Category Archives: Travel

Last week Bloomberg published an interesting article, Rich Gay Men Wanted: Spain’s Conservatives Make Tourist Appeal. I assume that the tourist industry in general likes wealthy travelers and not everyone who is gay falls into the category of rich but I thought the article was interesting nonetheless.

According to a report by LGBT Capital, tourists are flocking to Spain contributing about $6.8 billion to the local economy, edging out France as Europe’s most popular destination for gay and lesbian travelers.  The report finds that gay travelers spend on average 30% more than mainstream tourists.

Last week Boston Magazine reported that a new low-cost air carrier from Europe will begin offering nonstop service in May 2016 to Oslo and Copenhagen with plans to add more destinations in the near future. The previously unknown carrier, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, will bring more competition to these markets and greater access to Eurpoe with more nonstop flights.

For those of you who may be tempted, Copenhagen Pride is August 11 -15, 2016. There is more info about gay life in Denmark and in particular Copenhagen here.

Oslo Pride dates have yet to be confirmed but their celebration was held in late June this year.  For more travel information about gay life in Oslo link here.

Something I have in common with a lot of my friends is a love of travel. It is hard to explain this desire to visit places (sometimes far from home), but for those of you who have the travel bug you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Last week Sergio and I booked our travel to visit family later this year in Brazil. Are you planning any trips this fall?  Do tell.  I’m always interested in hearing about favorite travel destinations.

Earlier this year Condé Nast Traveler updated and re-published their 2008 article on tipping etiquette.

As the article notes, tipping rules vary by country, by region, and by scenario but fear not as this article tells you all you need to know.

Etiquette 101: Your Guide to Tipping in 50 Countries. 

The guide offers suggested guidelines for tipping for a variety of services travelers are likely to use and offers some helpful information that is unique to some countries / regions.

With summer weather now upon us, I’m often asked for suggestions on day trips or places to visit for an overnight outside of the more obvious gay destinations like Provincetown and Ogunquit.  Below are five destinations that are all within a two hour drive of Boston that are not necessarily gay but are welcoming and beautiful destinations in their own right.

Meredith – Lake Winnipesaukee, NH (2 Hour Drive) I grew up spending my summer vacations in Alton Bay at Lake Winnipesaukee and while there are plenty of quaint towns around this lake in the Granite State, Meredith offers plenty to see and do ranging from lake activities, to golfing, hiking, shopping and dining.  Meredith Chamber of Commerce Website

Portland, ME (2 Hour Drive) Many guys never drive north of Ogunquit when they visit Maine but just another 45 minutes north is Portland, Maine.  Check out the historic waterfront district and do yourself a favor and bring your appetite.  Portland has a well-deserved reputation as a Foodie’s town.  Condé Nast Restaurant Guide to Portland

Martha’s Vineyard, MA (2 Hours – Drive and Ferry) A year round destination, Martha’s Vineyard may be at its most beautiful in the summer when you can enjoy the island’s spectacular beaches and outdoor activities.   The quaint towns on the Vineyard offer great shopping and dining after spending a day at the beach.  Martha’s Vineyard Online

Newport, RI (1.5 Hour Drive) One of my favorite destinations in all of New England Newport Harbor offers beautiful views, lovely beaches and a slice of American history that is truly unique and on view when you traverse the 3.5 mile cliff walk.  Newport’s downtown has great dining and shopping as well as a lively night life. Discover Newport

Portsmouth, NH (1 Hour Drive) Sandwiched between Boston and Portland, Maine, this quaint seaside village is a quintessential New England town worth the visit.  The Market Square is where all the action in this postage-sized town takes place and is chalk full of restaurants, bars and shops.  Things to do in Portsmouth

If you have other suggestions on things to do at these destinations or other great places to visit, feel free to share in the comments section.

St Regis Hotel

My day job requires me to travel for a night or two each month.  Typically I end up staying in the same properties, but on a recent business trip to Washington, D.C. earlier this month the properties I usually book were not available so I made a reservation at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C.

St Regis hotel lobby

This 182 room property is just blocks from the White House and is centrally located if you are visiting for either business or to check out many of D.C.’s tourist sites.  For gay travelers, the hotel is less than a 5 minute taxi / Uber ride to many of the bars in Dupont Circle and in good weather it is a pleasant walk down 16th Street.

While the St. Regis Hotel chain is undeniably luxurious, it is a little too formal for my personal taste but for those who love old hotel properties like Boston’s Fairmont Copley, NYC’s Penninsula Hotel, The Palmer House in Chicago or The Palace in San Francisco – this is right up your alley.

The lobby provides a glimpse into the old world charm and luxury you can expect in the property’s guest rooms.

I was provided a room overlooking 16th Street which really is nothing much to look at so I kept my drapes closed while I was in the room, but otherwise the room was beautiful – even coming with a TV in the bathroom mirror so I could watch the morning news while I showered to get ready for work – how convenient. There was plenty of space to put away my clothes, a comfortable desk to spread out and work at as well as all the other amenities you would come to expect.  The hotel property doesn’t have adequate gym facilities so guests are able to use the Mint Club and Spa across the street, which is far superior to hotel gyms.

While I haven’t a bad word to say, I won’t likely book here again – preferring a less formal vibe.   For those who may be curious, my preferred hotel property in D.C. is the W Hotel (which is just down the street from the St. Regis).

Starwood Hotels & Resorts loyalty program known as SPG announced a global partnership with Uber earlier this week, allowing members to earn points with each Uber ride they take.

According to the program, within 24 hours of your first stay at a Starwood hotel you can begin earning points if you join your accounts; earning 1 Starpoint per $1USD; Gold and Platinum SPG members can earn up to 4 Starpoints per USD.

And in 5 select cities on Saturday, February 28th from 2PM – 7PM local time, SPG and Uber will be giving riders the opportunity to experience a #SuiteRide with a one-of-a-kind “Starwood car” in Dubai, London, Mexico City, New York City, and San Francisco.

Want to learn more or link your SPG account to your Uber account to start racking up points?  Visit SPG.com/uber.

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island

Grand Cayman is a Caribbean Island located just to the west of Jamaica and south of Cuba.  The tiny 20-something mile island in the Western Caribbean has plenty to offer but without a doubt its most famous attribute is its Seven Mile Beach.

Sergio at Stingray City

If you’re not a beach person, Grand Cayman offers decent snorkeling and an opportunity to play with wild stingrays at “Stingray City”.  Stingray City is a sandbar a few miles off the coast of Grand Cayman where you can go and see and feed wild stingrays. We booked a trip with Captain Marvin’s, and I would happily recommend this company because of how much fun Sergio and I had there.

Camana Bay City Centre

If you’ve had too much sun or need to purchase something check out Camana Bay City Centre, which is a mixed use development that includes a handful of restaurants, clothing stores, cinema and bookstore (among other things).

For more tips on island  activities check out Trip Advisor or contact me, and I’d be happy to share a few more suggestions suitable to your taste and near where you will be staying.