gay travelocity blog

Southern Decadence – A New Orleans Tradition

gaytravelocity — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:10:55 +0000

New Orleans is known as a party town. With Labor Day just around the corner, everyone is preparing for Southern Decadence, which is New Orleans largest gay street fair. Parades, parties, celebrity DJ’s and a whole lot of hotness, this year’s party will be off the charts. As New Orleans is already commemorating Katrina’s five year anniversary, this is just another reason to visit the Big Easy. Add in some outrageous costumes, cocktails and a few contests I can’t mention here and you’ll be begging for some homemade hangover remedies from the queen of voodoo. Need a place to stay? Check out our TAG approved hotels in New Orleans for decadent deals and don’t wait too long because these deals will go fast!

Last minute road trips

gaytravelocity — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:29:23 +0000

One of the best things I remember as a kid was being told we’re going on a road trip. It didn’t matter where we were going – just getting out of the house was exciting enough. It could’ve been to a state park for the day, or driving to South Carolina to visit my grandfather for the week. Times haven’t changed that much since then. Thursday night rolls around; the weather looks promising and sinking your toes into smooth white sand, waves crashing on shore and a beverage in your hand sounds like a fantastic way to spend a few days. Don’t let the cost of gas, the endless traffic, or the screaming kids get in your way of reliving those fond memories of summer road trips. Whether it’s alone, with friends, family, a partner – head out on that last minute road trip. You’ll be amazed at what you might see around you and you might also discover that deep inside, you’re still that kid that loves a road trip. Need some ideas? Check out these road trips from FunMaps and then book your TAG approved hotel on www.gaytravelocity.com so that you and your mates could relax and be yourselves.

Traveling with Fido

gaytravelocity — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:27:24 +0000

Traveling with pets has gained popularity in recent years. An increase in pet-friendly hotels (and some even have pet menus – GASP!) is making it easier for travelers to take Fido along for the ride. You may be able to save money on boarding fees while you’re away, giving you some extra cash to blow on cocktails or that snazzy new ensemble for the pooch. The U.S. is chock full of pet –friendly cities, such as San Diego, Chicago, and New York, all abounding with deals on hotels that can cater to your furry friends. Check out the various pet parks and keep Fido active by participating in different activities your destination may be hosting. Tell you us your pet traveling stories and if you have any tips or photos for fellow travelers, please share them! More importantly, make sure your pets are safe and all precautions have been taken before strapping down the canines and felines in their seats as you head down the highway for your ultimate pet-friendly vacation.

The passion to travel

gaytravelocity — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:58:57 +0000

The price of airline tickets seems to be on the rise, and then there are those darn luggage fees. What person in their right mind can pack a week’s worth of stuff into a carry-on to save some money? (If you have ideas, please let us know!) The cool thing about travel this year is all the amazing hotel deals that are out there. But, is that going to help sway you in one direction or another? Sure, you can save some money by being frugal on your hotel, but this IS vacation, right? Whatever you decide to do, your vacation or staycation should be more than choosing the perfect hotel or finding the perfect flight. It has to ignite a passion in you, a desire to do something you’ve never done before, to see places you’ve never seen. It’s about a tandem skydive over Phoenix, doing a canopy tour in Costa Rica, or getting a Eurail pass, a map and your backpack and discovering Europe. Find your passion and share it with us. We’d love to hear all the juicy details!

Out and Proud – Pride 2010

gaytravelocity — Mon, 31 May 2010 16:19:58 +0000

It’s that time of year when the LGBT community comes together to celebrate Pride, which can be traced back to 1969 and the Stonewall riots. Destinations across the globe will be celebrating with various activities, and, of course, flamboyant and bass thumping parades, typically the highlight of any Pride event.

Austin, Texas will be hosting Pride, June 3-6, starting with an Interfaith service and ending with a 5K run. Of course, it isn’t Austin without some live music and a film screening! Special appearances by Blake Lewis, Frenchie Davis, Mario Cantone, and DJ Chris Cox. Need a hotel? No worries! Check out GayTravelocity for deals on TAG approved hotel accomodations near all the action or book a Top Secret hotel deal on Travelocity.

So get your hair did, and put on a new blouse, sister, and tell us where you will be celebrating Pride this year!

