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 Travel & Outdoors | May 2007 
Destination of the Year
 Ed Salvato & Justin Ocean - Gay.com
If you're going to spend the time and money on an international jaunt, why limit yourself to just one city? Each of the countries below offers a quality gay experience throughout their nation with a range of cities and destinations that would appeal to any LGBT traveler. But beyond the mere excitement of foreign travel, each has made broad gestures - whether in social policy or market outreach - to show the world that it respects gay travelers as well as its own gay citizens.
The 2007 PlanetOut Travel Award for destination of the year goes to: Mexico!
Mexico
Although the countryside remains conservative, Mexico's resort towns such as Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta embrace gay travelers with inclusive gay resorts, heightened quality of food and amenities plus an expanding bar life. Now, with legal same-sex civil unions in Mexico City and a dedicated tourism rep targeting the gay market, going south of the border for a city jaunt is becoming even more enticing. (www.visitmexico.com or www.gaymexico.com)
Runners-up
Canada
America could learn a lot from Canada in terms of open, friendly attitudes towards diversity. With legalized same-sex marriage and dedicated queer marketing for the entire country, plus thriving cultural opportunities and endless outdoor adventure possibilities, Canada is truly the crowning jewel of North American queerdom. (www.canadatourism.com)
Great Britain
As a land of contrasts, Great Britain seems like a gay person herself: Quaintness battles modernity, tradition abuts progressiveness, and spunky attitude hides beneath its polite veneer. For the English-speaking visitor, especially for the gay crowd, Britain rides high on the list of international destinations given its legalized gay civil partnerships, gorgeous countryside, ample culture, abundant nightlife and several different gay hubs all doing independent queer marketing. (www.visitbritain.com)
South Africa
From the shadow of apartheid to the light of equality, South Africa last year became the fifth country in the world and the first in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage. Already a popular destination for its luxury safaris, gorgeous scenery and end-of-the-world vibe - not to mention raucous Pride festivals - gays now have even more reason to visit the "Rainbow Nation." Multiethnic leaps in respect placed sexual-orientation anti-discrimination measures in the constitution and gave the go-ahead for progressive sexual politics. (www.gaysouthafrica.org.za)
Spain
Our 2006 winner for gay destination of the year, Spain continues to embrace travelers with casual, yet vivacious Iberian flair. With a headstrong leap into modernity, Spain has doffed its Franco past and embraced an inclusive social policy with legalized same-sex marriage, hedonistic nightlife, cutting-edge cuisine and fast-moving energy without losing its traditional charm. There might as well be a map of Spain next to the dictionary definition of "progressive society." (www.spain.info) |
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