Heavenly Honeymoons
Travel ideas
Whether you tied the knot in a giant church ceremony or quickly ducked in to the domestic partner registration office, you don’t want to skip that most hallowed marital tradition: the honeymoon. And with gay travel now a worldwide, multi-million dollar industry, it’s hard not to find a fabulous place fit to celebrate your commitment.
By taking the plunge and getting married, you’ve made your own contribution to gay history — so why not spend your honeymoon in the land where it all started. No, not Stonewall. We’re talking Greece, land of ancient ruins, beautiful beaches and more history than you can shake a stick at. Mykonos or Lesbos — it’s your choice.
Moving counter-clockwise around the Mediterranean, you have Europe’s fashionable thigh-high boot, Italy. With so many cities to visit and tours to take and wine to drink, you’ll have to get married over and over again to have enough time to take it all in. Rome and Venice top the list of places to visit, but we’d hate to think you left out Florence.
If you prefer to celebrate in a less Western, more Eastern locale, Asia beckons. Bangkok, and Thailand in general, remain a popular gay destination. Although it has a reputation with some as a single man’s destination, you’ll find a plethora of beautiful sight-seeing destinations (as well as some truly excellent shopping). Also high on many travelers’ lists is the “New York of Asia, ” Hong Kong.
Not into flying across oceans and multiple time zones? Perhaps a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Hot beaches, great tours, plenty of daiquiris, and a conversion rate that will stretch your honeymoon dollars.
Did your ultra-traditional wedding leave you wanting an ultra-traditional honeymoon? Perhaps, then, you’re ready to head to Hawaii, the state where gay marriage came oh-so-close to a legal reality. Oh, wellÂ… you can still enjoy the beauty of the island state’s sizzling beaches, verdant forests and awe-inspiring volcanoes.
As your wedding plans get bigger and bigger, so does the cost. If you’d rather put that honeymoon money into something more long-term — like a home — then consider the at-home alternatives. Whether it’s a day-trip drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains, a long weekend in Rehoboth, or an overnight stay in one of D.C.’s many luxury hotels (can you say “presidential suite “?), you won’t find yourself at a loss for things to do.
For help finding a gay or gay-friendly travel agent, visit the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s website (www.iglta.com). For more information on locations listed above, see our resources guide.
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