seeking in many of the cities we’ve already mentioned, like the transplant and traveler-heavy New York, the naughty but nice Berlin, and Madrid.
In looking to meet people, we recommend finding a city that stays open late, with a bar and club-hopping culture, and good weather. That being said, our top pick has to be Mexico City, especially the Zona Rosa neighborhood, where everyone is either your friend — or about to be.
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There are plenty of ways to protect yourself, ensuring you’ll have a great time.
