r/gaytravel

I'm curious to hear about other people's experiences.

Over the years I've had some very negative experiences while traveling in parts of Eastern Europe because of my sexual orientation. For example, my boyfriend and I were refused a room with a double bed at a hotel in Prague. In Dubrovnik, we had homophobic insults shouted at us and were even spat on in the street. In Budapest, we were asked to leave a restaurant because we were two men together.

I know these experiences don't necessarily represent entire countries or all the people who live there, and I've also met many kind and welcoming people. But these incidents have made me think twice about where I spend my vacation time and money.

Has anyone else experienced discrimination or hostility while traveling in Eastern Europe, whether at hotels, restaurants, bars, or just walking around a city? Have those experiences made you stop visiting certain countries?

I sometimes feel that when I'm on vacation or a weekend trip, I just want to relax and enjoy myself, and not feel like I have to be part of a fight for basic acceptance. Does anyone else feel the same way?

I'd be interested in hearing both positive and negative experiences.

If links aren't allowed, my apologies, but I didn't want to re-write the wheel here. Curious where the next locations are going to open.

Finally decided to do my own first solo travel trip but really needing advice

I'm 34, gay & single - looking for a 'fun' long weekend break

I'm thinking more chill in the day, maybe sight see, food etc but night time I'm thinking more gay bars/clubs, saunas/bath houses - fun is the main agenda 😊

I'm hoping to go the middle of July for about 3-4 nights

I've seen a lot of people mention Madrid but there's also been mentions of Poland? Not looking for anything over the top but any advice would be greatly appreciated 😊

Staying at Grand and booked a couple of spa visits. Wondering your experience with it and any other good options while there. Single

Looking for accommodation from 20th July (yes, we are v disorganised). My bf was really intrigued by Rituals after seeing a video review by a gay couple (which I now suspect was a paid partnership). I thought the facilities looked fun but also some pics made it look pretty crowded and I guess we're going at peak season. My main concern though was the pics of the rooms - they looked incredibly basic and dated compared to what I'd expect for the price. Then I looked at a range of reviews - half of them are telling us to ignore the bad reviews and the bad reviews are BAD. I did wonder if it would be a bit of a dive in reality packed with lots of men partying too hard and the bad reviews seem to back up that idea.

When I started to look at other hotels, they all seem to have those basic, dated rooms except the really expensive luxury hotels. Can anyone recommend a good value hotel near the beach and gay area with a pool and nice rooms with comfy beds? We want to be able to enjoy gay area nightlife but have somewhere quite to retreat to.

Have a work contract that ends at the end of october and would like to backpack for a few months. Any suggestions on good beach destinations over the "winter" months? Ideally gay friendly/oriented beaches and resorts that have some kind of partying. Pride events etc etc. I am debating between SE Asia or South America for these months.

From my research most of the famous/best ones are in europe but i wont have the chance to do europe this coming year. Any suggestions would be great!

Hey everyone 👋
I’m planning my first solo trip to Fire Island in August and I’m trying to figure out the best way to stay if my main goal is to meet people and be in a social LGBTQ+ environment.

What I’m looking for:
-a guesthouse, shared house, or social accommodation, open to any recommendations
-somewhere where it’s easy to meet other LGBTQ+ travelers
preferably a younger/solo-traveler friendly vibe (20s–30s)
-a relaxed but fun atmosphere (beach, tea dances, nightlife, etc.)

I’m going alone, so I’m mainly hoping to meet new people and make friends while I’m there. I’ve never been before, so I’m also trying to understand whether Cherry Grove or the Pines is better for a solo traveler with this kind of vibe.
I’ve seen people mention share houses and guesthouses, but I’m not sure how to actually find the right ones or which are more social.
If anyone has recommendations, tips, or even general advice for solo travelers in Fire Island, I’d really appreciate it 🙏
Thanks!

Bi M29. First time travelling solo want to travel to somewhere in Europe that’s got nice bars, clubs and cruising as well as other things to do around. Not sure what season I’ll be travelling but I like somewhere with a young gay vibe. Pretty open to any country

Finally decided to do my own first solo travel trip but really needing advice

I'm 34, gay & single - looking for a 'fun' long weekend break

I'm thinking more chill in the day, maybe sight see, food etc but night time I'm thinking more gay bars/clubs, saunas/bath houses - fun is the main agenda 😊

I'm hoping to go the middle of July for about 3-4 nights

I've seen a lot of people mention Madrid but there's also been mentions of Poland? Not looking for anything over the top but any advice would be greatly appreciated 😊

I’m new to solo traveling and don’t have a whole lot of gay friends who do go to events or weekends and such. I have heard of a couple like Cannonball but don’t can’t ever seem to find anything from people who have gone.

Does anyone know if any of events like Cannonball are worth it for a solo traveler or are they a waste of money?

I'm curious to hear what everyone here prefers.

When you travel, do you prefer going solo, with one other person, with 2–3 friends, or as part of a larger group?

Why do you prefer that style of travel?

For me, I enjoy hearing about the different reasons people have. Some people love the freedom of solo travel, while others prefer sharing experiences, nightlife, sightseeing, or just having company along the way.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

I’m been thinking about a destination to go to in August and Portugal at the top of my list rn but I feel like I want to party a lot while also doing touristy stuff.
I’ll probably do Lisbon, Porto and Madeira.
So, what are your opinions of Portugal?

Two years ago, I did Madrid Pride (had visited the city in December 2023, fell in love with it, and decided to go back for my birthday, only to discover a few weeks prior to my second trip that the city does Pride a week after NYC does it, so yay!). If you've never done MADO (Madrid Orgullo), it's so cool. The parade is along the Gran Via (the main thoroughfare) and is like a European version of NYC Pride.

So I have to ask, who else has done Pride abroad?

i’ve been meaning to solo travel to spain either this summer or the next for pride season. i’m undecided between barcelona (where i’ve been already but not to many gay spots) and gran canaria. which is better for solo travel as a gay guy? i’m looking for good nightlife, technos, cruising and nude beaches.