For a long time now, gay travelers have been daring and explorative than most straight travelers.
Finally the world has begun to realize this and many travel companies have implemented gay travel seriously.
Lately, gay and lesbian people have become darlings of the travel industry. Many destinations convention and visitor bureaus and tourism bureaus are developing sites designed to attract the attention of the gay traveler. Big names like Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity (just to name a few) are out actively seeking a gay clientele.
Even with the help of travel programs designed for gay and lesbian travelers, there is always room for trouble. Here are some tips to make sure you’ve got all the basics covered.
Try to find a gay friendly resort that suits your needs. Resorts that market to the gay community are your best bet and those that cater to a sophisticated, well-traveled clientele are another. You want to avoid family resorts in gay unfriendly areas, like Jamaica or Grand Cayman. It only takes a little bit of research to determine the “friendliness” of an area, and it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Make sure your bedding requests precede you and that both of your names are on the reservation request. A note faxed from you or your travel agent to the front desk manager a day or two before your arrival is also a good idea. Simply tell him or her that you and your spouse are on your honeymoon, that you want to make sure that they know your king or queen bed request is not a mistake, and that any special arrangements or consideration that would make your trip a memorable one would be greatly appreciated. This may seem like overkill, but the fact that you bothered to take the time will be noted by the manager.
Be prepared to feel a little conspicuous if you are in a mixed resort. No matter how comfortable you, your friends and family are, it is inevitable that some of the other resort guests (and possibly staff) may be curious and more than little interested. If you feel you are attracting unwanted attention it is usually best to simply ignore it. If anyone becomes hostile or harasses you, report it directly to the general manager’s office immediately.
Finally, I personally think this goes without saying, tip well early in your stay. Hotel staff always take special care of big tippers. If you can, try to budget an extra $10 to $30 per day and spread it around, employees brag about big tips so the whole resort staff will now about you quickly.
