Travelhoppers – a new site dedicated to providing free travel planning resources coupled with travel expert insight and advice – today reveals the top travel tips for same-sex couples looking to flawlessly plan their perfect honeymoon or romantic vacation this summer or fall. These helpful travel tips were compiled by LGBT specialised travel agents as well as industry experts and include a list of gay-friendly destinations, advice on where couples can seek same-sex travel planning expertise, hints for finding the perfect hotel accommodations and more.
“On July 24th, New York will become the sixth and largest state to allow same-sex couples to wed – a monumental day in the national gay-rights movement, which has the travel industry taking notice,” said Richard Earls, Founder of Travelhoppers. “To respond to the increase in same-sex travel predicted for this fall and winter, we have reached out to our friends at the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association as well as travel agents that specialise in planning LGBT vacations, to compile advice for same-sex couples looking to plan a carefree honeymoon.”
Here’s a look at the top three LGBT vacation planning tips, compiled by Travelhoppers:
1) Determine Your Destination – According to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), nearly half of gay and lesbian travellers said that a destination with a gay-friendly reputation is a prime consideration in their leisure travel choices. If you want to experience the culture and sights of another country, a specialised travel consultant can give you a good idea of the local attitudes in countries that support same-sex travellers abroad – as well as advice on which destinations to avoid, including those that may even demonstrate hostility towards the gay community. When choosing a honeymoon destination in the U.S., the TIA recommends the following cities as being the most gay-friendly: Miami, San Francisco, Key West, New York City, Provincetown, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Palm Springs. Europe has long been a favoured destination as liberal same-sex marriage laws have been in effect for years, with The Netherlands being the first nation to legalise gay marriage in 2001 followed by Belgium in 2003.
2) Find The Perfect Hotel Fit – In addition to consulting an experienced travel agent, Gregg Welpe – a travel agent in Dallas who specialises in same-sex travels – suggests that the website “TAG Approved” (tagapproved.com) is a tremendous research tool for finding gay-supportive hotels and attractions worldwide. An additional online resource Welpe recommends is “Purple Roofs” (purpleroofs.com), which is a GLBT world travel guide and lodging directory that showcases GLBT-friendly B&B’s, inns, guesthouses, hotels, travel agents and tour operators worldwide.
3) Consultation Is Key – One of the best possible places to start planning a honeymoon vacation is with an experienced travel consultant. Travel agents have professional resources at hand to provide direct and unbiased information regarding the quality and general attitude that various destinations and accommodations have towards same-sex travellers. Experienced travel agents will also know which travel companies have a history of providing reliable travel arrangements for same-sex clientele and are the best place to start when planning your honeymoon. So where can you find a specialised LGBT travel agent? The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is a great place to start – as the website even has a tab that helps you find a member travel agent in your local area by simply entering your city or zip code.
This roundup of tips, advice and LGBT travel insight was compiled by Travelhoppers’ Founder, Richard Earls, and his team of knowledgeable travel experts and niche travel specialists that regularly contribute to the Travelhoppers blog. Additional expertise was provided by Gregg Welpe, an experienced travel agent in Dallas that specialises in same-sex travel, as well as Tom Nibbio, the Business Development Director for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. The full article featuring same-sex honeymoon travel tips is available at Travelhoppers.com.
Travelers looking for insightful information about travel, personal tips and expert advice can benefit from visiting the Travelhoppers blog to delve into interesting and unique aspects of travel with new articles, excerpts, and content added daily. From facts and figures to firsthand traveler reviews and so much more, Travelhoppers gives travellers the information they need and want – as well as providing free access to the largest, most frequently updated database of travel companies, brochures, and specialists on the Internet.
About Travelhoppers.com
Travelhoppers.com is a travel website dedicated to the proposition that it’s all about value. The company provides consumers with free access to the largest, frequently updated repository of travel companies brochures, and travel specialists on the Internet. All via one site, Travelhoppers.com brings travellers unabridged information directly from 3000+ tour operators, packagers, cruise lines, destinations and other travel suppliers; as well as insight from travel industry veterans, first-hand knowledge from travel writers and feedback from other consumers; and a means to connect with travel specialists for assistance with travel planning.