Party Down In Berlin

gaytravelocity — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:41:11 +0000

John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ich bin ein Berliner,” which actually meant that he was a jelly donut, but you can be “ein Berliner” as well for a lot less than you’d think. Germany’s recently enjoyed a renaissance as the cool capital of Europe. With comparisons to Manhattan circa Woody Allen’s (and, arguably, the city’s) heyday, Berlin has become a haven for creative types, edgy art, music and a party scene that would exhaust even the most crazy club kids in Chelsea.

Check out the Berghain Club, Germany’s most famous techno club for a high-energy gay scene that get your heart racing. Afterwards you can recuperate at the Treibhaus Sauna, which really, ‘nuff said. Of course, you can’t visit Berlin without taking in some culture, so visit the Gay Museum for a history of Gay life in Germany.

Check out these deals, including a package for flight and five-star accommodations for less than a G.

All Hail The Queen

gaytravelocity — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:56 +0000

On Gay Travelocity, we’ve just rolled out our European travel packages (sounds sexy, right?). One international destination that should be on every gay traveler’s agenda is London. Put aside the cute Buckingham guards in those cheeky fur hats that would make Galliano green with envy, London is home to the largest gay community in Europe and its vibrant culture reflects it (who do you think was designing those fabulous dresses for Queen Elizabeth back in the day?).

Get all the touristy stuff done on the first day and save the rest for real exploration: the unparalleled shopping from Saville Row with timeless tailoring to the fast-fashion shops of High Street, there’s no shortage of ways to drop major Pounds in this city. If you love antiques, the Portobello Road Market is one of the best in the world for finding fancy treasures to haul back to the US.

And even though Estelle might extol the virtues of an “American Boy,” we’ve always had something for guys with British accents.

The Travelocity Roaming Gnome and WINTERPRIDE 2010

RoamingGnome — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:25:39 +0000

Hello there, chaps! It’s the Travelocity Roaming Gnome here. Just wanted to pop in and give you all a cheeky wink.

I’m thinking of taking a little trip to GayWhistler’s WinterPRIDE 2010, which is happening March 1 through March 8. Will I see any of you there? I’m looking forward to the WHOOSSH Martini Party, the Shred Betties Bash, and particularly the WinterPRIDE Oscars party on Saturday night. Anyone got a tux I can borrow? Or a date that looks like George Clooney?

Hope to see you at WinterPRIDE 2010! I’ll be the one in the pointy red hat. You can pinch my cheeks if you like. I mean the ones on my face.

Toodles!
The Travelocity Roaming Gnome

East Coast V. West Coast

gaytravelocity — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:59:56 +0000

Chalk it up to the black ice still lining the sidewalks in New York, but we’ve been longing for a long getaway to L.A. There’s always been that East Cost/West Cost rivalry, but these days we find it hard to argue against consistently sunny weather, pleasant outdoor cafés and West Hollywood.

New Yorkers might have Chelsea and the summer weekend on Fire Island, but in Los Angeles, you have summer all year long (more or less) and the gay mainstay: The Abbey. The Abbey is the mecca of the gay world and a pilgrimage should be made—at very least—once in your life. LOGO TV called it “The best gay bar in the world” and every time you pass it, there’s bound to be a flood of well-toned and well-tanned people filling its space courtyard. Sounds pretty good right about now, doesn’t it? Where do you lay your allegiance? Do you have East Coast envy or pine for the Pacific?

Crossing The Border: Gay Adventures in Canada

gaytravelocity — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:51:42 +0000

There’s a lot for an American to like about Canada: the healthcare system, legal gay marriage, the endearing way Canadians pronounce “about.” When it comes to gay-friendly countries, nothing tops our friendly neighbor to the North. Canada is basically a treasure trove of camp—and your dollar goes further there!

You can get your fill of French culture without even having to cross the Atlantic by visiting quaint Québec City (which would be oh-so-romantique right now) or heading for the cosmopolitan Montréal for shopping, fine dining and a gay scene that rivals Chelsea or West Hollywood. Lined along Rue Ste. Catherine Est is a parade of gay bars and nightclubs filled with vibrant, accented locals.

And for those whose idea of camp involves pitching a tent, the prairie land around the River Saskatchewan is full of picturesque scenery combined with a small-town pleasantness.

Interested in a complete spa rejuvenation far from the worries of home? The village of Banff in Alberta has a hot springs pool where you can wash away your stress and still go out dancing at night—all with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Our very own Roaming Gnome just got back!

Check out this resource for all things gay travel related in Canada: http://gay.canada.travel/au/index.php and book your trip w/ code GL75 for $75 off!